What is a box of 20?
Morgan13
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The obvious answer to me is to accumulate 20 of the nicest or the best you can afford to fill a slab box.
Am I correct?
Student of numismatics and collector of Morgan dollars
Successful BST transactions with: Namvet Justindan Mattniss RWW olah_in_MA
Dantheman984 Toyz4geo SurfinxHI greencopper RWW bigjpst bretsan MWallace logger7
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yes, things we treasure, whatever your word is for it
"Box of 20" was a collecting concept presented in the 90s by Jay Parrino. The premise was that you never exceeded 20 coins in your collection and always moved up in quality by selling something in the box to upgrade to something better. By limiting to 20 coins, you aren't allowed to compromise quality for quantity. It works well for some collecting personalities, but not all. If you have really in-depth interest in a lot of types of coins, it will be very difficult, because it forces you to prune your interests.
Loopholes have developed over time, of course, wherein you have several boxes of 20, each following the general rules. Larger slab boxes let you rationalize stretching 20 to 25 or 32 or 64 or whatever your custom case can accommodate.
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution
Well Morgans are my favorite but I need some variety. I see folks post such beautiful coins. I feel like I'm missing out on some portion of collecting.
Student of numismatics and collector of Morgan dollars
Successful BST transactions with: Namvet Justindan Mattniss RWW olah_in_MA
Dantheman984 Toyz4geo SurfinxHI greencopper RWW bigjpst bretsan MWallace logger7
I got one, a 32, just for anacs 🙂
A big piece of it for me is the concept that less can be more. I buy fewer coins but spend more per coin which has allowed to buy better (more eye appealing!) examples. It also helped free me up from the belief that I had to collect by series, type, registry definition, etc. Another benefit is that you can accomplish a box of 20 on any budget and avoid feeling compelled to purchase out of your comfort zone to “complete” a set or be stuck with a hole.
I have a few boxes of 20 or less - Civil War / Merchant Tokens, coins/tokens from my home state and coins/tokens from countries I have visited.
I agree with your summary and would like to add that it also is reflective of hobby goal setting and discipline. Defining one's collecting goals can bring specialty or depth or even breadth. However, if one wishes to keep a collection small, the Box of 20 approach can fit such an objective. It also requires discipline to remain focused.
"Got a flaming heart, can't get my fill"
Are they many box of 20's collectors of those low graded/ poor condition coins?
Are you referring to lowball collecting?
I’m not sure how anyone would know whether most lowball collectors are collecting by Box of 20, series, type or some other criteria.
No.
"Got a flaming heart, can't get my fill"
Room for four more.....
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I felt this way so I’ve started venturing out! Highly recommended.
OK - Let's see the sweet sixteen.
A box of 20 high grade mint errors might prove an interesting group.
Plenty of rattlers out there with nice coins waiting for you.
Student of numismatics and collector of Morgan dollars
Successful BST transactions with: Namvet Justindan Mattniss RWW olah_in_MA
Dantheman984 Toyz4geo SurfinxHI greencopper RWW bigjpst bretsan MWallace logger7
Agree but the last 20 to complete the full set in CAC are slow going so I’ve spread my wings.
I can see boxes of 20 based on different types of coins.
20 toners
20 foreign
20 gold
20 etc etc etc
To me, a box of 20 is a goal and usually has a theme. When completed it can either be upgraded or a new box started using different criteria. Or, the new box can simply be an extension or expansion of the original box of 20.
Sometimes, it’s better to be LUCKY than good. 🍀 🍺👍
My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947):
https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/16292/
PCGS has an article about it.
Coin Collecting Strategies – The Box of 20
By Jay Turner - May 7, 2021
https://pcgs.com/news/coin-collecting-strategies-the-box-of-20
"To Be Esteemed Be Useful" - 1792 Birch Cent --- "I personally think we developed language because of our deep need to complain." - Lily Tomlin
I think Peace Dollars would be a natural and logical progression.
Collector, occasional seller
@Catbert hit the nail on the head, the main premise is discipline.
The original idea was to never have more than 20 coins, not a collecting method that I would like or use.
My Collection of Old Holders
Never a slave to one plastic brand will I ever be.
The box of 20 does not have to be high end or low end coins. It can be just a do-able set of coins whether it is a type set or even a sample slab set. Whatever pleases the collector.
In my box of 20 collection my only requirement for entry is the coin must make me happy.
As high- end Jay Parrino was as a dealer, he understood that what intrigues different coin collectors depends on their age.
When he had a display case at the 1999 Fun show to showcase the famous 1913 Liberty Head nickel, he wanted to put a bunch of raw 1913 Circulated buffalo nickels right next to the slabbed Liberty Head nickel
Many 12 year old kids walked up to the showcase and were more fascinated by the 1913 Buffalo nickel than the Liberty head nickel. Jay then said to the young boy if he would like to hold the 1913 Buffalo nickel, the young boy was so excited that he had to bring his friends and parents over before he was able to put the buffalo nickel in his hand. The parents were excited as well and took multiple camera photos of the young coin collector with his friends. Our hobby gained new coin collectors.
