What do you collect and why?
Colonialcoin
Posts: 748 ✭✭✭✭
I collect copper and silver domestic and foreign coins that circulated in North America before 1800. I enjoy the history and I find it fascinating how pretty much anything and everything circulated then. Massachusetts coins were fairly well made, but unfortunatly it cost two cents to make one cent! Other state coppers looked nasty from day one due to planchet quality and poor striking. Many coins were overstruck on British and Irish halfpennies and some had such jumbled legends that makes me wonder what were the colonists thinking when they came across some of these brown disks? I try to buy non problematic coins in better grade though I will buy a low grade pocket piece from time to time to use as a conversational piece.
Best Answers
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CCGGG
Posts: 1,267 ✭✭✭✭✭
Mainly PCGS slabbed Morgan dollars but I do collect the keys from other sets. History of the Comstock lode (and the CC mint) got me interested in the Morgan series.)
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BillJones
Posts: 34,850 ✭✭✭✭✭
I like history, and i like coins with good eye appeal. Sometimes history trumps the eye appeal part because some of the tokens were crudely made and not that attractive. In that case I take them for what they are.
Retired dealer and avid collector of U.S. type coins, 19th century presidential campaign medalets and selected medals. In recent years I have been working on a set of British coins - at least one coin from each king or queen who issued pieces that are collectible. I am also collecting at least one coin for each Roman emperor from Julius Caesar to ... ?13 -
Overdate
Posts: 7,162 ✭✭✭✭✭
What do you collect? Dust.
Why? I don't move around enough.Seriously, I collect mostly 20th century U.S., which are the coins I grew up spending. Nothing high-end. I sometimes buy random coins (classic or modern) that look attractive to me and are affordable, although I wouldn't describe them as a "collection".
My Adolph A. Weinman signature
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Purfrock
Posts: 545 ✭✭✭
I am an early copper collector. It's hard to pinpoint exactly why I settled exclusively on that series. Maybe because it was a denomination that could have been in anybody's pocket, rich or poor. Or perhaps it's the challenge of finding quality early copper that has not been utterly ravaged by the elements. It also might be the fact that I love "the hunt" when it comes to finding the tough varieties. When you add all that up, and then join a tight knit group (EAC) of people who share passion and a longstanding appreciation of the series history and provenance, and it not only hooks you, but keeps you hooked.
EAC, ANA Member6 -
Goldminers
Posts: 4,352 ✭✭✭✭✭
I collect a few MS $10 Indians because older gold looks good to me especially when left with a nice original or toned finish and if they are well struck. However, part of me was pulled over to the dark side and so I also collect some moderns.
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Walkerfan
Posts: 9,770 ✭✭✭✭✭
I collect Walking Liberty half dollars in mint state condition. I am especially fascinated with the early dates from 1916 to 1933, because they were heavily circulated and not many were made or saved. Finding a survivor with a good strike and original surfaces is quite a daunting task. I enjoy the history, beauty and rarity of these gems.
Sometimes, it’s better to be LUCKY than good. 🍀 🍺👍
My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947):
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SilverProofQuarter1883
Posts: 1,883 ✭✭✭✭✭
I collect historic U.S coins because U.S history fascinates me. U.S history is reflected in Amarican coins, U.S coins are well made and vary beautiful.
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davids5104
Posts: 805 ✭✭✭✭
I started collecting coins because I bought a metal detector. My first find EVER was a mercury dime in my yard. It was a 1942 and I got all excited that I found the 42/41 variety. I learned that hopes and realities do not always align and my coin was worth a buck and a half. Still, I was hooked, started with Mercs. I made the mistake in my youth, with baseball cards that I quantity was most important and did not want that, so I try for quality. I quickly got ms-66/67 mercs and could not do that in the early dates and so I was obliged to branch out. I almost have a full Roosevelt dime set in 67FT or better ATS.
