Well, that makes two... and I anticipate alot more unless I am completely wrong in terms of the funds collectors have to spend on coins. And that is okay...
Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.
I would disagree as i have never bought coins with the intention of selling them but on the other hand i have sold many coins as my focus has changed along with my budget i suppose if money was never an object i would have never sold anything and would have a couple of suitcases full of all kinds of low dollar modern coins and bulk silver in the back of my closet.
I would ask those who insist that selling coins is unrelated to the "seriousness" of a collector how they can resist buying a coin they don't need for their collection when they see it offerred for a frac- tion of its true value.
Do you just pass it by?
Do you buy it and hoard it?
If you don't see coins offered way too cheap you're either not getting out much or you're not extremely familiar with coin values. Both would have some correlation to collectors who are less "serious".
If you don't see coins offered way too cheap you're either not getting out much or you're not extremely familiar with coin values. Both would have some correlation to collectors who are less "serious".
I am not really familiar with coin values and have almost no interest in coin values or coin grades for that matter - at a recent show I purchased 2 raw coins and the grade of each was never mentioned, I really do not get out much and must admit I do not think I've ever seen coins offered way too cheap and if I did and such coins were not on my wishlist I would pay no mind. That said, I would infer from your comment, maybe incorrectly, that I'm not a serious collector and maybe I'm not but for the coins I do collect I generally own and study most of the related body of literature which is not small, usually relatively rare and often takes dogged determination to obtain. I may be be more eccentric than serious but I have a early quarter book that I really love and to appreciate the book all the more I purchased examples of the quarters, usually the most interesting and rarer varieties for study and once my studies cease I will release the quarters and keep the book...I digress rather I ramble...
...I guess the above is winding to, and certainly not directed to the author of the quoted statement above, my slight irritation with the seemingly incessant discussion of grades, values, ebay etc. on the forum; though I do enjoy the forum immensely at least to me I see very little love and appreciation for numismatics for the sake of numismatics.
I am not really familiar with coin values and have almost no interest in coin values or coin grades for that matter - at a recent show I purchased 2 raw coins and the grade of each was never mentioned, I really do not get out much and must admit I do not think I've ever seen coins offered way too cheap and if I did and such coins were not on my wishlist I would pay no mind. That said, I would infer from your comment, maybe incorrectly, that I'm not a serious collector and maybe I'm not but for the coins I do collect I generally own and study most of the related body of literature which is not small, usually relatively rare and often takes dogged determination to obtain. I may be be more eccentric than serious but I have a early quarter book that I really love and to appreciate the book all the more I purchased examples of the quarters, usually the most interesting and rarer varieties for study and once my studies cease I will release the quarters and keep the book...I digress rather I ramble...
...I guess the above is winding to, and certainly not directed to the author of the quoted statement above, my slight irritation with the seemingly incessant discussion of grades, values, ebay etc. on the forum; though I do enjoy the forum immensely at least to me I see very little love and appreciation for numismatics for the sake of numismatics. >>
No. I didn't mean to imply that those who don't buy "steals" are not serious collectors. I'm just suggesting that as a group there would be a tendency for those who don't see or buy "steals" to be less informed, and hence less serious than most collectors who are buying similarly valuable coins.
I'm sure there are many very knowledgeable and very very serious collectors who don't sell coins.
Not all, but most collectors would be well advised to try to sell coins once in a while just to be sure they know what they're worth. It's one thing to get an appraisal or even an offer from the dealer who sold you the coin but it's another to actually get a check for a coin.
This isn't much of a consideration in some coin collecting. You can learn a lot a- bout the hobby by other means than selling and this is more likely in some of the higher demand and higher value classics. But for the vast majority of collectors there is almost no alternative to selling to learn values and the more you know about more series of coins the more you'll see coins that are vastly underpriced.
Before I get jumped on I'm well aware that these are mere generalities and there will be individuals who don't clearly fit any of these categories.
I respect everyone's take on the topic. This has been an interesting read.
As for myself, I've never sold a coin. I've given away plenty, but never seen the need to sell. I've been blessed with a strong back, good health and the opportunity to work, so there hasn't been any reason to sell my collectibles.
I began collecting coins in 1966, and it became my favorite hobby. To this day, I never tire of reading new (and old) literature, learning new facts, researching numismatic history, sharing with fellow collectors and adding to my collection.
Whatever direction the hobby takes you in, I believe you should first of all have fun with it. If it ever becomes a matter of making money, then (to me, at least) it becomes a job. I have a job. Don't need another one.
JMHO
Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death! ~PATRICK HENRY~
I say not only do true collectors sell, they usually do so at a loss. The nature of collecting is to sell the dogs and keep the gems. Collecting is a never ending upgrade cycle, even if your whole collection is a box of twenty slabs. Dealers will sell anything for a profit (wives, sisters, mothers), just depends how much. I also think some people confuse hoarding with collecting. Hoarders just like to accumulate (wealth, newspapers, toe nail clippings), they don't really collect IMHO.
