Home U.S. Coin Forum
Options

The Unplanned Collection is Not Worth Having

CoinosaurusCoinosaurus Posts: 9,643 ✭✭✭✭✭
Some Greek person, maybe years ago, not sure if he was a coin collector or not, said something to the effect that the unplanned life is not worth living.

I am not sure this applies to coins.

Aren't some the most interesting purchases nothing more than a pleasant serendipity?

Comments

  • Concentrating on one or two series might be great for some people, but I find too many coins enticing and seem to call my name. I guess I collect the coin, not the series.
    "A clear conscience is usually the sign of a bad memory"
  • Billet7Billet7 Posts: 4,923 ✭✭✭
    Anyone who plans life doesn't really understand what life is.

    If one can't adapt and change according to one's circumstances, a successful individual one will not be. (Sounds like Yoda!)

    Perhaps a collection is a similar beast, broad plans...perhaps, specific planned out routes and goals...nearly impossible. Eliasberg, who had one big goal (every US coin) didn't have the luxuary of planning it out, you take it where you can get it, in any grade available sometimes. You don't think Pittman planned to attend the King of Farouk (sp?) sale when he started collecting, he was in the right place, and took advantage of the situation. Things like that can't be planned, I wish they could.

  • I disagree with the subject line. Coins are a hobby. Some folks like to structure their fun activities, some like to be spontaneous. As always I have a big tent vision of the hobby, that all kinds of collectors are welcome as long as they are enjoying the hobby and doing so with hobby money.

    As for the life question, those that set goals do tend to get more done, but that presumes that getting more done is having a better life. Some long term goals such as a having a career as a doctor, or classical musician are set in motion at a young age and are near impossible without long term planning and commitment. That said, that doesn't mean a person that doesn't plan can't have a rewarding career in other fields. Two of the most successful people that I know personally didn't get to their careers with long term planning. They pursued their passion and worked very hard. They had top tier talent and could do as much as three to five lesser people in their field. They had some luck and were in the right place at the right time, and answered the door when opportunity knocked.
  • I think you might be thinking of the quote by Socrates, "The unexamined life is not worth living", which is very different from unplanned. I agree with Billet7, forget about planning life (especially if you have kids!).
  • BaleyBaley Posts: 22,663 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I understand the sentiment behind the trite expression, but find the absoluteness of the "not worth" a little extreme. Balance in all things! A little unplanned freedom of movement allows for wonderful accidents. Meeting my wife, finding the house we now live in, the ages of our children, and my current job are all the result of not rigidly over-planning things but letting them happen somewhat naturally.

    My coin collection overall is similarly "loosely planned", and some of my favorite pieces as well as areas of interest were 'happened upon' in a largely accidental way. Somehow it all kind of fits together.

    Liberty: Parent of Science & Industry

  • determineddetermined Posts: 771 ✭✭✭


    << <i>Anyone who plans life doesn't really understand what life is. >>



    How do you make God laugh?

    Tell him your plans.
    I collect history in the form of coins.
  • CocoinutCocoinut Posts: 2,515 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I have never been able to set strict parameters for coin purchases. If I find something interesting enough, I'll consider buying it. Intellectual curiosity and learning are important aspects of the hobby. Those who buying solely with a profit in mind often miss out on the most pleasurable part of numismatics.

    Jim
    Countdown to completion of my Mercury Set: 1 coin. My growing Lincoln Set: Finally completed!
  • lordmarcovanlordmarcovan Posts: 43,687 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I see it both ways. I've always liked a bit of structure to my collections: a theme... parameters... a goal or two.

    But my nature is such that I've gotten too bogged down in the minutiae of such structure and parameters sometimes, and have felt a need to loosen up and remember that it's a hobby, and to have fun.

    For that reason, I've been toying with the "Box of 20" idea lately. Sort of a more freestyle approach than the "sets" I've been doing. It might be liberating.

    Taken in moderation, a little bit of planning and structure and organization is a good thing, I believe. It's what separates us coin collectors from those who are merely hoarders or accumulators. But sometimes we (or I, anyway) take it too far.

    Explore collections of lordmarcovan on CollecOnline, management, safe-keeping, sharing and valuation solution for art piece and collectibles.
  • rickoricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I have done it both ways and enjoyed each one. I certainly would not agree with the OP title. Absolute statements such as that, are frequently absolutely worthless. Cheers, RickO
  • kiyotekiyote Posts: 5,588 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Eh, some of my best purchases have been impulse purchases. I have a 1908 S Indian head cent that was elongated at the Panama Pacific Expo. This doesn't fit in anywhere in my collection of moderns but I like it a lot.
    "I'll split the atom! I am the fifth dimension! I am the eighth wonder of the world!" -Gef the talking mongoose.
  • RodebaughRodebaugh Posts: 304 ✭✭✭
    My favorite part of collecting is the hunt. To hunt properly, one needs to know what he is hunting.....ie a plan.
    Thats just me though, and I have been known to buy a super eye coin from time to time thats not on the list for the personal collection.
  • I wouldn't agree either with the thread title or the life thing. My own horde of coins began with zero plan in mind other than an interest in history.There's still no plan but i wouldn't part with any of them.I know life isnt best planned or i'd be sitting back in Glasgow fixing broken computers.
    The best laid plans of men etc etc
  • SonorandesertratSonorandesertrat Posts: 5,695 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Collections of just about anything evolve haphazardly in most cases. One cannot normally plan on acquiring a rare item; rather, it appears and the collector must make a choice---take advantage of the opportunity or let it pass and live with the consequence.
    Member: EAC, NBS, C4, CWTS, ANA

    RMR: 'Wer, wenn ich schriee, hörte mich denn aus der Engel Ordnungen?'

