How often do you buy a coin, just to study it?
TommyType
Posts: 4,586 ✭✭✭✭✭
Do you have a rotation of "study" pieces? Buy coins just so you can take a closer look? Buy-Attribute-Sell?
Usually, I buy because it fills a need in my collection. "Filling holes", as they say.
So I have a feeling I'm late to the game of buying just for study purposes. Bought this little item today. Not because I needed it, not because it's a high quality coin for type. Just because I wanted to look at it closer, with references in hand.
Yeah....it was all of $40, so I'm not exactly making a huge commitment here. 
But I knew it wasn't the Cherry Picker's variety, (FS#3CN-006.8), because my set piece happens to be of that variety. I just needed to know what this "minor variety" was! 
(Thinking it's Flynn-Fletcher RPD-003....but also might be the "proof only" RPD-006. Of course, this looks nothing like an impaired proof, so that would require reuse of a retired proof die. Need to look closer.....)
Anyway....What do you buy, just for your own study and amusement?
Comments
This one for amusement
@TommyType
to double down on the 1st amusement
I do once in awhile. Either an AT coin here or there or a raw coin I have a graded one of to study wear patterns.
I've bought several coins to study. Some I've sold other's I've kept. I love looking at interesting coins.
This Washington Quarter is an example. I just posted this in another thread today. I bought it for the amazing die crack/break on the obverse around the date.
Here is another Washington Quarter I bought, because I thought it was interesting. I love the erupted fissure coming in at 2 o'clock.
Here is a Morgan Dollar that I bought because of the die file lines on the obverse. I did a detailed photo study of it for @CascadeChris because it is a recently discovered VAM of his, the VAM-1B2. Which, consequently garnered added interest in the VAM-1B1 (Formerly VAM-1B) by Leroy Van Allen, as it is one of the most significant die gouges in the Morgan Dollar series. You can see it in Liberty's neck coming from her hair curls.
These images are very large. The Full obverse is full resolution and the detail images were reduced to half size.
I've done it before !!!
I don't have the money for "study" coins.
If I'm buying it, it's strictly for my collection interests.
Great transactions with oih82w8, JasonGaming, Moose1913.
My primary motivation is to buy quality coins for my set. I also buy duplicates, if they are outstanding examples or PCGS examples for my PCGS set (I have a lot of NGC coins, too). However, I study EVERYTHING that I buy but keep most of it.
Sometimes, it’s better to be LUCKY than good. 🍀 🍺👍
My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947):
https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/16292/
Do you count cherry picking your bullion dealer for coins being sold for bullion prices that may have a value beyond bullion? I do that every time I visit my bullion dealer.
I have never purchased a coin to study it.
Too many to count.
Oh yeah.... INADVERTENTLY...
(as discovered later)
Almost every coin I buy, I study, because they are all unique.
You're not the guy who got the 1901-S quarter out of the 90% at the Sacramento pawn shop, are you?
Recently posted this coin. extreme cud that even resulted in causing a split. Really wanted to see the coin in hand.
That's the only kind I buy.
No. Never been to Sacramento.
ive done it a few times before. it can be interesting and fun.
Virtually everything I keep for myself is for study purposes. If a coin isn't a little mysterious, I can't fall in love with it. Here's a good example that's kept me engaged:
Or:
What is now proved was once only imagined. - William Blake
Every single coin I buy is to study it. Low grade to high grade. Isn't that what it's all about?
I just bought a really cool Roosie die clash just to study it.
Rethinking.
Very cool stuff I do as well.
Hoard the keys.
Liberty Seated coinage makes for an interesting study of late die states...
Although I do study all my coins to some extent, I normally purchase them for my own enjoyment (sets, series or type). I did purchase one counterfeit CC Morgan from an antique shop that I knew was counterfeit. I did put it in the counterfeit registry....talked down the price when I showed them it was fake (no CC Morgan minted for the year). Cheers, RickO
Sure - Early large cents, a few medals, Canadian Trade tokens, etc.
If the price is right, I'll usually bite!