A "collection" or an accumulation.... ?

Bankerbob56

As I fly through my 50's, and into my 4th decade of coin "collecting", I wonder if my coin collection has become more of a coin accumulation? What is the difference? Is this a natural progression after a long period of accumulation of what I consider to be nice coins? Do I need a "mid-flight" correction? Anyone else have this notion that their collection has evolved into an accumulation?

ndgoflo

I'm facing the same dilema after only 15 years. Haven't even made any significant purchases for the past 3 or 4 years. I'm currently trying to decide what path to take...

Zoins

Collect what you enjoy.

For some, that is a smaller number of choice pieces, a la Box of 20.

For others, an accumulation is a step on the way to a larger accomplishment, a hoard

Bankerbob56

<< <i>Collect what you enjoy.

For some, that is a smaller number of choice pieces, a la Box of 20.

For others, an accumulation is a step on the way to a larger accomplishment, a hoard >>



A box of twenty would seem impossible since I am closer to 20 BOXES!! ...and that doesn't include all of my Danscos!! (Thank goodness I work in a bank..... otherwise, where would I store the soon to be "hoard"?

mkman123

I agree with what zoins said!

coinlieutenant

I've never been to the accumulation point, but I have been unhappy with where I was going. The course correction has led to much happier collecting.

Make sure you sit down and think about:

1. What you really like and don't like (coin wise and what aspects of collecting excite you)
2. What you really like that you can afford (this will be a subset of #1)
3. What quality standards you want to enact on the collection
4. What level of challenge you want based on how patient you are.

I am firmly convinced, for me at least, that the hunt is what I like the most. Viewing of the collection with nice pictures and gaining knowledge are also very important. The social aspect of collecting rounds out what I like about the hobby.

I love originality, love luster, love color coins, but generally evenly toned and I prefer two sided color. I don't like moderns, despise certain designs and love others. I also know I don't like series collecting compared to type, but still have favorite series.

Given those qualities I like about the hobby, my preferences, and the standards I exact, a modified box of 20 concept that is heavy on bust, seated and barber coinage fits me best. Other types are ok in moderation. Eye appealing original coins are the ONLY option and the frequency of encountering such coins, combined with my financial constraints allows for progress at a pace that satisfies the "hunt desire" at a good pace.

Quite complicated really. Maybe I should be a numismatic therapist someday.

AngryTurtle

<< <i>

<< <i>Collect what you enjoy.

For some, that is a smaller number of choice pieces, a la Box of 20.

For others, an accumulation is a step on the way to a larger accomplishment, a hoard >>



A box of twenty would seem impossible since I am closer to 20 BOXES!! ...and that doesn't include all of my Danscos!! (Thank goodness I work in a bank..... otherwise, where would I store the soon to be "hoard"? >>



Twenty boxes is nothing! how about 20 trash cans! (well not quite, but close enough!)Now this is what I call a hoard!

19Lyds

Collectors that "search" often end up with accumulations which may or may not have any value.

llafoe

Find a family member or local collecting buddy... this hobby is for enjoyment, otherwise it's just an investment.

fiveNdime

<< <i>I am firmly convinced, for me at least, that the hunt is what I like the most. Viewing of the collection with nice pictures and gaining knowledge are also very important. The social aspect of collecting rounds out what I like about the hobby. >>



"to the hunt"


i guess i accumulate, add what i like to the collection, and then sell the remainder to repeat as necessary.
i dont ponder selling the collection (its value-yes)
the accumulataion is eventually sold.

Baley

is Pluto a planet? what's in a name, the categories collection and accumulation aren't binary with a line between them, like most labels it's a continuum.

is there some unifying theme, some organization to the assemblage? Some effort to tell a story with the group of coins? Active growth or turnover? leans toward collection

are there a little of this, a little of that, or maybe a lot of one or a few kind of thing, with plenty of duplication? Coins go in but don't get cataloged, upgraded, and/or sold? tends to be an accumulation

there is lots of grey; i personally do both

scottgardener

I have fine-tuned my focus over the past few years, starting with some pretty haphazard accumulating and then gradually gaining focus. I have flirted with Morgans, but more recently I have worked on Peace dollars, which I grew up loving more. My gold type set has remained front and center, though it took a few hits getting a 1911-D quarter eagle, with the plan of eventually finishing an Indian quarter eagle set. That set in turn took a few hits earlier this week when I saw a Charlotte Classic quarter eagle I had to have. My gold types are in several cases decidedly non-generic, with rarer dates in lieu of higher grades, except for the double eagles, which are pretty basic but nnicely uncirculated.

Windycity

I think everyone accumulates for a while. As a collector, I believe you have to sell on a regular basis to verify the market interest and make certain you're not accumulating "stuff" no one wants. I have sold the majority of my collection many times and moved on to other series. I now collect Morgans and buy and sell regularly so whatever I have at any given time is an "accumulation" but I know the market and the value and would sell it all if the price was right. Then, I start all over again!!!

Bochiman

I have a couple of collections within my accumulation.
I don't mind either way. Accumulations, to me, are fun to go through sometimes and keep/weed out/change direction.
My collections are just fun and I have a few and my son has a couple. We both have slabbed and raw. I am not one of the folks that can just do a "box of 20" or any other artificial constraint. I buy what I like, and can afford, at the time.

Before I even look to sell, I think:
Do I still like the coin?
Can I find a replacement just as nice (since many are toned, the answer may be "no", particularly at a reasonable price)?
If I sold it, would I be happy with the price realized?
Do I need the money/space?

DaggoB

I took the advise of a certain dealer with the initials of MF and last month consigned a part of my accumulation which he sold within two weeks. Now all i have are toned Morgans, Classic Commemoratives, early gold and five more boxes of accumulated coins. I have to get rid of some more because my wife has been buying the Hockey Pucks. We just collect what we like.