Is the hobby dying?

gecko109

This post isnt meant to be gloom and doom, but rather a logical view of the future of this rewarding hobby. First, I'd like all of you to ask yourself one question, and answer honestly. When you go to your local shop, how often do you see collectors in the age group of 8-16? I can maybe count them on one hand, and thats during perhaps 100 trips. Now im just 32, and only 3 years into the hobby myself, but isnt it true that in the 60's and 70's, coin collecting was SUBSTANTIALLY more popular among our youth than it is today? I dont personally know a single coin collector under the age of 35. The baby boomers are driving the hot market right now, but how long before they are gone, and their very disinterested children inherit their collections? What will these heirs do with all those coins that, besides sentimental reasons, really mean nothing to them? In 20 years, we may have a flood of biblical proportions of nice coins hit the market. Will there be enough new collectors out there to absorb all this material without seriously softening the market?
Just a quick story that I experienced at a local shop not too long ago. I walked in for the first time at this place with about 2 grand in my pocket. I was looking to obtain a few slabbed widgets for my type set. Nothing major, just stuff like common date Barber dimes, Liberty nickels, and the like in 63 grade. As I scanned the decent sized shop, I was among about 6 customers. Not one of them was under 60. I asked the owner/worker to see a few of the widgets I had mentioned above. No prices on the coins. As he was reaching for Coin Values mag, I interupted him by asking if he could do them at 10% over sheet ask. He looked at me like I just insulted his wife, and said "nothing sells at sheet". I informed him that I had aquired many like coins on Ebay at or about sheet, and he told me I should shop there then. I thanked him and walked out. I seriously felt like saying "hey buddy, look around, you have 6 customers here, 5 are over 60 and digging through wheat cents, and 1 is 32 with 2k in his pocket". The owner/worker himself appeared to be no more than 45 , its a mystery to me that he denied a potential customer with a potential of 25 years worth of business.

BECOKA

I did not really get into collecting till my 30's. Although I did collect the occasional proof set when I was young.

I suspect that the trend will continue that as people get more disposable income they will look at hobbies such as coin collecting. This means many won't start collecting until their 30's or later.

As a kid there are too many distractions now such as game machines etc... to worry about collecting coins. I am sure my kids will appreciate my collection differently when they are all grown up.

ziggy29

Looking at the sustained-to-rising prices of all the stuff I'd like to get, I'd say the reports of the "dying" of numismatics is greatly exaggerated.

If anything is going to threaten the hobby long term, IMO it's not demographic and generational factors but the increase in very high quality counterfeit coins and even counterfeit slabs.

mrearlygold

There's substantially more adults buying, selling and trading coins now than at any time in history. My Wife collects coins. She never did before she met me ( I'm a baaaad influence! )

A step son collects and has collected now for 8 years. Speaks Mandarin, English and Japanese. If he pursues this as a career, look out.

If we were blessed enough to have another child, no question that I would do everything I could to cultivate the interest in that child. So do thousands and thousands of others.

No, the hobby isn't dying. It's just getting started.

ricko

I agree with Becoka...there is a period in early youth where (today) coins can be mildly attractive... but video games, the opposite sex, sports, education etc. make many demands. As the youth matures, some of these interests subside and turn to other hobbies, coins being one option. So, I would not be too concerned over the age hiatus... fairly normal given life today. Cheers, RickO

gecko109

While I understand that disposable income does not come until well into adulthood, my concern is that even the 9 yr olds who have $5 to spend at a show, or shop on circulated lincolns are at least sowing the seeds of becoming heavy hitters later in life. You and I might be the exception becoka. I'd assume MOST collectors gained interest in coins in their youth, then progressed into serious collections as their pocketbooks allowed. You ask any given kid today if they collect coins, and the vast majority of answers are "huh"?

pharmer

Points well taken and made, but my gut says it expanding, possibly at a greater rate than ever before. Internet. Discretionary income which is at it's historical highs for this country. People getting into coins as adults versus kids. Internet. Popularity of mint products. Easier to get into "investment" vehicles(versus real estate, etc) as many newbs really do see coins as investments. Internet.

gecko109

<< <i>There's substantially more adults buying, selling and trading coins now than at any time in history. My Wife collects coins. She never did before she met me ( I'm a baaaad influence! )

A step son collects and has collected now for 8 years. Speaks Mandarin, English and Japanese. If he pursues this as a career, look out.

