What suggestion(s) do you have for your fellow collectors that might make their collecting more fun?
MFeld
Posts: 15,327 ✭✭✭✭✭
I see comments from many collectors that give the impression they’re not enjoying their collecting nearly as much as should be possible.
What advice/suggestion(s) do you have which might make their collecting more fun?
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
3
Comments
Buy coins that appeal to you, not necessarily ones that are hot at the moment.
Mr_Spud
Attend coins shows and auctions. There is no substitute for the eyes/hands on experience. And to be clear, its not about what you buy, but what you learn that will shape what and how you collect. Its a big world... take the time to explore it as you just might be surprised by what is possible.
Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.
Dont be afraid to buy another coin that helps compliment what you already have or just to have another cool coin. Good question today 🙂
Like many, I’ve been in an out of collecting coins during my life. The last dozen years or so, which will be my last iteration, have been the most fun since I pulled coins from circulation and bought raw coins for my folders as a kid. Today I constantly broaden and deepen my areas of interest through reading and historical research, followed by acquisition. My curiosity is often piqued just reading these forums, leading to more reading.
Beyond that, at different times I’ve recharged by joining a club, attending shows, and thru ANA seminars.
Don't judge your collection by the difference between what you paid and what the various pricing sources say they are worth.
If we were all the same, the world would be an incredibly boring place.
Tommy
One of things I do is define personal sets. Generally the set definition is based on some period of history that interests me. For example, I want one representative from each state for my colonial set, not one of each variety or type. The colonial coins should be dated 1787 because that is the year the constitution was written. But because I get to define the set I make some exceptions. For example I want a 1785--86 Vermont with the Stella quarta decima reverse indicating they wanted to become the 14th state.
I also defined a three gold coin set (25¢, 50¢ and $1) of octagonal coins minted in California between 1854 and 1857. And I have a 59 coin Mercanti PR70 set and a 13 coin commerative set. And I'm sure I'll come up with other ideas for personal sets in the future. Generally my coin collecting interest is tied to my American history interest. But I also combine it with my woodworking interest and make custom display "boxes" for each set.
I have seen other people say they define personal sets based on their children's birthdays. Some like mint errors but don't seek every possible error in every denomination or year or... I think that is great. The point is you don't need to have the highest grade coin or every variety to build a personal set. A personal set meets only your definition - make it as easy or complex as you want - just make interesting to you (alone).
Everyone have a great weekend. Phil
Don’t accumulate more than you can remember what you own.
Come up with some crazy rules about a set you want to build and see where it takes you.
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution
I tell collectors (young and old) to collect what you like. Then buy the best you can afford.
Life member #369 of the Royal Canadian Numismatic Association
Member of Canadian Association of Token Collectors
Collector of:
Canadian coins and pre-confederation tokens
Darkside proof/mint sets dated 1960
My Ebay
Researching details about the coins in one’s own collection or wishlist. Design, varieties, composition, surface condition.
Trying different types of collecting like raw coins, different TPG brands, in albums, or even numismatic literature.
A dissecting binocular style microscope and give a whole new appreciation to viewing coins close up to see design elements, varieties, surface conditions.
Trying different series of coins to widen appreciation of the hobby.
When I find myself losing that fun feeling with coins it usually means my focus has shifted elsewhere, or on rare occasion it can mean depression. If collecting stops providing enjoyment, take a break, that can make the eventual return even more pleasant.
https://www.autismforums.com/media/albums/acrylic-colors-by-rocco.291/
Coin collecting is a hobby and it’s supposed to be fun like my other hobbies. I like nice coins just like everyone else here and enjoy the hunt but at the end of the day a coin is nothing more than a tiny piece of metal. If I’m unable to win a coin in an auction or someone else beats me to a coin that a dealer is selling I will sleep just fine and my life won’t be any different.
Learn how coins are made from various periods and origins, from sourcing the raw material to refined metal to the coin on the press. If possible visit a mint facility or one of the retired branch mint/ museums. Here are a few video links to Youtube that I found informative and I am sure there are many more.
The Strange History of Money in America
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5INCV7AQTI
The New Orleans Mint | A Quick History
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_z5jwugqcHg
History of The Carson City Mint with Robert Nylen
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0i0O-_pbddI
I Mined 50 Pounds of Silver Ore & Made 1800s Coins!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58Z8giSXUm0
Secrets of the US Mint
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccyuud7dkEE
Remember everyone, or mostly everyone, puts their pants on one leg at a time.
Specialize. Building a seated quarter set, and not collecting anything else, was one of the most rewarding experiences. You can learn a lot.