The best thing about the Box of 20 strategy is that it is only a suggestion.
I collect Morgans as well and branched out to Peace dollars. There are 24 coins in that set, so I bought a nice wooden box for them. It holds 25 coins and as you can see, I need 2 more. One is one the way and the other is a 1934-S...
"Bongo hurtles along the rain soaked highway of life on underinflated bald retread tires."
~Wayne
I would have to agree with @coinbuf. If you asked me what a box of 20 is I would tell you it is a nightmare. turns coin collecting into an episode of that show where they are always voting somebody off the island. Only difference is they are coins. coins I probably spent several years looking for.
If i am getting rid of coins it is because I have had and enjoyed them for years or there is a situation in life that demands it. I think the progression of the concept where you add additional boxes or sets makes the idea more palatable. James
Whether the “box of 20” idea resonates with a person probably depends more on their personality and less to do with coin collecting. At least that is my guess.
I am a minimalist, so the idea resonates with me. In fact, several of my other posts on this forum have sought ideas on “what to collect”, with the express caveat that I want to build a collection of about 10 coins. Two such focus areas will give me my box of 20.
But again, it’s not really about coin collecting. Having more than 10 or 20 of anything just becomes clutter to me, and decreases my joy in having the items.
People at the opposite end of the personality spectrum will enjoy building more extensive collections, and that is as it should be. There is no “one size fits all”.
Discipline can mean different things that largely depend on collecting objectives. It can be about owning and seeking out great looking coins at various states of preservation.
discipline can be acknowledging that this is as good as it will get for this coin and for the resources that I have to chase it.
Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.
For me it’s for a specific inventory class. Like a box of 20 CACG slabs in order by denom / date.
What do you collect?
"Got a flaming heart, can't get my fill"
Very nice explanation, @messydesk I will say, "nature abhors a vacuum." So - what if I have 20 empty PCGS boxes? PLUS, a bunch of empty cigar boxes! MUST BUY MORE COINS TO FILL THEM UP....
:-)
Capped Bust Half Dime registry set: Bikergeek CBHD LM Set
My box of 20 turned in to a box of 148.
My approach to the "Box of 20" is an extension of my 7070 Type Set... a smattering of the Type Coins I also wanted, as well as coins I found to be of numismatic significance. The last few I want to complete this set are on hold for a bit... major home repair$$... but I want a 1955 DDO Lincoln (completes my Lincoln Album I started as a kid); a 1795 Flowing Hair Half (completes major Type... except the Draped Bust SE which is unobtainium for me); and a $3 Gold (completes gold Type by denomination)... Here's what I have so far:
Successful BST transactions with: SilverEagles92; Ahrensdad; Smitty; GregHansen; Lablade; Mercury10c; copperflopper; whatsup; KISHU1; scrapman1077, crispy, canadanz, smallchange, robkool, Mission16, ranshdow, ibzman350, Fallguy, Collectorcoins, SurfinxHI, jwitten, Walkerguy21D, dsessom.
Love that 1925 $2.50 Indian!
Very cool! Are they all gold shield holders as well?
MY GOLD TYPE SET https://pcgs.com/setregistry/type-sets/complete-type-sets/gold-type-set-12-piece-circulation-strikes-1839-1933/publishedset/321940
Empty Nest Collection
Matt’s Mattes
How did you take that picture?
Thanks.
Yes. All Gold Shield holders except one.
"Bongo hurtles along the rain soaked highway of life on underinflated bald retread tires."
~Wayne
I had several hundred coins, its down to 3 boxes of 20 and a ASE Dansco
If I were doing a box of 20, I would want it to have a definable theme, like No Motto San Francisco Quarters (That's only 10 but you get the idea). Maybe 2 sets of those, lol.
I buy the used boxes, NGC and PCGS. I'm baffled at the huge price difference (selling for) NGC's are at. Around $15-20 compared to under 10 for PCGS. Anyone with an answer? Both are most likely produced from the same Chinese factory.
Nikon D780 with a 50mm f:1.4 G FX lens on a copy stand with a couple of gooseneck lights pointing at the wall because the direct light reflections were too much. I used a very middle f-stop like 4 or 5.6 to maintain corner to corner sharpness and limit light falloff. The 50mm seemed short enough to capture the whole subject at copy-stand distances but normal enough to avoid any pincushion so at least the grid would look square. Guess that’s about it 🙂
Empty Nest Collection
Matt’s Mattes
Something that I’ll never be able to do.
Need more 😏
For me, a box of 20 represents making progress towards decluttering in general. When I got back into collecting I had tons of stuff from the Mint, from the BST, shows, albums, auctions etc. Sort of an unfocused mess and as I aged I 'pitied the fool' that might have to go through it all or sell it. And yes, I've sold coins I loved but I can only afford to have so many coins. In fact, I've considered a box of 10 or even a box of 1 if you will. I once tried to trade my collection for one coin (to Legend) but it didn't work out.
Try bouncing the light off the ceiling, assuming it's white. With the D780 you can shoot at relatively high ISO settings with very little noise, so you don't need a huge amount of light. You will have to kill other room light and pull shades, though.
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution