Where does numismatics fall among your favorite hobbies?
RYK
Posts: 35,800 ✭✭✭✭✭
About three weeks ago, before the 95-105 degree heat settled in, my daughter and I were walking the dog one evening, and she asked me, "Dad, what are your favorite hobbies." As a man of many and varied interests, I quickly rattled off six or seven. She replied, "What about coins?" 
I have since contemplated why I failed to include coin collecting in my list of hobbies for her, and there are at least three possible conclusions:
1. It is so much a part of my person that it was too obvious to mention.
2. Coins are no longer a hobby, but transcend it in some way, good or bad.
3. Coins are no longer an important ("Top 6") hobby for me.
I have since contemplated why I failed to include coin collecting in my list of hobbies for her, and there are at least three possible conclusions:
1. It is so much a part of my person that it was too obvious to mention.
2. Coins are no longer a hobby, but transcend it in some way, good or bad.
3. Coins are no longer an important ("Top 6") hobby for me.
0
Comments
My Collection of Old Holders
Never a slave to one plastic brand will I ever be.
<< <i>I work too hard to have 6+ hobbies
If you forego sleeping and eating, six is doable.
Coin collecting? Not so much...
<< <i>
<< <i>I work too hard to have 6+ hobbies
If you forego sleeping and eating, six is doable.
Don't forget breathing...
Every time I see another whiner thread, the meter drops some more (eg: why dealers are such deeks, why didn't the dealer call me back, why does the mint make so many collector coins, why doesn't the mint make more collector coins, why the sticker company does or doesn't do certain things, why Ebay/Paypal/post office does or doesn't do certain things, why did so and so get bammed, why doesn't so-and-so get bammed). Satisfaction meter is pretty low right now. Whiner threads vs. numismatic/history threads, probably run 5 to 1 on this forum.
The local coin club hasn't helped my impression of fellow collectors--good percentage of deeks there. Lots of uneducated deeks too, that don't care about grading coins or quality for the grade, or history. Some barely care about coins. Yes, history gets lip service as it does on this forum, but maybe 1 in 10 show and tell presentations mention any real history, and that is usually me. The educational segment has been put on permanent hiatus because of lack of interest in the presentations. Again, lots of collectors with strong politics on both sides of the aisle and think a coin club is a place to flaunt that, and again, many with bizarre and unfortunate beliefs and behaviors that go along with those politics.
<< <i>Less and less. Too many "deeks" in the hobby. Too many with strong (often strange) political beliefs (and some unfortunate side beliefs that tend to go with those politics).
Every time I see another whiner thread, the meter drops some more (eg: why dealers are such deeks, why didn't the dealer call me back, why does the mint make so many collector coins, why doesn't the mint make more collector coins, why the sticker company does or doesn't do certain things, why Ebay/Paypal/post office does or doesn't do certain things, why did so and so get bammed, why doesn't so-and-so get bammed). Satisfaction meter is pretty low right now. Whiner threads vs. numismatic/history threads, probably run 5 to 1 on this forum.
The local coin club hasn't helped my impression of fellow collectors--good percentage of deeks there. Lots of uneducated deeks too, that don't care about grading coins or quality for the grade, or history. Some barely care about coins. Yes, history gets lip service as it does on this forum, but maybe 1 in 10 show and tell presentations mention any real history, and that is usually me. The educational segment has been put on permanent hiatus because of lack of interest in the presentations. Again, lots of collectors with strong politics on both sides of the aisle and think a coin club is a place to flaunt that, and again, many with bizarre and unfortunate beliefs and behaviors that go along with those politics. >>
It looks like deeks is quickly becoming a new popular numismatic term
New hobbies on the way in (fossil/gem hunting)
and a few that are here to stay (coins/currency, raquetball)
BTW, salt water must be two words, otherwise it forms a rejected word in the middle, Who Knew!?
<< <i>Less and less. Too many "deeks" in the hobby. Too many with strong (often strange) political beliefs (and some unfortunate side beliefs that tend to go with those politics).
Every time I see another whiner thread, the meter drops some more (eg: why dealers are such deeks, why didn't the dealer call me back, why does the mint make so many collector coins, why doesn't the mint make more collector coins, why the sticker company does or doesn't do certain things, why Ebay/Paypal/post office does or doesn't do certain things, why did so and so get bammed, why doesn't so-and-so get bammed). Satisfaction meter is pretty low right now. Whiner threads vs. numismatic/history threads, probably run 5 to 1 on this forum.
The local coin club hasn't helped my impression of fellow collectors--good percentage of deeks there. Lots of uneducated deeks too, that don't care about grading coins or quality for the grade, or history. Some barely care about coins. Yes, history gets lip service as it does on this forum, but maybe 1 in 10 show and tell presentations mention any real history, and that is usually me. The educational segment has been put on permanent hiatus because of lack of interest in the presentations. Again, lots of collectors with strong politics on both sides of the aisle and think a coin club is a place to flaunt that, and again, many with bizarre and unfortunate beliefs and behaviors that go along with those politics. >>
Ya know I noticed that with some fellow ancient collectors I added on facebook. I am part of a closed group and get along great with them in the group but outside of it their status updates are all anti-obama and various other political stuff. Its a good 5 of them. Ive already removed 2 of the 5. Its crazy.
