Why do we collect things?

saintguru · January 18, 2007 12:52AM

Share you best thought out thinking on this...

Cladiator · January 18, 2007 12:52AM

Because we're bored and have too much disposable income.

Longacre · January 18, 2007 12:54AM

There is a good book about the psychology of collecting. I need to find the title, though.

mgoodm3 · January 18, 2007 12:56AM

We'd get bored otherwise

ricko · January 18, 2007 12:57AM

Collecting is (psychologically speaking) a form of security. A collection, personally assembled, gives an individual a sense of accomplishment and a secure feeling in his/her own ability and worth. Cheers, RickO

holeinone1972 · January 18, 2007 12:57AM

I think some of it is for history, some for greed, and for me some of it is for wishing I was involved or around in simpler times.

That is what comes to my mind.

SilverEagles92 · January 18, 2007 12:57AM

We all have OCD?

RYK · January 18, 2007 12:57AM

<< There is a good book about the psychology of collecting. I need to find the title, though. >>

Muensterberger's Collecting: an Unruly Passion

BECOKA · January 18, 2007 1:01AM

<< We all have OCD? >>

DITTO, it is also a nice break from other realities from life.

MrSpud · January 18, 2007 1:02AM

Because they are there.

lkrarecoins · January 18, 2007 1:02AM

I actually like this article's interpretation.....we all have some sort of brain damage

The brain is an incredibly complex organ. Often, in brain research, looking at the effects of an injury can suggest how the brain normally functions. It's kind of like taking parts out of a DVD player to see how it works without them. If you take out a part, and you lose the sound but not the picture, you know that part had something to do with the sound.

Obviously, scientists can't go around taking parts out of people's brains to see what happens. But they can study people who happen to have brain injuries. They can look at a bunch of patients with the same kind of brain injury, and look for common symptoms. Or they can look at patients with similar symptoms, and see if they have similar brain injuries. Either way, if they find a pattern, they can draw some conclusions about how the brain works.

Here, Dr.Anderson's team looked at dozens of patients who had focal brain lesions—very specific injuries to small areas of the brain. They divided them into two groups: those who developed compulsive hoarding habits after they were injured, and those who did not. When they compared the brain injuries of the hoarders to the non-hoarders, they spotted an area in the prefrontal cortex that appeared to make the difference.

Why would a brain injury make people collect junk? Anderson suspects this doesn't just happen randomly. All humans seem to have some kind of built-in tendency to collect things. This may harken back to an earlier point in our evolution: many animals hoard things, especially food. But somewhere along the way, Anderson suggests, this little spot on our prefrontal cortex put the brakes on hoarding. For those patients unlucky enough to get injured in this spot, the controls come off, and they start hoarding anything they can get their hands on.

If his suspicions are correct, this wouldn't be the only example of a prefrontal cortex injury unleashing some kind of primitive behavior. The prefrontal cortex is the most "advanced" part of the brain; only mammals have it, and it's more developed in humans than in any other animal. Patients with other prefrontal cortex injuries often lose control of their basic impulses, resulting in everything from inappropriate vocal outbursts to anti-social or violent behavior.

Understanding how this area of the brain works may also help doctors treat other patients who hoard things. Although hoarding isn't as destructive as some psychiatric problems, it can still make your life very messy and unmanageable. If scientists could find a way to artificially control the hoarding instinct in these patients, they could focus their energies on their families, jobs, and hobbies again.

LALASD4 · January 18, 2007 1:02AM

Why are we here?

MrEureka · January 18, 2007 1:02AM

If I didn't collect, dealing would seem too much like work.

TahoeDale · January 18, 2007 1:13AM

Jay,

We dream of things possible(in the future).

We live in the present.

We reminisce of things past.

Ancient and older items allow us to connect with an era which we did not experience.

But collecting can be for reasons of pure beauty and aesthetics, as well as history.

Those that never throw anything away are insecure with their present lives. This is not collecting, but a failure to move on to better and perhaps unknown adventures.

So throw out the old clothes, papers, and books that have not been touched in 2 years, and buy some new ones.

This latter problem does not apply to coins.

DUIGUY · January 18, 2007 1:17AM

DITTO, it is also a nice break from other realities from life.

Love of History .

elwood · January 18, 2007 1:17AM

-The hunter-gatherer aspect of our evolution.

-Pleasure

-greed, selfishness? (wanting/having something that others don't have)

-educational

-Pride

-Goals, ambition, accomplishment

-satisfaction

saintguru · January 18, 2007 1:21AM

I love owning beautiful, old things that had a place in history.

And the OCD thing, of course.

GAT · January 18, 2007 1:24AM

I can tell you what I am very sorry that I didn't collect. From 1951 until 1954 I was in the USAF stationed in England. At the time all the WWll air bases were still intact. Over 50,000 men were killed or became POWs from those bases. I will regret until my dying day that I didn't take the opportunity to put on film those bases. They have pretty much been destroyed now.

eyoung429 · January 18, 2007 1:38AM

Due to the stresses and crisis' that come up during the course of work, collecting coins is where I can take a mental and physical break.

TwoSides2aCoin · January 18, 2007 1:44AM

I collect friends... I just hang out with coins

.

shirohniichan · January 18, 2007 1:45AM

I've heard the explanation that since most men would love to collect women but can't, they collect other things to compensate. That's a bit too Freudian for my taste.

I like having physical connections with the past. I guess that explains why I prefer circulation coins. My Centennial set in VF to EF is getting closer to completion, and I find it fascinating to own coins that circulated during that period (ditto on chopmarked coins).

asin · January 18, 2007 1:49AM

I was hit in head with a hockey puck

13PacesEast · January 18, 2007 1:50AM

i don't collect.

i flip moderns for insane PROFIT.

i thought i wanted to collect.

a fair amount of people and posts on here turned me off from the thought.

between the arrogance and high horse attitudes, doctors, rippers, dippers, whizzers, cherry pickers, vams, tpgs, fleabay, etc. etc.etc......

now i realize its all about the PROFIT.

RichieURich · January 18, 2007 2:07AM

My wife and I were discussing this the other day and we concluded that all collectors have OCD. Especially Jay.

JJM · January 18, 2007 4:24AM

I started back up with collecting after I left my corporate job and started my own biz,...I know its no match for other investments ( well maybe not !),....but I thought it was a sound way of investing my disposable income , have fun, and maybe make a little money if I needed it......I am sure if I had to go liquid , I would at least break even.......also as others mentioned, the security and the the pride of assembling a collection is very personal to you,....also there is so much history behind each and every coin that you will just never know ,...its

I am also getting to do my first show from behind the dealers table this friday and sat...Its my buddies tables and I am helping him work it....its a local yearly show, bout 60 tables......should be a cool exp.........got some pocket money, lookin for the last few slabbed Franklins for my toner DATE set in PCGS/NGC's in 64's +++ and some AU $20 Libs.......

WinPitcher · January 18, 2007 4:28AM

Not sure, but I bet my mother has something to do with it.

Steve

Newcomp103 · January 18, 2007 4:35AM

Do you mean Thing 1 or Thing 2???

Joflax · January 18, 2007 4:43AM

Makes me feel like there is more to life than work.....Maybe its just the OCD!!

19Lyds · January 18, 2007 4:54AM

<< If his suspicions are correct, this wouldn't be the only example of a prefrontal cortex injury unleashing some kind of primitive behavior. The prefrontal cortex is the most "advanced" part of the brain; only mammals have it, and it's more developed in humans than in any other animal. Patients with other prefrontal cortex injuries often lose control of their basic impulses, resulting in everything from inappropriate vocal outbursts to anti-social or violent behavior. >>

I guess I better quit doing this then ----

Actually, I collect so I can say "I have it and you don't but if you do then mine's better than your's"

ricko · January 18, 2007 5:28AM

""I have it and you don't but if you do then mine's better than your's""

Is that the older gentleman's version of "Mine's BIGGER than yours"????

Cheers, RickO

dcamp78 · January 18, 2007 7:36AM

I read an article recently that suggested that collectors collect things
because they were neglected/abused in childhood. (isn't that what causes everything?)
They said that the act of collecting gives them a feeling of security.

Sounds somewhat plausible...

holeinone1972 · January 18, 2007 7:47AM

<< I read an article recently that suggested that collectors collect things
because they were neglected/abused in childhood. (isn't that what causes everything?)
They said that the act of collecting gives them a feeling of security.

Sounds somewhat plausible... >>

I am NOT going back in that closet ever again.

Now where's my Dansco?

19Lyds · January 18, 2007 8:31AM

<< 
I am NOT going back in that closet ever again.

Now where's my Dansco?

>>

We put it in the closet!

Cam40 · January 18, 2007 8:56AM

We put it in the closet!

cladking · January 18, 2007 9:01AM

Here's an old reply of mine in DingoDog's thread "Why collect coins"

Sunday July 09, 2006 9:29 AM (NEW!)

