I own a god-awful 1871-CC quarter that used to be a coat button, before which it was quite likely trampled by horses while lying in a gutter outside a 19th century brothel. Someone then cleaned it to get the brothel germs off it. Definitely sub-par, but I wouldn't have a complete set of Seated quarters without it, would I? I don't think I can even afford a nice VG-8 to replace it in this market.
If you only own one coin then, yes, you are a subpar collector if the coin is subpar. If you own a hundred coins and only one is subpar then no. IF 51 of them are subpar then yes. I take the 50% route. If 51 % of your collection is subpar then you are a subpar collector. UH--Just exactly what is par as relating to coin collecting anyways? Are lowball registry coins subpar?
Subpar relative to what? If I make money on the coin nothing sub par or wannabee about it.
A guy in the coin club was showing me a 1921 Morgan Dollar in NGC 62 he was very proud of. It was a really nice lustrous piece and he had paid only around $43 for it. Nothing sub par about that either. I think he did well.
I bought a coin thinking it was sub par - the more I see the more I think it's rather nice.
But really - a lot of the great collections of the past have had sub par coins in them. It really didn't affect their greatness due to their highs and breadth.
<< <i>I bought a coin thinking it was sub par - the more I see the more I think it's rather nice.
But really - a lot of the great collections of the past have had sub par coins in them. It really didn't affect their greatness due to their highs and breadth. >>
I agree - usually I can find some aspect of an item to increase interest. This is the fun of my collections - learning and appreciating - in some cases, stuff I already own.
"A snapshot of the 1939/40 NY Fair with cars."
or
"An original gelatin silver print, unique, showing the General Motors building with its 35,000 sq. ft. Bel Geddes Futurama diorama. Designed by Albert Kahn, this exhibit was the star attraction of the 1939 New York World's Fair, drawing more visitors both years than any single pavilion including the Theme Center. The second season canopy, eventually installed to protect the increasing lines of people from the sun, indicates this beautifully composed image was captured in 1940."
Same item - just more knowledge second time around. "Sub-par" can indicate poor vision (sometimes, certainly not all the time!). There is a lot of "common" and yes, "junk" out there, but a little lookin...
Good weekend wishes to all, Eric
Edit to add: The vast majority of my best and truly unusual stuff was indeed purchased, "ripped" from dealers who can't specialize in every aspect of that discipline. For example - postcard dealers who don't read messages and know what postdates and marks are important to the ship on the card. Some do not think to Google the name of the photographic firm that produced the card even though it is on the card. I do - and sometimes find my cards are actually worth more as an example of such-and-such photography house than the card is worth to a liner collector. The specialist card dealers are selling many many liners from many lines - I collect 1 from 1907-1919. Like varieties cherry pickers here I'm sure.
Let me, a poor (in both senses) collector with no hope ever of being a Numismatist take a stab. The answer seems obvious.
Definition: (1) A numismatist is a scholar who studies the science of Numismatics. Among coin collectors, the term numismatist is used to mean anybody who is really serious about their coin collecting, or who grades, catalogs, or sells coins for a living. From Susan Headley, former About.com Guide
- So owning a sub-par coin and knowing it in no way detracts from the study of the science. One's Numismatist credentials remain intact.
- Owning a sub-par coin and NOT knowing it means, by definition, that owner would be a sub-par Numismatist.
For me:
It doesn't stop me from enjoying the hobby. I own some sub-par coins and am unsure about many things numismatic.
So I have no illusion that I'm a mumismatist. Having fun anyway...
Edited to add: Your typical mumismatist started when he was 6-8 years old and has studied continually til middle age. It's a high bar to jump.
- AKFlyer
All of my coins are secure in a bank safe-deposit box.
Comments
Bob
A guy in the coin club was showing me a 1921 Morgan Dollar in NGC 62 he was very proud of. It was a really nice lustrous piece and he had paid only around $43 for it. Nothing sub par about that either. I think he did well.
MB
I think the crux of the matter here is weather the numismatist knew the degree of "sub-par-ness" of the coin, going in, and paid a price commensurate.
If someone continually "gets taken" [didn't learn the lesson and buys coins as something they're not] then yes, they are a sub-par numismatist, imo.
Liberty: Parent of Science & Industry
Looking for Top Pop Mercury Dime Varieties & High Grade Mercury Dime Toners.
But really - a lot of the great collections of the past have had sub par coins in them. It really didn't affect their greatness due to their highs and breadth.
<< <i>I bought a coin thinking it was sub par - the more I see the more I think it's rather nice.
But really - a lot of the great collections of the past have had sub par coins in them. It really didn't affect their greatness due to their highs and breadth. >>
I agree - usually I can find some aspect of an item to increase interest. This is the fun of my collections - learning and appreciating - in some cases, stuff I already own.
"A snapshot of the 1939/40 NY Fair with cars."
or
"An original gelatin silver print, unique, showing the General Motors building with its 35,000 sq. ft. Bel Geddes Futurama diorama. Designed by Albert Kahn, this exhibit was the star attraction of the 1939 New York World's Fair, drawing more visitors both years than any single pavilion including the Theme Center. The second season canopy, eventually installed to protect the increasing lines of people from the sun, indicates this beautifully composed image was captured in 1940."
Same item - just more knowledge second time around. "Sub-par" can indicate poor vision (sometimes, certainly not all the time!). There is a lot of "common" and yes, "junk" out there, but a little lookin...
Good weekend wishes to all,
Eric
Edit to add: The vast majority of my best and truly unusual stuff was indeed purchased, "ripped" from dealers who can't specialize in every aspect of that discipline. For example - postcard dealers who don't read messages and know what postdates and marks are important to the ship on the card. Some do not think to Google the name of the photographic firm that produced the card even though it is on the card. I do - and sometimes find my cards are actually worth more as an example of such-and-such photography house than the card is worth to a liner collector. The specialist card dealers are selling many many liners from many lines - I collect 1 from 1907-1919. Like varieties cherry pickers here I'm sure.
Definition: (1) A numismatist is a scholar who studies the science of Numismatics. Among coin collectors, the term numismatist is used to mean anybody who is really serious about their coin collecting, or who grades, catalogs, or sells coins for a living. From Susan Headley, former About.com Guide
- So owning a sub-par coin and knowing it in no way detracts from the study of the science. One's Numismatist credentials remain intact.
- Owning a sub-par coin and NOT knowing it means, by definition, that owner would be a sub-par Numismatist.
For me:
It doesn't stop me from enjoying the hobby. I own some sub-par coins and am unsure about many things numismatic.
So I have no illusion that I'm a mumismatist. Having fun anyway...
Edited to add: Your typical mumismatist started when he was 6-8 years old and has studied continually til middle age. It's a high bar to jump.
All of my coins are secure in a bank safe-deposit box.
Owning (worse yet selling) what you think is a sub par coin...well, see my previous post.
Eric
Sometimes, an apparently sub pub par coin is "found" by a great numismatist.