My real life job is about nuances and that is what I enjoy about coins. The real and perceived nuances that make one coin special and the other not. how a mark here is different than a mark there. I like the minutiae
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ricko
Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭
I collect - coins - and other things....I have had periods of focus over the many years. For example, CC Morgans, Kennedy's, Franklin's, Buffs....now, it really is whatever attracts me. I am enjoying just getting unique pieces. Certainly history plays a large part in coin collecting, and has for me as well. Cheers, RickO
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sellitstore
Posts: 3,053 ✭✭✭✭✭
As a collector who started out with well circulated Barber Quarters and Halves fifty years ago, I ended up in a very different place, obsolete currency, especially NY and New England.
The local history told by these notes and their circulation along side of early-mid 19th century coinage is the appeal for me. Understanding how both worked together to form a monetary system makes the collecting of either (or both) much more rewarding.
In coins, Civil War Tokens are something that I still buy, especially the issuers who also issued paper scrip.
Collector and dealer in obsolete currency. Always buying all obsolete bank notes and scrip.2 -
divecchia
Posts: 6,688 ✭✭✭✭✭
I am working on a modified U.S. type set which includes gold. I am trying to acquire one example of each affordable type in PCGS graded slabs. For the most part the coins will be in uncirculated condition, but may include some proof strikes when possible or when I feel an uncirculated strike does not show enough detail. For example, my Walker will likely be a proof as most uncirculated examples do not show a well struck left hand. I should be able to do this with most coins back to 1850. I will also include a variety of a coin when I can or when it is an important piece (to me). When I get to the earlier coinage (1793-1849), I'm sure I will have to settle for some G-AU condition coins. I will basically buy the best I can afford based on the importance of the coin (to me).
I gravitated to this type of collecting because it allows me to look at many different types of coins and keeps things interesting (for me). I am a focused collector and for the most part think about what I want to do before starting. I rarely just dive into anything without giving it a lot of thought.
As my signature line states, this is a hobby for me and it's meant to derive pleasure (for me), so I will collect how I feel and not by how some book or learned person tells me to. This is what a hobby is all about. Collect what makes you happy.
Happy Collecting. Donato
Hobbyist & Collector (not an investor).
Donato's Complete US Type Set ---- Donato's Dansco 7070 Modified Type Set ---- Donato's Basic U.S. Coin Design Set
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asheland
Posts: 23,791 ✭✭✭✭✭
I collect antique silver primarily. I like the history and workmanship. However, coins are a close second. I'm really digging type gold lately, the designs are gorgeous and there's the history and the melt value of the gold if all else fails.
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Answers
I agree history trump's eye appeal. But eye appeal trump's numeric grade. I prefer a pretty 64 to an unattractive 66.
I have no idea what I collect. One day it’s Lincoln cents, the next it’s a seated liberty quarter for my type set.
Honestly I’m a mess.
Collector of randomness. Photographer at PCGS. Lover of Harry Potter.
I collect anything and everything. Too much free time on my hands !!!
Serious about Lincoln wheat cents. Other stuff as it comes, mostly raw silver.
"A dog breaks your heart only one time and that is when they pass on". Unknown
A bit like being an octopus in a phone booth!!
That’s good in a way as you are able to become well versed in many different series. There are so many interesting things to study and collect. I used to do the same thing and if nothing else, today I can sit down with someone and have an intellegent conversation with them about most any series pre World War II.
I do from time to time look for these and the pre-1925 standing quarters in nice original XF condition. Outside of a handful of dates they are not easy to find.
Eye appealing coins, right now I'm focusing on a toned registry set of lincolns 09-58. Once I "finish" it maybe I'll move onto something else.
My Instagram
@Colonialcoin That’s a good point! It’s fun to be a specialist, but having a good general knowledge of something is definitely a plus, especially when making educated purchases
Collector of randomness. Photographer at PCGS. Lover of Harry Potter.
I collect what nobody else wants.