As someone who's collected for decades but taken significant pauses between "bursts of activity," I've found myself motivated by 1) having some goals in mind - it can be any theme that resonates but it's nice to have some purpose. Right now, I'm working towards my 18th century type and bust dollar sets (hunting for what I know I want) and am contemplating an 1871 year set (not buying - just reading/looking to gain an appreciation of the coins in that set first) and 2) enjoying what you already have. I've been spending a lot of time re-looking at and re-imaging my older coins especially as my knowledge has grown over the years. It's a great (and free!) way to build off what you already have and rediscover some old favorites
Don’t get caught up in rankings in the set registry.
Make friends.
chopmarkedtradedollars.com
Ignore the boorish people and treasure the friendships with the mensches you meet along the way.
Keep calm and keep your collecting in perspective, all your irreplaceable gems are going to belong to someone else eventually.
Commems and Early Type
If I were to give only one piece of advice it would be this. Coins were not minted and used in a sterile vacuum. When you tie a coin to the events that were going on in it's day and age you get more enjoyment from having them and a broader understanding of life in general. james
Don't take advice.
All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.
-Go to shows
-Make friends
-Buy books
-Specialize in a series
-Join the registry program either here or ATS
-Participate here on the US Coin forum
-Join a club either locally or nationally
-Set goals…It is very satisfying, as you progress towards them.
-Do a little flipping. It will increase your budget for your primary set.
-Some people (not me lol) are good at and enjoy photography. This can go hand-in-hand with Coin collecting.
I’ve done everything on this list except for the photography part. I took a few crude photographs and then realized it is best left to others more talented than I lol
Sometimes, it’s better to be LUCKY than good. 🍀 🍺👍
My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947):
https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/16292/
The knowledge gained in the pursuit is the best part of the hobby.
Start with buying a book, because the Axiom is relevant. If a newbie, the three Cherrypicker Guides are golden.
Buy a loop to help magnify and start your journey on Ebay. Go to shows. Progress via... Join clubs. Take classes. Find your lane.
Keep your best storied coin and most attractive (could be any number of criteria), sell the rest.
Strive to build a Box of 20 each year.
If I had followed this advice, my collection would be an amazing though generalized accumulation of stories and treasure.
BST: KindaNewish (3/21/21), WQuarterFreddie (3/30/21), Meltdown (4/6/21), DBSTrader2 (5/5/21) AKA- unclemonkey on Blow Out
Join a coin club and socialize with likeminded fellow collectors.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
Don't spend your food money on coins.......unless you want to lose weight! 🤣 🤣 😉
Here's one suggestion to make a collection more fun:
https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/1117817/spicing-up-my-dansco-roosevelt-album-with-a-custom-page#latest
Disclaimer: I'm not a dealer, trader, grader, investor or professional numismatist. I'm just a hobbyist. (To protect me but mostly you! 🤣 )
My advice would be to not to make this hobby a solitary pursuit. It’s really fun to meet others to share collecting interests and step out of one’s box.
Seek out opportunities to socialize at clubs, shows, and social media platforms. This helps build your knowledge, gives access to purchase or trade opportunities, and provides perspectives one might not have considered.
"Got a flaming heart, can't get my fill"
As has been suggested, try to find a social aspect, either via an in person club or conversing on this form.
If you’ve been at this a while and have some previously assembled sets, revisit those. Remember what excited you about them. Spend some time looking if they have like strike designations or variety attributions you missed the first time.
For me, and change in “method of acquisition“ gave a nice refresher. I gave up for a while, just walking the show floor looking at the cases of slab materials and rediscovered a joy of plowing through boxes of two by twos, putting together raw Jefferson and wheat penny sets and more worn SLQ and WLH sets.
If you have registry sets put together, spend some time updating the comments and doing a cataloging of sorts. Not just the physical attribution for the Coins, but maybe the memories you had when you acquired them.
Buffalo Nickel Digital Album
Toned Buffalo Date SetDigital Album
If you get burned, learn from the experience! It happens to everyone! Also do diligent research before you buy. Many coins are sold with signed inserts…and many being lured into the false sense that they are one of a kind…although the same signer may have signed only one insert of its kind, there may be 50-100-500 inserts of a different kind but with the same coin. That happened to me…as the dealer really sold me on its rarity. Months later it wasn’t as rare and the price was 60% less than I paid for it. I had been a very good customer for him…and stopped buying his products after that. Buyer beware!
There is more than one country you can collect from. I have had a lot of fun lately branching out into Canada, UK, Mexico and several others!
Make sure that your wife doesn't find out how much you spent for certain very expensive coins.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
Start a series that you like and can afford to complete. It is disheartening to complete a set 90% and not be able to afford the last few coins.
