What is your foreign collection?

pepupek

I've been collecting foreigns for years (20th century BU crowns, etc.), but it's been random. I'm thinking of putting some organization to it; like assembling a type specimen from each country in the world. I don't want to limit it to 20th century, but can't afford all 19th century...

Has anyone out there done this?

How do you collect? By country? Kings and queens? Crowns?

I'm looking for ideas. Any input is appreciated.

DorkGirl

I sure can't help you. I'm kind of like a "OOOOh, it's bright and shiny, I want it" kind of collector.

lordmarcovan

For a while, I did Great Britain by kings and queens (1066-up, never completed, naturally).

A few years ago I completed the Irish predecimal series in the three Dansco albums (which are both type AND date sets).

Since my daughter Victoria's birth in 2001, I have been working on a type set of Victoria portrait coins from 1901 (Britain and all the colonies that produced coins in 1901).

Currently, as you can see from my sigline, I am working on Roman Imperial coins by emperor/empress.

I did British large pennies by date some time ago, and got most but not all of the dates from 1860 up (excluding varieties- it was just a basic date set).

My other world coin collecting interest is much more random. I collect pre-1900 US and world holed coins (with post-mint drilled holes, not mintmade holes) and put them on my "Holey Coin Vest", which I wear to shows. The top hat I wear with my eccentric ensemble is called the "Holey Gold Hat", and it is all pre-1900 gold (and a few fakes and plated coins for fun).

The sheer size of the field of world coins means that there is bound to be something for everyone, but sometimes there's too much to choose from. There is all kinds of stuff I like, but I have limited my collecting somewhat so I could pick a few themes. Of course I buy it all- most stuff I just buy, enjoy a while, and resell, making me part collector and part dealer.

PS- the theme you mentioned about a type specimen from each country is a popular one. It is often referred to here as "OFEC". (One from each country). Should be challenging, but fun. (And no doubt one of the challenges is limiting yourself to just one piece from some countries that have lots of beautiful designs!)

ajaan

I have changed collecting directions so much, I can't remember half of them.

Dentuck

At the Florida United Numismatists (FUN) show, I was talking with a collector who had contributed photographs, information, and valuations to the most recent edition of A Catalog of Modern World Coins, 1850-1964. He was holding a copy and told me, "I collect this book." At first I thought he meant he's a numismatic bibliophile, and collects old editions. But he meant that he collects world coins by type, using the Yeoman book as a guide. He's only missing a few hundred out of the book's nearly 4,000 listed types --- an impressive collection!

bidask

I thought mine were more classic type, but at one table at FUN there was a collection of modern crowns that reminded me of the coins I collected long ago. So I bought a Lichtensein 1946 crown, a Mexico 1954 cinco peso, a 1956 Columbian peso, a 1952 Dominican republic crown , a 1971 Thailand crown ( the guy wearing the glasses), a 1966 Lesotho crown, and a 1932 crown from Latvia.

These were all choice BU coins and funny thing, I enjoy them as much as some of the rarer earlier foreign coins I own.

Personally, I do not understand why that is?

Resplandor

I Love all Mexican coins but mainly resplandores

intocoins

I bought a Krause book 1901-2000. Every time I purchase an example from a different country, I put a little check to each country. Other than that I like Mexican,Canadian,Britain and German coinage.

LTrain

I have the George VI 3 Pence Set, for Israel the 1980 - 1985 New Agora - Shequel Type Set. In Palau coins almost all of the Marine Life Protection $1. In Euro I have the complete 2000 series.

My big collection is Australia, collecting Kangaroo silver dollars, Antartic Territory Series, Ocean Series, Koala Silver Series, Lunar 1/2 oz silver, Lunar 1/10 oz gold, I also have mint sets for 1985, 86, 91, and 1999-2007.

theboz11

I theme collect. Lions , Cars and Bare Breasted Ladies on coins and medals medals which are a far rarer bunch to aquire due to the very low mintages.

wybrit

British coins, 1838-1970. Focusing more on farthings, halfpennies, 3ds and 6ds these days.

ccrdragon

I collect South African Copper, Guernsey/Jersey pre-decimal copper and British Half-pence (with the ship on the reverse)

I am also working on a 20th century copper type-set from the African continent

satootoko

I differentiate my OFEC collection by monetary regimes. For example, I have pre-decimal and current coins from Great Britain and many of its Commonwealth partners; I have current, pre-devaluation, revolutionary period, Spanish and French Imperial period among my Mexican coins; and since they change dating system each time a new Emperor is enthroned, I have pre-Meiji, Meiji, Taisho, Showa and Heisei Japanese examples.

