Ever had a "collection" sneak up on you?
Bochiman
Posts: 25,790 ✭✭✭✭✭
I don't have "one" favorite series...I have a few I like.
I don't do "only" raw or "only" slabbed, I have both.
I don't do only moderns or only "classic", I do both.
I just noticed, as I was showing the coins to mom, who is up for the holidays and loves coins (esp mercs (I don't have hardly any, Kennedys (I don't know why
), and Ikes) and then had to re-input all my data on them as I lost the original XLS and the backup 
(and, my older backup was quite old).
I found out I have 124 slabs (including a few ICG, 1 old photoslab ANACS, and 1 PCI along with a lot of PCGS and NGC).
I didn't redo my raw coins yet.
Now, 124 slabbed coins may not seem like much, but they are a wide mix (oldest would be the 1878 morgan with my 2004 Sacagawea proof being the newest) but to me, someone who does not submit my own (did only the 4 freebies for joining last year), and who doesn't live on ebay and buys only occassionally, I was surprised to find I had that many.
I need some more boxes to hold them soon.
I also saw the amount I paid (if I overpaid, it really wasn't by much with the slabbed coins) and was surprised I have put out that much $$$. I know I am nowhere near many of the top spenders here, and my collection is piddling compared to many, but to me, and the boy who will get it, it is cool.
We have a couple of registry sets going but I couldn't really care about being #1 (not into that ego thing like that) and am doing it for fun and something to point to for him.
Then, I have been trying to get dupes of the proof sets (so he has 1 and I have one)....none slabbed. Also, some mint sets, proof SAEs (unslabbed), and other mint products.
As I look at the value, even if I sold to a dealer, I realize that getting a SDB was a very smart thing to do.
I also cannot stress enough that if anyone reading this does NOT have a listing of what they have, and the amount paid, they really need to!
I would hate for my wife/son/mother/etc to have to try to liquidate if something happened to me....would be another one of the "some dealer took advantage" stories.
All said and done, in 2 years of dabbling, the set is worth enough to cause concern, keep in the SDB, and to be somewhat proud of....and I am very glad I have kept records of what I bought and from who.
So.....ever had the collection sneak up on you like this? I was sure shocked
I don't do "only" raw or "only" slabbed, I have both.
I don't do only moderns or only "classic", I do both.
I just noticed, as I was showing the coins to mom, who is up for the holidays and loves coins (esp mercs (I don't have hardly any, Kennedys (I don't know why
), and Ikes) and then had to re-input all my data on them as I lost the original XLS and the backup (and, my older backup was quite old).I found out I have 124 slabs (including a few ICG, 1 old photoslab ANACS, and 1 PCI along with a lot of PCGS and NGC).
I didn't redo my raw coins yet.
Now, 124 slabbed coins may not seem like much, but they are a wide mix (oldest would be the 1878 morgan with my 2004 Sacagawea proof being the newest) but to me, someone who does not submit my own (did only the 4 freebies for joining last year), and who doesn't live on ebay and buys only occassionally, I was surprised to find I had that many.
I need some more boxes to hold them soon.
I also saw the amount I paid (if I overpaid, it really wasn't by much with the slabbed coins) and was surprised I have put out that much $$$. I know I am nowhere near many of the top spenders here, and my collection is piddling compared to many, but to me, and the boy who will get it, it is cool.
We have a couple of registry sets going but I couldn't really care about being #1 (not into that ego thing like that) and am doing it for fun and something to point to for him.
Then, I have been trying to get dupes of the proof sets (so he has 1 and I have one)....none slabbed. Also, some mint sets, proof SAEs (unslabbed), and other mint products.
As I look at the value, even if I sold to a dealer, I realize that getting a SDB was a very smart thing to do.
I also cannot stress enough that if anyone reading this does NOT have a listing of what they have, and the amount paid, they really need to!
I would hate for my wife/son/mother/etc to have to try to liquidate if something happened to me....would be another one of the "some dealer took advantage" stories.
All said and done, in 2 years of dabbling, the set is worth enough to cause concern, keep in the SDB, and to be somewhat proud of....and I am very glad I have kept records of what I bought and from who.
So.....ever had the collection sneak up on you like this? I was sure shocked
I've been told I tolerate fools poorly...that may explain things if I have a problem with you. Current ebay items - Nothing at the moment
0
Comments
<< <i>1 old photoslab ANACS >>
Gee, wonder where you got that from?
Funny on that is that I still have the email records so I was able to get the "cost" associated with that one.
I still have it, as received, since I think it is cool. Not broken out. Not in an album.
Personally, I don't like the new ANACS slabs.....got one with a coin I won a few months back...didn't like the coin (pics were somewhat MUCH better than coin in hand). Kept the other coins, returned that one in the ANACS slab. To me, it is too small.
I've been told I tolerate fools poorly...that may explain things if I have a problem with you. Current ebay items - Nothing at the moment
We had discussed "appropriate" breakdown of costs in emails. I still have those.
