Home U.S. Coin Forum

Why do we call ourselves, coin "collectors?"

topstuftopstuf Posts: 14,803 ✭✭✭✭✭

The only thing being ...collected... is dividends, paychecks, pensions, profits from business, and inheritance.

Shouldn't we be called coin "possessors?"
Maybe stretch to "numismatist" for those who buy for study.
But I think most just buy coins for plain "owning" them. Poring over them, wondering if they're worth bragging about, looking at occasionally, etc....but not actually searching and ....."collecting."

The folks who glean from change are the "collectors."
We who just ....buy.... coins aren't really collectors, are we?

o:)

Comments

  • JimnightJimnight Posts: 10,846 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Hoarder might be inline! ;)

  • DNADaveDNADave Posts: 7,279 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I have an accumulation.....a big one.

  • BAJJERFANBAJJERFAN Posts: 31,131 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Round-uppers might be a better term since we take stuff from all over and kinda put it in one place. Like Drunner goes out and rounds up all of the doilies.

    theknowitalltroll;
  • FredWeinbergFredWeinberg Posts: 5,864 ✭✭✭✭✭

    We accumulate and possess
    what we collect; ergo - we're
    collectors.

    We're only possessors due to
    our collecting.

    Retired Collector & Dealer in Major Mint Error Coins & Currency since the 1960's.Co-Author of Whitman's "100 Greatest U.S. Mint Error Coins", and the Error Coin Encyclopedia, Vols., III & IV. Retired Authenticator for Major Mint Errors for PCGS. A 50+ Year PNG Member.A full-time numismatist since 1972, retired in 2022.
  • TwoSides2aCoinTwoSides2aCoin Posts: 44,444 ✭✭✭✭✭

    ...because coin gatherers sounds kind of peculiar.

  • I think that the title "penny pinchers" would be kind of funny.

  • OnastoneOnastone Posts: 4,017 ✭✭✭✭✭

    U.S. Penny Pinchers Forum

  • TheRavenTheRaven Posts: 4,145 ✭✭✭✭

    Definitely collectors

    Collection under construction: VG Barber Quarters & Halves
  • messydeskmessydesk Posts: 20,057 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Alliterative affinities aside, a definition of "collecting" describes exactly what we do.

  • KkathylKkathyl Posts: 3,762 ✭✭✭✭✭

    If dust can collect on a table, I can be a collector of coins, tables and dust.

    Best place to buy !
    Bronze Associate member

  • BackroadJunkieBackroadJunkie Posts: 3,745 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Because OCD is too generic a term.

  • DIMEMANDIMEMAN Posts: 22,403 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited March 15, 2018 12:56PM

    @topstuf said:
    The only thing being ...collected... is dividends, paychecks, pensions, profits from business, and inheritance.

    Shouldn't we be called coin "possessors?"
    Maybe stretch to "numismatist" for those who buy for study.
    But I think most just buy coins for plain "owning" them. Poring over them, wondering if they're worth bragging about, looking at occasionally, etc....but not actually searching and ....."collecting."

    The folks who glean from change are the "collectors."
    We who just ....buy.... coins aren't really collectors, are we?

    o:)

    I disagree.....I consider myself a coin collector. ;)B)o:)

  • CameonutCameonut Posts: 7,309 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Collectors is OK

    But like coin custodians better.

    “In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock." - Thomas Jefferson

    My digital cameo album 1950-64 Cameos - take a look!

  • BuffaloIronTailBuffaloIronTail Posts: 7,485 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @topstuf said:
    The only thing being ...collected... is dividends, paychecks, pensions, profits from business, and inheritance.

    Shouldn't we be called coin "possessors?"
    Maybe stretch to "numismatist" for those who buy for study.
    But I think most just buy coins for plain "owning" them. Poring over them, wondering if they're worth bragging about, looking at occasionally, etc....but not actually searching and ....."collecting."

    The folks who glean from change are the "collectors."
    We who just ....buy.... coins aren't really collectors, are we?

    o:)

    You have to "collect" something before you "possess" it.

    Pete

    "I tell them there's no problems.....only solutions" - John Lennon
  • REALGATORREALGATOR Posts: 2,622 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @topstuf said:
    The only thing being ...collected... is dividends, paychecks, pensions, profits from business, and inheritance.

    Shouldn't we be called coin "possessors?"

    There are 2 meanings for the word:

    1. A collector of coins as a hobby
    2. A collector of taxes as ugh....

    For some reason you fixated on number 2. Gotta go!

