The Sweet Spot
MidLifeCrisis
Posts: 10,553 ✭✭✭✭✭
Like most collectors, I have gradually improved my collection over the years as opportunity knocked. Often, this meant trading one or more (sometimes several more) coins for 1 better coin.
I believe I have hit the sweet spot for each of the coins in my collection. I'm content.
I'm sure I'll add more in the future...I'll probably even trade some of the ones I have at some point down the road to get a coin I couldn't otherwise afford. But I'm happy with each coin I currently own.
So how do we know when we hit the sweet spot? For me it's very hard to define.
It can't be grade. I have coins ranging from genuine/no grade to F15 to MS64+. I've also traded coins that were a much higher grade for ones I like better, even though they are graded lower.
It can't be price. Although I do save and wait until I can spend more for a nicer coin, I'm certainly not mega-rich and can't buy the coins with the mega price tags. And I've got coins in my collection that cost about $35 up to a few hundred dollars, and I love them just as much as my more expensive coins.
It can't be rare varieties. I've owned a few seriously rare coins but I eventually traded most of them away.
I think the sweet spot is that perfect combination of eye appeal and being nice for the grade, plus something else I can't quite put my finger on...
I think finding your sweet spot is important for many reasons; not the least of which is that if you are content with a coin, you are more likely to keep it for the long term and give it time to increase in value!
How do you know when a coin hits your sweet spot?
Maybe you're like some collectors and never quite satisfied...
I believe I have hit the sweet spot for each of the coins in my collection. I'm content.
I'm sure I'll add more in the future...I'll probably even trade some of the ones I have at some point down the road to get a coin I couldn't otherwise afford. But I'm happy with each coin I currently own.
So how do we know when we hit the sweet spot? For me it's very hard to define.
It can't be grade. I have coins ranging from genuine/no grade to F15 to MS64+. I've also traded coins that were a much higher grade for ones I like better, even though they are graded lower.
It can't be price. Although I do save and wait until I can spend more for a nicer coin, I'm certainly not mega-rich and can't buy the coins with the mega price tags. And I've got coins in my collection that cost about $35 up to a few hundred dollars, and I love them just as much as my more expensive coins.
It can't be rare varieties. I've owned a few seriously rare coins but I eventually traded most of them away.
I think the sweet spot is that perfect combination of eye appeal and being nice for the grade, plus something else I can't quite put my finger on...
I think finding your sweet spot is important for many reasons; not the least of which is that if you are content with a coin, you are more likely to keep it for the long term and give it time to increase in value!
How do you know when a coin hits your sweet spot?
Maybe you're like some collectors and never quite satisfied...
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Comments
In my years there have been times when I settled for a coin because it was available. Not necessarily the coin I wanted but was tired of looking and waiting for the "Sweet Spot" coin to come along. As probably everyone on the Forum knows there are coins that for whatever reason just never enter the market. I looked for ages for two coins to finish my set of Carver/Washington Commems and the two coins just never seemed to surface. I finally looked in my own collection, broke out two MS-64's, sent them in and both came back MS-65's. But, in the back of my mind, regardless of the grade on the holder, I know I have two MS-64 coins in my set. That is not the "Sweet Spot" I wanted.
Ron
I dunno. I think I feel satisfied after acquiring a new coin for the collection, feel the thrill, and then after several months with nothing new, I need to feel it again. I don't have a big collection and have only made a few culls over the years. I realize that there are many more coins I'd still like to own.
I think you'll miss the stimulation MLC and your sweet spot will develop an itch.
"Got a flaming heart, can't get my fill"
this is a term with a wandering definition (imagine that in coin collecting
Eric
RMR: 'Wer, wenn ich schriee, hörte mich denn aus der Engel Ordnungen?'
CJ: 'No one!' [Ain't no angels in the coin biz]
<< <i>MLC, it seems that your 'sweet spot' also encompasses the coin's pedigree. This is a very important consideration, in my opinion. >>
True. The pedigree - traceable provenance for the sticklers among us - is one way I have chosen to pre-define my sweet spot. But it's just the beginning...
<< <i>Mr. MidLife Sir,
In my years there have been times when I settled for a coin because it was available. Not necessarily the coin I wanted but was tired of looking and waiting for the "Sweet Spot" coin to come along. As probably everyone on the Forum knows there are coins that for whatever reason just never enter the market. I looked for ages for two coins to finish my set of Carver/Washington Commems and the two coins just never seemed to surface. I finally looked in my own collection, broke out two MS-64's, sent them in and both came back MS-65's. But, in the back of my mind, regardless of the grade on the holder, I know I have two MS-64 coins in my set. That is not the "Sweet Spot" I wanted.
Ron >>
Hi Ron,
I must be very overtired. You found that you were the one keeping the 2 coins you desired from yourself and now you bad mouth the grade too? LOL I'm sorry it just read funny
Best wishes,
Eric
<< <i>
<< <i>Mr. MidLife Sir,
In my years there have been times when I settled for a coin because it was available. Not necessarily the coin I wanted but was tired of looking and waiting for the "Sweet Spot" coin to come along. As probably everyone on the Forum knows there are coins that for whatever reason just never enter the market. I looked for ages for two coins to finish my set of Carver/Washington Commems and the two coins just never seemed to surface. I finally looked in my own collection, broke out two MS-64's, sent them in and both came back MS-65's. But, in the back of my mind, regardless of the grade on the holder, I know I have two MS-64 coins in my set. That is not the "Sweet Spot" I wanted.
Ron >>
Hi Ron,
I must be very overtired. You found that you were the one keeping the 2 coins you desired from yourself and now you bad mouth the grade too? LOL I'm sorry it just read funny
Best wishes,
Eric >>
No offense taken. Yes I was hiding the coins from myself, but I bought them as 64's and after careful examination thought they might upgrade. Just please understand my mindset on still thinking I have two 64's in my collection. On the other side, had they upgraded to 66's, I would have been elated.
Ron
<< <i>Maybe the sweet spot is a moving target... >>
Yep, that's how I see it
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