I've been told I tolerate fools poorly...that may explain things if I have a problem with you. Current ebay items - Nothing at the moment
I'm working on a colonial - present type set that's mostly encased in plastic and still mostly 20th century, I like all the series. I'm not all about the plastic or PCGS necessarily, but I'm no expert, so the opinion is nice. Even if their opinion is wrong, like the 1 ACG slab I own, I know enough to know the coins are nice, and I couldn't have overpaid by too much for anything.
It is hard to decide to stick to one thing, so I also have a few dansco album projects, regularly buy mint products, have some nifty coins in 2x2's, jar full of AG-XF silver that's interesting to look through every now and then, my box of dark side, a Statue of Liberty token project in an Eagle album... please please please don't let me fall in love with patterns. I only really started in 1999, and last Spring when I moved I was surprised to learn how much space my collection not in the bank takes up. I don't have a whole lot of monopoly money to buy coins with, so it was a little startling to see it all together in one giant box for the move.
The latest thing that creeped up on me was last week, I'll soon have 17 of the 20 coins in the Collectors Mint Set Circulation Strikes (1970-2000) registry, so of course now I need to own a 1970-D 50c, 1987-P 50c, and 1987-D 50c. I'm not all about the registry, I'll never have a #1, and that isn't why I'd play that game, I'll play because I like the concept of putting together a set, and in this case it's all in PCGS plastic already. It was interesting to learn I almost have a cool subset of coins, those found only in mint sets. I never intended to collect those 20 coins specifically, it comes from my type set, my Ike$ plastic set, my SBA$ plastic set, the 1998-S 50c SMS comes from my kennedy dansco album-I sprung for the pcgs MS69 SMS to have the star of the set be the really nice coin and I'm ok with one hunk of plastic alongside an album, the 1994 & 1997-P 5c SMS are from my jefferson dansco album - same reason.
<Krusty the Clown voice>I heartily endorse this product or service</Krusty> :
keeping a detailed Excel Spreadsheet from the beginning is the #1 smartest thing you can do (finding this board is #2).
Collecting a Type Set would be impossible without good records, but there are so many other good reasons to keep a detailed Excel Spreadsheet or similar. The latest thing I learned from my spreadsheet was that I bought some coins long ago from a handful of board members before I even knew this place, and from popular opinion here it seems I was correct in assuming those sellers had really beautiful coins at good prices and were good people to do business with (dabigkahuna, gandyjai, gdhoop, www.wondercoin.com, mnmcoin to name a few). Like you, I don't have truckloads of $$ in my collection, but it's enough that I would hate to think if I died my family would get screwed over by an evil dealer, so the spreadsheet is nice for that too.
I wish I would win the Powerball, or be adopted by Bill Gates. Until then, I'm quite happy with my little collection that now takes up an amazing amount of space. Please please please don't let me fall in love with patterns (stupid www.smalldollars.com website, MWallace is either the devil or a really nice helpful person who wants to share information).
Need more $$$ for coins?
You are definitely along for the same ride I am
I hope it goes well for you! It is one thing to have the time, and the knowledge to make your own coins (hats off to Russ and Madmarty and others), and another to have the money to just buy what you want (a lot who hang out on the registry forum can do it), and still another to not have a lot of money, nor time, and want to learn and get what you like that is nice, but within budget.
It is amazing, from that last standpoint, to see what the little budget actually grows into.
For my coins, my most expensive one is a 1921 high relief peace dollar in PCGS M64.
Then, I have a couple around the $400 area (1972 DDO Lincoln in PCGS MS64RD and a morgan or two).
Then, for the slabbed coins (not counting my 1oz icon coin nor its 2 brothers of the lunar series both 1 oz...since they aren't slabbed), it goes down to $200 or less with most in the $50 area.
It really adds up....
But, I will disagree with 1 thing you posted....I think, aside from a few of the fools on this forum, that the 98% of knowledgable and friendly folks here make it the #1 best thing someone could do, then the XLS (or whatever software one prefers) for accountability, then the RCC (Rec.collecting.coins). There are some knowledgable and helpful people there as well (some who are on here as well).
Keep it going, and enjoy those coins and the sense of accomplishment you probably felt (I know I did to a degree as I looked at what I do have.) as you see what you have and what you are still doing!
Ron
I've been told I tolerate fools poorly...that may explain things if I have a problem with you. Current ebay items - Nothing at the moment
(I saw a nice Barber dime the other day................)
Mike
Lincoln Wheats (1909 - 1958) Basic Set - Always Interested in Upgrading!
Learn to take YN's to shows and teach them the hobby also! And don't worry when others make jest of that, because somewhere along the line they'll be bragging about doing it also!
The most dramatic was the collection of telephone tokens. Most of these were used in Chicago in the
early part of the 20th century. They were nickel, quarter or dime sized with slots and grooves so they
were the only shape which would fit through a slot to be used in a pay phone. People had been using
amusement tokens with lead pounded into the center hole to simulate a nickel in the phones and hotels
and restaurants were losing a lot of money to these "plugged nickels". The tokens have little writing and
no clue as to what their use was on them.
Most were made in batches of one thousand and would be reordered if the proprieter ran low. Large
numbers of these were destroyed in the scrap drives of WW II as they had only recently become obsolete
and there were still large hordes of them.