If we were blessed enough to have another child, no question that I would do everything I could to cultivate the interest in that child. So do thousands and thousands of others.

No, the hobby isn't dying. It's just getting started. >>




Yes, but a large percentage of those adults are boomers who searched for 1914-D, and 1931-S lincoln cents actively as kids, and now have sizable disposable income to reignite their youthful passion. Kids today dont go through pocket change searching for keys to fill whitman books anymore. So why will today's kids all the sudden gain interest in the hobby as tomorrow's adults?

TwoSides2aCoin

When I was a teen and pre teen, I filled up a whitman with vg to xf indian head cents. The neighbor kid's dad would go to flea markets always dealing junk and he knew I was filling up that album so he'd get them for me and I'd cherry the best and get rid of the rest.
It was the early seventies. I was a teen going into the coin shop, where the man bought my whole collection for $45. It took me 30 yrs before I ever had the desire to deal with coins again.
Kids collect coins and the hobby is in it's infancy with each generation. In a few years, kids will be dumping their childhood hobbies for other interests and the whole process will start anew.

UtahCoin

Another point to ponder..
I'm 55 and started collecting in 1961 at the age of 9. It was exciting then because of what you could find. Lincoln cents back to 1909 and the occasional well worn Indian Cent. Silver Jefferson nickels and all the Buffalo nickels you wanted. The Roosevelt dime had only been out 15 years so lots and lots of Mercury dimes were circulating. Washington quarters and Standing Liberty quarters by the buckets. WLH's and Franklins circulated freely. The occasional Barber coin was found too. People still found 1916 D and 42/1 dimes, 1909 S, S VDB, 14 D & 31 S pennies in change.

It was a fun time to sit with my dad sorting through coins.

Texast

When you look at the factors of what there is for kids today versus when I was a kid starting out in collecting a lot of things have changed. Instead of three channels on a black and white TV that might have been on for an hour each night there are 300+ Channels, Internet, Video Games etc... Not to mention the fact that kids would work back then, now it seems everything is handed to them. They don't have to know how to grade anymore, we have TPG's for that. Is it dying? Hard to tell, many hobbies are making a comeback, many have died off. I believe coins are right in the middle.

PerryHall

I belong to three coin clubs. The average member age now is about the same as when I first joined 30 years ago.

gecko109

<< <i>I belong to three coin clubs. The average member age now is about the same as when I first joined 30 years ago. >>




Thats a very good indicator that im wrong, and I hope I am.

lordmarcovan

<< <i>Is the hobby dying? >>

Not while I still draw breath, nor from my vantage point as a fly on the wall.

Julian

I personally believe that you should have been more diplomatic.

As a store owner myself, I would not entertain doing wholesale business with a retail customer, especially when there are 6 other customers in the store. However, if you had stated that you are interested in spending $2000 on widgets, and had done so privately, the owner may have been more accepting of the proposal.

I certainly agree that you have probably purchased some material at GS + 10%, but retail stores are unable to maintain their presence with that kind of mark-up.

Deadhorse

This has always been a niche hobby. It's had its ups and downs over the years but since I started as a young kid in the late 50s, I've seen the pendulum swing many times. True, if not for my great uncle who was a collector of some renown and my Father, I probably wouldn't have gotten into it and certainly at not such a young age. I was hoarding silver coins from '65 on, not many kids in grade school were doing that.

I think the hobby is doing just fine and in fact there is probably an upswing in the last several years, one obvious reason is the internet and the other is the US Mint promoting it. You wouldn't believe how things were 40+ years ago. We had our local club meetings and a monthly auction. All YNs back then were given a door prize to help promote the hobby. I've still got the first Stella I was given as a door prize at my first local auction. Later on, I learned they rigged the drawing to assure a YN won. It was a tradition that even the grumpiest older dealers were in favor of and donated to. Even they cared about the future back then.

There were very, very few B&M shops back then. Sometimes my Father and I would take a driving weekend to travel to only three of four shops that existed within a few hundred miles.

When the video game craze hit, I made it a point to introduce myself to the few owners of such short lived businesses. I offered them 30 cents for silver quarters. they were swimming in quarters and were happy to sell to me as long as I did the sorting for them. By that time, silver had fallen harshly in price, the Hunt brothers run was already over. Still, I was able to put away thousands of silver quarters. My wife put up with it as it was a fairly safe hobby and she knew I wasn't out fooling around.

