Would you trade half of your collections..

Boosibri · July 27, 2014 3:13AM

Close your eyes and imagine a coin that you are absolutely floored by. The coin is offered to you right this second and is worth half of your collection which would be accepted as trade for this coin. It is unlikely that you will find such an example again in the next 10 years if not longer and it fits right in the wheelhouse of the series and look that you appreciate most... what do you do?

Edited the context slightly, sorry CoinJunkie

CoinJunkie · July 27, 2014 3:22AM

At least half of my collection consists of coins that I like very much, but which would ultimately be
replaceable. Thus, I would do the deal w/o much remorse, given that you frame it as a once in a
lifetime opportunity.

crypto79 · July 27, 2014 3:28AM

Even assuming I would have to give up the best of the best to get amazingness in return, I would galdly sell my trade dollars for one of the better proof or trial peace dollars from the mint directors collection. But sadly the value isn't there

magikbilly · July 27, 2014 3:34AM

You all know I am not a coin collector first. So, this would have to be something extreme from Hiroshima, a 1939 NYWF Kodachrome 8x10 transparency or reel of Ektachrome of something I have never seen, or a part of the Mauretania's glass work like a decorated window or something like a candid stereo photograph or color Lumiere Bros. Autochrome plate. I can not imagine anything realistically that would make me trade half my collection for what would likely be a duplicate one way or another.

Edit to add: I can imagine some things, but would always rather have diversity. I am not considering $ at all.

Eric

AnkurJ · July 27, 2014 3:37AM

I have been for a chain cent. Not easy to sacrifice some of the coins.

ricko · July 27, 2014 3:38AM

For the right coin..... yes, although it would hurt.....Cheers, RickO

Boosibri · July 27, 2014 3:41AM

<< For the right coin..... yes, although it would hurt.....Cheers, RickO[/q

This is my view... It also changes my perspective on acquiring coins. Who knows when that special coin is right around the corner.

Type2 · July 27, 2014 3:42AM

No.

dpoole · July 27, 2014 3:44AM

For the right coin, absolutely!

magikbilly · July 27, 2014 3:47AM

This sort of thing has happened - and I thought about it at the time. What would I DO with the plasterwork ceiling of the Mauretania's Grand Staircase (a room that doesn't exist anymore), or some other thing? Her running lights are unique (port and starboard), but again, what context would one of them have? Her wheel? Fabulous, but too...condensed. I know someone who owns the very grave of a victim of something like the Hindenburg or Titanic etc. What..oh, the heck with it.

My vote is NO! (But I'll look..

)

A lot of blood, sweat and tears and time into my collection like all of you. Not so quick to wipe that away and all that came with it, the selection and the learning...the memories and friends along the way, and of course the history locked in an engine turbine blade or section of decking people walked on or things people handled for 27 years like a dog for a porthole. That is the meaning behind my collection. I love my collection. Re another thread - perfection is generally an opinion too. There are far more impressive and valuable collections...but this one is mine.

Eric

bosco5041 · July 27, 2014 3:52AM

No, I voted that I would keep my coins.

TomB · July 27, 2014 3:54AM

I guess I would have to find the right coin first. The theoretical coin in itself doesn't move me.

SmEagle1795 · July 27, 2014 3:54AM

It was tough but I basically did that (over time) to acquire my centerpiece.. Looking back on what I sold, it was absolutely worth it and I have zero regrets.

However, a large portion of the value of my collection is now held within my centerpiece and a few other coins which are disproportionately more expensive than the others. To trade half my collection dollar value now would mean I'd have to either sell a large number of my coins, or a couple of my "big" coins.

Either door would be very tough to go through, and I'd probably not do it.

ms70 · July 27, 2014 4:00AM

Heck, I might trade the entire thing!

RYK · July 27, 2014 4:02AM

I would probably not do it (assuming that I liked the coins I already own). I have had such opportunities, in the past, and passed. I am afraid of putting all of my eggs in one basket, but in many scenarios, it could be the right thing to do.

dagman100 · July 27, 2014 4:03AM

Collecting is a life long experience. In fact, I hate the notion of "finishing" a set. I think it is a constant cycle of growing and trading up, while enjoying what you have along the way.

TPRC · July 27, 2014 4:08AM

I said no to the question but mostly because 1/2 is too much for me. It is possible though. Now if you said 10% well that is what I should be doing, and if you said 25%, I probably would say yes.

ahopewell55 · July 27, 2014 4:10AM

Less is often more.

LanLord · July 27, 2014 4:10AM

1/2 the collection for the right coin?

In a second with no second thought.