As for the thread topic. I would say numismatics is #1. I drift into comic books and stamps now and then but my passion is with coins. I put the most time & money into them as well as learning & reading on the history, mainly with the ancients.
I enjoy communicating with coin collectors online also. But when comparing coin shows to comic book shows..comic book show are alot more fun. I am 33 so I dont feel like a young buck or get treated like a newb like I do at local coin shows, including long beach.
<< <i>
<< <i>Less and less. Too many "deeks" in the hobby. Too many with strong (often strange) political beliefs (and some unfortunate side beliefs that tend to go with those politics).
Every time I see another whiner thread, the meter drops some more (eg: why dealers are such deeks, why didn't the dealer call me back, why does the mint make so many collector coins, why doesn't the mint make more collector coins, why the sticker company does or doesn't do certain things, why Ebay/Paypal/post office does or doesn't do certain things, why did so and so get bammed, why doesn't so-and-so get bammed). Satisfaction meter is pretty low right now. Whiner threads vs. numismatic/history threads, probably run 5 to 1 on this forum.
The local coin club hasn't helped my impression of fellow collectors--good percentage of deeks there. Lots of uneducated deeks too, that don't care about grading coins or quality for the grade, or history. Some barely care about coins. Yes, history gets lip service as it does on this forum, but maybe 1 in 10 show and tell presentations mention any real history, and that is usually me. The educational segment has been put on permanent hiatus because of lack of interest in the presentations. Again, lots of collectors with strong politics on both sides of the aisle and think a coin club is a place to flaunt that, and again, many with bizarre and unfortunate beliefs and behaviors that go along with those politics. >>
It looks like deeks is quickly becoming a new popular numismatic term
Perhaps, but I was hoping to keep that word out of my thread
<< <i>
<< <i>I work too hard to have 6+ hobbies
If you forego sleeping and eating, six is doable.
I quit sleeping ages ago, plenty of time for that when I'm sleeping with the fishes, but eating thats another story.
My Collection of Old Holders
Never a slave to one plastic brand will I ever be.
MJ
Fellas, leave the tight pants to the ladies. If I can count the coins in your pockets you better use them to call a tailor. Stay thirsty my friends......
Yes and there is usually too many deeks on the dance floor as well..............MJ
Fellas, leave the tight pants to the ladies. If I can count the coins in your pockets you better use them to call a tailor. Stay thirsty my friends......
Numismatics was first for about 50 years then I got into recording old 78 rpm records and digitalizing them to CD. While I have thousands of old records, I do not actually collect them to have a record collection. Digitalizing them to CD is the hobby - not collecting them. I record them and then sell most of them or give them away.
Bob
Edited to add--Record people are much easier to deal with then coin people.
#2 is Coins
followed by
#3 Economics
Here are my co-authors. The boy is 125 lbs. and the girl is 90.
and it sets us apart from practitioners and consultants. Gregor
I only mention coins first because this is a coin forum :-)
LM-ANA3242-CSNS308-MSNS226-ICTA
``https://ebay.us/m/KxolR5
Soooo...., right now, coins are my top hobby out of sheer survival.
<< <i>
<< <i>Too many with strong (often strange) political beliefs (and some unfortunate side beliefs that tend to go with those politics). >>
Ya know I noticed that with some fellow ancient collectors I added on facebook. I am part of a closed group and get along great with them in the group but outside of it their status updates are all anti-obama and various other political stuff. Its a good 5 of them. Ive already removed 2 of the 5. Its crazy.
>>
I never considered a difference of opinion in politics, in religion, in philosophy, as cause for withdrawing from a friend - Thomas Jefferson
So coins aren't really a hobby for me, but I really enjoy getting new coins for the personal collection, so I guess it really is a very enjoyable hobby for me
So my hobbies are:
Kayak Ocean Fishing
Poker
Bonsai
Gardening
Photography can't be counted as a hobby as it is way, way too much like work for me.
My x hobbies are Rock Climbing, Backpacking, Mt Biking.
#2. "Good" Beer and whiskey.
#3. Debating my strong political beliefs.
Please visit my website Millcitynumismatics.com
"Jesus died for you and for me, Thank you,Jesus"!!!
--- If it should happen I die and leave this world and you want to remember me. Please only remember my opening Sig Line.#1: 1/64 NASCAR Diecast. In my 20th Year collecting. I also don't miss a Cup race, but since I don't really do anything but watch, I am not sure if that counts.
#2: 1/64 non-NASCAR diecast. I began collecting at roughly 2 months old and have not stopped, exact time is unknown but my family thinks it may have been my first Christmas. I used to try and get everything, now I only get Factory Stock American cars, race cars, and anything too cool not to get.
#3: Reading, usually history & DC Comics...I've run out of NASCAR books to read, although occasionally I'll pull out one and re-read it. My favorite has been read over a dozen times. I had my first comic read to me at 5 days old, and I still read them. I have been collecting NASCAR books for 20 years, and I started buying history books only a few years ago. I discovered that my local library has book sales twice a year, where you can buy books by the pound. The first time we went I ended up paying 4 cents a book, and got over 40 books. My favorite subject is ancient history, especially Rome.
#4: Photography. I almost didn't include it on the list because it's such a part of my daily life, that it's more than a hobby. I've even picked up the nickname "The Mad Documenter" because I am compelled to document pretty much anything. My photography website is closing in on 200,000 images. I will shoot pictures of almost anything, favoring my collections, and nature. I am limited by the fact that health issues prevent me from going a lot of cool places or doing a lot of cool things so mostly it's shots of birds, squirrels and flowers in my yard.
Those three are pretty much my mainstays, and don't change. Everything else after that varies depending on my mood. Sometimes I spend most of my waking hours on them, sometimes I go months or even years without touching them...
Coins & Currency (naturally, I'm on here!) I only began on this hobby in 2008. It varies for me, as do most. Seems to be a more "off" than "on" thing lately...it's kind of disparaging that I really can't afford to add to my collection much.
Trading Cards. I have been collecting for a long time- most of my life, but not as much as I once did. For a time in the mid 2000s this had actually moved into a tie for first on my hobby list, but has since dropped off, for two main reasons: I didn't like where the hobby was headed, and I couldn't afford it anymore. I was even almost totally out of it from 2006-2009.
Stamps. I only really started collecting seriously in 2011. I don't know a lot yet, and I really can't do much with them for most of the year, as I always have a fan on me, even in the middle of winter...they tend to blow all over the place, so I can pretty much only deal with them in the summer, when the A/C is on.
Action figures (dormant for now, but I have been pulling them out and photographing them. I have not seen some of them in over a decade). I still pick up the occasional unique Star Wars figure, although I have gone years where I didn't even do that. Actively collected as late as 2007. My current side project is photographing my whole collection. I collected GI Joe figures until 2004, DC until 2010 (when the line I was collecting ended, would still collect it if it still existed) and Star Wars until 2009, then nothing until 2012 when I've gotten 6 figures. Got fed up with endless minor variations of the few main characters.
Building scale models. From 1999-09 I built cars only, have since added planes, ships, figures, armor and space. So frustrated with the hobby though that everything is boxed up for the forseeable future. You can only take so much of EVERY Single thing attempted going badly- for me, it was roughly 5 years. I have found some success, though, in that I've been printed in magazines 5 times, over the span of 2004-08. I will try again, but I can see the time coming when I am out of the hobby eventually.
Find a Grave. This is the newest hobby for me. Began only in May of this year. I went with my brother to look for a distant family member, and ended up having fun looking at all the old markers. So...I've taken it up. I get to document history, and help people. I've already done over 1800 entries since May. My brother takes most of the pictures, I upload them. My goal is to document the entire Cemetery where my dad is, and as many as possible otherwise.
Message Boards I always leave this one off when it comes to hobbies, but I really shouldn't. I actually spend more time on them than pretty much all my hobbies, but that is changing. For a time, I posted on over a dozen every single day, to the point where I wasn't doing anything else. It was too much. I've cut back to my favorites/the most active. I can't seem to keep myself on boards where I can read an entire week's worth of posts in an hour. I've also drifted away from some because of some really stupid people doing really stupid stuff. This includes on Facebook, which has seemingly become nothing but politics. (Which I can't stand, and it's all hate speach for the most part, not reasoned posts with reasons why they don't like whoever, that may not be fun but would at least be acceptible). The more time I spend talking to people, the less I like them. I've been posting on message boards since August of 2000, but it's gotten to the point where there's not a lot of fun in it anymore, yet I also can't seem to stop going on, at least occasionally. I've even stepped down from my moderatorship on one of the message boards. As long as I can still find some good on the few, I will still go back to them, but I won't be as much of a regular as I once was...that's even visible on this board, as I only check in periodically these days.
I feel like I'm forgetting something, but I can't place what.
"Jesus died for you and for me, Thank you,Jesus"!!!
--- If it should happen I die and leave this world and you want to remember me. Please only remember my opening Sig Line.<< <i>Yes, I've fed them by hand in the past....but most of the time they don't trust us enough to come to us! I have a video of it on YouTube, somewhere, even! >>
Very,very cool! It's nice to hear of them animal lovers such as I. I've got to check that out on youT.
"Jesus died for you and for me, Thank you,Jesus"!!!
--- If it should happen I die and leave this world and you want to remember me. Please only remember my opening Sig Line.2. Everything else - I shoot 2-3 times a month, I golf once or twice a week, I play at woodworking one or two evenings a week.
World Collection
British Collection
German States Collection
Rainbow Stars
Empty Nest Collection
<< <i>Somewhere between Beer and fixing my car. Far below bike riding and trail building. >>
Mmm...beer.
BTW, the six I listed to my daughter were...
Running, Steelers football, Grateful Dead music, travel, reading, and tennis.