Things are much different today, the hobby has been growing all around from what I can see. It still has it's ups and downs and right now I think we are in a bit of a down period, but that's only compared to the last few years.

I'd say we've grown over 1000% since I started collecting. Slabbing of coins has had a huge impact and it really does protect the newbies to a large degree, they just need to learn slab companies as opposed to studying coins. I expect it will do just fine.

Some of you guys have no idea what it used to be like when you either bought and sold at local meetings or small auctions or went to the classifieds in the few publications and crossed your fingers. I do think there is more emphasis on making money today than there was back then when the goal was completing a set. But that just goes along with the times and today's society.

Numismatics is better off in the last 10 years or so than it's ever been, IMO.

WTCG

The points that were expressed in the original thread are issues that coin dealers and plenty of people involved in the business discuss on a frequent basis. There always seems to be a need to attract younger collectors but the elderly personnel base do not seem to have a clue on how to accomplish that task. What works as a "hook" for older folks simply does not work for the younger crowd. I am 27 years old.

I should also say that many collectors do not begin an interest in numismatics until they are at a later age, so a lack of young collectors does not necessarily mean that numismatics are dying as an interest. Besides I think it's perfectly normal that teenagers and younger adults have interests in purchasing and collecting other items other than coins.

quickwing

The hobby would probably die if dealers operate a B&M at a 10% markup.

lordmarcovan

<< <i>Some of you guys have no idea what it used to be like when you either bought and sold at local meetings or small auctions or went to the classifieds in the few publications and crossed your fingers. >>

Oh, I do!



<< <i>I do think there is more emphasis on making money today than there was back then when the goal was completing a set. But that just goes along with the times and today's society. >>

Probably true.



<< <i>Numismatics is better off in the last 10 years or so than it's ever been, IMO. >>

I couldn't agree with you more.





<< <i>All YNs back then were given a door prize to help promote the hobby. I've still got the first Stella I was given as a door prize at my first local auction. >>

I like how you snuck that one little detail in there to check us and see if we were reading thoroughly.

For a minute there, I thought you said a Stella.

As in, S-T-E-L-L-A.

As in, four-dollar gold piece.

Surely you meant to type "Seated" or "Silver" or "Sterling" or "Shekel", right?

TomB

I "collected" coins as a kid, but that collection was limited to pieces I could pull out of my father's change bag from his milk route and then repay him with money I had in-hand. This was in the mid-1970s and I found nothing silver and only the sporadic Wheat cent. The rapid escalation of prices with the silver and gold boom pushed me out in the late-1970s to early-1980s and I went to college and then started a career before I finally got back into coins in the mid-1990s at 30-years old. I think there are a few things to keep in mind about your observations and they included that you can put together a substantial collection via internet purchases without ever going into a shop, that most pre-teens will need a parent to drive them to a local shop and if their parents are like mine were then they will never be taken to a shop and that as your disposable income grows you are likely to be able to buy more coins.

As for your coin shop experience, well, I will just say it reads as though you botched that one from start to finish. I wouldn't give a shot across the bow regarding pricing or grades; simply look at the coins and pass or play.

Deadhorse

<< <i>

<< <i>Some of you guys have no idea what it used to be like when you either bought and sold at local meetings or small auctions or went to the classifieds in the few publications and crossed your fingers. >>

Oh, I do!



<< <i>I do think there is more emphasis on making money today than there was back then when the goal was completing a set. But that just goes along with the times and today's society. >>

Probably true.



<< <i>Numismatics is better off in the last 10 years or so than it's ever been, IMO. >>

I couldn't agree with you more.





<< <i>All YNs back then were given a door prize to help promote the hobby. I've still got the first Stella I was given as a door prize at my first local auction. >>

I like how you snuck that one little detail in there to check us and see if we were reading thoroughly.

For a minute there, I thought you said a Stella.

As in, S-T-E-L-L-A.

As in, four-dollar gold piece.

Surely you meant to type "Seated" or "Silver" or "Sterling" or "Shekel", right? >>



Sorry, I meant the Maria Thaler coins that were churned out by the boatloads. Still, it was a big silver coin with an old date and it was a thrill to "win" it.

I guess I was having a senior moment, or a blond moment, take your pick.

