Why you collect, Promoting the Hobby, and Poll.

BigBuffaloGuy

I used the search function and found many posts on how you started collecting, but couldn't find a specific topic as to why you collect, though I didn't search extremely hard. If you know of a previous post, please let me know, otherwise I'd be curious to find out.

Sure, I know many of the reasons people collect, but am trying to compile a list of as many reasons as possible. Why? Here's why. I want to come up with a couple of proposals for our local club, and perhaps even the PNG, that could draw more people to the hobby, perhaps in the same way the National Ddairy Council tries to get people to drink more milk. I am convinced that more people would be part of this hobby if only they realized what it had to offer. Your comments are appreciated.

garsmith

37 in real coins, for about 15 years before that I collected casino silver dollars and before that stamps

RichieURich

I started collecting on my 4th birthday when my parents got me both of the Whitman Lincoln cent folders.

So, you need another response to your poll.

ricko

Started as a paper boy when I would get Indian Head Cents for the 8 cent paper, when going house to house. Thought they were cool - and so it began.... Cheers, RickO

Shamika

I was 7 years old.

slabfab

I was around 12, still have the whitman folders. I sold a good bit of my collection last year reasoning that I could not afford two expensive hobbies while the daughter is in college, but I could not stay away! I think I am attracted to the beauty of a well struck, well preserved coin, especially in the older series. I am starting a type collection and rather enjoying the quest.

TorinoCobra71

I was around 8 or 9 when I got into coin collecting....

TC71

STONE

5 Years Old

wikyva

I started collecting last year at the ripe young age of 36. I got interested because I wanted to share something with my three year old son that he and I could do together for many years to come. Of course, no guarantees that he will even be interested but so far he finds "shiny money" very interesting. So I guess I got interested because I thought it would be a good father/son activity. Hopefully ... he will do the same with his son/daughter.

EricSan

Schoolastic book ordering while in 3rd-4th grade did it for me. For $5.95 (or thereabouts) I received a blue whitman lincoln cent folder, a copy of the "black book" of coin prices, and two plastic coin tubes for storing cents. Reading through this book (that I can no longer find) I quickly honed in on the prices of the 1909-S VDB cent (which is about 5-10x higher now). This is all it took to get me hooked. Each subsequent trip to the mall yielded a "new" coin in a 2x2 for my "collection."

Now that I am much older (and a little wiser), each of these coins has significant problems, but I still love them. They are what got me into my collection. Thus, I have decided to honor them by putting them all together in a Dansco 7070 of well circulated and otherwise dinged up examples.

Serious money didn't go into the hobby until about 3 years ago (finally finished grad school and got a good job).

Eric

dizzyfoxx

<Why you collect?>

The answer is simple, two reasons: Commems and............

Steve27

I think you will find that most people started as kids, took some time-out, and then returned. As with most hobbies it's a form of escape.