What makes a coin collectable?

coinsarefun · July 27, 2012 3:04PM

I have my reasons....let's hear yours

lasvegasteddy · July 27, 2012 3:06PM

if it's too pretty to sell

probably has to do with one of those 7 deadly things too...

BillyKingsley · July 27, 2012 3:14PM

If it exists. Only reason I neef to want something

coinsarefun · July 27, 2012 3:31PM

For me it's a coin that almost shouts at me from across the room at a coin show.
Or a image of a coin that is one a dealers site that stops me dead in my tracks.

I am instantly drawn to it by its luster, strike and if it has nice toning then I am drawn to it even more.

It coin be a coin that I collect or one that I don't collect.

There's more but lets hear from more people

JJacks · July 27, 2012 3:34PM

Almost anything that is 90% silver, gold, or old enough to get your blood flowing!

JJacks

lasvegasteddy · July 27, 2012 3:39PM

"There's more but lets hear from more people

but i'm schizophrenic can i share again

coinsarefun · July 28, 2012 1:27AM

To me a coin is collectable if the general public desires it. There are many coins out there that have low mintages
but few collectors. Maybe this can be interpreted into a good time to buy the coin?

I also think that the condition quality and luster, originality, strike and overall look of a certain coin and token can make it collectable.

410a · July 28, 2012 1:35AM

I went to Baltimore, the inner harbor, at Fells Point. I went into one of the antique shops saw an 1822 large cent for $7. VG grade. So, seeing as this was a vacation and I wanted something other than a souviner from Camden Yards. I got a collectible Large Cent a friendly reminder of a great time. Regards, Mike

MrHalfDime · July 28, 2012 1:44AM

What makes a coin 'collectable' can mean different things to different people, depending upon their specific interests in the hobby. To one individual collector, a 'collectable' coin could be the one remaining date or date/mint example they need to complete their date collection. To another collector, a coin becomes 'collectable' if it is a specific die marriage they have been seeking. To still another collector (such as myself), a coin can become 'collectable' if it is a specific die state, either early, mid, or late, they have been seeking for a die study. For other collectors, a coin becomes 'collectable' if it exhibits a quality strike, good eye appeal, nice luster, colorful toning, or other eye appealing characteristics. And for still another group of collectors, a coin is 'collectable' if it exhibits a specific device (ship, animal, etc.). I'm sure there are many others that I have not thought of, too. Almost anything can make almost any coin 'collectable' and desirable to at least some collectors. I treasure certain coins in my reference collection of half dimes that would almost certainly be bypassed by most other collectors as unattractive, or undesirable for a variety of reasons, but to me they represent a die state (die crack, cud, etc.) that I have never seen before. 'Collectability' is a very subjective, personal phenomenon that varies from one collector to another.

ctf_error_coins · July 28, 2012 1:46AM

Rarity plus Eye Appeal.

derryb · July 28, 2012 1:52AM

a collector's desire to have it.

joeykoins · July 28, 2012 2:25AM

Unfortunately, a coin is only worth collecting when that coin is famous/popular with the coin hobby. Otherwise,why collect? I know, money isn't everything but the bottom line is what's really worth holding on to. Would we hold onto a 1993p Lincoln cent or a 1994 Nickle? Even though some people probably do hold onto these years,but for what?I'd rather hold onto a 1909sVDB,1913sBuffalo,you get the picture. Just my 2cents.

johnny9434 · July 28, 2012 2:26AM

cause i like it and other reasons.

Hotfootspin · July 28, 2012 2:49AM

A coin is collectable if it is interesting.

1909 S VDB and 1916-D are interesting because they have a reputation.

Gold coins are interesting because of the history of gold. Old coins are interesting because
they are seldom seen by the general public.

Coins with die cracks, overdates, RPMs, and errors are interesting.

Bicentennial and state quarters are not interesting because they are everywhere. I'll head
to a coin show this afternoon and see more Morgans than I need to see in a month. Not
to disparage those who collect those, but they are not interesting to me.

Mark

pursuitofliberty · July 28, 2012 3:12AM

The condition, age, association with history, rarity and eye appeal (beauty) are the primary contributing factors for almost all collectibles, coins included.

For most collectors, there are specific points of each of those facets that have to be met before they will consider adding it to their collection. Of course, even if the conditions of the collector are met or exceeded, price also matters to that final decision of acquisition.

Of course, all of these are subjectable to the individual collector, and each of us is at least a little bit different. And sometimes, our tastes change. This is a good thing too, as otherwise we would all collect the same thing, which to me at least, would lessen the enjoyment. Especially since we share the hobby in many ways.

The OP likes higher condition pieces with luster and flash and color I believe, and it makes her heart pump. There's a few people on here that would go broke if they could find enough coins that had the look and feel of a certain 1819 Half Dollar that a member showed last night. Others would jump at the chance to acquire something like the Sailor trial strike found. Still others would mark the 1892 micro O Barber Half in any grade as a supreme collectable. A couple members collect uber-grade early 18th and 19th Century treasures, and I know, for me at least, if the wallet was thicker, I'd be competition.

It really only takes one person to make it collectable. However, in many cases, the more people who would collect it if they could, makes the game a lot more interesting!

scotty1419 · July 28, 2012 3:17AM

Beauty, rarity, age, background history, condition.

coinsarefun · July 28, 2012 3:30AM

<< <i>The condition, age, association with history, rarity and eye appeal (beauty) are the primary contributing factors for almost all collectibles, coins included.

For most collectors, there are specific points of each of those facets that have to be met before they will consider adding it to their collection. Of course, even if the conditions of the collector are met or exceeded, price also matters to that final decision of acquisition.

Of course, all of these are subjectable to the individual collector, and each of us is at least a little bit different. And sometimes, our tastes change. This is a good thing too, as otherwise we would all collect the same thing, which to me at least, would lessen the enjoyment. Especially since we share the hobby in many ways.

The OP likes higher condition pieces with luster and flash and color I believe, and it makes her heart pump. There's a few people on here that would go broke if they could find enough coins that had the look and feel of a certain 1819 Half Dollar that a member showed last night. Others would jump at the chance to acquire something like the Sailor trial strike found. Still others would mark the 1892 micro O Barber Half in any grade as a supreme collectable. A couple members collect uber-grade early 18th and 19th Century treasures, and I know, for me at least, if the wallet was thicker, I'd be competition.

It really only takes one person to make it collectable. However, in many cases, the more people who would collect it if they could, makes the game a lot more interesting! >>

Well stated Todd!

I really like your answer

Pokermandude · July 28, 2012 3:31AM

In a word: desirability.

Factors that can increase or decrease desirability can be both objective (eg. mintage, relative rarity, condition) and subjective (toning, eye appeal, design, history).

Personally what mainly draws me to certain coins is eye appeal, with a hint of relative rarity/condition. Flipping through a dealer's boxes or paging through ebay/online store pictures I've become quite good at immediately looking past the slew of lower grade/eye appeal pieces. When I finally find a very nice piece it sticks out very strongly!

What makes a coin collectable?

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