Do you "Aspire to Greatness"?

MrEureka

PCGS Registry advertising challenges collectors to "Aspire to Greatness".

One way to to do that is by building a top-ranked registry set, of course.

Yet there are many other ways to build truly great collections, even on a budget. If you think you've found another way, please tell us about it.

BTW, this thread is not intended to knock the many collectors who settle for building more conventional, low-ranked or casual collections. My purpose is to inspire collectors to think outside of the box and take on unusual challenges that could provide a lifetime of numismatic satisfaction.

GoldenEyeNumismatics

Well, building a beautifully matched set certainly would be lovely.

RYK

I aspire to acquire a collection that allows me to connect my interest in history and historical events to coins, a tangible relic of these past events. I will leave "greatness" for you rich folks.

Colquhoun

I am doing world modern silver bullion, complete!, I figure it will take most of the rest of my life.. some have mintages below 500 yet are reasonable.

Longacre

<< <i>I aspire to acquire a collection that allows me to connect my interest in history and historical events to coins, a tangible relic of these past events. I will leave "greatness" for you rich folks. >>




I like this approach. I will also leave the greatness part to the rich folk.

Broadstruck

MrEureka, I feel knocked!

MrEureka

MrEureka, I feel knocked

I dunno. A complete broadstruck type set would be kinda great...

savoyspecial

on the contrary my collecting focus this year has simplified......if you feel your hobby of coins is becoming a 'rat race' and too similar to your job you should do what i did; go purchase a Whitman Penny Board (retro style) post haste.....its the most fun i've had in years.....i'm picking up low grade cents in dealers bargain bins and my kids are having a blast

the serious collector in me has also made a revalation recently.....that being that i can study coins that are interesting to me (the definition of a numismatist) without necessarily having to purchase said coin(s)

i'm enjoying it.....and conversations with board members helps expand my knowledge of this hobby

greg

291fifth

Having a Registry Set does not equate to greatness.

Coxe

Numismatics really should be numismology (sp?). Its greatest merits are bestowed on theose who make numismatic study advance. In that respect, I think a collector at any budgetary level can aspire to greatness. In fact, one could simply study coins without owning a single one, thought hat would be exceedingly difficult. I also like the suggestion of a well-matched set. That seems to fallen out of favor with far too many collectors who now compete for tag grades. Whether it is a type set or fate/mm series set, matching nicely is always great.

Broadstruck

In fact, one could simply study coins without owning a single one

Coxe, youv'e hit the nail on the head!

Shamika

<< <i>Having a Registry Set does not equate to greatness. >>

savoyspecial

good point coxe, i have noticed that the date/mm collectors are more rare now than the collectors looking for the stellar individual pieces....

one more note, the term 'aspire to greatness' as it refers to registry sets is rather pretentious in my opinion.....who defines greatness? a TPG? each individual collector?

not to get far off topic but a few weeks ago a fellow forum member had his automobile stolen with a cache of coins inside taken as well.....he was not soliciting for handouts in anyway but myself and a few other guys i know mailed him some extras from out collections (which were received with much appreciation)......the point of this is that aspiring to greatness can be had more from being part of a great community such as this board with common interests, and less from a numeric grade on a label

greg

jhdfla

Building a registry set of something say like a complete high grade set of Seated Quarters would certainly qualify in my book as "aspiring to greatness". The difficulty of building such a set in high grade is obvious, and the pictures of the coins posted in the registry of such sets are a joy to look at for someone interested in the series. However with all due respect, I think a registry set of common late date Lincoln cents for example becomes more of a marketing ploy by the TPG's, and a bit of idiocy for someone willing to do such a set and pay say 5 figures for a top graded 2003 Lincoln cent. This is in no way meant to knock someone who aspires to build a late date high grade set of mondern cents, but to spend an exhorbitant amount on such coins which are top pop just to have the honors of the highest graded set of a common set of coins seems silly to me.

