@291fifth said:
It is time for a thinning of the collection. What coins do you really appreciate? Those are the coins to keep.
I like this thought. One issue is when I pull out a coin and think “why do I have this”? Even if I didn’t know what I was going to pull out it would be great if every coin was, “wow, that’s a special coin.”
I think the difference is that I do think the coins are nice, but I’ve enjoyed owning them and can move on to things that are more notable.
I was never a complete generalist which is my inference of how you collect based upon your posts and what you have posted.
I wouldn't say I'm a complete generalist but I do like a wide variety of different things which ends up being many mini-collections.
I'm where I am now when I decided I can either have a less distinguished collection across many series and coins I mostly don't really like that much or I can prioritize my resources in one area and attempt to put together a collection almost no one else can own. That's what I decided to do.
It's good to work something notable and is a challenge.
Most will find my approach boring due to lack of variety and the difficulty in finding anything to buy. There are still other coins I like that I would like to buy (somewhat) but not enough to increase my budget, replace what I buy now, and/or have too much money tied up in my collection. It's a hobby, not an "investment".
It's good to have focus. I personally like variety, but that comes with the territory with exonumia
No one size fits all.
My step grandmother had an extensive US collection that I had the opportunity to view once, way back in 1975 at age 10 soon after I started collecting. Everything from half cents to half dollars with large cents dated as far back as 1794, which I infer her father and grandfather (she was born in 1906) pulled out of circulation. Mostly organized in blue Whitman albums but also 2X2 cardboard holders.
It's a collection I would love to own, but I'd never try to replicate it. Too much money in too many coins I don't consider very marketable anymore while I would also rather own something else, what I collect now.
If you get tired of using boxes, an option that makes viewing the coins easy is three ringed binders with clear plastic baseball card sheets, each holding 9 slabs per page securely. A standard 2 inch three ringed notebook can easily hold 4 full sheets accommodating 36 slabbed coins, plus any number of currency sheets and 20 slot 2x2 sheets (since the added currency and 20 slot 2x2 sheets are thin).
I know your real goal is the addition of a top view slab (just imagine the regrading fees you would have to pay?), but throwing this suggestion out, as it has worked great for me.
This is where the "box of twenty" theory comes in. Better to have 20- $1000 coins then 1000- $20 coins. But, the more coins, the more excitement. 1000 $20 coins are more fun then 20 $1000 coins, at least to me. Doing the "box of twenty" thing requires way too much discipline for me. So the answer is no, you can never have enough coins.
Great points made by all. Organization is key. A pile of coins collected without any rhyme or reason can be just a mess. Imagine a library without any system. A simple numbering system will work...perhaps dates. The larger the collection, the more important a system becomes or you're just going to be digging through a pile of stuff. Do you keep your clothes in a jumble or do you have socks in one area, underwear in another, pants in another???
Years ago, coins were quite busy, so I would bag up the wheats and dump the bags in my old bedroom at my folks house. Just didn't have time to deal with them.
When I got to 26 bags, my dad decided it was "too many coins", fearing they would come through the ceiling.
I sold the bags to another dealer friend who came to get them in a Ford Escort. We put them in the trunk, back seat, front seat and floors......You should have seen that car driving away !
Very interesting thread.... I saw my collecting history all the way through it... I once thought of an inventory system. Actually purchased some software about fifteen years ago. That did not last long... So, I have a lot of coins... slabbed, raw, flips, 2x2's, in boxes, cabinets and a safe. What happened was, in the final evolution (mine), I found that buying less, is better. I still enjoy my collection... and have to search for something occasionally, but that too can be enjoyable. My acquisitions are infrequent, and new coins stay by my computer for a few months so I can readily appreciate them. (A couple have been here for a year or more). Rigid discipline in coins seems to dilute the pleasure - for me anyway. Such discipline is necessary in my other major pursuit. So I will continue in this manner - I enjoy it this way. Cheers, RickO
@kiyote said:
It’s something to consider because I had to last year— in the event of a fire, how much of a pain will it be to get your good stuff out?
Where we live we’re kinda always ready. I hear you loud and clear. Last fall about half hour to load truck and car valuables and the cat and the dog. We were spared but I can’t imagine if we were not prepared 🤓
Comments
No one size fits all.