Michigan

The hobby is being driven right now I believe by baby boomer money. The boomers are right now at the peak of their earning power for
the most part and just getting started in retirement. I think we are also seeing that younger collectors are not "joiners" as much as
older collectors in the sense of wanting to belong to coin clubs and organizations, I think they find that atmosphere stuffy and bureaucratic.
Who wants to attend "do I have a second for that motion" type of meeting? boring... They can most likely find all they need to know
about numismatics from books and the internet.

So, I don't think the hobby is dying, just some generational change in how people approach it.

gecko109

<< <i>The hobby would probably die if dealers operate a B&M at a 10% markup. >>




Totally unfair statement. I asked to buy common date coins at 10% above ASK. There is already a "mark-up" between bid/ask. I dont know any dealer at any B&M that will pay full sheet ask on a MS63 widget liberty nickel. If they buy at bid, and most buy these coins a little back of bid anyway, they sell 10% above ask, that represents a 17% profit. And again, that is if they buy at bid!

Deadhorse

<< <i>

<< <i>The hobby would probably die if dealers operate a B&M at a 10% markup. >>




Totally unfair statement. I asked to buy common date coins at 10% above ASK. There is already a "mark-up" between bid/ask. I dont know any dealer at any B&M that will pay full sheet ask on a MS63 widget liberty nickel. If they buy at bid, and most buy these coins a little back of bid anyway, they sell 10% above ask, that represents a 17% profit. And again, that is if they buy at bid! >>



I can buy at "ask" for most any coin at my regular B&M shop all day long. The only premium I ever see is for particularly PQ pieces.

I paid ask +20% on a 51 proof set as it had four obvious CAMs in it. The Frankie now resides in a 65 DCAM PCGS holder, the Washington made 67 CAM. Still haven't submitted the Lincoln or the Roosie, but they are solid cams themselves.

gecko109

<< <i>

<< <i>

<< <i>The hobby would probably die if dealers operate a B&M at a 10% markup. >>




Totally unfair statement. I asked to buy common date coins at 10% above ASK. There is already a "mark-up" between bid/ask. I dont know any dealer at any B&M that will pay full sheet ask on a MS63 widget liberty nickel. If they buy at bid, and most buy these coins a little back of bid anyway, they sell 10% above ask, that represents a 17% profit. And again, that is if they buy at bid! >>



I can buy at "ask" for most any coin at my regular B&M shop all day long. The only premium I ever see is for particularly PQ pieces.

I paid ask +20% on a 51 proof set as it had four obvious CAMs in it. The Frankie now resides in a 65 DCAM PCGS holder, the Washington made 67 CAM. Still haven't submitted the Lincoln or the Roosie, but they are solid cams themselves. >>



Ok, so my offer to pay for common date widgets at 10% ABOVE sheet ask was fair then right?

ONETHREE

When I was a kid I was too busy pilfering My Dad's jar of Kennedy halfs for video games. Although I did mange to methodically accrue full Topps (one pack at a time) sets in the early eighties. I recently looked through a coin album I rediscovered and had since I was about eight. Surprise, Suprise some buffalo nickels and even a barber dime! So it is evident that I was encouraged, although it did not "take" until about ten years ago, a long while after those first albums.

CoinHusker

Dying? Parts of it may just be. Clubs in particular are on that path. But as a whole, maybe changing, transforming or adjusting are more appropriate definitions of what's happening in the hobby today.

fc

i think coin collecting is experience its glory days right now with
baby boomers recapturing their youth.

in 20-30 years the market will be flooded with coins as the families
sell off these accumulations with very few buyers wanting to pay
what they did.

just look at stamp collecting to understand what will happen.
the mint is following the same path right now as the PO.

people i meet now days would never ever consider spending 500
bucks on a single coin. to them that is stupid.

lordmarcovan

<< <i>Sorry, I meant the Maria Thaler coins that were churned out by the boatloads. Still, it was a big silver coin with an old date and it was a thrill to "win" it.

I guess I was having a senior moment, or a blond moment, take your pick. >>

Dang, too bad. I was wondering what coin club would be giving out Stellas as door prizes forty years ago. If that club was still in existence, I would move to that town and join the club and attend every single meeting. You gotta figure, even now, though they surely wouldn't still be giving out Stellas, maybe one could count on winning a High Relief Saint or something.

keets

a "boring" hobby like Numismatics is really up against the wall in todays tech-driven world of video games, PC's, cell phones and other distractions that a teenager might be drawn to. i think it speaks volumes that many here tend to admit coming to the hobby in their late 20's-early 30's when they've matured a bit. i actually started around 9-10 and then fell away in my 20's-30's only to return.

