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Did you stick to your 2018 Numismatic Goals and what are your 2019 resolutions?

Going through numerous year-end conversations with my team at work, seeing how we delivered on our shared objectives, stuck to training and development plans, all that fun stuff and remembered that we had this thread started last year where members shared their 2018 numismatic goals.

With my wife pregnant at that time and knowing that my numismatic budget will suffer severely due to all the upcoming changes in my life, my goal was to go review my collecting strategy and the coins i had as part of my primary set to see if I have lost my focus on quality and that "wow" factor that truly make this hobby enjoyable for me. I realized that I did. My desire to complete registry sets resulted in my collection having more and more mediocre coins that I, personally, was not happy with. I did a massive (for me) purge and sold-off just over 20 coins, keeping only the examples that I truly appreciated either from the perspective of quality, rarity, or history behind a particular coin.

At the same time, I was able to add 6 coins that I absolutely love with 5 coming as a bulk deal from @OriginalDan (that happened literally while we were in the hospital after having welcomed our little guy) and one from @MrEureka as part of NYINC 2018.

So, how did everyone do? Last year's post had @Boosibri @ajaan @Jackthecat1 @bigmarty58 @harasha @SmEagle1795 @RMW @bidask @mkman123 @Zohar @Abuelo @Exbrit @Stork @cecropiamoth @1960NYGiants @Elmhurst @EVillageProwler @Nap @savitale @BillyKingsley @jgenn

Here are the 6 2018 additions I mentioned in my post. I promise this is the last time I'm posting them :)






Comments

  • MrEurekaMrEureka Posts: 23,891 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I don't really remember if I had any goals, but I certainly didn't achieve them.

    Andy Lustig

    Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.

    Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.
  • jgennjgenn Posts: 735 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I added two coins to my main pillar dollar collection and four to my '60s custom set, although I sold one of those to a specialist collector. A few upgrades and a few more sales through Heritage "buy from owner" rounded out my year.

    I finally got to the US Mex convention this year so that was certainly a highlight.

    For 2019 I really need to organize my "one crown from each country" set.

    And I did wander off a bit even though I kept with the 8 reales theme ...

  • IosephusIosephus Posts: 872 ✭✭✭

    I didn't really have any goals for this year, but some large purchases did push me to finally do some trimming that I've been thinking of for over a year.

    After spending way too much last year and in the first half of this year, my goal for 2019 is to cut way back, and only acquire a medal if it's really special.

  • SmEagle1795SmEagle1795 Posts: 2,135 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I thoroughly surprised myself in 2018, making it the best year yet, adding arguably seven of my top twenty coins and 24 coins over all (most of which would then fall into my second-20). I cannot hope to have an even remotely similar year in 2019 but, as it worked last time, I will again state the goal of adding one important purchase.

    Learn about our world's shared history told through the first millennium of coinage: Colosseo Collection
  • Timbuk3Timbuk3 Posts: 11,658 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Picked up a few Japan pieces, thank you all for sharing !!! :)

    Timbuk3
  • neildrobertsonneildrobertson Posts: 1,179 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I had a good year. It contributed to the three main sets I was working on. I got rid of a lot of my duplicates I wanted to, and stayed on budget. It was a busy year for me otherwise, so I'm just glad kept things going.

    Each year for the past 3-4 years I've told myself I'd submit about a dozen coins to PCGS. Each year I say screw it and put that money towards adding to the collection. It's probably a good decision...but maybe next year...

    IG: DeCourcyCoinsEbay: neilrobertson
    "Numismatic categorizations, if left unconstrained, will increase spontaneously over time." -me

  • mkman123mkman123 Posts: 6,849 ✭✭✭✭

    2018 was a great year for me. I started 2 important sets for me that I feel I will collect for a very long time.......no more US coins for me, I'm going dark side for life!!!

    1. Start seriously collecting thai coins. I acquired 2 important books and did lots of research and feel I've become very knowledgable in thai coins and have amassed a lot of coins. perhaps one day I'll be like @TwoKopeiki and get rid of the lesser quality stuff but I feel like I'm hoarding and hoarding them. I did sell some dupes and tons of details coins that I got back from submissions.

