New Years Numismatic Resolution/s

Zohar

Focus, focus and focus.

1) Trim items that are no longer core.
2) Refrain as much as possible from impulse purchases
3) Meet new collector/friends on/off forum

Happy new year.

wybrit

Those resolutions are similar to my own - Happy New Year!

EVillageProwler

Happy New Year!

I'm torn about the focus goal. I understand why folks do it; I've pursued sets and continue to do so. I've come to realize that too much fancies me, and that building great sets from them is unrealistic. What I now try to do is to acquire the great stuff from the areas that fancy me.

For example, a Cnut hoard penny, unless with superb quality, will not be for me. Nor is a generic Madonna taler or even a blah low-MS 1855 Seated Dollar.

Why?

Blame Andy Lustig. Last Chicago, he proclaimed at dinner with others present that I'll never be able to assemble a great collection of my current collecting interests (unless I come into much more money). So now I endeavor to assemble a collection of great pieces without worrying about completeness.

So now I don't have to worry about buying the equivalent of a 84CC S$1 in 64, 60O S$1 in 62 or 78S T$1 in 63.

Thanks, Andy, for your candor. See you at NYINC next week!

EVP

SmEagle1795

I completely agree with these goals.

WorldTypeSet

I plan to continue with my complete lack of focus, and add coins to my World Type Set.

Specific goals ...
1. Add a 5th medieval England coin, probably another Cnut hoard penny (sorry EVP)
2. Add another 17th or 18th century Taler or 1/2 Taler
3. Add a coin from the 16th century
4. Add 5 more coins from the 17th century

Happy New Year everyone.

JCMhouston

Good luck Z. If anyone wants to bet I am taking Jan. 7 as the day he fails #2.

marcmoish

1 & 2 is for me too!

Can't find enough time for #3 unfortunately.

Zohar

This year is different than prior
I am 42 years old, just had a second child, sleep about 4-5 hours a day (on a good day) and will simply will not have time (and money left) for any impulse purchases

harasha

I recently turned 58. I am a second child. And try for at least 5 hours of normal sleep. (Probably accounts for why I rarely ever watch TV successfully in the evening).

1. I have said that once any collectible is in my possession, you will have to pry it out of my cold dead hands. So, I lots of stuff that is no longer core.
2. Impulse purchases put some of the joy in my hobby. Sometimes they lead to a new "core."
3. Always has been something of a frustration to me that I have not met more collectors in my day to day life. I have worked for the same company for almost 30 years. I have met the grand total of two serious collectors. The first one was back around 1984 in Los Angeles. He collected US. The next year I was transferred to Orange County. In 1986, I returned to NY Metro and did not meet another collector until 2012, the spouse of a coworker. One of that person's interests is Byzantine. The spouse can't understand why the both of us are getting increasingly agitated as the NYINC draws near.

EVillageProwler

Ira,

One good way to meet like-minded hobbyists is from within the hobby. Keep an eye out for threads where collectors hook up at shows. I see that you've been registered for a long time, but with a relatively low post count. Make yourself known a bit more with public and private messages. Go to shows, especially to meet up with like-minded hobbyists.

In our hobby, security is paramount. But it should be quite possible to strike the right balance between being gregarious and security-minded.

I'm a long-time light-side collector, so nearly everyone I know is from there. We have a grand time at shows. Fortunately, the guy who got me started into big-time collecting (shows, auctions, spending more money than just from the cookie jar) I met at work.

EVP

bidask

<< <i>Happy New Year!

I'm torn about the focus goal. I understand why folks do it; I've pursued sets and continue to do so. I've come to realize that too much fancies me, and that building great sets from them is unrealistic. What I now try to do is to acquire the great stuff from the areas that fancy me.

For example, a Cnut hoard penny, unless with superb quality, will not be for me. Nor is a generic Madonna taler or even a blah low-MS 1855 Seated Dollar.

Why?

Blame Andy Lustig. Last Chicago, he proclaimed at dinner with others present that I'll never be able to assemble a great collection of my current collecting interests (unless I come into much more money). So now I endeavor to assemble a collection of great pieces without worrying about completeness.

So now I don't have to worry about buying the equivalent of a 84CC S$1 in 64, 60O S$1 in 62 or 78S T$1 in 63.

Thanks, Andy, for your candor. See you at NYINC next week!