Deadhorse

<< <i>

<< <i>

<< <i>

<< <i>The hobby would probably die if dealers operate a B&M at a 10% markup. >>




Totally unfair statement. I asked to buy common date coins at 10% above ASK. There is already a "mark-up" between bid/ask. I dont know any dealer at any B&M that will pay full sheet ask on a MS63 widget liberty nickel. If they buy at bid, and most buy these coins a little back of bid anyway, they sell 10% above ask, that represents a 17% profit. And again, that is if they buy at bid! >>



I can buy at "ask" for most any coin at my regular B&M shop all day long. The only premium I ever see is for particularly PQ pieces.

I paid ask +20% on a 51 proof set as it had four obvious CAMs in it. The Frankie now resides in a 65 DCAM PCGS holder, the Washington made 67 CAM. Still haven't submitted the Lincoln or the Roosie, but they are solid cams themselves. >>



Ok, so my offer to pay for common date widgets at 10% ABOVE sheet ask was fair then right? >>



More than fair. If you were to come join me on a trip to my fav local shop, they'd serve you donuts in the morning just as soon as you walked in the door and free coffee or soft drinks all day long. You could also save your 10%, they'd sell at ask till you ran out of money or they ran out of coins and I suspect the former. They are a high volume seller and move a lot of coins. They are almost always at a good sized show every weekend.

One thing I've learned, if I look at a coin on Tuesday, I'd better grab it then. It probably won't be there by Friday.

I suppose what part of the country you are in plays a role. I'm lucky down here as we have several shops, so prices are very competitive.

Elcontador

I started collecting coins at age 12 in 1963, when I got a 1932 S quarter in change at a movie theater, and something in my gut told me I should keep this "really old coin." I was able to find vitually all Mercs, excepting the 1916 D, the 1921 P & D & the overdates in change. Was also able to find most Buffs, and most any Lincoln worth under $5 at the time in change. Then I got into other activities, my career, etc. I got some GSA CC $s from the mint, because something in my gut told me that this would be my last chance to do so, and forgot about them.

Flash forward to the mid 1990s, when B & M was auctioning 'conserved' shipwreck gold coins in the hotel which was literally across the street from my office. I took one look at them & got back into the hobby and have been in it ever since.

My point is, that tastes change. How many of the high end registry set types were collecting as kids? I'd say not many. I'll bet many of these folks got into coin collecting as adults, when they had more disposable income.

I compare this to running, which is something I've been doing consistently for nearly 40 years. Most of the people I used to run with either lost interest in the sport / hobby, or put in too many miles so they can't run any longer. But the demographics of running have changed. These days, the typical runner is middle-aged - he / she discovered running as an adult. The gadget makers are keenly aware of this, and you see these middle runners buying heart-rate monitors, Garmin Forerunners (to track distance, pace, calories, altitude, you name it), Ipods, etc. Yet, if anything, average times have gotten slower. As an aside, it is really weird going to a race where I show up with my watch and I see others loaded up with all sorts of gadgets.

Compare this to coin collecting. I'll bet you see more adults getting into the hobby for the first time these days. And like the new generation of runners, they have more disposable income. Instead of buying Garmin Forerunners, they are buying more expensive coins.
I think it would be interesting to compare the volume, of say, Barber or Seated Halves in MS 65 being bought and sold now versus a generation ago. Bet the volume is much higher these days.

Deadhorse

<< <i>

<< <i>Sorry, I meant the Maria Thaler coins that were churned out by the boatloads. Still, it was a big silver coin with an old date and it was a thrill to "win" it.

I guess I was having a senior moment, or a blond moment, take your pick. >>

Dang, too bad. I was wondering what coin club would be giving out Stellas as door prizes forty years ago. If that club was still in existence, I would move to that town and join the club and attend every single meeting. You gotta figure, even now, though they surely wouldn't still be giving out Stellas, maybe one could count on winning a High Relief Saint or something. >>



Sorry for causing the salivating and wet keyboard. It was an honest mistake, I was in typing mode. Yes, the club is still in existence, though I live over 1,000+ miles away. My cousin is still a member there and they still give out very nice door prizes. His son won a modern quarter ounce Gold Eagle not too long ago. They still cater to the YNs, so you might not win anything, unless you can hire a couple of cute young kids as shills for you.

gecko109

Deadhorse, im in Chicago, with no fewer than about 2 dozen coin shops within 20 miles radius. The store I was talking about was not my regular place, and it was the first, and last time I went there. I can usually get my widgets at local shows for sheet +10% from larger dealers, but that one shop really pissed me off I suppose. As I stated before, here is a younger guy with a decent coin budget (about $500/mth) who was shut out. His loss I suppose, as i'll continue to spend my cash at shows, other B&M's and of course the bay. What area are you in?

coinsarefun

<< <i>Points well taken and made, but my gut says it expanding, possibly at a greater rate than ever before. Internet. Discretionary income which is at it's historical highs for this country. People getting into coins as adults versus kids. Internet. Popularity of mint products. Easier to get into "investment" vehicles(versus real estate, etc) as many newbs really do see coins as investments. Internet. >>







I agree completely,
I didn't find this hobby until a few years ago.
I was looking for something on Ebay that is my background ,Hungarian.
I saw a gold coin, picked it up for $80. I thought why not its gold!
After it came in the mail I started checking to see if I paid to much. After comparing it to other coins I paid almost half price. I said to myself, hey this is pretty cool, got something from my heritage and made money. COOL.
That is when I started checking into numismatics. Up until then I didn't even know this Stuff existed. And what great Stuff this hobby is

quickwing

You DID say sheet ask. I was wrong in reacting to "sheet" thinking you meant grey sheet price and NOT ask. Fair offer gecko!

Deadhorse

<< <i>Deadhorse, im in Chicago, with no fewer than about 2 dozen coin shops within 20 miles radius. The store I was talking about was not my regular place, and it was the first, and last time I went there. I can usually get my widgets at local shows for sheet +10% from larger dealers, but that one shop really pissed me off I suppose. As I stated before, here is a younger guy with a decent coin budget (about $500/mth) who was shut out. His loss I suppose, as i'll continue to spend my cash at shows, other B&M's and of course the bay. What area are you in? >>



Houston, Texas. Been here most of my life.

I'd think Chicago is big enough to be a competitive place. I have found that prices do vary around the country, sometimes surprisingly so.

I go to Phoenix regularly on business and have family there. I've checked out all the shops in the area and found them to all be much more expensive than here in Houston.

MajorDuty

Considering video games and puberty I'm surprised there would be ANY YNs.

gecko109

<< <i>You DID say sheet ask. I was wrong in reacting to "sheet" thinking you meant grey sheet price and NOT ask. Fair offer gecko! >>



Ok, thanks for the post. I was beginning to feel like a bit of an a-hole. All I want to do is put together a semi-serious collection without being too far upside down as far as values go. If im trying to buy keys at 10% above ask, then maybe I dont have a firm grip on reality, but im talking common dates here in 63-64 grade! Not trying to get 1795 half eagles in AU58 at sheet AU ask!..LOL

secondrepublic

The reak question is whether a lot of people get into coins for the first time as adults. If most adult collectors began by collecting as kids (with the usual "time off" between age 15 and 30), then the lack of YN's is a real problem. On the other hands, if a lot of people just pick up the hobby as adults, then the lack of YN's isn't that much of a concern.

Blackhawk

It's tough to draw the young into the hobby when it's tilting more and more to a situation where coin investors are now looked at as numismatists. People with money and little if any real interest in any facet of coin, medal, or token collecting are becoming instant experts by buying graded coins from storied collections...evermore to be considered among great collectors, even though many only buy encapsulated coins because they can't tell a XF from a BU unless there's number wriiten by someone else on the holder. Most young people have a very limited budget, and common circ. coins are what they collect...they can't relate to stories of someone buying a coin for $300,000 and selling it again for $500,000 a few months later. To them, stories about circulation finds are mighty exciting and rightfully so.

