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Do you want more coins or better coins?
Hallco
Posts: 3,674 ✭✭✭✭✭
Obviously the correct answer is
But if you were starting a new collection(which is basically where I am right now), would you want to add many coins or would you be picky and make sure you obtain higher quality? For example if you have $1000 to spend do you buy many less expensive coins or fewer more expensive?
3
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Depends on your goals. More coins more fun but less possible bang for the buck.
Buy good coins....As you progress, you will be unhappy with the 'many' and look to upgrade. Do it right the first time...Cheers, RickO
I'm in the quality camp. Quality items will to build up anyway if you stick with it over time.
I have completed my U.S. Type Set (7070) a couple of times and I constantly looking for upgrades...so, better is what I would choose.
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Stick with the best that you can afford. Quality is remembered long after the price is forgotten!
Always better (higher grades and no tone) coins.
A bit of better butter makes a bitter batter better.
"A dog breaks your heart only one time and that is when they pass on". Unknown
I want the coins on my want list in the best states of preservation within reason. This usually involves the concept of “threshold coins” which are in the best grades just before the prices “go crazy.” My interests are not limited to rarities. In fact there are times I shun rarities because of the price. This has been especially true of my purchases in British coinage.
If you have the resources of most collections, you could have a large collection of “junk” that would be an eyesore for many collectors. On the other side you could have a very small number of super coins that could take you years to locate. Doing that takes a lot of discipline, and given the small scope of such a collection, could result in boredom and a loss of interest in the hobby.
My goals fall in the middle. I look for coins, which have an interesting history surrounding them, that have good eye appeal for the grade. Frequently my purchases have fallen in the Choice AU to low end Mint State range.
Better, and not to mention quality can be far more valuable than quantity.
Quantity has a quality all its own, according to Stalin.
But, in the case of coins, I'd go with a good quantity of quality.
Better is the way for me.
Sounds like quality has it. Besides, why buy something you know you'll replace for certain later.
The question has no answer.
If I try to encourage a young numismatist, and tell him I will give him $500 a year to spend on coins, but that is all he can spend, and we find a 1909-S VDB Red MS66, a $10,000 coin on sale for $5000, and I front him the money, knowing that he cannot purchase any coins for the next 10 years, but he has an allstar King of the Set coin, I guarantee you that in 10 years, when he can start spending again, he will have no desire to be a collector.
Admit it, when you were starting out, and had the push in folders, those empty sockets stared at you like accusing eyes. Did anyone ever put a "wrong" coin in just to fill the socket? Even the folder people got smart by putting a "solid" removable filler in the 1916-D Merc's so it would not laugh at you, as you could basically fill the album and never get that coin.
There is an age / income roll over point where quality MAY exceed quantity. That answer is reversed on the PM forum.
I'll do you one better.....I'm looking for quality and rarity.
Sometimes, it’s better to be LUCKY than good. 🍀 🍺👍
My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947):
https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/16292/
Buy whatever makes you happy!!!
HAPPY COLLECTING
@Hallco I don't remember if you ever indicated your age. That is a factor.
If I were starting over, MOL from scratch, but still had the knowledge that comes with experience, I would probably do one "Box of 20" for U.S. Coins and one "Box of 20" for World Coins. I might even pencil out a preliminary list of what I most wanted.
If I were starting over, today, at age 59, I would not go the quantity route.
@mustangmanbob
I'm glad you brought up the folder. For as long as I can remember in many different collecting hobbies, I have never been a set builder. I tried it once with my Buffalo nickel set more than 10 years ago and honestly...much of the set was not all that nice. 5 or 6 of them were fantastic and oh how I WISH I had them back today! The rest of the set was just there for the "completion" aspect and were probably average coins at best. I vowed not to make that mistake again, so my focus will be on each coin as it's own individual merit.
@BillDugan1959
I will be 48 next week. I like the US Coin box of 20 idea. I have very little interest in foreign coins other than some bullion releases.
Thanks for the replies everyone. I really appreciate the opinions!
Quality over quantity, although I've still somehow ended up with 108 coins at the moment (which I consider a lot). I'm considering trimming the fat of ones that I know can be replaced.
My long term goal is to keep it at roughly 100 and there are a couple dozen others I know I need first so I'd best start making room...
Selling quantity can leave you with high quality
In what I do I may need to buy the other stuff to get the nicer stuff so it coms with it, I just try to off it as soon as I can it's what I do.
Hoard the keys.
Bullion more, collector better.
Buy what you know.
Have a good relationship with a few quality dealers. You may pay more, but will generally have good stuff that you won't feel compelled to unload once your knowledge improves. Or if you decide to sell, you are less likely to lose your shirt.
"Got a flaming heart, can't get my fill"
ill go with better as well, in due time it will get bigger. ( i got a few that are cheaper but i like the coin ) common sense
I want more, and better.
