How FEW could you pare your collection down to?

topstuf · February 27, 2018 4:22PM

I'm sure we all have more coins than we actually appreciate.
Could you weed your collection down to only the ...important... junk ?
And how many would that be?

AUandAG · February 27, 2018 4:27PM

14 is my minimum. 13 cc Morgans and 1 1870cc Seated.

bob

BryceM · February 27, 2018 4:29PM

I could go to zero, but I'd probably end up with some pocket change occasionally.

Barndog · February 27, 2018 4:43PM

I'm at 122 half dimes, need one more. I'd like to be at 123 before I go to zero.

SONOMOSCA · February 27, 2018 4:43PM

@AUandAG said:
14 is my minimum. 13 cc Morgans and 1 1870cc Seated.

bob

I bet those 14 would make a very nice calendar!

Fairlaneman · February 27, 2018 4:44PM

Weeded out 18 today. Left with 153. Need 328 total to complete my project. 4 complete Mercury Dime Sets plus 20 Indian Head cents.

Ken

AUandAG · February 27, 2018 4:45PM

For me they sure would! Front, back and 12 months....great idea for next year !

bob

SmEagle1795 · February 27, 2018 4:53PM

A great question, and one I've thought about recently. It's a similar question to "what coins define your collection".

For me, out of 96 coins, 73 are in that category of criticality for what I'm trying to do. But, I still "need" several dozen so I'll be doing this for a while :-)

SamByrd · February 27, 2018 4:58PM

I could easily get my collection under 500 if I wanted to.

dpoole · February 27, 2018 5:11PM

I'm doing a lot of selling now. Plan to get down to smoething like the fabled "Box of 20."

OnlyGoldIsMoney · February 27, 2018 5:29PM

I'm at 114 Liberty $2.50's and need 32 more to finish the Major Varieties set. Apart from 4 duplicates I am planning to sell, I cannot spare any of the 114.

Lakesammman · February 27, 2018 5:32PM

Made the decision to do PCGS US samples only so that should limit it to several hundred or so.

Jimnight · February 27, 2018 5:34PM

Just one more.

AUandAG · February 27, 2018 5:49PM

@Jimnight said:
Just one more.

Well, what is it?

SkyMan · February 27, 2018 6:37PM

I'd break it down into three categories. The first would be bullion. I don't particularly consider them coins per se, I consider them more a financial instrument. Mainly they're 1 oz. gold coins of the NCLT variety, and are kept in the SDB. I'd keep all of them, as for the most part they are a financial holding for a SHTF event... in essence, insurance.

Second would be slabbed high end coins. They also are kept in the SDB. This grouping would really go to the heart of the OP's question. This would be the area with the biggest percentage cut back, as well as where most of my money is. I've put together complete sets of; cameo/deep cameo proof Franklins, business strike Franklins, business strike Washingtons from 1940 - 1964, multiple year sets (a couple in the 1800's), am working on a fairly high end Type set, and have a fair smattering of repeats and bits and pieces of other coins that caught my eye. I probably have around 320 slabbed coins. I could cut these down to roughly 30 if necessary.

Third would be raw coins in albums. I've been putting together a bunch of these the last 5 years, and for the most part we are talking coins that cost in the single to double digit range... so not a major holding. I have an album of IHC's (half of which was inherited), a 1935 - 1945 Mercury album, a 1946 - 1964 Roosevelt album, 3 albums of business strike Washingtons (two from 1940 - 1964, and one from 1932 - 1986), 3 albums of business strike Franklins, a Peace dollar album, an Ike album, and an SBA album. I'm currently in the process of putting together an album of Lincolns from 1909 - 2009, and a date album of Morgans. So, say roughly 600 coins. Technically I could get rid of all of them, but these are coins that I have floating around the house, as, in the grand scheme of things they aren't worth much, yet are fun to be able to pull out and look at whenever I want, as opposed to slabbed coins which are for the most part in the SDB. Realistically I would keep roughly half of the IHC's, 5 - 10 Mercurys, 5 - 10 Roosevelts, ~ 1 1/2 albums of Washintons, ~ 1 1/2 albums of Franklins, 5ish Peace dollars and 5 - 10 Lincolns. So while I by no stretch of the imagination would need them, I'd probably keep roughly 250 raw coins.

Jimnight · February 27, 2018 7:14PM

@AUandAG
You will be the first to know.

