How many here research past history of coins they own or plan to own?

Realone

I go though all auctions, catalogs, sales listings etc to see if I can find the subject coin for sale before, in another holder, in a lower graded holder (and on rare occasion possibly in a better holder = pcgs) in order to learn more about the coin and get a better feel of its value and whether it has changed in appearance or whether it has been tried to be sold too many times unsuccessfully. The more info the better but does this borderline ocdism. Anybody else get this crazy?

charley

Being prudent doesn't mean (always) that one is crazy. It only applies when one spells "realize" with an "x".Respectfully, and Without Malice, John Curlis

ricko

NO. Cheers, RickO

Dawg144

Sometimes -- actually, a lot of the time -- I research the history of the type of coin I own. But since I only buy widgets, there is no way of me locating the individual coin I have.

RWB

On a few occasions, researching the pedigree of a coin – even a fairly common one – can help establish a historical link between events and people. For very rare coins, it can take us back to the original owners and possibly show how the coins were distributed. (For example, thanks to research by Jeff Reichenberger and myself, we know the original owners of 49 out of 50 1907 $10 with normal rim and periods coins. It is now possible to trace many of these coins all the way from present owner to original owner.)

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tradedollarnut

Of course! It's one of the big satisfactions of numismatics.

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MidLifeCrisis

<< <i>Of course! It's one of the big satisfactions of numismatics. >>


I'll second that. I specifically look for coins for which I can trace the history and provenance whenever possible. I also like to collect the old auction catalogs in which my coins have previously appeared. Whenever I can tie a coin to a specific owner, it makes the coin that much more interesting to me.

pennyannie

My wife says i spend way to much time researching.

MrHalfDime

Knowing the provenance of some of the more important pieces in your collection can be, as previously stated, "... one of the big satisfactions of numismatics". Unfortunately, many numismatic sellers, particularly some of the largest auction houses, often separate a coin from its pedigree, and seldom provide the buyer with the original holder, or even the original owner's name. Preserving this provenance is not only potentially important to you, but to subsequent buyers, as well. It should be standard practice for all auction houses and dealers to preserve the provenance of all important coins at the time of sale.

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sumnom

This kind of thing does not really interest me. It seems more like researching coin collecting and collectors rather than coins.

firstmint

With the potential for high quality counterfeit pieces coming into the marketplace, everyone who buys pricey coins had better start learning the past history of such examples.

This hobby has been too long promoted by commercialism and not scientific endeavor, as was seen in the 19th century.

If collectors do not wish to take the time to learn, then it becomes the responsibility of the auction houses to provide the proper background (as much as can be ascertained).

Instead of merely describing the pretty colors and attributions, the auction firms need to start cataloguing the coins in greater detail, such as the edges, defects, and die states, weight (when coin is unslabbed) etc. The old catalogues from New Netherlands even had comparable offerings listed by other firms.

The TPG's need top start keeping better track of what gets holdered and when, especially in light of the counterfeit slabs which are a real concern for all. Re-submissions should be acknowledged when known.

Of course, we can always go back to having the coins in 2x2 holders like the good old days, but then again, the problem of overgrading would be back. However, people should remember what George F Jones wrote way back in 1860 in his "Guide Book for Coin Collectors" -

"The various works on coins that have been published, are too elaborate, and consequently too costly, to come within a general reach, and many do not contain the information most important to the student in Numismatics, or the young collector; such, for instance, as the market value of coins. This is of daily use, to those who are endeavoring to improve their collections; and although it is at once conceded that the value is somewhat variable, and dependent on the condition of the coin, and perhaps other causes, still it is desirable to have this information at hand, and in a concise, intelligible form. Added to this, the years of coinage, a short description of each coin, the principal varieties of each date or die, and the actual sales, together with other relevant matter, must make this record a valuable reference and guide."

Jones also adds - "Allowance must be made, in some cases, as to the condition of the coins sold; as, for instance, what one may call "uncirculated" others would only denominate as fine, or very good."

This was written in 1860! Where is the progress today?

Knowledge and scholarship needs to become a prominent part of American numismatics once again.

As validation of this concept, I would like to announce that my complete Registry of 1827/3/2 Capped Bust Quarters from 1857 (when the very first ones were written about) will be appearing in Steve Tompkins new early quarter book due out this summer.

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RYK

<< <i>Of course! It's one of the big satisfactions of numismatics. >>



Well said. The quest for the discovery of unattributed pieces from great collections is what keeps me going in numismatics when all else is bleak.