Any stories out there of how long it took a modern collector....

bidask

to graduate to collecting classic coins or a classic collector to graduate to collecting modern coins?

Would love to hear your story of how long it took, why, what .....etc.

I don't have a story to tell yet.......just curious.

Fairlaneman

Have collected Semi Classic/Modern (1916 thru1964) for over 25 years. Have wavered a few times into classic stuff but never into modern or ultra modern stuff.

Ken

Myqqy

I started collecting as a kid with proof sets and old seated dimes and indian cents- so I've always been split right down the middle of the path...

sumnom

I have always collected both.

Musky1011

moderns- less than a year
reason- found that out when I went to sell them

JRocco

I collect ultra modern stuff......

Everytime I buy a cup of coffee I get a ton of it in change

cladking

I've told this a million times so here's the short version.

I hated the ugly, dishonest little slugs when they first appeared in 1965. It wasn't
only what they were but what they represented; the end of collectible coins in cir-
culation. They got more interesting as they wore a little but there were always bright
shiny new '65's, '68-D's and other dates showing up in change. Then I read a story
that the mint and FED were going to started rotating their coin stocks in 1972 and
speculating in them looked like some fast easy money.

OK, I couldn't have been more wrong but my 1976 I was hooked on these coins and
had started collecting them. I guess it took me 11 years. I started collecting in 1957
so you might say it took 19 years.

bidask

<< <i>I've told this a million times so here's the short version.

I hated the ugly, dishonest little slugs when they first appeared in 1965. It wasn't
only what they were but what they represented; the end of collectible coins in cir-
culation. They got more interesting as they wore a little but there were always bright
shiny new '65's, '68-D's and other dates showing up in change. Then I read a story
that the mint and FED were going to started rotating their coin stocks in 1972 and
speculating in them looked like some fast easy money.

OK, I couldn't have been more wrong but my 1976 I was hooked on these coins and
had started collecting them. I guess it took me 11 years. I started collecting in 1957
so you might say it took 19 years. >>

what do you mean rotating their coin stocks?

MORGANHUNTER2

WHEN does Modern START
and CLASSIC's end?

JRocco

<< <i>WHEN does Modern START
and CLASSIC's end? >>



One easy method....
If it is available in pocket change (and not the extremely uncommon rare find).... its modern.

cladking

<< <i>what do you mean rotating their coin stocks? >>




Before 1972 they'd drive a forklift full of coins into the warehouse and
put them wherever there was room. When they needed coins out of
storage they'd pick the first pallet they saw. This meant there were pal-
lets of old but mint condition coins buried in the back of all the FED and
mint warehouses (probably around 30 in those days). In 1972 they
changed to FIFO (First In, First Out) accounting which required that all
stocks are rotated.

In the past this was one of the major ways old coins survived in pris-
tine condition. The other major ways were by being intentionally kept
as backing for currency or in collections. With the switch in accounting
there was no longer ANY mechanism for coins to survive.

Many of the rarest moderns simply don't exist at all in unc because of
this.

Arizonadesertrat

<< <i>WHEN does Modern START
and CLASSIC's end? >>



Good question, and the answer depends on who you ask. My grandmother got me started (hooked) in the late 60's/early 70's, and she did not consider any contemporary coin series worth collecting (no Lincolns, Jeffs, Roosies, Washingtons, Franklins, Kennedys, Ikes, etc.). I was collecting gem BU Franklins, gem BU/proof Kennedys, and XF Buffalo nickels as a kid--with help (presents) from her and my parents as far as expensive coins were concerned. I had turned to VF-XF Barber halves while I was 15-25 and then quit after finishing this long (and exhausting) set and getting ripped off by some dealers as I was starting a Walker set.

When I returned to collecting in January 2007, my interests (and wallet) had changed, so I now collect early coppers, Morgans, and Capped Bust halves, with occasional type coins thrown in. Other than what's in my Dansco 7070 type album, the only post-1930 U. S. coins that I have are in a 1942 gem proof set that I received as part of a college graduation present from my grandmother.

AUandAG

Just this year I've begun to collect something from the post '64 era. Maybe boredom, maybe a series
that just intregues me. Whatever, I've begun collecting the presidential dollars. Just the history of
the presidents does it for me, I guess! Anyway, it has been fun so far, and I'm glad that there are
A and B or at least 8 coins plus 4 proofs a year to collect.
bob
Oh, I've been collecting pre '64 coinage for over 50 years.