Unknown · July 27, 2014 4:12AM

This content has been removed.

csdot · July 27, 2014 4:25AM

I'd happily package up all of my modern coins (which I rarely look at anyway) in exchange for a centerpiece coin like a MS65 High relief 1907 Saint, or a high grade PanPac $50, or a similar coin. I am a type collector, so I have all of the modern coins in my set anyway and they are approximately half of my collection.

Boosibri · July 27, 2014 4:28AM

<< I'd happily package up all of my modern coins (which I rarely look at anyway) in exchange for a centerpiece coin like a MS65 High relief 1907 Saint, or a high grade PanPac $50, or a similar coin. I am a type collector, so I have all of the modern coins in my set anyway and they are approximately half of my collection. >>

Seems like that scenario could be easily accomplished then

DDR · July 27, 2014 4:28AM

For the right coin? In a heartbeat. I'd end up with the coin of my dream as well keep the best of my collection.

cwt · July 27, 2014 4:47AM

Been there and have done it. No regrets whatsoever.

braddick · July 27, 2014 4:49AM

Absolutely as you didn't specify which half.

mozin · July 27, 2014 5:02AM

Not a chance. I have little interest in owning any coin that only the richest 1% of collectors could afford.

sumnom · July 27, 2014 5:03AM

Most of my collection is pretty unremarkable so it wouldn't be an issue to get rid of half of it for something good.

stevepk · July 27, 2014 5:08AM

No way would I trade my entire collection for a dream coin worth 50% of the collection. I would consider the trade if I could break even. I don't like selling or trading things for less than what I paid. This is why I never sell depreciating assets. I'm just a collector anyway, not a dealer who has to keep inventory and cash flow moving.

kaz · July 27, 2014 5:09AM

<< For the right coin? In a heartbeat. I'd end up with the coin of my dream as well keep the best of my collection. >>

Me, too.

mercurydimeguy · July 27, 2014 5:11AM

<< It was tough but I basically did that (over time) to acquire my centerpiece.. Looking back on what I sold, it was absolutely worth it and I have zero regrets.

However, a large portion of the value of my collection is now held within my centerpiece and a few other coins which are disproportionately more expensive than the others. To trade half my collection dollar value now would mean I'd have to either sell a large number of my coins, or a couple of my "big" coins.

Either door would be very tough to go through, and I'd probably not do it. >>

SmEagle1795 I was actually thinking of doing exactly what you did, because the Eid Mar is a coin I've always wanted. And I might very well do that still, in fact I would trade everything I have now for the right coin. To me that is the coolest coin one can own, but that is of course very biased

roadrunner · July 27, 2014 5:15AM

I've done essentially the same thing a number of times and it in case the better coin that was worth a lot turned out to be a much better performer.

The other times I decided not to do such a thing it was the wrong move. One occasion was back in 1988 when I contemplated buying a gem 1876-cc 20c piece for $85K and another was at the 2002 Vermeulle auction for the 1893-s $ in gem (now a MS67 finest graded/finest known). I'd have no problem owning just 1, 2 or 3 coins if they were the right coin(s) at the right time.

BillJones · July 27, 2014 7:51AM

One part of the question that is missing, do I get to pick the pieces that go into that traded half of my collection? If so that would make the job easier.

Unfortunately the only item that would entice me to make that deal would be the King of Siam Proof set. Unfortunately my WHOLE collection would fall short in making that deal.

bidask · July 27, 2014 8:29AM

I would do the trade.

Baley · July 27, 2014 8:35AM

Depends on what I'm getting for the half in trade; the time it would take to liquidate coin-by-coin would make a trade worth it in itself if I didn't have to "give the stuff away" wholesale (or less)

Nap · July 27, 2014 8:41AM

Probably. My collecting interests have changed over the years, but I've never sold any coins. I could justify selling/trading some of them for the right opportunity.

Certain pieces in my collection however are untouchable, not because of any great value, but because of sentiment. I would keep them even if I decided to get out of coins altogether

DIMEMAN · July 27, 2014 8:52AM

No way! There isn't one coin that I would trade half of my collection for.

SeattleSlammer · July 27, 2014 9:02AM

<< No way! There isn't one coin that I would trade half of my collection for. >>

Not one ?!????

BryceM · July 27, 2014 10:46AM

I'd gladly trade half of my collection for the right coin, but like Crypto, the value isn't there for the coin that would tempt me.

If somehow I did, I'd post if here every few days until y'all were sick of it.

earlyAurum · July 27, 2014 10:46AM

Interesting question. My first thought was which half? My current collection is not uniform in value. Some of the coins are of significant value relative to others. But if faced with liquidating half the value of my collection to acquire an unbelieveable coin of rarity and condition, I would seriously consider. That said, it is a very bespoke question and thus hard to abstract.

Would you trade half of your collections..

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