I just sent off my most recent submission to PCGS. Gotta catch em all!
Better coins. An evolving, continuous objective as I learn more, and understand less. I'll be at this for awhile.
As collector? I would always opt for the most irreplaceable coin that furthers my collecting objectives. That could mean buying a VG rarity and passing on a more common gem. It could also mean buying a VF and passing on a gem of the same issue, simply because spending too much on gems could prevent me from achieving my long term objectives.
As an long term investor, I would buy nothing short of finest knowns.
And as a short term speculator, there are no rules.
Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.
Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.
more coins that are better coins...
I LOVE old coins.
BZZZZTTTTT !!
Winna winna.....chicken dinna!
The "nicer stuff" doesn't win in every economic scenario.
In 1977-78, the guys who had bags of 90% silver dross were going to be the next big winners (of course, you had to be ready and willing to sell).
In early 1980, I saw nicer double sovereigns sold for melt. Double sovereigns!
Hot markets for anything (including the "nicer stuff") can really cool off. If you really get pleasure from your holdings and are not overly sensitive, perhaps that is some solace.
You can say that the "nicer stuff" does better over the long run, but as Lord Keynes said "In the long run, we are all dead.".
I've always enjoyed putting coins in albums . When it comes to coins in holders though ; I would prefer fewer coins with greater value, as I believe this is more important than having more coins with lesser value. Value being A) eye appeal, B )strike detail, and C) luster , primarily.
Them, to me, are A-B-C coins.
``https://ebay.us/m/KxolR5
Both.
I continue to by non-rare , low value coins because they give me pleasure to have, handle and view. I buy these with 'fun' money. If I drank I'd probably spend more monthly on on a rack of beer, a 1/5th or so and the occasional bar tab.
For my core collection I continue to get more focused on quality. I've been looking at Coin Facts and the best xf-au $3 gold I could acquire but something @MrEureka said above prompts me to go back and look at even lower grades.
"Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working" Pablo Picasso
I want more better coins
m
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......
I have had one mantra for a long time while dealing with a quantity of coins, that is ...
Keep the best and sell the rest.
Ricko is right. I wish the 10 or so collections I created had followed this principle. I would rather have 1 great coin than a quantity of lesser condition.
Jim
When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, he will either quit being mistaken or cease to be honest....Abraham Lincoln
Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.....Mark Twain
Tough to top that statement ! I think it speaks volumes. It's worthy of a million likes.
``https://ebay.us/m/KxolR5
I think it really depends on your bank account. If you have money you go for the best but if you only has limited resources what can you do? You have to settle for less.
If everyone wants the best who buy the details? Lol
Mo bettah coins.
*un-appropiate
...on a more serious note; Quality is always better than Quantity
LOL! Nah, I'll take the one I've got!
Quantity. Of course I be stackin'. Could that be my "collection"?
There is obviously a trade-off otherwise all the “quality” proponents here would own 1 coin. I have different budgets for my different collections. I have an album of Lincoln cents that ranges from G-AU for everything up until 1934 and BU after. I love looking at the worn coins and it takes me back to roll hunting for wheats when finding an S-mint coin was the highlight of my day. I could easily upgrade the early dates now but I feel no need to do so. I tried very hard to pick out nice circulated examples and I am proud of pretty much all the coins in that album. Combined, those 200+ coins are worth less than the 4 Lincolns in my toned type set. For those I want the absolute best.
5 coins or 500 coins... doesn't matter. The only things that matter are if the slabs are the correct brand and they have green or gold stickers on them.
I'll just go out on the limb here and say I don't care what it is at 25% on the dollar
For me, my budget allows mostly for quantity instead of quality. Down the road i can trade in my quantity for quality. Basically it's like saving while still being able to collect.
Retired Disabled Vet (Army). Corps of Engineers.
I like quality coins for sure! but if you see some cheaper stuff that looks great stack them as well!
It seems to me that when you start out in this great hobby, you're more interested in obtaining a lot of coins and finishing sets all before you really grasp the finer points of grading. Then, after a few years, you realize you have a lot of stuff and you're running out of space in the lock box or are thinking about buying a safe. It's then that you go after less but better material.
There are some in our local coin club for instance who have been at it for years but won't pay over $20 to $25 for any coin and they have a ton of low grade stuff as a result. I've put coins in our auction at sacrifice prices to help the club, some even PCGS holdered MS65's and they won't offer a bid!
Well, I'm preaching to the choir here. To sum it up: You're better off spending a $1,000 for 2 or 3 or 4 really nice coins than tying up your $1,000 in a bunch of junk coins.
Respectfully,
Pete
Louis Armstrong
Agreed but sometimes while waiting for a nice coin to emerge, I get tempted by something cheap and easy.
So I started an easy modern set that I occasionally plug away at while waiting.