EVP >>

Ahhh, that Andy Lustig is full of wisdom!

olmanjon

Zohar-you are 42?? Oh my! I must be getting old. My wife and I celebrate 43 years on Jan 13. How is that little one doing by the way? Enjoy them now because before you know it, they will be coming to you and telling you that you are going to be a grandpa. Happy hollidays-Olmanjon

coinkat

my goal remains to try to learn something- buy afew coins and make it fun.

Nothing too specific

EVillageProwler

<< <i>1. Add a 5th medieval England coin, probably another Cnut hoard penny (sorry EVP) >>



PBRat,

With what you're doing, you pretty much have to go with hoard pieces. The only exception is Burgred of Mercia, which is the only early monarch whose pieces exist in quantity (and quality).

And I have to confess... When I see a superb hoard piece at a decent price, I'll probably jump at it no matter if I already have the S#/mint/moneyer. These are, after all, produced a millennium ago. Even a well-worn example is an honor to own.

EVP

coinsarefun

Then I will say you won't be needing this one any longer and can sell it to me

EVillageProwler

<< <i>Then I will say you won't be needing this one any longer and can sell it to me



>>



I'd pay strong money for this.

Zohar

Guys I take this as a great compliment that both of you like this piece!

EVillageProwler

<< <i>Guys I take this as a great compliment that both of you like this piece! >>



No, no. It's ugly. I want to do you a favor by taking this off your hands. I'll even make you a profit.

But, this is not the right forum so I'll stop here.

EVP

demodigger

Ive been reading your taler postings for the last few years and feel inspired to get a few this year. I only own one hogmouth and plan to get some more.

worldcoinguy

1). Buy attractive pieces that catch my eye.
2). Keep budget in mind to maintain life balance.
3). Enjoy the hobby.
4). Do my best to make it to NYINC 2014.

WorldTypeSet

And I have to confess... When I see a superb hoard piece at a decent price, I'll probably jump at it no matter if I already have the S#/mint/moneyer. These are, after all, produced a millennium ago. Even a well-worn example is an honor to own.

I completely agree with you.

ormandh

Yes, I agree with everything all have said. My primary focus is to become more knowledgable in my area of collecting. -Dan

ajaan

Sell enough coins to pay for a Carribean Cruise for my wife and me.

SYRACUSIAN

<< <i>Sell enough coins to pay for a Carribean Cruise for my wife and me. >>




Enough that you own, or that you intend to purchase for resale?


I must say that after over two decades of serious collecting, coins have been demystified a lot. What is truly rare and worth owning? Once the circumstances force you to stay out of the game and simply observe, it's amazing how much clearer some things start to look like. I guess that this was the upside of the situation. Besides I've always had conflicting feelings about ownership, especially when the latter becomes an obsession.

Still, as things stand now,and with my main (Greek) collection almost intact, I'd like this year to actively reenter the scene , follow through on a few minor projects that I've been working on, (such as a British 1911 set, and a set of farthings) and start visiting some shows. Eventually ,replace the few coins that I was forced to sell from my main collection, none of which too tough, before the prices start rising again.

ajaan

<< <i>Enough that you own, or that you intend to purchase for resale? >>


Enough I own. I was hoping the Stack's sales of the VIP halfpennies would do it, but currently all they'll get me is a cruise of Lake Erie.

SYRACUSIAN

You had your reasons to choose Stack's, but IMHO, do not blame the coins for that. In fact, buy back at least one if you prefer.

As an example, I will mention here, that a slabbed PCGS British gold 1911 set, half sov, sov, two pounds and 5 pounds, all PCGS PR64+DCAM and PR65DCAM, with the £5 at PR65, realized ~$5500 ,ie ~$6500 incl. commissions. There's currently only ONE of these coins on Heritage, a £5 NGC PR65 at nearly the price of the entire set already, before live bidding. And that's without counting that it's suffering due to its comparison with the previous lot, a £5 NGC PR67 that will realize a five figure sum.

MilkmanDan

My goal this year, find an inexpensive niche that will force me to learn a lot. I've identified it and am already having a blast. I'll keep it secret for now but will share later this year with a few examples. I've got a lot to learn - darkside is great for this.

TwoKopeiki

It's interesting how my resolutions change over the years when it comes to collecting. This year I have two: add at least two mint state pieces to my Carlos IV or Fernando VII sets, and with enough luck finish either the armoured or the draped sets of Fernando VII. I'm still missing some tough varieties that don't surface too often, so luck would play a big part in that.

Happy New Year to all forumites from Havana. Wishing lots of health to you and your loved ones.