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POLL: Does the scale of your collection match the scale of your budget?

MrEurekaMrEureka Posts: 24,501 ✭✭✭✭✭
And whatever your choice, are you happy with the situation?
Andy Lustig

Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.

Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.

Comments

  • RYKRYK Posts: 35,800 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I tend to work in a happy (or unhappy) equilibrium. Rarely, do I find myself long in the first or third selection.
  • tightbudgettightbudget Posts: 7,299 ✭✭✭
    I suffer from the unfortunate situation of seeing more coins than what my money can buy...
  • Billet7Billet7 Posts: 4,923 ✭✭✭
    I usually don't have enough money, I usually only use money generated from the sales of other coins to purchase new coins...so it gets difficult.
  • Times are tight right now, but it won't last forever. The economy is cyclic.image
  • pursuitoflibertypursuitofliberty Posts: 7,436 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Some of my collection is inexpensive, so WHEN I can find the right pieces, I buy them

    Some of my collection is expensive, so WHEN I see them offered, I have to decide IF I can afford them

    So I voted the middle ... and I'm happy with that. The journey is better than the destination ...

    “We are only their care-takers,” he posed, “if we take good care of them, then centuries from now they may still be here … ”

    Todd - BHNC #242
  • BillJonesBillJones Posts: 35,021 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Times are tight. I can find the coins most of the time, but at the moment I can't pay for them. All the coins I need to finish my type set are five or even six figure items. image

    BUT when it comes to the political tokens I collect, I've got the cash for most of those; I just don't see them offered for sale.
    Retired dealer and avid collector of U.S. type coins, 19th century presidential campaign medalets and selected medals. In recent years I have been working on a set of British coins - at least one coin from each king or queen who issued pieces that are collectible. I am also collecting at least one coin for each Roman emperor from Julius Caesar to ... ?
  • SkyManSkyMan Posts: 9,567 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I guess that's somewhat of a definitional thing. If I could afford it, I'd buy the top pops for everything that I'm collecting (or at least the coins that I thought were most attractive), and would probably include some series that I'm not currently collecting (DBHE in all denominations would be at the top of the list). However, given that this is a fantasy, on the whole I'm collecting with my disposable income, although I tend to go a little over that.


    EDITED TO ADD: Oh, yeah, also, I'm happy with my current situation and realize just how blessed I am to be able to blow money on little pieces of metal that make me happy.

  • johnny9434johnny9434 Posts: 29,786 ✭✭✭✭✭
    i notice its hard to find decent coins for the money. seems that alot of the good stuff is put away already ( and theres nothing wrong with it ). one has to just wait for it or have a good good connection
  • TahoeDaleTahoeDale Posts: 1,785 ✭✭✭
    No, I am frustrated. I hardly ever see the coins I want, at any price.

    And in the rare event that one appears, it is priced way over the present market conditions
    TahoeDale
  • BillJonesBillJones Posts: 35,021 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>seems that alot of the good stuff is put away already >>



    That's the way it has always been, and I've been a collector for 50 years. The times when the good stuff is most available is when prices are running high. When the market is weak, that's when you don't see as much good stuff.

    The coins that you see available in the market at one point in time are only the tip of the iceberg as to what exists. Some great coins only change hands one or two times in a generation.
    Retired dealer and avid collector of U.S. type coins, 19th century presidential campaign medalets and selected medals. In recent years I have been working on a set of British coins - at least one coin from each king or queen who issued pieces that are collectible. I am also collecting at least one coin for each Roman emperor from Julius Caesar to ... ?
  • yellowkidyellowkid Posts: 5,486
    It's difficult to locate good commems, or good toned commems, but there seem to be plenty of tokens, which is good!image
  • BearBear Posts: 18,953 ✭✭✭
    Much like the pellican,My eyes want more then my pocket can.
    There once was a place called
    Camelotimage
  • tradedollarnuttradedollarnut Posts: 20,262 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Often, opportunity is more important than price!
  • MrEurekaMrEureka Posts: 24,501 ✭✭✭✭✭
    No, I am frustrated. I hardly ever see the coins I want, at any price.

    And in the rare event that one appears, it is priced way over the present market conditions


    Dale - If you're that frustrated, wouldn't it make sense to expand the boundaries of your collection?
    Andy Lustig

    Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.

    Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.
  • Walkerguy21DWalkerguy21D Posts: 11,805 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I guess I'm way below my means - less than 10% of my net worth is in numismatic related material.
    Part of the reason is that my wife thinks for the most part it's a waste of money, even though time and again I demonstrate that I can generally sell them for more than I paid for them. The other problems are mine - first I'm fairly picky, second I'm very value-oriented. If I don't think a coin is reasonably priced, I pass or stop bidding.....regardless if it's a $10 Barber dime or $3000 walker.
    Successful BST transactions with 171 members. Ebeneezer, Tonedeaf, Shane6596, Piano1, Ikenefic, RG, PCGSPhoto, stman, Don'tTelltheWife, Boosibri, Ron1968, snowequities, VTchaser, jrt103, SurfinxHI, 78saen, bp777, FHC, RYK, JTHawaii, Opportunity, Kliao, bigtime36, skanderbeg, split37, thebigeng, acloco, Toninginthblood, OKCC, braddick, Coinflip, robcool, fastfreddie, tightbudget, DBSTrader2, nickelsciolist, relaxn, Eagle eye, soldi, silverman68, ElKevvo, sawyerjosh, Schmitz7, talkingwalnut2, konsole, sharkman987, sniocsu, comma, jesbroken, David1234, biosolar, Sullykerry, Moldnut, erwindoc, MichaelDixon, GotTheBug
  • SDSportsFanSDSportsFan Posts: 5,191 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Filet Mignon taste on a beef jerky budget imageimage


    Steve
  • BaleyBaley Posts: 22,663 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I've got loads of money, but can't find any coins I want to buy for how much they cost.

    Liberty: Parent of Science & Industry

  • bidaskbidask Posts: 14,050 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I am keeping my addiction fed buy playing in the world coin maket but buying more opportunistically in the US market.

    I am happy.image
    I manage money. I earn money. I save money .
    I give away money. I collect money.
    I don’t love money . I do love the Lord God.




  • WalmannWalmann Posts: 2,806
    As many overweight people, I'm afraid to get on the scale and check the numbers.


    Thats usually not a good sign.
  • rooksmithrooksmith Posts: 1,159 ✭✭✭✭
    My budget is whatever my wife doesnt notice !!
    “When you don't know what you're talking about, it's hard to know when you're finished.” - Tommy Smothers
  • ecichlidecichlid Posts: 1,212 ✭✭✭


    << <i>My budget is whatever my wife doesnt notice !! >>



    image Aint that the truth!
    There is no "AT" or "NT". We only have "market acceptable" or "not market acceptable.
  • rickoricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I buy what I like, when I find it. I am not a 'grade freak', so it is not a case of seeking top grades... I leave that to the 'mine is bigger than yours' crowd. I enjoy my collection and it is not a contest nor a race. Cheers, RickO
  • BarryBarry Posts: 10,100 ✭✭✭
    I really don't get the adage "buy the best you can afford."

    Do people do the same with houses or cars? Should I be driving a Rolls Royce and living in a 20,000 sq ft mansion just because I can afford it (hypothetically)?
  • LakesammmanLakesammman Posts: 17,538 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I'm working on enjoying what I have instead of constantly looking for more.
    "My friends who see my collection sometimes ask what something costs. I tell them and they are in awe at my stupidity." (Baccaruda, 12/03).I find it hard to believe that he (Trump) rushed to some hotel to meet girls of loose morals, although ours are undoubtedly the best in the world. (Putin 1/17) Gone but not forgotten. IGWT, Speedy, Bear, BigE, HokieFore, John Burns, Russ, TahoeDale, Dahlonega, Astrorat, Stewart Blay, Oldhoopster, Broadstruck, Ricko, Big Moose, Cardinal.
  • ShamikaShamika Posts: 18,785 ✭✭✭✭
    I'm right at that point where the amount of money I save for collecting is usually just enough to cover the cost of the coin that meets my needs. I'm very happy with this situation.

    Buyer and seller of vintage coin boards!
  • DeepCoinDeepCoin Posts: 2,781 ✭✭✭
    My areas of interest could be completed in the grades I am collecting for less than I just paid to remodel a bathroom, so I guess I am collecting under my means. I look at high priced coins, but every time my collection gets to a certain value I tend to cash out (never lost money) and begin a new collecting thread. I guess I am just conservative regarding what is a hobby and how much I have in it.

    I live by the adage coins are for collecting, not investing. It is way more fun that way.
    Retired United States Mint guy, now working on an Everyman Type Set.
  • pennyanniepennyannie Posts: 3,929 ✭✭✭
    I would buy more and spend more if i was brave enough to pull the trigger. I would not mind playing in the 10k and up coins but feel i would end up on the bad end at resell reguardless of who i purchased the coins from at this time. While there are not guarentees i feel better playing in other areas with my money.
    Mark
    NGC registry V-Nickel proof #6!!!!
    working on proof shield nickels # 8 with a bullet!!!!

    RIP "BEAR"

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