I've tried and tried to get interested in the darkside. I think it would be easier on the wallet. But I just can't get excited about it. I could probably get into ancients, but that's about it.
I like both sides. You haven't seen a proof set until you've seen the Royal Australian Mint's annual fine silver proof set. They do all of their circulation coins in fine silver, seal them extremely well and protect them with a handcrafted, real wood case. They only make 6500 sets, each has a serial number and they include a brochure with a picture of the dies used to make the set.
My sig says it all. If I think it's cool and I can afford it, into the collection it goes. I've got everything from Trade Dollars and old Tax Tokens to Silver Eagles and a Great Britain Proof Set of the last pre-decimal coinage struck in 1970.
I have all kinds of coins, tokens and a few medals. I'm not a big time Stack's Auction collector. I don't collect for investment or value. When I see a coin I think is neat, I grab it. I collect a few coins by year and mint, like Lincoln and Canadian Cents, Westward Journey Nickels, State Quarters, Presidential Dollars and 2 or 3 others. I have some Proof Sets and Uncirculated Sets. I've been collecting for 34 years, so I have a little bit of everything.
Darkside. There's so much more opportunity for discovery on the Darkside. Besides, it's too easy to spend money on the Lightside, and I hate credit card debt.
Andy Lustig
Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.
Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.
I collect Canadian coins because I've been partial to Canada since I spent summers in British Columbia and Alberta as a youth. I collect George V Canadian coins because I like E.B. McKennal's portrait of said king and find them to be a bargain for their scarcity (not as much in recent years, but, oh well). I collect modern Canadian crap because the packaging is so wacky it makes me smile.
I collect British Commonwealth silver of George V because Darkhorse made me start. This includes coins of every continent except South America (though British Honduras is close) and Antarctica. I have mostly shillings through crowns, but I will work on 3d and 6d equivalents once I finish the current set (except, perhaps, the Waitangi crown).
I collect Asian silver trade coins because my interest in US trade dollars led me in that direction.
I collect US double dimes because I like the history behind them, and this led me to collect world 20 cent piece equivalents of the double dime period (i.e. 1875-78).
Comments
Apropos of the coin posse/aka caca: "The longer he spoke of his honor, the tighter I held to my purse."
About 1/2' in diameter
1869 NGC MS67 Top Population-Coin Paid $90
1856 NGC MS66
1871 PCGS MS66
1863 raw
1864 raw
1861 raw, die cracks on this one
Obverse for those interested
1861<------------------------------------------------------------------>1869
Jim
Menomonee Falls Wisconsin USA
http://www.pcgs.com/SetRegistr...dset.aspx?s=68269&ac=1">Musky 1861 Mint Set
Did you say, "Yodel"!!!!
Hey look!! A toner!!!
U.S. are enuff for me!
TorinoCobra71
I collect US, Canadian, British Commonwealth, and a smattering of Japanese, Chinese, and "other".
Obscurum per obscurius
PS.
I LIKE IKEs!
Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.
Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.
I collect British Commonwealth silver of George V because Darkhorse made me start. This includes coins of every continent except South America (though British Honduras is close) and Antarctica. I have mostly shillings through crowns, but I will work on 3d and 6d equivalents once I finish the current set (except, perhaps, the Waitangi crown).
I collect Asian silver trade coins because my interest in US trade dollars led me in that direction.
I collect US double dimes because I like the history behind them, and this led me to collect world 20 cent piece equivalents of the double dime period (i.e. 1875-78).
Obscurum per obscurius