AUandAG · February 27, 2018 7:15PM

@Jimnight said:
@AUandAG
You will be the first to know.

Send me a PM if you need help locating!!

bob

Jimnight · February 27, 2018 7:22PM

@AUandAG

Bank on it.

Jimnight · February 27, 2018 7:25PM

@AUandAG

And thank you.

tradedollarnut · February 27, 2018 7:40PM

Two coins

1630Boston · February 27, 2018 8:48PM

My minimum is 44.........................I hope it is also my maximum at some point.

Banknotes122 · February 27, 2018 9:06PM

I don’t think I could sell part of my collection. Would have to be all or none.

Peace_dollar88 · February 27, 2018 9:14PM

Probably 20 here.

ricko · February 28, 2018 7:53AM

I will not 'pare down'...I have my coins because I like them.... I get enjoyment from viewing them...Cheers, RickO

oih82w8 · February 28, 2018 8:30AM

Being a Type Collector, I could narrow down to one of each type of some series, Liberty Seated Quarters for instance has several types for the series;
Type 1, No Drapery (1838-1840)
Type 2, No Motto (1840-1865)
Type 3, Arrows & Rays (1853)
Type 4, No Motto, Arrows at Date (1854-1855)
Type 5, With Motto (1866-1891)
Type 6, With Motto, Arrows at Date (1873-1874)

I could just choose one type...but I don't want to.

Walkerfan · February 28, 2018 8:54AM

I want/need all of my coins and I am still searching for more.

topstuf · February 28, 2018 9:04AM

Well, I postulated the OP after getting that 70-CC dollar in another thread.

If ....really pressed.... I think that and my 48-CAL would be my last two.

Cougar1978 · February 28, 2018 11:50AM

I have about 200 slabs would like get down to 120 but not decrease inventory investment which is at a plan number. The minimum I have considered is 60. I have hundreds of pieces of currency so filling 2-3 cases at shows not a problem for me.

Online works well for me and due to the expenses setup at shows looking setup at less (declining retail buyers or people w money to spend). Will attend shows mainly to buy been very happy w online purchases from GC. Ebay expenses cost me 17 pct of sales and few shows I attend nowadays can compete w that especially if sales bad or hefty travel costs. Fewer collectors with money to spend and online buying also a factor. At the last one a major wholesaler was setup selling material at bid or 95 pct bid it killed retail so could not make any money. I might have well just gone to buy and saved my time and the $250 table fee.

I do like shows and considering running a show myself so at least setup for free but need research that business model.

johnny9434 · February 28, 2018 11:52AM

i think id hang onto about 40 of them other wise i can live with parting with the rest.

crazyhounddog · February 28, 2018 12:18PM

Actually I’m right in the middle of this process. It’s waaaaaay harder than I thought it was going to be and I have way too many coins. Yes it’s very hard for me.

david3142 · February 28, 2018 1:18PM

@crazyhounddog said:
Actually I’m right in the middle of this process. It’s waaaaaay harder than I thought it was going to be and I have way too many coins. Yes it’s very hard for me.

Can I call dibs on that 73-D dime?!

I wouldn’t want to part with your coins either.

I have some very large sets (Lincolns, Buffaloes, 7070, and Morgans) that I love and plan on holding/upgrading over time, so it’s at least 500 coins.

Treashunt · February 28, 2018 2:26PM

gasp!

sell?
My babies?

Lets see: first the wife goes,
Then the kids.
Then the dogs.
Then and only then, I MAY consider the coins.

BillJones · February 28, 2018 2:39PM

I am not going out of my way to get rid of anything. When you are setting up a presentation or exhibit, A type set is so powerful. I can think something that needs to be added, and I've got it. I can use photo of my coin and not have worry about copyrights or credits. If I need to look at a design in detail, the chances are great that I will have it.

The one thing that has changed is my want list. It is a lot smaller. I have one U.S. coin left and one British coin. Of late I have taken an interesting the Roman emperors, right now the 12 Caesars. I will take my time and pick up on something I dabbled with when I was teenage.

coinkat · February 28, 2018 2:49PM

Well...

10 would be a set of George II commercial struck Crowns. That doesn't leave much else. So can we use 10 with exponents? Math is hard but it may help solve the problem with less pain.