    2. Started collecting world crown sized coins and with the help of @tommy44 and some dealers from instagram, local shows, and ebay I've been able to get quite a bit slabbed world crown sized coins that I'm happy with.

    For 2019, I'd like to:

    1. acquire some more thai coins. Probably go after a few higher condition stuff like MS quality older thai copper. If I don't pick up any, I'm ok with that but I will bid up everything so that nothing thai goes cheap :D:D
    2. acquire some crown coins specifically: paraguay peso, hawaii dollar, cyprus dollar, ethiopia birr, and puerto rico dollar....all slabbed by PCGS or NGC of course!
    Successful Buying and Selling transactions with:

    Many members on this forum that now it cannot fit in my signature. Please ask for entire list.
  • StorkStork Posts: 5,205 ✭✭✭✭✭

    From the original thread:

    @Stork said:
    Always fun...will try and be semi-realistic.

    • Convert my old 'bullionesque' 'collections' to bullion or numismatics, but not in the same coin.
    • Sell the stuff that doesn't 'speak to me' anymore, but don't worry if something stays for no apparent reason (other than I like it).
    • Learn more (history, ancients, minting processes, pre-Meiji coins, etc)
    • Read the books I already own!
    • Embrace my 'type collector' nature and stop worrying about sets as envisioned by others
    • shh-add a few to my US type set
    • Add at least a few more Japanese varieties and not worry so much about filling a date slot
    • Try to add at least two more to my Albanian set
    • Find a few of the ancients that inspired the Zog Albanian designs
    • Re-awaken my vanity website and do some solid updates
    • Work on photo skills
    • Stay on budget
    • Try to get to more shows and eventually try and get to the ANA summer seminar (this year is very unlikely but it's time to figure out a 2-3 year plan with work/family etc).
    • Look into the local coin club

    So, nothing to much :smiley: Some of these have been on the list a long time.

    Well, the biggest blow was to my budget because I found some awesome coins--both in adding to the Albanian set and a really neat collector in Japan decided to refocus. I sold a bunch of the 'bullionesque' stuff to fund some of the purchases. I'm pretty sure I've sprinkled some of the photos throughout the year.

    I also added a couple Japanese error coins, and happily some ancients. I even took the ancients course at the ANA in Philadelphia so that was really cool.

    In the last couple months though I've gone on a serious hiatus--time crunches at work, plus I ended up having to buy a new car a couple years sooner than anticipated. I'm one of those 'read everything' sorts, and needless to say that didn't help with available funds. I got an electric car so that involved a lot of new reading and research and (gasp!) other forums!

    I did nothing with my vanity website, and I never found the local club. I don't think I bothered with anything for my US type set either. Oh well. So, next year things will pretty much be the same once I get my head around the hobby again...one thing I added to my goals is to do a proper database for my coins too. And, if I get ONE good coin for my core Albanian set, then I'll be happy with that one.


  • ExbritExbrit Posts: 1,237 ✭✭✭✭

    "With my wife pregnant at that time and knowing that my numismatic budget will suffer severely due to all the upcoming changes in my life, my goal was to go review my collecting strategy and the coins i had as part of my primary set to see if I have lost my focus on quality and that "wow" factor that truly make this hobby enjoyable for me. I realized that I did. My desire to complete registry sets resulted in my collection having more and more mediocre coins that I, personally, was not happy with. I did a massive (for me) purge and sold-off just over 20 coins, keeping only the examples that I truly appreciated either from the perspective of quality, rarity, or history behind a particular coin."

    I too collected some mediocre, common fairly highly graded coins to fill some holes. I've been debating whether I should sell many of the coins that do not wow me, but that is an endeavor that I am not quite ready for at the moment. After reading this thread and thinking about last year, I was surprised on some of the rare and key pieces that I picked up this year. I thought I had a fairly quite year - but that was not the case. I focused on the key pieces while filling some common holes and making a few upgrades. Overall - a successful year. As for 2019, I hope I can keep up the momentum.

