How Often Do You Have to Buy a Coin to Keep Your Interest in Collecting?

msch1man

I'd guess that the vast majority of us have some sort of a coin budget that we have to stick to. While it's always more fun to make purchases more often, it's often times more satisfying to save up and make more expensive purchases less frequently. I've always struggled with this. I've bought several coins that, in hindsight, were coins where I bought too often instead of saving up and buying something nicer. This causes you to end up with coins that you'll eventually want to upgrade. On the flip side, you have to be realistic about what you can afford and if you stand on the sidelines and just save your money without making any purchases, I think your interest in collecting decreases. Seems to be a balancing act of sorts. Curious if others struggle with this balancing act as well.

How often do you have to buy a coin to keep your interest in your collection going?

mirabela

I completely get what you're saying. That's one reason I sometimes keep a little "lunch money" side project going. I buy a "real" coin for the "real" collection once or twice a year on average.

TopographicOceans

It varies from days - to years.

DIMEMAN

I struggle with this all the time.

csdot

Depends on what's available. I can go 6 months or more before I find anything local that triggers my interet.

JCMhouston

Sometimes I'll buy 4-5 coins in one month, sometimes I go 4-5 months finding nothing to buy. But I'm looking almost every day.0

JohnnyCache

typically once or twice a year

Sonorandesertrat

The way to handle this is to have a relatively cheap side project or two.
For me, a Dansco 7070 album that is under constant revision, a growing set of nice electrotypes and contemporary counterfeits, and a seriously growing numismatic library keep me content in when I cannot spot anything I want for my core collection.

rhedden

I find that putting my coins away in the SDB for a year and forgetting I own them until I rediscover them is a good way to rekindle interest without spending money. If I still remember them, I'm not drinking enough beer.

Walkerfan

A Major key might be once or twice a year.

Semi-keys and better dates--more often.

Sometimes it takes a year or two just to find what I'm looking for.

Type2

I'm kind of a coin junkey. I try to buy all I can and buy one or two very nice one's for my collection once or twice a week i'm a sick puppy.

Timbuk3

I hear all of you guys loud and clear !!!

lasvegasteddy

being i'm making up for lost ground
it would appear as soon as see i don't have a coin inbound...there's a problem

leothelyon

<< <i>I'd guess that the vast majority of us have some sort of a coin budget that we have to stick to. While it's always more fun to make purchases more often, it's often times more satisfying to save up and make more expensive purchases less frequently. I've always struggled with this. I've bought several coins that, in hindsight, were coins where I bought too often instead of saving up and buying something nicer. This causes you to end up with coins that you'll eventually want to upgrade. On the flip side, you have to be realistic about what you can afford and if you stand on the sidelines and just save your money without making any purchases, I think your interest in collecting decreases. Seems to be a balancing act of sorts. Curious if others struggle with this balancing act as well.

How often do you have to buy a coin to keep your interest in your collection going? >>



With the infrequency of your posting, are you unhappy with some of your purchases?

Barberian

I buy a few coins for collections I may get serious about in the future. For example, I like half dollars, and particularly liberty seated half dollars and barber halves, but I'll buy a bust half or a walker every now and then if I like the look of the coin. I'm not seriously collecting bust halves or walkers right now, but I'm putting a few away for future collecting (if that makes sense?).

The 7070 is not finished as well, so every now and then I'll look at some of the series I don't have yet and buy a coin or two. No hurry.

Yorkshireman

I, too, am making up for lost ground.
At 53 and only having been seriously collecting for a few years, I truly wish I had the time back that was spent away from this great hobby of ours. I would have more coins in those neat blue boxes, and at better prices too.

Back to the original question, I look almost every day online and have to search a bourse floor once a quarter to bring something home.
I was lucky at the FUN show to have found three neat coins for my sets, two CBHs and one piece of New Orleans gold.

ms70

I was buying 2 to 3 a month of the common dates but now the keys have slowed me down. This morning I'm particularly annoyed since someone out nuked me last night.

ricko

When I see a coin that ignites my interest, I go after it.... no schedule. Could be anytime... Cheers, RickO

TwoSides2aCoin

When I was young about fifty years ago, I had my first red book. It got me dreaming.
Last year, I sold a dozen or two red books. It got me dreaming bigger.

For a long time, I didn't have to buy any coins to keep my interest. Once I started buying coins, though, I started seeing more and more interesting coins.

Buyer beware. RED BOOKS cause OCD and other problems. Like dreaming. Coins are always there.

Broadstruck

<< <i>I find that putting my coins away in the SDB for a year and forgetting I own them until I rediscover them is a good way to rekindle interest without spending money. If I still remember them >>



I recently found an entire extra box of tokens & medals I forgot I even owned

I was also talking to another collector buddy about mailing one another items for show & tell just to get something in the mail

winky

I have a problem with this all the time. I can't help myself, it is like a sickness and believe me I am SICK.

ms70

<< <i>I have a problem with this all the time. I can't help myself, it is like a sickness and believe me I am SICK. >>



It's like drugs. When you get a coin the high only lasts for so long until you need another fix.... LOL...

silverpop

I buy coins cause I want to not cause I have to

WildIdea

This has changed for me over the years. In the beginning, I had the fire and not much of a collection. Everywhere I looked I saw coins I just had to have and was paying dues. Since then, I've learned to grade, identify problems, recognize and understand dealer tactics, TPG, read the show circuit, coin trend and auction history, etc and that has cooled the fire. I look for new purchases weekly, but rarely find anything that makes me want to get my wallet out.

So now it has become a really private pleasure. The last three years or so I've only bought three coins. Nobody outside of collecting (and some within, ha ha) would understand the prices paid. Besides, its not anyone's business. They are cool enough though, that when or wherever I am, I get a fond feeling knowing I own them. I would describe it as a proud feeling I guess that I put the time and energy into learning as well as listening to others that allows me to enjoy this hobby whether buying or not.

TwoSides2aCoin

I buy and sell . It rocks my world more than _ _ _.

LeeBone

The cost of raising two daughters on my own has kept me financially inactive from purchasing anything for a period of time. This has lead me to "lose interest" in coins for a while now. I`ll probably catch the collecting bug again no doubt. Just when I don`t know.

Broadstruck

<< <i>

<< <i>I have a problem with this all the time. I can't help myself, it is like a sickness and believe me I am SICK. >>



It's like drugs. When you get a coin the high only lasts for so long until you need another fix.... LOL... >>



Probably worse then heroin withdraw wise...

I went cold turkey for 60 days no issue until someone on here felt the need to point something out

LindeDad

I check the mail box daily. Yeah there's usually something there and not just bills.

Elcontador

How often do you have to buy a coin to keep your interest in your collection going? Never. The coin is either "all there," or it isn't. It's too easy to make a mistake by letting your emotions get the best of you. You're better off buying nothing than either a bad coin or a coin which is nothing special to you.

ctf_error_coins

I only bought five coins today.

Ebay has such awesome deals on coins.

johnny9434

at least once a year.

bosco5041

<< <i>How often do you have to buy a coin to keep your interest in your collection going? Never. The coin is either "all there," or it isn't. It's too easy to make a mistake by letting your emotions get the best of you. You're better off buying nothing than either a bad coin or a coin which is nothing special to you. >>

That is very good advice but boy is it hard to do if you haven't bought anything in months and you are getting antsy at least for me. That is when I make mistakes to.

coindeuce

Often enough to always be strategizing on how to fund the next item in the pipeline.

Baley

It's been over a year since I've added a coin, but today found a nice example of one I've long been looking for, at a great price, and bought it without hesitation.