    CJ: 'No one!' [Ain't no angels in the coin biz]
  • ambro51ambro51 Posts: 13,940 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I agree
  • CoinJunkieCoinJunkie Posts: 8,772 ✭✭✭✭✭
    IMO, all great collections are the result of a plan. However, there are a lot of collections that are
    well worth having that aren't necessarily "great" in the grand scheme of things. The hobby is also about
    fun and the occasional impulse buy of a coin that doesn't fit into any of one's major collecting themes.


  • << <i>Concentrating on one or two series might be great for some people, but I find too many coins enticing and seem to call my name. I guess I collect the coin, not the series. >>

    I couldn't agree more.
  • Acquiring my grandfather's coin collection when he died - UNPLANNED
    Having my grandfather's coin collection in my possession - WORTH HAVING

    I believe I have falsified your main premise.
  • lkeigwinlkeigwin Posts: 16,893 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I wouldn't be surprised if most of us have a plan we don't follow.
    Lance.
  • TwoSides2aCoinTwoSides2aCoin Posts: 44,540 ✭✭✭✭✭
    "I never met a Greek coin collector I didn't like."

    ~Will Rogers~
  • MrEurekaMrEureka Posts: 24,403 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I think you might be thinking of the quote by Socrates, "The unexamined life is not worth living".


    Dogs do fine without planning or self-examination, and they seem happier than most people.

    IMO, all great collections are the result of a plan.

    While this is largely true, I'd also argue that most collectors capable of building a great collection developed their skills and found their goals by first heading in many unplanned directions. In other words, most of us do not and should not start with a plan.
    Andy Lustig

    Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.

    Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.
  • PokermandudePokermandude Posts: 2,713 ✭✭✭
    I have a collecting plan... I just don't know what it is yet image

    To be honest, I go for purchases that meet all or most of these criteria:

    - are "unusual" or exceptional in some way, be it in design, quality, eye-appeal, or even just a cool design I see that I want to have
    - are reasonably priced
    - that I feel will appreciate in value in the future, or that I can reasonably expect to sell in the near future to help fund more expensive purchases

    I don't often look for coins that "match" my other purchases. I completed a collection of Canadian large/small cents and Canadian 5 cent pieces. I now have no desire again to go after all the coins from the same series that are all the same except their date or variety.
    http://stores.ebay.ca/Mattscoin - Canadian coins, World Coins, Silver, Gold, Coin lots, Modern Mint Products & Collections
  • giorgio11giorgio11 Posts: 3,934 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i>Anyone who plans life doesn't really understand what life is. >>



    How do you make God laugh?

    Tell him your plans. >>



    Mann macht, Gott lacht!
    VDBCoins.com Our Registry Sets Many successful BSTs; pls ask.
  • CoinJunkieCoinJunkie Posts: 8,772 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>IMO, all great collections are the result of a plan.

    While this is largely true, I'd also argue that most collectors capable of building a great collection developed their skills and found their goals by first heading in many unplanned directions. In other words, most of us do not and should not start with a plan. >>


    A fair point. When I got back into collecting in the late 20th century, I cast a fairly wide net and acquired
    a bit of this and that. Over the next few years, I found the areas that really held my interest. Many of the
    other coins acquired in those early days were subsequently sold to fund coins in the areas of focus.
  • GrumpyEdGrumpyEd Posts: 4,749 ✭✭✭
    For me it goes in a cycle. I realize I have odds and ends that I don't care about then focus in on what I like the best. At some point I feel burn-out and get some different interesting random things but in the end I re-focus and stay with my favorite.
    Ed


  • << <i>

    << <i>Anyone who plans life doesn't really understand what life is. >>



    How do you make God laugh?

    Tell him your plans. >>



    Or tell him you believe in magic space men... And not to be a fuddy duddy but I believe the quote translates to "The unexamined life is not worth living" which is a slightly different perspective.
  • RYKRYK Posts: 35,799 ✭✭✭✭✭
  • BryceMBryceM Posts: 11,851 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I dunno. I figure I'll collect what I like and you'll collect what you like. It's really great that we're not all Kennedy or CBH collectors. Great variety in people's taste is an intersting phenomenon.

    I'll probably not understand the importance of your collection and you'll probably not see the importance of mine. Whatever. Plans change. I'll probably look at my collection someday and wonder what I was thinking. C'est la vie.
  • cladkingcladking Posts: 28,715 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I collected telephone tokens for years before I even knew what they were. I'd see
    these little accumulations of oddly shaped pieces of metal that were usually discs with
    grooves and cut-outs and just had an urge to acquire one of every one that was made.

    It's one of my favorite collections now and I still look for pieces I don't have but now I've
    got the catalog. About 30 copies were printed probably. I've got reems and reems of
    information and could tell Targonsky a thing or two.

    One of these days I'll find a telephone or a coin slot.
    tempus fugit extra philosophiam.
  • keetskeets Posts: 25,351 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Plan plans, don't plan results.

Leave a Comment

BoldItalicStrikethroughOrdered listUnordered list
Emoji
Image
Align leftAlign centerAlign rightToggle HTML viewToggle full pageToggle lights
Drop image/file