My step grandmother had an extensive US collection that I had the opportunity to view once, way back in 1975 at age 10 soon after I started collecting. Everything from half cents to half dollars with large cents dated as far back as 1794, which I infer her father and grandfather (she was born in 1906) pulled out of circulation. Mostly organized in blue Whitman albums but also 2X2 cardboard holders.
It's a collection I would love to own, but I'd never try to replicate it. Too much money in too many coins I don't consider very marketable anymore while I would also rather own something else, what I collect now.
Is there such a thing as too much money?
Successful BST deals with mustangt and jesbroken. Now EVERYTHING is for sale.
How many coins are we talking here, ballpark?
If you get tired of using boxes, an option that makes viewing the coins easy is three ringed binders with clear plastic baseball card sheets, each holding 9 slabs per page securely. A standard 2 inch three ringed notebook can easily hold 4 full sheets accommodating 36 slabbed coins, plus any number of currency sheets and 20 slot 2x2 sheets (since the added currency and 20 slot 2x2 sheets are thin).
I know your real goal is the addition of a top view slab (just imagine the regrading fees you would have to pay?), but throwing this suggestion out, as it has worked great for me.
Indian Head $10 Gold Date Set Album
If you are buying coins like this, you might have too many.
https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/1061483/gtg-and-roast-my-coin
Not really looking for much these days but if I were, it might be a toner.
Great thread. Imagine a Box of 20!
Personally, I don’t think there is such a thing as too many coins, only too few funds:
The short answer for this question is no.
This is where the "box of twenty" theory comes in. Better to have 20- $1000 coins then 1000- $20 coins. But, the more coins, the more excitement. 1000 $20 coins are more fun then 20 $1000 coins, at least to me. Doing the "box of twenty" thing requires way too much discipline for me. So the answer is no, you can never have enough coins.
Great points made by all. Organization is key. A pile of coins collected without any rhyme or reason can be just a mess. Imagine a library without any system. A simple numbering system will work...perhaps dates. The larger the collection, the more important a system becomes or you're just going to be digging through a pile of stuff. Do you keep your clothes in a jumble or do you have socks in one area, underwear in another, pants in another???
Is there such a thing as too many coins?
Is like saying: can you have too many coin books?
BHNC #203
I own hardly any coin books...
mostly because it seems many are not published electronically for some reason.
But, I really like to feel of paper.
BHNC #203
Paper is nice, but unfortunately it takes up too much space and isn't easily searchable.
I purchased Rulau's 4th edition in PDF. I much prefer searching it electronically than flipping through physical pages manually.
And yet you bristle at the thought of having a computer inventory...
All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.
The key above is I purchased not I wrote
I think I either need to retire or make more money so I can hire someone
Years ago, coins were quite busy, so I would bag up the wheats and dump the bags in my old bedroom at my folks house. Just didn't have time to deal with them.
When I got to 26 bags, my dad decided it was "too many coins", fearing they would come through the ceiling.
I sold the bags to another dealer friend who came to get them in a Ford Escort. We put them in the trunk, back seat, front seat and floors......You should have seen that car driving away !
Very interesting thread.... I saw my collecting history all the way through it... I once thought of an inventory system. Actually purchased some software about fifteen years ago. That did not last long... So, I have a lot of coins... slabbed, raw, flips, 2x2's, in boxes, cabinets and a safe. What happened was, in the final evolution (mine), I found that buying less, is better. I still enjoy my collection... and have to search for something occasionally, but that too can be enjoyable. My acquisitions are infrequent, and new coins stay by my computer for a few months so I can readily appreciate them. (A couple have been here for a year or more). Rigid discipline in coins seems to dilute the pleasure - for me anyway. Such discipline is necessary in my other major pursuit. So I will continue in this manner - I enjoy it this way. Cheers, RickO
Where we live we’re kinda always ready. I hear you loud and clear. Last fall about half hour to load truck and car valuables and the cat and the dog. We were spared but I can’t imagine if we were not prepared 🤓
🎶 shout shout, let it all out 🎶
Yes
Being disorganized just means you will see more of your coins while looking for a specific one
Collector, occasional seller