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I would like to see more articles by experts suggesting how to collect various classic series
RYK
Posts: 35,801 ✭✭✭✭✭
Let me explain. At the time that I was a ship adrift on the numismatic sea without a captain, something that drew me to Doug Winter and collecting southern gold was his body of articles offering various ways to collect branch mint gold. He had sliced and diced various 19th century gold issues in ways that nearly anyone could approach them. While I think it is a bit of stretch to have a Type 1 and Type 2 set of two $3 gold coins and consider it a Type set of $3 gold coins, there are many suggestions of ways to break up expansive and/or expensive 19th century gold series and make them approachable to a wider audience. Frankly, I think that he owes much of his success to his ability to do this.
A more concrete example is how he sliced up the Dahlonega series. One need not approach the entire series, a formidable and expensive challenge, but instead, choose one of the denominations or a type set or a denomination set, or a year set (with or without a year that does not include the expensive 1854-D $3). He offers many ways to approach the Dahlonega series without thinking you have to sell the house and live under a bridge to complete something. He also makes it easy for someone to approach a series, like Dahlonega, nibble on a smaller set, fall in love, and take on a bigger project.
I was communicating this to a forum expert on colonials and suggested that he do some like articles on collecting colonial coins. Now that I have the floor, I would also like to see an expert to the same for patterns. Both of these areas are so intimidating to me (and no doubt others) that we would not know where to begin. As someone who is once again without a captain
and looking for a concrete numismatic objective for the next three to five years, it might help me (and others adrift) choose a new area. Otherwise, I might just continue to collect duplicates in an area that I already know, get bored, and move on to trading Disney pins or something.
A more concrete example is how he sliced up the Dahlonega series. One need not approach the entire series, a formidable and expensive challenge, but instead, choose one of the denominations or a type set or a denomination set, or a year set (with or without a year that does not include the expensive 1854-D $3). He offers many ways to approach the Dahlonega series without thinking you have to sell the house and live under a bridge to complete something. He also makes it easy for someone to approach a series, like Dahlonega, nibble on a smaller set, fall in love, and take on a bigger project.
I was communicating this to a forum expert on colonials and suggested that he do some like articles on collecting colonial coins. Now that I have the floor, I would also like to see an expert to the same for patterns. Both of these areas are so intimidating to me (and no doubt others) that we would not know where to begin. As someone who is once again without a captain
and looking for a concrete numismatic objective for the next three to five years, it might help me (and others adrift) choose a new area. Otherwise, I might just continue to collect duplicates in an area that I already know, get bored, and move on to trading Disney pins or something.0
Comments
<< <i>One need not approach the entire series, a formidable and expensive challenge, but instead, choose one of the denominations or a type set or a denomination set, or a year set [....]
I would also like to see an expert to the same for patterns. >>
Are most US Patterns on USPatterns.com? If so, it seems like it would be pretty easy to slice and dice them by denomination, type, year, designer, etc. ....
Check out the Southern Gold Society
<< <i>Wouldn't it be more satisfying if you started by getting the book(s) on a particular series (like Colonials) and figured out a way to collect them that appeals to you rather than having some "expert" tell you how to do it? >>
Nah, I need to be spoon fed, just like in med school. No creativity here.
In truth, perhaps it is my short attention span, but I would prefer to read some short articles, buy a coin or two, and see where it takes me. That's how I got started in southern gold.
I've already done that. You can see a list of my suggested collections in the Set Registry for Patterns. Of course there are an infinite number of other approaches one could take.
Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.
Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.
<< <i>
<< <i>Wouldn't it be more satisfying if you started by getting the book(s) on a particular series (like Colonials) and figured out a way to collect them that appeals to you rather than having some "expert" tell you how to do it? >>
Nah, I need to be spoon fed, just like in med school. No creativity here.
In truth, perhaps it is my short attention span. >>
let me guess...radiology?
<< <i>I would also like to see an expert to the same for patterns.
I've already done that. You can see a list of my suggested collections in the Set Registry for Patterns. Of course there are an infinite number of other approaches one could take. >>
That's still like sipping water through a fire hose. I have no idea where to start.
Ray
This was one of my contributions to the PCGS Colonial Registry -
It's a basic design set which includes one example of each major Redbook colonial series, minus the great rarities that aren't realistically collectible for regular people.
That's 44 total coins, a good representation of what has historically been collected in colonials, most at least relatively affordable, different looks and metallic compositions, etc.
Some could argue for other coins to be added, or some to be included instead of these, but none are obviously better or worse IMO.
I had nothing to do with the "weights" listed and in fact have lobbied to correct some obvious errors in that category - so no hate mail about that please.
Pretty interesting set if I do say so myself.
<< <i>I would also like to see an expert to the same for patterns.
I've already done that. You can see a list of my suggested collections in the Set Registry for Patterns. Of course there are an infinite number of other approaches one could take. >>
Okay, Andy, I will get you started (facts may not be correct, but you get the idea)
(introductory paragraph)
The collecting of US coin patterns can be linked to blah-blah-blah William Woodin blah-blah-blah half unions blah-blah-blah. Since then, major collectors of US pattern coins have included John W. Garrett, the Norweb family, and blah-blah-blah.
There are many ways to approach the collecting of US pattern coins. An entire set of US pattern coins is impossible as many of the coins are unique and/or the whereabouts of them are unknown. However, it is possible to collect coins by metal, designer, denomination, or year, and this is how many pattern collectors approach this vast and somewhat disorganized category.
A collector of Morgan dollars who is seeking a further challenge may choose to obtain examples of the Morgan obverse design in various other denomination and/or metals. There are (blank #) of coins that could possibly be obtained with the Morgan obverse design. For dollars alone, one could collect (blank #), and this figure exludes those that are unique or nearly impossible to find.
Similarly, a collector of 19th century gold coins might attempt to collect the entire series, a costly and difficult task. Or, he/she may choose a favorite year or denomination and try to acquire all of the gold coins from that year. Many cannot afford the expense of gold patterns and may choose off-metal (copper?) patterns of a particular year or denomination. The year, (blank), affords a collector to obtain all of the denominations in copper, with none excessively rare or expensive. Based on recent auction history, such a set could be obtained over (blank) years for under (blank) dollars.
And a lot more blah-blah-blah's.
You get the idea.
Maybe I'll buy a few too.