Just curious about your collecting habits?

AskRaq · March 29, 2007 6:41AM

Over the years I've generally run into 2 main types of coin collectors: (1) the very serious collector, (2) the hobbyist ...(and I know, there are many varieties of both!).
But more recently I have seen more and more interesting offerings, that may not have any numismatic value, but are pretty cool to look at. Like the thread with the "shrunken coins" pretty interesting, and the colorized coins are different.

When I was a kid (in early the 70's) I bought a "set" of miniature coin replicas (quarter, dime, nickel & 'penny')... I loved them because I collected coins & I loved miniatures. I actually still have two (?) of them in my jewelry box.

Until recently I hadn't collected any non-coins, but I broke down and purchased the Hologram Washington dollar, (received it today) and WOW is that a cool process... might not be 'politically correct' in the coin world, but a really neat visual all the same!

I wondered what 'off-coin' items other posters may have been swayed by?

Zoins · March 29, 2007 6:46AM

You mean this from the Merrick Mint?

AskRaq · March 29, 2007 6:49AM

Yeah... that's what I got! I know, goofy as all get out... but wow, just really neat for my this-n-that beautiful bauble collection! In hand it is quite striking!

tahoe98 · March 29, 2007 6:52AM

it looks..............AT

mcheath · March 29, 2007 6:57AM

ALot of "collectors" rag on items like this and for some good reasons. I actually think they are kind of cool as well

. The colorized coins are ugly IMO but still different. The only problem I see with them is there marketing as being super collectable and a great investment oppurtunity. I know the B&m dealers know what im talking about. But as long as they are being bought and sold as a cool novelty item they are fun for both the serious and non serious collector to show there friends. As for me I have my core collection and mostly buy things that fit directly into it, but I have also been known to branch and buy hard times tokens, world coins, and anything else that I think has eye appeal. That is one of the great things about the hobby. Any person with any amount of income can find joy and beauty in a variety of items.

Zoins · March 29, 2007 7:04AM

This is similar to what the Royal Canadian Mint does. If the post-minting enhancement is done by the Mint itself, there can be a substantial collector premium, like the Medal of Bravery dollars, but if it's done by a third party, there often is no collector premium. It seems like it's a question of ... <drum roll> ... originality

66RB · March 29, 2007 7:08AM

<< <i>might not be 'politically correct' in the coin world, but a really neat visual all the same >>

ummm yeah, strike the visual part

AskRaq · March 29, 2007 7:30AM

Well, it's not like it'll have a place beside my real coins - I got it as a novelty... but was surprised by how well the "hologram" effect looked (compared to the pics) as I had never seen one in hand before. Not a quality pic, but here's a quick printer scan of Liberty in "holo-color":

DorkGirl · March 29, 2007 7:48AM

I bought a hologram at the Denver ANA last year. It's so beautiful, it's mesmerizing.

It really is......

jhusman · March 29, 2007 7:51AM

I have a TN quarter with a silkscreen of Elvis on it

Swampboy · March 29, 2007 8:01AM

It's all good.
Cufflinks, paperweights, ashtrays.......guitars

.
One thing I've learned on this board is collect what like and can afford.

BlindedByEgo · March 29, 2007 8:11AM

I think that the non-mint "collectables" can look really cool - the tough part is when the owner of one (or the heir) walks into a coin shop thinking that their collection of this pretty trash is going to make them a quadra-bazillionnaire.

At that point the pretty trash just becomes depressing.

PinnacleRarities · March 29, 2007 8:11AM

I like coin glass. I also have three lighters made from coins. A Morgan Dollar lighter, a Peace Dollar one and a very cool $20 Liberty one. If I can figure it out I'll post some pics.

Zoins · March 29, 2007 8:30AM

A little while ago I ran across this Palau $5 NCLT with encased meteorite. Palau makes a lot of NCLT with various embedded things such as pearls, lava bits, four leaf clovers and what not. I've always had a fascination with meteorites but I also like to get things that are fairly rare and with a mintage of 2500, the Palau coin is not rare.

I ended up going with this pewter BigRock Meteorite Geocoin with pieces of a chondrite meteorite which are 4.5 billion years old, about the age of the Earth. It has a mintage of 25 making it a low R6. You almost never come across one of these, even among geocoin collectors. I just think it's cool to have a bit of something that old.

AskRaq · March 29, 2007 8:45AM

Okay... I went a dug out my childhood jewelry box from the garage... (it's where I hide my miniatures from the kids)

These are all Uncirculated... but very well handled (show-and-tell in Elementary school, ya know?)... LOL

Below I have scanned the Miniature Coins that I have left - and if ANYONE knows where I can get a replacement for my lost/stolen mini-'penny'...PLEASE contact me!!!

And thank you to the poster that converts this link into an actual pic!!! (By the way, how do you guys get the really big high quality - over 50kb- pics up on the board?)

Colorfulcoins · March 29, 2007 9:09AM

none.

I'm focused......er, obsessed already!

DorkGirl · March 29, 2007 9:17AM

Just search "miniature" on Ebay in coins.

Join Photobucket.com for hosting your pics, couldn't be easier.

commoncents05 · March 29, 2007 9:19AM

I have just recently narrowed my focus to Lincoln Cents. I have kinda been working on a 1936-42 Lincoln Proof Set, which I just finished thanks to Northeast Numismatics. I have a 55 DD and all the business strikes in lower grades, and I had some key coins which I have sold, and I am now getting started into the Matte Proof Lincolns. I bought a 1910 from Teletrade a month or so ago, and I have a 1914 on it's way from Brian Wagner. When I finish the Matte Proofs (or maybe throughout my aqusition of the MPLs) I will put together an Uncircualted Set of the Business strikes too.

-Paul

hockeyfan9 · March 29, 2007 9:23AM

I collect silver strikes from casinos. Most look like proofs. A lot of the new $40 ones are colorized. I like them because they are neat and fairly inexpensive. Most can be had for under $15.

AnkurJ · March 29, 2007 9:29AM

There is a guy I know who does coin jewlery, but its not just any regular stuff. What he does is carve out all the dead area of a coin, and leaves just the figure. I have a pendant of a double sovereign with a carved out image of Saint George. And after carving it out, he adds white gold to certain areas to highlight them. I have 3 pieces by him, and I must say, they are DAMN COOL! And I love wearing the St. George pendant. Will post a pic tonight.

Ankur

Coxe · March 29, 2007 9:32AM

I was tempted to buy some of the notorious chain cent replicas the Gallery Mint produced and sold 10 or 12 years back. I think that is as close as I came to that stuff.

mirabela · March 29, 2007 9:51AM

Personally, I enjoy the Gallery Mint repros. They are about as close as I'll ever get to owning the coins they mimic, and they are generally pretty attractive.

Just curious about your collecting habits?

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