MilkmanDan · February 28, 2018 2:49PM

Was just talking to my buddy about this. I would say 3 coins. I could part with the rest but those 3 give me the majority of my enjoyment.

TommyType · February 28, 2018 3:21PM

I don't tend to have a lot of "random fluff" in my collection. If I bought it, there was a spot in my collection for which it was intended!

(I guess that's the benefit of pursuing a full type set! Excuses to have lots of coins.)

Ok...there's that Peru 1/2 Dino (essentially a half dime).....but I just like it.

topstuf · February 28, 2018 4:03PM

I would only sell mine in the dark of night with them in the safe deposit box.
Let em get the surprise when a stranger opens it.

topstuf · February 28, 2018 4:04PM

My only TWO that are....essential.. are regionally historic and, as such, more important than they would otherwise be.

LanLord · February 28, 2018 4:08PM

On many occasions I've sorted my collection into what I absolutely won't let go and what I'd like to sell.
Then I reveiw the ones that I would like to sell, and begin reducing them into what I sorta like and sorta don't like.
Then I set them aside and get prepared to sell them.
Then I put them all back into the collection and the entire process starts over again, usually a few months later.

In short, I don't know if I can get rid of anything.

SaorAlba · February 28, 2018 5:07PM

I could whittle it down to one. When my grandfather was six years old he lost his pinky finger in a cornshucker. His older brother gave him a 2c piece to spend in town after visiting the doctor - instead he saved it for nearly 80 years before he gave it to me when he was very old. I have had it about 40 years now. It is dated 1867 and is the most precious coin I own.

bobsr · February 28, 2018 5:40PM

A couple of years ago, I retired and bought a motor home. I left about 40 coins in an SDB and the rest except for junkkkk went into the Motor Home in long dual boxes (17) 6 ammo cans cause I could waterproof seal them. 8 PCGS blue boxes an 6 NGC grey boxes, 6 single row 2x2 plastic holders. After a year and a half of moving reshuffling , moving, reshuffling , I had enough , I have pared it down to 1 PCGS and 1 NGC and 1 small 6 inch red single box. About 55 in all. absolutely refuse to part with my 1909 s-vdb MS 65, and my Capped bust half. These I want to be Holding in my Hand when they close the lid of my coffin. Its written in my will and ,If not there, voids all my other Bequeaths and all my worldly possessions goes to my Dog. The hardest I parted with was my backup 1909 S-VDB and my 1802 1/000 error large cent. Both went to Smitty in a trade last month and even though I miss them a lot, I am happy they went to a good home. Now I'm working on the red box, after that I box for slabbed and that about half full. so 12 coins FINAL ANSWER.
Bob Sr CEO Fieldtechs.

Jinx86 · February 28, 2018 6:02PM

Im down to 500ish pieces in holders. Way to much low dollar stuff that I had accumulated over the years.

ms70 · February 28, 2018 7:00PM

Unfortunately there was a coin I had that I would've kept no matter what...

But I didn't realize how much I loved it until it was gone. Like a love story.

tommy44 · February 28, 2018 8:26PM

I have a lot of bullion related stuff that would most likely always be worth 95% - 105% of melt that I would keep just in case the SHTF. I also have about a half dozen from the dark side with Biblical themes that I like a lot. Everything else could go if push came to shove.

clarkbar04 · March 1, 2018 8:31AM

I'm comtually thinning mine out so the only ones I keep around are the ones I really like looking at. I did learn quite some time ago that the box of 20 concept wasn't going to cut it for me. Just the buffalos are at a box and a half now.

boiler78 · March 1, 2018 9:28AM

2-3 great Colonials ex. Pine tree shilling.... Fugio.... Nova
2-3 great Type coins ex. 1796 quarter .... High relief .... Bust dollar
2-3 great Territorials ex. Mountain ten .... 50 dollar slug .... Beehive and the Lion
2-3. great Commemoratives Pan pac octagonal and round ..... Norse gold
2-3 great Patterns Schoolgirl dollar .... Amazonian dollar ....Shieldearring .... dollar
2-3 great pieces of Colonial currency Marble edge twenty .... Fugio note
2-3 great Large size type notes Lazy deuce ........ Technicolor twenty .... Educational five dollar note

14-21. subject to change

How FEW could you pare your collection down to?

How FEW could you pare your collection down to?

How FEW could you pare your collection down to? 59 votes

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