These still appear in this area once in a while and I had a growing collection long before I ever knew what
they were. Over the years I've traded these with other collectors for everything from phone cards to more
telephone tokens. While they aren't well known there are lots of people who collect items related to com-
munication and when they learn of these they always want one or two.
It would be great to have good records of all those I've had since it would provide an excellent indication
of the availability of each token.
It often seems more that collections find the collector rather than the other way around.
<< <i>I was showing the coins to mom, who is up for the holidays and loves coins...Kennedys (I don't know why) >>
Because - obviously - she is a lady of good breeding, high intellect, and sophisticated tastes.
Russ, NCNE
<< <i>
<< <i>I was showing the coins to mom, who is up for the holidays and loves coins...Kennedys (I don't know why) >>
Because - obviously - she is a lady of good breeding, high intellect, and sophisticated tastes.
Russ, NCNE >>
Nah....I think it is just because she is old and can't see well
I think she is about your, and Marty's, age Russ
I've been told I tolerate fools poorly...that may explain things if I have a problem with you. Current ebay items - Nothing at the moment
Congratulations on your collection so far, I'll be jealous of your 1921 S$1 MS64 High Relief, my example is a lowly MS63
You say getting a SVDB was smart, and probably it was, I've been putting that coin off, because I really don't know what grade (read $$) I should buy that in. Also, I'm predicting the relative price of that coin will come down within my lifetime. It's only spendy because there are so so so many lincoln collectors. Why do average people collect lincolns? because it's the smallest denomination and because they are in circulation today. Sooner or later the Lincoln Cent is gonna have to disappear (100 years! c'mon, change the design), either to be replaced by another cent design or we'll just stop using pennies. Either way, that should cut down the # of average person lincoln collectors, less demand (usually) means falling $$. Or I might just be screwing myself and I'll have to pay big $$ for it someday, I'll let you know how it turns out in 30 years.
Enjoy your collection like you are, by sharing it with others. It is fun to show off cool coins to non-collectors, I showed my 91-year old grandmother my 2 barbers last month, she almost cried saying she remembered those in circulation and missed them.
Need more $$$ for coins?
Jerry
<< <i>Sooner or later the Lincoln Cent is gonna have to disappear (100 years! c'mon, change the design), either to be replaced by another cent design or we'll just stop using pennies. Either way, that should cut down the # of average person lincoln collectors, less demand (usually) means falling $$. >>
Exactly. That's why no one collects Indian Cents any more, or Buffalo Nickels, or Mercury Dimes, or Walking Liberty Halves, or.......
<< <i>
<< <i>Sooner or later the Lincoln Cent is gonna have to disappear (100 years! c'mon, change the design), either to be replaced by another cent design or we'll just stop using pennies. Either way, that should cut down the # of average person lincoln collectors, less demand (usually) means falling $$. >>
Exactly. That's why no one collects Indian Cents any more, or Buffalo Nickels, or Mercury Dimes, or Walking Liberty Halves, or....... >>
If you dont follow your collection value closely, it's almost always more than you think it is. Even the amount that you have in it is generally more than you think. I have slabs and raw collections too. I REALLY like building dansco sets. The problem there is that I really like being able to sell my coins for fairly close to what I paid for them (if I need to.) Because of this, I buy the more expencive coins in slabs.
I've amassed quite the collection in the last year and a half. Enough to give me the same cause for concern that you have. I started using a SDB about two months ago for my coins. I hated not to be able to look at them as often, but the collection has become worth more than I make in a year. I couldnt afford to take that kind of financial hit if someone were to take advantage of me. So they're there and that's where they stay. I now opporate on a rotation method. Every month or two, I'll go get a few coins out of the SDB and bring them home, putting the previous ones I had into the box. That way, I've always got a few coins to look at... but am not exposed to the risk of having the bulk of the value at the house.
David
David
I like the dansco set as well. I have a few (SAE for both myself and the boy, Kennedys, started franklins, etc).
I do have to ask...if you use the SDB and you keep track of the coins/cost, why use the code? I am a bit simple which is why I ask this.....
Ron
I've been told I tolerate fools poorly...that may explain things if I have a problem with you. Current ebay items - Nothing at the moment
Ron,
It doesnt bother me that you ask. I use a code for two reasons. First, I'm what some board members (far more successful than me) would refer to as a "want-a-be-dealer." Even though I have an assumed name, buisness checking account, buisness credit card, and pay my taxes... but that's another story. I put codes on the back of all my slabs so that if I'm showing them to someone at a show, they wont know what I paid for something.
Every once in a while, I'll show a few coins to family or friends. I used to have prices on the back that I paid for particular coins. The problem with that is that if you're showing a coin to someone, and it has a price on the back... they'll either think you're showing off (when in reality you're just showing them a prize of your collection), or they'll say something like, "You paid what for that?" Then you get the, "You've got to be out cho mind," look. Non-collectors just dont understand... yet they'll go fill up a book shelf full of $2000 worth of DVD's, which have VERY little resale value and will only depriciate.
So those are the two reasons I started putting codes on the back. In a nutshell, quick reference and keeps others from knowing what I paid.
David