Defining what you mean by a "country" for "one from every" purposes can be an inclusive, or exclusive, as your own tastes and budget dictate. There's definitely no "right" or "wrong" definition!

AuldFartte

I started my foreign "collection" by grabbing everything that caught my eye. I have scaled that back now. I have three foreign collections going on at the moment: A British Victorian Type Set (plus some Vickie medals for the hell of it!); A Canadian Type Set (currently inactive); and British Conder Tokens with architectural themes. If I ever finish the two type sets, I may start an Australian type set since I bought the old Dansco albums for it from Æthelred some time ago

Meiji

I collect Spanish Portraits and Spanish Pillars and their colonies.

Weg

I think if I were to start a foreign collection, it would start with Japan.
Reasons:
Intersting designs and to me nice patterns to look at.
Having to figure out the ruler and year of ruler which replaces the date on other type coins.

Doogy

here is my descent into madness, from earlier collecting to today

1. got into proof Kennedy halves, especially Accented Hair

2. from there, I leaped into world gold coins

3. after that, I got into the vague category of "beautiful world coins"

4. I dabbled in Swiss 'shooting' thalers, and German 'Victory' thalers

5. "discovered" Queen Victorian Crowns with the Pistrucci reverse.

6. Dan lured me into Victorian medals and other coronation medals

7. I'm now branching out into more British: George IV Crowns, George IV shillings, Victoria Double-Florins, et cetera.

As one can see, my attention has now turned primarily British. With that being said, numbers 5-7 in my list are what i currently collect, with the previous numbers being only
fond memories.

Doug

newbiecollector

<< <i>I theme collect. Lions , Cars and Bare Breasted Ladies on coins and medals medals which are a far rarer bunch to aquire due to the very low mintages. >>


I have been known to collect theme coins...a few boats...............

..........of course most all of mine are so called "modern or just bullion".

I don't care...I still like my boats and even got another great meneber here intersted in them..................he may let you know who he is

cacheman

www.karlgoetz.com

farthing

My sig line sums it up pretty well - but most everything has been put on hold while I focus on Conder tokens.

Of course I still buy the occasional coin/token/medal that just catches my fancy

MadMuffin

I collect world coins and like many others here I started off collecting everything in the "hey, that one's nice!"-category.

At the moment I am working on several type collections:
Danish type coins
Gibraltar and Isle of Man circulation type coins (almost finished, less than 10 to go!)
Australia type coins, mostly circulation coins but also some proofs
German type coins from 1873 to present'
Nepalese type coins
Papal states / Vatican coins from St. Peter to 1950 - expensive but nice

Besides that I have a lot of different world coins I picked up along the way.

Good luck with your collection!

Marcel

Sapyx

<< <i>...It is often referred to here as "OFEC". (One from each country)... >>


OFEC - that's me. I've chosen to keep it challenging by going for not only provincial issues and civil war factions, and each change of government a country sees (monarchy to republic to communist to post-communist, that sort of thing), but I've set no "start date" - my collection goes right back to ancients and the dawn of coinage, right through mediaeval and up to the present day.

Current count: 622 "countries". That doesn't, for the most part, include the "change of government" thing.

Complete? I don't plan on "completing" anything. No way I could afford to, on my budget.

mojoman

<< <i>I sure can't help you. I'm kind of like a "OOOOh, it's bright and shiny, I want it" kind of collector. >>



THIS is me also, but I do lean more towards ,Early English,German,Mexican and Roman/greek coins also Early Canadian etc , it goes on and on lol.
......................................................................................................................................................................GOOD LUCK,MoJo

shirohniichan

My collection that interests me the most is made up of silver commonwealth coins from George V's reign.