  • EVillageProwlerEVillageProwler Posts: 5,859 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I didn't realize that 2K had linked the thread, so here's what I wrote last year:

    1. Fill one of the few remaining holes in my Wessex to Harold II monarch set with suitable quality
    2. Continue to add quality pieces to my various sets without getting strongly worded feedback from my wife regarding our finances

    (1) I did.
    (2) I did, and without strongly worded feedback from my wife.

    Cool.

    How does one get a hater to stop hating?

    I can be reached at evillageprowler@gmail.com

  • StorkStork Posts: 5,205 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @EVillageProwler said:
    I didn't realize that 2K had linked the thread, so here's what I wrote last year:

    1. Fill one of the few remaining holes in my Wessex to Harold II monarch set with suitable quality
    2. Continue to add quality pieces to my various sets without getting strongly worded feedback from my wife regarding our finances

    (1) I did.
    (2) I did, and without strongly worded feedback from my wife.

    Cool.

    I may have heard some almost-strongly worded feedback from my husband :lol: . 'Are you sure you've sold enough'??? Technically no, but he doesn't QUITE know that. It helps I'm the one that does the bills/taxes for the most part.

    And, the car...well...my choice was not his we'll just say. :wink::smile::smiley: But I love it and it makes me smile every time I see it, so there is that.

    Oddly enough today I got a few things in the mail I'd bought ages ago, but thanks to international shipping, just received literally 10 minutes ago. Time for photos and perhaps to get back into the swing a bit more! Very timely OP @TwoKopeiki!

    Sadly NYINC does not appear to be in my future this year due to the work schedule (the one that I WROTE!! How wrong is that????), but I'm going to have to make time for Baltimore or even the ANA again.


  • SmEagle1795SmEagle1795 Posts: 2,135 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @Zohar said:
    Great thread as always. I had a transitional year in moving out of the US. I am literally in a numismatic dessert here in Israel, however, still have an ability to buy and to sell with the help of friends who serve as my eyes and ears. My goal for the year had been to be disciplined in adding to my collection and prune what no longer belongs. The downside is that I get to see the purchased coins in hand only when I travel to the US or Europe. I have also been pruning my ancient type collection, keeping mostly the Greek pieces.

    Here are some of the year's purchases:

    Best of luck with your move!

    Learn about our world's shared history told through the first millennium of coinage: Colosseo Collection
  • ElmhurstElmhurst Posts: 768 ✭✭✭

    I have almost all the expensive coins that I want, so will be buying only items $300 and less this year, and will see what I can do. The Mexico 20c discussed here recently looks like a good start.

  • WildIdeaWildIdea Posts: 1,872 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited January 1, 2019 9:58PM

    Love the pictures everybody, thanks for posting them. I know what goes into getting proper photos taken and I don't have any decent pics of my latest coins and medals to share at this time. My excuse is that it's been long enough between photo sessions that I seem to have misplaced my camera files chip and the critical USB dock that makes uploading possible. I've turned the house over looking and actually turned up several things I've been missing but not the chip! Might have to break down and order another, but if I do that I should just get a newer camera.

    I've also really been looking at my collection a lot lately. I've been collecting pretty fiercely for 22 years now and have been reflecting quite a bit. Looking at what I have to show for my time in the hobby, with both actual coins and more importantly, knowledge gained and lessons learned. I would say the last 3-4 years have really be kind of questioning WHY I collect and what its doing for me. Mostly it nurtures my soul. Less purchases and looking for the WOW coin. I know it when I see it. I just looked at the NYINC sale basically in an hour, if I don't like it at a thumbnail, no since in opening the link. Neat stuff but I didn't see anything that moved me enough to pursue further.

    The big change that has happened to me in 2018 has been in medal arts sector, specifically in the German States and Weimar Republic. Satirical propaganda pieces in iron and brass from WWI. Some pieces come in more than a couple different metal compositions but I'm currently trying to find out and decide if they are available enough to target a certain type of metal.

