Reflections on the Dips and Turns of a Collecting Hobby
124Spider
Posts: 1,058 ✭✭✭✭✭
When I was a kid, I collected coins. It was fun; it was the early-to-mid 1960s, and there were all sorts of interesting coins still in circulation--buffalo nickels; Mercury dimes; standing Liberty quarters; walking Liberty half dollars, and even silver dollars.
The problem, of course, is that I chose my parents poorly (at least from an economic standpoint; fine otherwise), and my $0.25 weekly allowance didn't fund taking many dimes, quarters or half dollars out of circulation.
I had fun with that for a while, then life got in the way for many decades. But I always kept my Whitman folders, with their motley collection of coins.
A few degrees later, and a marriage to the only person I knew with more student debt than I had, and life was very good, if also very busy.
Three kids later, and life was not less busy!
Finally, the kids went off to college, then graduated and were on their own. When the last one was off the payroll, we celebrated!
Then something caused me to rekindle the coin collecting itch.
I spent some years chasing "complete collections" of the coins that I collected as a kid.
After I did that for a while, I realized that the endless "upgrade" cycle isn't very satisfying, especially on a somewhat limited budget (although a "budget" unimaginable to the child-me).
And I solved that by starting a "box of 20." Only when something really grabs my attention, now, do I buy something. I go months at a time without buying a coin, but, when I do, it's VERY satisfying. Perhaps the most satisfying acquisition, for me, was the USA-issue 1861-O half dollar, to complement the Louisiana-issue and the CSA-issue.
It's a fun hobby, especially if you lift your head up and take a critical look at where you are in this hobby!
Comments
Great post! It's terrific to read about your life and collecting journey. I suspect it isn't all that much different (from a collecting standpoint) than the journey taken by many other folks here.
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
We're brothers from different mothers. You're singing just about my exact song and path in this hobby!
Disclaimer: I'm not a dealer, trader, grader, investor or professional numismatist. I'm just a hobbyist. (To protect me but mostly you! 🤣 )
Awesome post. I think becoming selective and discerning is a learned skill……in anything, but certainly when buying coins.
Yep, childhood was spent filling blue Whitman folders with Franklin’s, Washington’s, walkers and Mercury dimes that were gifted to me by my father. They weren’t key dates and they were moderately to well circulated, but to me, it was like finding treasure!!
And then for many years school and women got in the way. Then…When I was about 26 or 27. I discovered that I really liked walkers, especially the early dates. Went to my first major Coin show in 1995. Back then less than half the coins were graded by the TPGS. I was hooked!!
Then I fell out again for another decade until about 2005. That’s when I discovered heritage and eBay.
Dropped off again, until 2009, when I made the commitment to fulfill my lifelong numismatic ambition of completing a quality full date/mm walker set. For me it was an enormous challenge and I knew it would be an ultra long-term project, but it was definitely doable, in my mind. Finished in 2021 just before the end of the year.
Now, I mess around with Morgans and standing liberty quarters, and I buy ones that I like for my date sets. I’m not as ambitious or aggressive of a purchaser, as I once was, but I still pull the trigger once or twice a year and, yes, it feels really good.
I reflect on my journey with a lot of satisfaction and pride. It was a tremendous amount of work, but my passion is what I needed to help me succeed. Without that, I never could’ve done it. Hours and hours of research and hunting while looking at tens of thousands of coins. Also, have been the protégé of a few good and beneficial mentors and friends along the way.
Sometimes, it’s better to be LUCKY than good. 🍀 🍺👍
My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947):
https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/16292/
I can relate, starting ten years later. However, I was and am fortunate enough that my better half understands my obssession having kept me in check over the years from spending like a sailor on shore leave.