Are you a Completist Collector, Key Date Only Collector, Art Collector, or a "Stuff" Collector?
Rampage
Posts: 9,624 ✭✭✭✭✭
There are some sets that are easy to complete for relatively little money, such as Franklin Half Dollars, Roosevelt Dimes, Liberty Nickels, Jefferson Nickels and so many more. Then, there are some sets where many coins are affordable, but key dates take some extra money. I think about Morgan Dollars, Barber Dimes, and Barber Quarters for this.
What is your strategy? Buy only the key dates for the series you enjoy? Or try to complete the entire thing? Or only the parts you can afford? Or some other method?
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Stuff
All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.
No sets, just whatever I find interesting and affordable.
I do sets and some stuff. Some sets, like the 19th century presidential camaign tokens, can never be completed. Ditto for the Civil War and Hard Times tokens.
I’m an ‘on a whim’ collector that just buys coins I like (if I can afford them)… Kind of all over the place, but I enjoy my purchases immensely.
Well, I collected for albums most of my life. Now that I am retired and have more time and money I have shifted (still filling albums, just not the priority) to a PCGS Type Set.
I used to be a "set collector" but then just launched into "stuff" once I started completing sets with some regularity... lol....
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.
I’m into the dreck and widgets.
I'm mainly an art collector. The coin minter's art gets a lot of attention from me.
Einstein’s view of God was non-traditional and pantheistic, focusing on the harmony, order, and intelligibility of the cosmos rather than a personal deity. His quotes reveal a profound respect for the universe’s mysteries, a belief in rational laws, and a moral philosophy grounded in compassion and understanding, bridging science and spirituality.
“My religion consists of a humble admiration of the illimitable superior spirit who reveals himself in the slight details we are able to perceive with our frail and feeble mind.”
Albert Einstein (14 March 1879--18 April 1955)
Stuff, but it's got to be rare and in gem grade and confined to classic United States coinage.
My Completest Phase:
https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/1089350/my-completed-dansco-7070-type-set#pagetop
https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/1114715/completed-wayte-raymond-album-of-buffalo-nickels-pics-added#pagetop
https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/1119257/my-in-complete-wayte-raymond-two-volume-set-of-large-cents-warning-lots-of-pictures#pagetop
Dabbling in Hard Times Tokens... I don't know that a "Set" of these are even feasible..
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.
Type sets and a collection that will never be completed (cal fractionals)
Top 10 Cal Fractional Type Set
successful BST with Ankurj, BigAl, Bullsitter, CommemKing, DCW(7), DesertMoon, Downtown1974, Elmerfusterpuck, Joelewis, Mach1ne, Minuteman810430, Modcrewman, Nankraut, Nederveit2, Philographer(5), Proofcollection, Realgator, Silverpop, SurfinxHI, TomB and Yorkshireman(3)
Probably can be defined as a collector of specialized stuff with artistic merit.
I collect coins (and art) I like, and am not a completist by nature, but I do focus on just a few series when it comes to coins and currency, and also on grade ranges for those series. Occasionally I have a wandering eye and pick up something we could call type, or something just a little outside of my lane. Variety is the spice of life occasionally.
“We are only their care-takers,” he posed, “if we take good care of them, then centuries from now they may still be here … ”
Todd - BHNC #242
Circulated Type collector for slabbed coins. Lots of #1 and #2 Circulated Type Registry sets across the street at NGC, and around the corner at GC, plenty of #2 Everyman Type sets in PCGS Registry (but no #1s), here’s a screen shot of the thumbnails of my slabbed circulated Type Coins from my iPhone/iPad camera roll turned into a virtual poster
But many complete or almost complete sets in Vintage Albums, many in Vintage Stacks Album binders in Wayte and Meghrig pages/boards, but others in Wayte Raymond National Coin Album binders with Wayte pages/boards too
And lots of stuff, some in an organized fashion
And some stuff sort of totally random
But all of the above are “Art” to me because I enjoy displaying them with a sort of artistic symmetrical effect that is eye pleasing to me. I get just as much enjoyment from making these virtual displays, if not more, as I do in obtaining them or looking at the coins in hand.
Mr_Spud
I am a completist. I tend to collect the more challenging series. I buy the keys first and the best that I can afford. I also find an optimal collecting grade level, so that I don’t sink a lot of extra money into higher graded coins, when the quality isn’t that much better. I like mint state coins the best, but will buy a great XF/AU, once in a while.
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 collect art and the stuff of history.
@Mr_Spud ...amazing !!!
Top 10 Cal Fractional Type Set
successful BST with Ankurj, BigAl, Bullsitter, CommemKing, DCW(7), DesertMoon, Downtown1974, Elmerfusterpuck, Joelewis, Mach1ne, Minuteman810430, Modcrewman, Nankraut, Nederveit2, Philographer(5), Proofcollection, Realgator, Silverpop, SurfinxHI, TomB and Yorkshireman(3)
I'm hoping to prove collecting PCGS CAC coins can be an intelligent part of an investment portfolio.
I collect pre Civil War HE’S and QE’S. One from each mint. I’m done but tweaking and getting some odds and ends like a dollar and 3 dollar gold piece and a half eagle and double eagle preferably all with color.