When I was a young man I remember the greatest joy I had in assembling a high grade set of Standing Quarters in an album, mostly high grade AU's well before the advent of TPG's... now in no way was that any aspiration towards greatness, but it was a load of fun, and it was a blast to be able to pop the coins out every now and then and actually hold them in your hand and study them. In the same vein, I can completely understand some of the EAC guys and ancient collectors and envy them in some ways, in that they can hold and study their coins and just pop them into the flips when done. I still have a small collection of Greek ancients which I can do that with, but I'm not about to pop my gem no-motto half out of the holder to handle it.

A nice higher grade later date set of 2 1/2 Libs in 63-64 would be a challenge but still doable. A set of gem Franklins with original mint set toning is still doable. A circ set of Lincolns in high grade is too. Would any of them qualify for greatness, no, but the enjoyment lies in assembling the set.

BillJones

I can't aspire to their idea greatness because I don't have that much money; I don't want to waste money trying to cross all of my NGC coins to PCGS; and I don't want to try to upgrade my entire collection. I have many coins in my collection that please me very much.

And I have no desire to pay outragious prices for modern coins that would bore me.

I've won the award across the street for best presented set in the early half dime and U.S. type set categories. For a guy who never went higher than middle manager in corporate America, I think I've done pretty well.

Julio

"on the contrary my collecting focus this year has simplified......if you feel your hobby of coins is becoming a 'rat race' and too similar to your job you should do what i did; go purchase a Whitman Penny Board (retro style) post haste.....its the most fun i've had in years.....i'm picking up low grade cents in dealers bargain bins and my kids are having a blast

the serious collector in me has also made a revalation recently.....that being that i can study coins that are interesting to me (the definition of a numismatist) without necessarily having to purchase said coin(s)

i'm enjoying it.....and conversations with board members helps expand my knowledge of this hobby"

greg


Gregg summed up my current thinking. Only difference, he was far more eloquent.

Great, thought for a thread, Mr. Euraka. Extremely thought provocking. Ya got me thinking, my wife tells me I get myself into trouble, when I do that. . Take Care, jws.

ricko

I feel my collection is great - to me! My personal 'greatness' originates from other pursuits. If I were to aspire to greatness in numismatics, which I do not, I would pursue the identification of variants not previously found - and build a 'set' of these 'firsts'. However, I have too many other interests. Cheers, RickO

gecko109

"greatness" is itself a relative term. My collection qualifies as "greatness" when placed next to the collections of perhaps the bottom 20% of collectors. However, my collection looks like garbage when placed next to the upper 20%. So what does this word "greatness" even mean anyway?

Broadstruck

Best not to let anyone see you Perspire as you Aspire to Greatness!

Michigan

I collect to please myself, not parade high grade expensive coins before other people in an ego trip exposition which it seems to me is
what the registry set thing is all about.

fc

what is this aspire talk about? i thought we were all ALREADY great.

BillJones

I've never looked at the top sets here, but across the street a great many of those sets have no pictures and descriptions. It’s just a list of the coins with grades on them. So far as I’m concerned there is absolutely nothing “great” about that. If you have a great collection with all of these rare and high coins, you should have enough interest in it to write something about it. And if you own a million dollar collection, the excuse that taking pictures is too expensive does not cut it. .

mgoodm3

I don't really aspire to greatness in collecting. I just want a few cool coins.

fastrudy

I find it difficult to aspire to mediocrity.

Barry

<< <i>

<< <i>Having a Registry Set does not equate to greatness. >>



>>



I agree with both of you.

tradedollarnut

When I was doing proof seated dollars, my focus was not on the best coin but rather on a coin from each of the great collections of the past. I think a collection made up of one coin from significant past collections along with a writeup of why that collection was significant in the collectors eyes would be a rather special thing!

Julio

"When I was doing proof seated dollars, my focus was not on the best coin but rather on a coin from each of the great collections of the past. I think a collection made up of one coin from significant past collections along with a writeup of why that collection was significant in the collectors eyes would be a rather special thing!" tradedollarnut

I can no fault in the logic. I agree. My problem is I am unfortunately hooked on instant gratification. I have yet to learn the patience to save up for a better piece. My pocket book is restricted when it comes to coins.