Keep your perspective. While all of life and human knowledge is related to coins you still can't live life like nothing but coins exist. Your wife wants you to set down your magnifier once in a while, your children want to play, the boss wants some work done, and there are always chores to do.
Learn to multi-task so you can do them all at once.
AI-→ But even the most radiant proof coin can’t mow the lawn or tuck in a child.
Learn to fish.. Don't set the hook to hard, Take your time reeling it in, look it over see if it measures correct, throw it back if it doesn't and make up wild stories about how that one got away..
During my tenure working at the LCS, this came up fairly often among the collectors that routinely came in. I started building a box of nice, fun pieces that I would bring out for show. If they bought one of the coins, great, if not, they learned something more about the hobby.
Custom album maker and numismatic photographer.
Need a personalized album made? Design it on the website below and I'll build it for you.
https://www.donahuenumismatics.com/.
Don’t buy crap.
I will add... buy the key and semi key dates first.
BST: KindaNewish (3/21/21), WQuarterFreddie (3/30/21), Meltdown (4/6/21), DBSTrader2 (5/5/21) AKA- unclemonkey on Blow Out
Go to your local grocery store.
Most importantly, collect what YOU like, and seek out other collectors who enjoy the same series. You’ll have someone to share your purchases with, and you’ll likely learn quite a bit during your journey.
Dave
+1
My enjoyment level has increased exponentially over the last ten years since I befriended collectors here and elsewhere.
I found life events really drive my passion, like birth year and 100 years before and I do that for my kids. This can build a fabulous type set as well.
Attend as many shows as you can. If you can afford it, attend major shows cross-country. Don’t hesitate to ask to examine a coin in a bourse case even if you cant afford it- Don’t pay attention to slab grades or try to upgrade a slabbed coin you already own, read as many auction catalogue narratives as possible as many in Stacks & Heritage catalogues are very educational, find dealers who are trustworthy and will educate you, dont expand your buyng too broad but specialize in one of two fields so you become knowledgable and expert in these fields. Dont concentrate on your hobby to the expense of your family. Unless you are wealthy, use a bank or credit union line of credit to buy slightly abv your means. Avoid eBay.
No matter how big or small a collector you are, always check your pocket change and appreciate the history and beauty of individual coins. Yesterday I found an RB 1965 cent - it was sort of ugly but 60 years old and uncirculated.
Earlier this year I was sorting my change jar and found a luster bomb quarter that I assumed was a 2024, but was actually a 1999-D Delaware quarter. Not worth grading (it had some hits) but it lit up a room and looks great in a 2x2. Even it is over 25 years old. Appreciate and enjoy the small stuff.
…and hope that she doesn’t let them go in the estate sale for what you said you paid.
Share the hobby with a kid.
And don't get too carried away with it -- when all's said and done, it's just stuff.
If you have one of these roadside Library boxes in your neighborhood for kids or see one somewhere, think about putting something numismatic in it. I put this in a box in my neighborhood.......an old redbook, a Whitman folder and a roll of cents with some wheat's mixed in. I'm just hoping a young kid found it. 🤣 😉
Disclaimer: I'm not a dealer, trader, grader, investor or professional numismatist. I'm just a hobbyist. (To protect me but mostly you! 🤣 )
If you buy an expensive coin and your wife finds out what you paid for it, just explain to her that "it's an investment for our future" and hope that she believes you.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
We all pay tuition in one form or another.
Learn from mistakes
BST: KindaNewish (3/21/21), WQuarterFreddie (3/30/21), Meltdown (4/6/21), DBSTrader2 (5/5/21) AKA- unclemonkey on Blow Out
Buy What You Like
My 2 hobbies are coin and trains, and I like to combine them.
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coinJP, Outhaul ,illini420,MICHAELDIXON, Fade to Black,epcjimi1,19Lyds,SNMAN,JerseyJoe, bigjpst, DMWJR , lordmarcovan, Weiss,Mfriday4962,UtahCoin,Downtown1974,pitboss,RichieURich,Bullsitter,JDsCoins,toyz4geo,jshaulis, mustanggt, SNMAN, MWallace, ms71, lordmarcovan
Some of the best coins that you will never buy, are free from the Coin Star machine...
A local club I've been a member occasionally has some interesting discussions, but generally low grade material. Some clubs have a "grading committee" so that people cannot run inaccurately graded material in their auctions. Most serious collectors are quite private. I got a call from a travelling coin dealer who was delivering a purchase in person to his high end customer. He was wondering if I had $5K and above certified coins he could look at. I wish this were a more sociable hobby though we've had stimulating discussions on this and other sites.