    I had been finding foreign coins that I liked based on design attractiveness and interesting factor coupled with condition and became reinvigorated. At first it was a slow build with a piece here a piece there, then, when I was looking for pieces that actually circulated as currency, I inevitably found dealers that also sold medals. What a world to discover. I remember one year at FUN when I first saw a spread of Conder tokens and I was like "What are these?!" and that feeling I had while I first dug into those for the first time. This is happening to me now with medals.

    I found a few medalists that I liked the work from and just Googled their names and looked at images of their work. You know, just to see what was out there and possible. Some of the photos had the product icon and that lead me to MA Shops. Now I've learned to be leery of random coin sites so I started doing some homework because this site has the goods I'm into. One dealer had a piece I liked and I figured out on a quick search how to call Germany. The shop was closed with the time change but they had an answering machine so I surmised they existed. There is also a few threads here that talk about the site, but the best review was on Youtube made by Coin World that basically validates the site, so I decided to reach out and give a purchase a shot. I asked a seller if they would bundle two medals and they did! Responded to me in both German and English and they changed the prices and I purchased through the MA Shops site. Medals arrived in 10 days even through the Christmas season! There were several emails, some with me responding in German using online translation tools, but of note was a lead by request. I asked them where I could look for mintage numbers and series info on other known pieces and they turned me towards a site that has me reeling in scope. Needless to say I was overjoyed with the experience and plan on initiating more buys.

    The medals are from a series. I had one before I found MA Shops and now I have 4 and thinking I can get the others in likely 5-10 years if I catch them when they come up for sale. I'm pretty stoked. Not too easy, not too tough.

    So for 19 I think I'm going to continue searching and emailing dealers I have never spoken to and see what they have and if not, ask them if they know where I might find what I'm looking for. One dealer in NY said what I'm hunting is around but they haven't seen it in 4-5 years and even drying up in Germany. Ding! Why not start hunting the source, Germany and Europe! I always thought it too risky to bother but these pieces are motivating me. To be more persistent than I have been in the past. Just kicking back and ambushing whatever comes along is OK but that had me pretty bored and not feeling like a solid numismatist.

    I'm still not out of US coins. I have some money set aside for a Large Cent in 65BN that has a radial die crack around the stars "that is NOT at 1920 or anything later than 1848". I saw one once in an ANA traveling display once that poisoned me right there, but I think it was a 1820 now. I'm thinking a 1840 something, I keep watching and waiting. Also, waiting for a Homestake Gold Mine silver Kilo to surface locally and bought before the local guys send it to the two big players trying to clobber each other.

    Thats about it! Sorry, if this rambles, my longest post ever! Here's to a great year to everybody else and your goals! I hope you find that piece that fills your heart!

  • Bob13Bob13 Posts: 1,417 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Didn't post any goals for 2018, but the year turned out great! Newps in the post below!

    https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/1011190/my-numismatic-year

    For 2019 I plan to:
    1) buy fewer coins overall. There are a LOT of cool coins out there - must resist the urge to buy unless really rare/unique/wow (echoing many above). Suspect some of these will be more than I have ever spent on a single coin before.
    2) Get images of some recent purchases - being able to post high quality images has greatly increased my enjoyment of the hobby.
    3) Sell off some holdings - both US and world. I pulled out some coins today and realized some no longer interested me or that I hadn't studied in quite some time. Will be good to free up some funds for other purchases.
    4) Probably will send some coins in for certification. Have mixed feelings about this - enjoy having the coins raw, but not sure this offers as much security and liquidity, just in case.

    Will be interesting to see how much I stick with this a year from now!

    Happy New Years all!

    My current "Box of 20"

  • OnlyGoldIsMoneyOnlyGoldIsMoney Posts: 3,275 ✭✭✭✭✭

    2019 resolutions: (1) Work on a small Byzantine gold collection, ideally one Solidus per Emperor and (2) Try to pick up some nice examples of Crusader States coinage.

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