  • bsshog40bsshog40 Posts: 3,914 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I like to sometimes consider myself as a Coin caretaker! lol

  • ms70ms70 Posts: 13,954 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I think the word we're looking for is curator.

    Great transactions with oih82w8, JasonGaming, Moose1913.

  • IcollecteverythingIcollecteverything Posts: 1,032 ✭✭✭

    Anything is better than "coin nerds".

    Successful BST deals with mustangt and jesbroken. Now EVERYTHING is for sale.

  • rickoricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I am a collector.... I do not sell coins.... My coin collection is comprised of my possessions, for as long as I possess them. I do not care what terms others may use to define the hobby - or me, for that matter. It is a pursuit I enjoy - therefore I continue to collect. Cheers, RickO

  • stevekstevek Posts: 29,457 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Because the word "collectors" contains all the letters in the word "coin."

    Okay, so it's only 2 out of 4, but that ain't bad. ;)

  • messydeskmessydesk Posts: 20,057 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @stevek said:
    Because the word "collectors" contains all the letters in the word "coin."

    Okay, so it's only 2 out of 4, but that ain't bad. ;)

    "Collection" has all of them, though.

  • topstuftopstuf Posts: 14,803 ✭✭✭✭✭

    How about, "enthusisasts?"

  • RogerBRogerB Posts: 8,852 ✭✭✭✭✭

    "Why do we call ourselves, coin 'collectors?' "

    Well, maybe it's because some of the other names are not printable in a family publication? :)

  • topstuftopstuf Posts: 14,803 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Appreciateurs?

  • messydeskmessydesk Posts: 20,057 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @RogerB said:
    "Why do we call ourselves, coin 'collectors?' "

    Well, maybe it's because some of the other names are not printable in a family publication? :)

    And stop calling me Shirley ... uh ... May B.

  • topstuftopstuf Posts: 14,803 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Fish?

  • aclocoacloco Posts: 952 ✭✭✭

    Steward might be appropriate.

    Successful BST transactions with: jp84, WaterSport, Stupid, tychojoe, Swampboy, dragon, Jkramer, savoyspecial, ajaan, tyedye, ProofCollection, Broadstruck x2, TwinTurbo, lordmarcovan, devious, bumanchu, AUandAG, Collectorcoins (2x), staircoins, messydesk, illini420, nolawyer (10x & counting), peaceman, bruggs, agentjim007, ElmerFusterpuck, WinLoseWin, RR, WaterSports, KeyLargRareCoins, LindeDad, Flatwoods, cucamongacoin, grote15, UtahCoin, NewParadigm, smokincoin, sawyerjosh x3
  • topstuftopstuf Posts: 14,803 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Wardens?

  • RayboRaybo Posts: 5,330 ✭✭✭✭✭

    "The folks who glean from change are the "collectors."

    This is the way I started...I pulled my coins from change from wherever I could find them.
    I was an active collector from about age 12 and it wasn't about money...at the time it was about the "hunt", finding the coins to complete my set, I had no idea that people sold coins for X amount of dollars.

    Now look what happened!

  • SonorandesertratSonorandesertrat Posts: 5,695 ✭✭✭✭✭

    'Collectors' sounds much nicer than 'addicts'. I used to tell B&M owners that I came in to get a fix.

    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]
  • ParadisefoundParadisefound Posts: 8,588 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Because we collecting coin ? ;)

  • shorecollshorecoll Posts: 5,445 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I tell people I'm the piano player in a house of ill-repute, I no longer see the look of disgust I saw when I told them I was coin collector.

    ANA-LM, NBS, EAC
  • AzurescensAzurescens Posts: 2,763 ✭✭✭✭✭

    My wife would say I'm a collector since I can never bring myself to sell the stock I buy. =P

  • AzurescensAzurescens Posts: 2,763 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Tbh though, this whole ebay venture was meant to be biological samples and coins.. the way things are going now is I'm turning stuff I find off the forest floor into gold silver and collectibles.. when my nephew is my age this 1900-64 stuff will be ancient.

    I eat the special mushrooms and do my voodoo alchemy and walk around the woods picking up coins, dodging Venus fly traps that spit balls of fire. It's not bad when you think a qtip with moss spores is equally as valuable as a 1932-64 MS quarter.

    The wife doesn't get it, and complains, but I get my coins and she doesn't have a problem spending ebay money lol.

Leave a Comment

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