Are coins like crack?

timcoin · July 17, 2008 9:34AM

First, I have never done an illegal drug in my life (as they say, I'm afraid I would like it). But, you hear from users how addictive crack is, and how a users tolerance increases so they need more and more to achieve the same high. I'm not sure coins are all that different. I remember when I was young, finding a wheat cent in change was enough to fulfill my coin collecting needs. Then, in my early teen years, it took at least a 21 Morgan in Mint State. By the time I had my first job, I needed a somewhat better date coin. Now, it takes a coin an auction company would at least accept in one of their sales. I hate to think about where my addiction will be a decade from now.

ambro51 · July 17, 2008 9:36AM

Yup.
But coins dont make you skinny and rot out your teeth.

tightbudget · July 17, 2008 9:37AM

You can't smoke coins. But you can smoke crack.

SilverEagles92 · July 17, 2008 9:38AM

I agree completely... I bought a $20 Saint Gaudens and for me to really love a new purchase, it seems to have to come near that amount of money.

Shamika · July 17, 2008 9:51AM

You have to be careful. If you feed your desire without some restraint, you'll get burned out. I buy maybe 5 coins each year and the thrill of each coin is sensational!

coinsarefun · July 17, 2008 9:55AM

<< Yup.
But coins dont make you skinny and rot out your teeth. >>

Good One!!!

but one to consider

Roadgold · July 17, 2008 9:56AM

<< You have to be careful. If you feed your desire without some restraint, you'll get burned out. I buy maybe 5 coins each year and the thrill of each coin is sensational! >>

I must be a addict I am up to 5-10 a month.

I need help, like more money.

GoldenEyeNumismatics · July 17, 2008 9:56AM

<< Yup.
But coins dont make you skinny and rot out your teeth. >>

THey can put a big hole in your wallet though.

zrlevin · July 17, 2008 9:57AM

I don't seem to buy more than a dozen or so coins per year, but when I do, I enjoy them very much; be they a new type coin or a circulated mercury dime.

FishyOne · July 17, 2008 10:11AM

Depends on the person but addictive personality types could have the same problem with both coins and crack.

The big difference is that with coins you have something to show for your money besides oatmeal for brains.

CoinAuctionsHelp · July 17, 2008 10:16AM

Only when they have a die crack or I sit on one.

19Lyds · July 17, 2008 10:19AM

<< 

<< You have to be careful. If you feed your desire without some restraint, you'll get burned out. I buy maybe 5 coins each year and the thrill of each coin is sensational! >>

I must be a addict I am up to 5-10 a month.

I need help, like more money. >>

Shoot! If your an addict then I am hopelessly lost!

Coxe · July 17, 2008 10:22AM

When you find yourself performing deeds for money in a bourse men's room to get a coin fix, you might have a similar problem. Coins are habit forming, not addictive. ANyone who is inclined towrd compulsively doing things can fall easily into such a habit.

Barndog · July 17, 2008 10:29AM

I've never heard of a coin-ho

SkyMan · July 17, 2008 10:31AM

Yes, they are addictive.

One thing that I've noted though, is that over the last several years my purchases dollarwise of slabbed coins has stayed about the same per year. I find that as I've become more comfortable with coins I've purchased more raw ones. Right now I'm on a 1948-58 buying jag.

MidLifeCrisis · July 17, 2008 11:23AM

<< You have to be careful. If you feed your desire without some restraint, you'll get burned out. I buy maybe 5 coins each year and the thrill of each coin is sensational! >>

I would say this applies to me as well...but it works for only a certain type of collector.

I can do fine with only a few coins a year if they each are special to me. But it's a constant struggle to keep from buying the next coin I see that may be nice but is not spectacular or special in some way.

I find it helps to focus in a very specialized collecting area and to use limiters such as only PCGS coins; only EF-45 and up coins; only pedigreed coins; or whatever.

