Focus...Is it the key? My latest collecting goal.
MidLifeCrisis
Posts: 10,568 ✭✭✭✭✭
Over the years, I have been fortunate to own some great coins. But I don't think I have ever really formed a great collection. This is because I never stayed focused in one area. I would try to build a cohesive collection, but along the way I would buy whatever caught my eye. I would end up with a hodgepodge of coins. A lot of collectors do this and it's not necessarily a bad thing. But I always found myself losing interest and selling the collection, only to start over and do the same thing again.
Over the past several days I have been thinking about what coins I love the most, and the answer I keep coming back to is colonial coins. But even within that area, I knew I still needed to narrow my focus. So I have started a new collection and I am using the Early American Coins and Tokens Basic Design Set (1616-1820) from the PCGS Registry to help define my collecting goals. I've listed the 43 coins that make up the set below.
There are a few stoppers in the set (Higley Copper) and a few I'm personally not a fan of (Continental Dollar), but I think getting as close as I can to completing the set is a worthy and compelling goal.
Can I do it? I don't know. I've already strayed a little bit because I want to simultaneously form a collection of Fugio Cents with major varieties (also a PCGS Registry Set). But there are 19 coins in that set...that's not too many. Besides, Fugios are colonial coins!
Early American Coins and Tokens Basic Design Set (1616-1820)
Massachusetts Silver Oak Tree
Massachusetts Silver Pine Tree
Maryland Coinage
New Jersey St. Patrick Coinage
American Plantation Token
Rosa Americana Coinage
Woods Hibernia Coinage
Virginia Coinage
Elephant Token Halfpenny
Higley Copper
Voce Populi Coinage
Pitt Token
Rhode Island Ship Medal
Chalmers Coinage
French Colonies Billon Coinage
French Colonies Sou 1767
Continental Dollar
Nova Constellatio Copper
Immunis Columbia
Massachusetts Copper
Connecticut Copper
New York Excelsior
Machins Mills Copper
Nova Eborac Copper
New Jersey Copper Head Right
Vermont Copper Plow
Vermont Copper Bust Right
North American Token
Bar Copper
Auctori Plebis Token
Mott Token
Kentucky Copper
Franklin Press Token
Myddelton Token
Castorland Medal
Talbot Allum & Lee Cent
Washington Triumpho Token
Washington Military Bust
Washington Draped Bust
Washington 1791-96 'Washington Portrait' Obverse
Washington Liberty & Security
Washington Success Medal
Fugio Cent
Comments
There is nothing wrong with being a generalist, but most of the truly great collections have been pretty much specialized. Think Colonel Ellsworth’s large cent auctions at the last, and now the next, January FUN show.
Member - ANA Exhibiting Committee, Membership and Outreach Committee, George Heath Society, PAN, FUN, ANA Qualified Exhibit Judge, Joe Boling Award winner, Glenn Smedley Award winner.
I too like many different things. It's not too difficult to be pulled in a few different directions.
I tend to think it is good to have a primary focus and then to restrict myself to a singular backup focus when nothing is making itself available for the primary.
Looking for Top Pop Mercury Dime Varieties & High Grade Mercury Dime Toners.
That type set would be a great thing to focus on!
My coin collecting has been US Proof Type coins - I enjoy that each coin is different, and I pay no attention to dates or minor varieties. Unless I win Powerball, I will never complete the set, but really don’t care.
Early American seems to be your interest, so I would say go for it.
30+ years coin shop experience (ret.) Coins, bullion, currency, scrap & interesting folks. Loved every minute!
Yeah the most satisfying collections I’ve had were specialized. I used to have the #3 seated quarter set in the registry. At the time I owned no other coins.
Please don't take this as a slam at all, because it isn't meant to be one, but I have seen you on-and-off there boards for nearly two decades while you have built, liquidated and rebuilt your numismatic collections using various, self-imposed guidelines. The first thing I thought when I read the title to this thread and saw who it was from was something like "it appears to me you are a numismatic generalist trapped in the idea of focus suburbia". That may or may not make sense or resonate with you, but it's what I think.
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
For me, that is the key word here. Unless one is independently wealthy, you won't have to worry about that.
Like you say; it's to damn easy to get sidetracked in this hobby. Find your passion and stay laser focused to complete your goal. You mention cohesive collection. Consider creating a legacy collection to be passed down to family members, if your haven't already.
Disclaimer: I'm not a dealer, trader, grader, investor or professional numismatist. I'm just a hobbyist. (To protect me but mostly you! 🤣 )
Hi Tom! Love your thought...I translate it as "You wish you could specialize and stay focused, but you like way too many different coins."
Guilty as charged, my friend. However, I recently acquired a couple of Fugios, a high grade coin with a well-known provenance:
...and a lower grade coin that is a very rare variety (Rarity-6):
I found that I was getting more enjoyment from these two coins than any of the key dates or other coins in my collection. That's been the driving force behind my new focus.
Having been down all those other collecting roads, I think I can stay focused this time. Wish me luck!
With all the type if coins to be had, we are all just adult children in the coin candy store.
We all use different tools. I find having written lists that I can physically check off helps. I also keep a hand written coin journal. It allows me to make notes but also since I set up pre set spots for each entry it is harder to deviate. (Note: if you leave the backs of pages blank you can shoehorn additions in) little in life is 100% effective. james
I fail to see the problem with either approach. What makes YOU happy?
If I had the highest rated Morgan dollar collection on the planet, I would not enjoy it. I would be bored to tears by the endless duplication. Other people would be absolutely ecstatic to plug a hole with a cull dollar.
I think the real question, no offense intended to anyone, is WHO are you collecting for?
Very few miscellaneous hoards impress anyone. But do you want THEM to appreciate your collection or do YOU want to appreciate your collection?
All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.
Of course you can do it. It might take many years and a lot of searching for just the right coins but it can be done. You need to make your goal challenging, but possible and enjoyable, learning along the way. If you get discouraged along the way and just give up, at least you have some great coins to sell.