. Take care, jws

MrEureka

For an example of "aspiring to greatness" in an "out of the box" way, consider that it would take a very serious and hard-working collector decades to build the finest collection of pornographic hobo nickels, and the collection might never exceed a dozen coins and $30,000 in value. Yet specialists would speak in awe of the collection for all time. That is greatness, in my book.

RichieURich

This is how I "aspired to greatness":
My story ; story written by Greg Reynolds for Coinlink.

fc

<< <i>For an example of "aspiring to greatness" in an "out of the box" way, consider that it would take a very serious and hard-working collector decades to build the finest collection of pornographic hobo nickels, and the collection might never exceed a dozen coins and $30,000 in value. Yet specialists would speak in awe of the collection for all time. That is greatness, in my book. >>




greatness is creating the nickels yourself, not the buying of them.
specialists might consider it great. the creators would call them a poser?!? ;-)

odd how the label greatness can only be applied by the onlooker.

it seems greatness is easily afixed to things that cannot easily be
reproduced?

fun thread to think about.

Baley

Yes, a ranking registry set is one way to define greatness. I do not have a registry set, but do now have a collection that the 11-year-old me would think is great, containing coins that I could only dream of as a kid. My 1800-2000 type set, yes (a collection like BillJones' is what I aspire to), but also working on a set of half draped bust halves by die variety and 1804-1828 quarters by die variety. In these endeavors, I will never be a Reiver, but his collecting philosophy strikes my chords.

19Lyds

<< <i>Do you "Aspire to Greatness"? >>



Only in my childrens eye's! Anything else is simply gravy.

cupronik

How many different unplated zinc cents could one assemble from 1982-date, P & D mints????

BAJJERFAN

Nah, mediocrity is adequate fer me.

coinkat

Greatness?

Not really... I'm just wallowing in the stench of mediocrity even though my coins have greater ambitions

dcarr

<< <i>PCGS Registry advertising challenges collectors to "Aspire to Greatness".

One way to to do that is by building a top-ranked registry set, of course.

Yet there are many other ways to build truly great collections, even on a budget. If you think you've found another way, please tell us about it. >>



My unconventional collecting method is to design and mint exonumia items that I find interesting, and keep one or more of each piece for my collection.

tombr

I think all collectors are great in that we preserve history for future generations. We really don't own the coins. We are just caretakers in the end.

IGWT

I'll concede that I'm vain enough to want to assemble a collection so brutally tough that it can't be duplicated. But I'm wise enough to know that no one else would care enough to try.

Bear

I am willing to inspire, aspire, respire

and perspire, as long as I don't expire.

Jcarney

<< <i>Well, building a beautifully matched set certainly would be lovely. >>



I agree. I'm trying to build a 1909-1933 EF-AU set of Lincolns. I've been at it for about 8 years and although I only have 3 holes in the set, I probably won't be truly satisfied with it for another 8 years.

MrEureka

I'll concede that I'm vain enough to want to assemble a collection so brutally tough that it can't be duplicated. But I'm wise enough to know that no one else would care enough to try.

More like you're wise enough to pick a series that's cheap because nobody else cares. Good choice, too!

DJCoinz

<< <i>I am willing to inspire, aspire, respire

and perspire, as long as I don't expire. >>

That makes two of us Bear.

pursuitofliberty

To “Aspire to Greatness”, as it were, almost seems dislocated and ego-driven.

I think a good many people want to be the best they can be within their own group of circumstances, and try to do the best they can with the tools they have to work with.

Accomplishments of Greatness, on the other hand, can be described as the long-term fruitation of difficult and set goals, which required diligence, patience and sacrifice … and for which new challenges along the way were met with determination and conviction.

Whether that collector says, “I am going to try to assemble a set of Bust Quarters by Browning Number in VF-EF” … or says “My goal is to complete a 7070 Type set in VG-8 to F-12” … or says “I am going to assemble a set of Barber Quarters in MS-nn or better” doesn’t matter.

If the goal was difficult for the collector, and takes a good margin of required diligence, patience and sacrifice … has difficulties, which are overcome … and shares his/her experiences with his fellow … well, I would say he has made a great accomplishment.