I'm a type collector. I like to have all the subtypes I can, but I set some boundaries around my project to keep the difficulty and cost proportionate to my means and my commitment -- no super early types needed, i.e. no pre-1798 copper, no pre-1834 gold, etc. I'm unlikely to ever pursue a high-relief Saint.
I also collect classic US commemoratives but with deliberately no intention of completing the set -- I keep representatives of designs I really like, and feel no compulsion to buy others. I think at one point or another I've had around half of them, but at present only ten or so are in my collection.
There are also a few random items I've just always wanted -- foreign gold, ancient, early British, what have you. Just because.
My strategy for the last decade has basically been, here is the list of things I want in my lifetime collection, and the approximate intersection of price and preservation level I'm targeting. Here's what I have available to spend this year. Then I keep my eyes open, and get an item from the list, maybe two or three in a good year, when candidates that seem just right for me present themselves. There are eight things left on the list.
Set collector. Although I kinda disagree on the " cheap Roosevelts " I could by a real nice car with the $$$ I have in my top Roosevelt set.
I was a completist but I'm training myself out of it. I like many series' of US coins, and a few types of ancient and world coins to varying degrees. I've found that If I focus on a set it'll become an exclusive focus until burnout forces a switch. When that happens I'm not really enjoying the hobby.
My post was not specifically about top pop sets. When I mentioned cheap Roosevelts, I was sort of thinking more along the lines of a nice MS66 to MS67 set with no FB. There are some great coins in that grade range and not all are expensive.
Set collector - 1840 to 1907 $2.50's.
https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/gold/liberty-head-2-1-gold-major-sets/liberty-head-2-1-gold-basic-set-circulation-strikes-1840-1907-cac/alltimeset/268163
March of Time - 27 Centuries in Gold
https://coins.www.collectors-society.com/WCM/CoinCustomSetView.aspx?s=36590
I'm a completist who works on sets such as Seated Liberty halves, Newfoundland halves, and circulated classic commemoratives. The large majority of coins for these sets were purchased as raw coins off of eBay. Each set provides its own challenges. At the moment, I'm pushing to finish both my SLH and Newfoundland half sets to my satisfaction.
I also like rare SLH, die marriages. I'm trying to acquire all die marriages for dates with several scarce - rare DMs like the 1840-O and the 74-S. Otherwise, I grab R5-R7 DMs where I can find them. Lately, my interest has been on mid 70's S-mint die marriages.
Completest and "stuff".
USAF (Ret.) 1985 - 2005. E-4B Aircraft Maint. Crew Chief and Contracting Officer.
✓ Everyman Mint State Carson City Morgan Dollars (1878 – 1893)
✓ Morgan Dollar GSA Hoard (1878 – 1891)
✓ Everyman Mint State Lincoln Cents (1909 – 1958)
✓ Matte Proof Toned Lincoln Cents (1909 – 1916)
Stuff seems to work best here
Morgan dollars, mostly common. Someday I will have the money for a cameo proof.
Im sure we all have goals.
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 JWP BruceS bigjpst
JWP
I am a maker of lists. I collect mainly 19th Century coins, but branched out into Barber coins last October. My go to approach is to draw up a basic "set". It is far easier to look at a long run coin series as a group of "sets". If I complete one of my self designed sets, then I look at what i should add next. I know many would consider this undisciplined or a random group of coins. it only has to make sense to me. Thank you for your question. James
It fluctuates but not a set investor. Have certain preferred types, dates (family, friends birth year).
whatever coin gets my notice that is within my budget gets bought
silver coin sale at link below
https://photos.app.goo.gl/N1s4aR1Gex59y26c7
Stuff-- eye appealing coins mostly. I used to be a Completist Collector but got continually burned out. I didn't like the feeling I had to make a purchase to fill a hole.
CAC | PCGS | NGC
Agreed. Trying to finish my Seated Liberty halves set is turning me into a stuff collector. Building small sets like Newfoundland halves (24 coins) off eBay is fun. Completing a set of Seated halves is like crossing the Oregon Trail on foot.
Completist, currently possessing the WLH, Peace and Morgan collections. Had the Washington and Franklin set which pretty much sold for bullion when silver jumped. Started the SLH collection many years ago but after a few years realized I would never complete so sold the collection (~50%) to a collector here.
I’m the type to have multiple hobbies, so I’m pretty focused in what I collect.
I currently have only two sets that I’m maintaining and improving as I go along, a 20th century no gold typeset, and a circulated peace dollar set.
Newbie collector of type and circulated Peace dollars, photographer of places and animals, player of instruments and builder of amplifiers, espresso industry professional, and a person distracted by shiny objects. https://mycollect.com/Rule556/sets
Stuff Here are most
@1946Hamm Is there any room left in your house for you? James
Wow, quite a collection! I really like your 1915 Panama–Pacific dollar and your 1910 Swiss 20-franc piece.
mostly stuff, what gets classified by some as dreck, but a completist in a sense like with my Dansco Walker set. Once I get the 21-D slot filled this Spring the darn thing can stop staring at me from the bookshelf.
"Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working" Pablo Picasso