I can still get my quick "fix" by taking the few coins in my collection out and looking at them or reading about them or studying similar coins in past or current auctions...

timcoin · July 17, 2008 12:00PM

<< When you find yourself performing deeds for money in a bourse men's room to get a coin fix, you might have a similar problem. >>

Haha, that's great.

rhedden · July 17, 2008 12:06PM

When you start committing armed robberies to get cash for coins, because you need a hit on some high-grade stuff, then you have reached crackhead status.

For the time being, I will stick to collecting this kind of crack:

CarlWohlforth · July 17, 2008 12:12PM

No.

Anyone addicted to drugs would agree. I can quit buying coins. Quiting smoking cigarettes was the hardest thing I've ever done.

JCMhouston · July 17, 2008 12:14PM

More like bunnies on crack, these things just keep multiplying.

YaHa · July 17, 2008 12:28PM

<< I agree completely... I bought a $20 Saint Gaudens and for me to really love a new purchase, it seems to have to come near that amount of money. >>

Wait a minute, you say you can't smoke your coins, the next time you see a beautiful toned morgan, someone heated that bad boy up in the oven and believe me that coin was SMOKIN.

percyb · July 17, 2008 12:34PM

I think they're worse than crack! The question should be, Is crack like coin!

mike92694 · July 17, 2008 12:34PM

<< First, I have never done an illegal drug in my life (as they say, I'm afraid I would like it). But, you hear from users how addictive crack is, and how a users tolerance increases so they need more and more to achieve the same high. I'm not sure coins are all that different. I remember when I was young, finding a wheat cent in change was enough to fulfill my coin collecting needs. Then, in my early teen years, it took at least a 21 Morgan in Mint State. By the time I had my first job, I needed a somewhat better date coin. Now, it takes a coin an auction company would at least accept in one of their sales. I hate to think about where my addiction will be a decade from now. >>

Coins are not the same as crack.

1. You can probably stop when you need to.
2. If you plan right, you should be able to recoup most of your money spent on coins should the need arise.

droopyd · July 17, 2008 2:14PM

<< When you find yourself performing deeds for money in a bourse men's room to get a coin fix... >>

droopyd · July 17, 2008 2:16PM

<< Coins are not the same as crack. >>

You can crack out a coin, but you can't.... get coin out of a crack?

Broadstruck · July 17, 2008 2:26PM

If so then the Forum is the Crack House!

coinsarefun · July 17, 2008 2:41PM

Sometimes when you combine cracks and clash you get something pretty neat.

Stefanie

Baley · July 17, 2008 3:40PM

mataphorically, and referring to psychological and not physical tolerance, yes I agree with your premise. for many collectors, it takes increasing "doses" of coins to get the same effect of satisfaction. edit: forgot to add a die crack picture

Unknown · July 17, 2008 5:05PM

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Moki · July 17, 2008 6:16PM

The real question could be, "Does bidding on or buying coins give you an adrenalin rush?"

Adrenalin is a drug--it just happens to be a drug the body produces--and people do get addicted to it, at least psychologically. It makes a person feel alive and energized. One could argue that adrenalin is the drug of choice for most people. Adrenalin dependence is the basis for bipoloar disorder and manic-depression. Individuals who go from one crisis to the next in their lives could very well be addicted to adrenalin without consciously knowing it. The same goes for thrill-seekers and sports fanatics--they all depend on copious amounts of adrenalin for their "kicks." We don't give it much thought because everyone is doing it and it is socially acceptable. But without addictions to adrenalin the world would be an entirely different and more peaceful place.

Admittedly, I thoroughly enjoy the fine adrenalin rush of winning a nice coin at a good price . . .

We are all "addicted" to any number of things even if its just oxygen, sleep, water and food. Whether or not one's addictions add to or subtract from the quality of one's life is another matter entirely . . .

taropatch99 · July 17, 2008 7:39PM

Dealers in both are equipped with fat wallets and a digital scale.

Just thought of another one.

What's a YN? A coin baby.

CB2597 · July 17, 2008 8:07PM

Yes like what you all said....

Are coins like crack?

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