It's all those coins out there. They've been made at thousands of mints and then
they go into commerce where they get mixed with other dates or they go on a ship
that sinks. Some are only sold to collectors who then pass them on to other collectors.
All the coins are forever getting mixed up and passing one another in their trillion ran-
dom walks. It's chaos out there and it's mind boggling.

Someone needs to impose a little bit of order on these things. At least put a few of
them in an album with similar coins of other dates. Maybe get a bunch of different
ones and organize them a little.

It's also important we remember the past fondly and that future generations think of
these times in the best possible light. Passing down some nice "tamed" coins in the
best possible grade will make them think the past was noble and that they must
strive for the best as well.

There's also a great deal to be learned from coins. From history, to statistics, and met-
allurgy coins can make some of the best and most interesting teachers.

They are money and represent value and wealth. Most people use money to keep
score in life so why not have the best money with which to keep score?

And besides, they're shiny.

mrpaseo · January 18, 2007 9:04AM

<< We all have OCD? >>

Obsesive Collecting Disorder

Guilty as charged

mrpaseo · January 18, 2007 9:07AM

<< I was hit in head with a hockey puck >>

asin, now that made me laugh out loud...Thanks.

mrpaseo · January 18, 2007 9:08AM

<< I was hit in head with a hockey puck >>

Probably would have been funnier if you said, " I was hit in the Hockey Puck with my head"

orie · January 18, 2007 9:10AM

I'm not near as interested in the coins as I am in the hunt. If this were a straight up honest hobby I wouldn't be a collector. I like the Wild West part of it.

Swampboy · January 18, 2007 9:14AM

I'm no expert. I think it has to do with "hunting" and "gathering".
I think we're basically wired to collect or else be beaten and eaten.
I give my opinion freely and it's worth every penny you pay for it.

Coxe · January 18, 2007 9:40AM

<< -The hunter-gatherer aspect of our evolution.

-Pleasure

-greed, selfishness? (wanting/having something that others don't have)

-educational

-Pride

-Goals, ambition, accomplishment

-satisfaction >>

elwood pretty much has it.

clarkbar04 · January 18, 2007 10:23AM

I collect because I am one chromosome away from primate status and therefore have a strong fascination with shiny things.

Wisconsin · January 18, 2007 10:35AM

Because other people want them

jamakin · January 18, 2007 11:01AM

I started collecting a few years ago. I have mostly moderns. I wanted complete sets so I stuck to the less expensive moderns. Not much history involved with these coins. Just the satisfaction of putting together a complete set was enough for me.
Recently I found a new reason to collect. I bought a coin that really hit home with me on how a coin can be part and a piece of history at the same time. It was a coin from a period of history I had studied when I was younger , a coin that connects the history , plays ,movies and books that I have poured over on the subject in my not so few years in this world. Somehow when I look at this coin it ties everthing to gether in my mind and makes me feel very happy.
I don't think I have ever had as much satisfaction from a something I owned before. I can now see why people like the old crusty stuff now. (I put the coin in my sig line in case anyone is curious)

TCoins · January 18, 2007 11:24AM

OCD?

Old Coin Disease?

Swampboy · January 18, 2007 1:56PM

Why do we collect things?

According to a recent NYTimes article about 16th century Taino Indians in Cuba ...

"They adored its sweet smell, its reddish hue, its exotic origins and its dazzling iridescence, qualities that elevated it to the category of sacred materials known as guanín. Local chieftains wore it in pendants and medallions to show their wealth, influence and connection to the supernatural realm. Elite women and children were buried with it.
What was this treasured stuff? Humble brass — specifically, the lace tags and fasteners from Spanish explorers’ shoes and clothes, for which the Taíno eagerly traded their local gold. "

BTW - scanning with an electron microscope showed the gold came from Colombia and the brass came from Germany

rec78 · January 18, 2007 3:52PM

Because bird watching is just a waste of time.

pendragon1998 · January 18, 2007 7:57PM

I actually do both - I consider myself a birder who collects coins. I've often been struck by the similarities between the hobbies:

Birders 'collect' a life list of birds seen out of the set of birds in their area; Numismatists collect coins in a set

Birders use "field marks" to ID subspecies and age; Numismatists use die states and wear to specifically ID coins

Birders read for hours so they can ID a rare species if they see one; Numismatists read for hours so they can cherry-pick

Birders tend to be strange, old, and male; Numismstists tend to be strange, old, and male

Birders spend a large amount of their money on their hobby; ditto

Non-Birders look at birders like they've lost their minds; Non-Numismatists look at birders like they've lost their minds lol

Really, the main difference is that birders like to do it outside while wearing binoculars, while numismatists like to do in on a messy desk wearing a loupe.

Why do we collect things?

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