Michigan

<< <i>Considering video games and puberty I'm surprised there would be ANY YNs. >>




Not all kids are interested in video games, coin collecting I think is more likely to attract someone who is interested in history, culture
etc. and not so much current entertainment things. A "nerd" in other words.

gecko109

<< <i>It's tough to draw the young into the hobby when it's tilting more and more to a situation where coin investors are now looked at as numismatists. People with money and little if any real interest in any facet of coin, medal, or token collecting are becoming instant experts by buying graded coins from storied collections...evermore to be considered among great collectors, even though many only buy encapsulated coins because they can't tell a XF from a BU unless there's number wriiten by someone else on the holder. Most young people have a very limited budget, and common circ. coins are what they collect...they can't relate to stories of someone buying a coin for $300,000 and selling it again for $500,000 a few months later. To them, stories about circulation finds are mighty exciting and rightfully so. >>




How many kids do you know of personally that even search change for their sets? That was very common back in the 60's and 70's. And that "grass roots" style of low budget collecting is what made those same kids turn into serious hobbyists as adults. There is no more of this going on anymore, so when today's 10 and 11 year old become tomorrow's 35-40 yr old, what will cause them to spend their disposable incomes on coins, rather than playstation 3, which will rekindle their youth much in the same way a 1916-D rekindles the youth of a 60 year old well heeled collector today?

gecko109

<< <i>

<< <i>Considering video games and puberty I'm surprised there would be ANY YNs. >>




Not all kids are interested in video games, coin collecting I think is more likely to attract someone who is interested in history, culture
etc. and not so much current entertainment things. A "nerd" in other words. >>




HAHA. I live next door to 3 "nerds" ages 9, 13, and 15. I showed the 13 year old an 1894-S Barber half in EF condition just this summer while he was on my porch talking to my wife about something. His response? "Wow thats pretty cool". Didnt ask about where I got it, how much it cost, or if I had any others. Just not interested. The same type of kid in 1967 might have gone into his house and brought out some IHC's to show off. This kid probably just wanted to go play nintendo.

lordmarcovan

We nerds will survive as a species. I'm fully confident of that. There will always be more nerds.

DoubleEagle59

My personal view is I think the hobby will suffer greatly in the future. Not in the next 10 or 20 years, but it may take a little more years than that. I have this view because I feel the young collectors just aren't entering the hobby in great enough numbers to sustain the market.

Maybe not to the great extent that has happened to the stamp market, but something along its lines.

I'm 49 years old and I intend on having everything sold by the time I'm 60 (if not sooner).

jdillane

I collected as a youth but gave it up in early teens, then sold it off to help with school costs. Back with a vengence now.

The hobby will likely continue to strengthen, then soften beyond ordinary market cycles, due to population demographics tipping the supply demand scales.

gecko109

<< <i>My personal view is I think the hobby will suffer greatly in the future. Not in the next 10 or 20 years, but it may take a little more years than that. I have this view because I feel the young collectors just aren't entering the hobby in great enough numbers to sustain the market.

Maybe not to the great extent that has happened to the stamp market, but something along its lines.

I'm 49 years old and I intend on having everything sold by the time I'm 60 (if not sooner). >>




Thats exactly what my OP was all about. What will the market be in 10-20 years? Much softer?

WillardStiles

I'm 25, just turned this past October. I was never into coins, actually, they've been the furthest thing from my mind up until this past summer.The only things I've ever really cared about was music and girls. The only exposure I've ever had to coins was my dads Wheat Penny collection that I would screw around with when I was little. I found a Buffalo nickel at local field with my girlfriend and a buddy of mine. That's what got me curious and it took off from there, now I'm obsessed. But I show all my friends that stuff I've been buying and they all think it's insane and love looking at the stuff. I think most people have never really been exposed to coins aside from what they have in their pocket change. I had one friend the other night call me really late and ask me if he should buy some Morgans that he saw on TV. He wanted them because they were really old and silver, he thought it was cool. So now he's starting to get into the hobby. He was just never exposed to any types of coins before I don't think or maybe he was, but he was too busy doing the things that young people do.

Rollerman

I think the coin hobby will be o.k., but can only speculate. I have a greater fear for some other hobby interests I have (lifelong pigeon flier and the 20's jazz music of Bix Beiderbecke).
I fooled around as a coin collector as a kid, but money was always a problem. My interests became acute when I was 30+ until about age 40, then it was kind of cooled for fifteen years but picked up again with great enthusiasm when I retired at age 56.
My kids can sell or keep my coins, but as long as I'm still kicking, they are mine to enjoy!
Pete

Cladiator

I had zero interaction with coin collecting when I was a child. Started collecting about 5-6 years ago, in my mid/late 20's.