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does anyone know another person, or themself, that is trying to collect every US coin?

fcfc Posts: 12,793 ✭✭✭
thanks for any interesting stories.

edited to add: if no one, was Eliasberg one of the few who tried?

Comments

  • MadMartyMadMarty Posts: 16,697 ✭✭✭
    Russ is trying to collect EVERY 1967 Birthmark die Kennedy, does that count?
    It is not exactly cheating, I prefer to consider it creative problem solving!!!

  • CoinosaurusCoinosaurus Posts: 9,645 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I would not be at all surprised if someone is trying to do it. I'm equally sure you won't read about it here!!
    The following ground rules would apply:

    * Keep the collection as confidential as possible
    * Use a small number of very well trusted and well connected agents
    * Try to make purchases by private treaty instead of by auction
    * Use multiple agents so a single buyer doesn't draw as much attention
    * Do not resubmit ANYTHING to the services
    * Do not personally attend any shows or auctions

    Collections are turning over at unprecendented rates, and for an enterprising billionaire, this would be as good a time to go for it as any. Look at how fast the Richmond collection was put together and turned over.

    By the way, I was at an event awhile back where a collector described his collection and how he had adhered to much of the above, and in doing so I realized that he had cheated himself of much of the camaraderie and friendship that can go along with collecting. Yes, it is a competition at some level, but we shouldn't get so taken with that that we do not miss out on the fun.
  • Absolutely agree with the above. If Bill Gates wanted to do it, he could write a check and buy 99%+ of the dates/mints in all US series in top (or near top) grades in a month. Working through several trusted agents, who would know?

    As PCGS says, the coin market is thinly capitalized which makes it stunningly vulnerable to manipulation. Consider accumulators. Say someone wanted to buy 1,000,000 double eagles (a substantial portion of the surviving population) even at $800/per would only be $800,000,000.00. Not even a billion dollars! Well within the reach of some of these folks.

    Anyone remember the Hunt brothers? Oh yeah, they went broke!
  • BlindedByEgoBlindedByEgo Posts: 10,754 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I don't. For me, .01% is just fine - as long as they're the right coins!
  • You are a numismatist, Blinded. The folks who could form nearly complete collections just with money wouldn't necessarily be - it could be just a trophy item for them. Knowledge can't be bought, but the services of knowledgeable people can.
  • Just 1 year for me !

    1991, My sons birth year.

    Hopefully Mr Hall will see fit to add complete year sets to the registry !
    image


  • << <i>By the way, I was at an event awhile back where a collector described his collection and how he had adhered to much of the above, and in doing so I realized that he had cheated himself of much of the camaraderie and friendship that can go along with collecting. Yes, it is a competition at some level, but we shouldn't get so taken with that that we do not miss out on the fun. >>


    Of course it would be possible to follow your "rules" on how to form such a collection and still enjoy the camaraderie and friendship. Build "The Collection" behind the scenes privately using your "rules" while building a different collection personally and publicly.
  • carlcarl Posts: 2,054
    Not me. I gave up on most of the new coins because the Mint is starting with coins what they did to stamps. Soon enough we'll have an Elvis or something coin. I don't even save the state quarters. Now the nickel thing is starting. I saw all this with the bi-centenial stuff of which I just dumped all into a bank. I used to save stamps but gave it up when they started all the crazy stuff and now it's coins. At least there is the good old stuff around.
    Carl
  • roadrunnerroadrunner Posts: 28,313 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I met an individual in the 1970's who was at the end of completing a full US set of regular issue US coins in silver, copper and nickel. He was down to just a few key coins like the 1796 half for example. Cannot recall his name or if he finally got there.

    As PCGS says, the coin market is thinly capitalized which makes it stunningly vulnerable to manipulation. Consider accumulators. Say someone wanted to buy 1,000,000 double eagles (a substantial portion of the surviving population) even at $800/per would only be $800,000,000.00. Not even a billion dollars! Well within the reach of some of these folks.

    1 MILLION double eagles is approx the current sum of NGC + PCGS pops. Imagine clearing out the entire Saint population.

    Anyone remember the Hunt brothers? Oh yeah, they went broke

    The Hunts did nothing illegal in acquring a huge position in silver.
    They followed all the laws. Unfortunately this didn't make other commercial shorts happy and they solicited the govt to come down on the Hunts. The govt obliged and increased the margin requirements and forced the Hunts to fold their hand. You could probably say what was done to them was criminal. This would be no different from your mortgage calling you up one day and telling you that they were raising the rates on your fixed rate 15 year mortgage.

    roadrunner
    Barbarous Relic No More, LSCC -GoldSeek--shadow stats--SafeHaven--321gold
  • LanLordLanLord Posts: 11,723 ✭✭✭✭✭
    While that sounds like an interesting accomplishment to aim for, it seems very unlikely to happen ever again.

    However I'll accept all donations in my attempt to attain this lofty goal!
  • FullStrikeFullStrike Posts: 4,353 ✭✭✭
    I'm not even trying for every coin in a series.

    I'm more of a type Coin collector - and I don't even want one of each type!

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