Selling coins has absolutely nothing to do with net worth. It has absolutely nothing to do with being a "serious" collector. Believe me, I DO NOT have unlimited funds. However, I have never sold a coin. Nor do I ever plan to in the future. There are many people on these boards who would agree, however that I am very serious about my collecting goals.
Do I have dupes? A few, but I obviously liked them more than I did the money that I originally spent on them so why get rid of them? Do I have coins in my collection that other people might like a lot less than I do? Again, probably yes, but so what? I didn't buy them to impress anyone else. I bought them for ME.
As for never knowing what a coin is worth unless I occasionally sell one, that is simply untrue. I know what every coin in my collection is worth--AT LEAST, TO THE ONLY PERSON THAT MATTERS. I received that information when I paid for it. As for what it might be worth to someone else I simply don't care.
Just because I'm old doesn't mean I don't love to look at a pretty bust.
Comments
Well, that makes two... and I anticipate alot more unless I am completely wrong in terms of the funds collectors have to spend on coins. And that is okay...
Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.
"seriousness" of a collector how they can resist buying a coin they
don't need for their collection when they see it offerred for a frac-
tion of its true value.
Do you just pass it by?
Do you buy it and hoard it?
If you don't see coins offered way too cheap you're either not getting
out much or you're not extremely familiar with coin values. Both would
have some correlation to collectors who are less "serious".
I am not really familiar with coin values and have almost no interest in coin values or coin grades for that matter - at a recent show I purchased 2 raw coins and the grade of each was never mentioned, I really do not get out much and must admit I do not think I've ever seen coins offered way too cheap and if I did and such coins were not on my wishlist I would pay no mind. That said, I would infer from your comment, maybe incorrectly, that I'm not a serious collector and maybe I'm not but for the coins I do collect I generally own and study most of the related body of literature which is not small, usually relatively rare and often takes dogged determination to obtain. I may be be more eccentric than serious but I have a early quarter book that I really love and to appreciate the book all the more I purchased examples of the quarters, usually the most interesting and rarer varieties for study and once my studies cease I will release the quarters and keep the book...I digress rather I ramble...
...I guess the above is winding to, and certainly not directed to the author of the quoted statement above, my slight irritation with the seemingly incessant discussion of grades, values, ebay etc. on the forum; though I do enjoy the forum immensely at least to me I see very little love and appreciation for numismatics for the sake of numismatics.
the book...
the dispensable study subjects...
<< <i>
I am not really familiar with coin values and have almost no interest in coin values or coin grades for that matter - at a recent show I purchased 2 raw coins and the grade of each was never mentioned, I really do not get out much and must admit I do not think I've ever seen coins offered way too cheap and if I did and such coins were not on my wishlist I would pay no mind. That said, I would infer from your comment, maybe incorrectly, that I'm not a serious collector and maybe I'm not but for the coins I do collect I generally own and study most of the related body of literature which is not small, usually relatively rare and often takes dogged determination to obtain. I may be be more eccentric than serious but I have a early quarter book that I really love and to appreciate the book all the more I purchased examples of the quarters, usually the most interesting and rarer varieties for study and once my studies cease I will release the quarters and keep the book...I digress rather I ramble...
...I guess the above is winding to, and certainly not directed to the author of the quoted statement above, my slight irritation with the seemingly incessant discussion of grades, values, ebay etc. on the forum; though I do enjoy the forum immensely at least to me I see very little love and appreciation for numismatics for the sake of numismatics.
>>
No. I didn't mean to imply that those who don't buy "steals" are not serious
collectors. I'm just suggesting that as a group there would be a tendency for
those who don't see or buy "steals" to be less informed, and hence less serious
than most collectors who are buying similarly valuable coins.
I'm sure there are many very knowledgeable and very very serious collectors
who don't sell coins.
Not all, but most collectors would be well advised to try to sell coins once in a
while just to be sure they know what they're worth. It's one thing to get an
appraisal or even an offer from the dealer who sold you the coin but it's another
to actually get a check for a coin.
This isn't much of a consideration in some coin collecting. You can learn a lot a-
bout the hobby by other means than selling and this is more likely in some of the
higher demand and higher value classics. But for the vast majority of collectors
there is almost no alternative to selling to learn values and the more you know
about more series of coins the more you'll see coins that are vastly underpriced.
Before I get jumped on I'm well aware that these are mere generalities and there
will be individuals who don't clearly fit any of these categories.
This has been an interesting read.
As for myself, I've never sold a coin.
I've given away plenty, but never seen the need to sell.
I've been blessed with a strong back, good health and the opportunity to work, so there hasn't been any reason to sell my collectibles.
I began collecting coins in 1966, and it became my favorite hobby.
To this day, I never tire of reading new (and old) literature, learning new facts, researching numismatic history, sharing with fellow collectors and adding to my collection.
Whatever direction the hobby takes you in, I believe you should first of all have fun with it.
If it ever becomes a matter of making money, then (to me, at least) it becomes a job.
I have a job.
Don't need another one.
JMHO
Forbid it, Almighty God!
I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death!
~PATRICK HENRY~
Do I have dupes? A few, but I obviously liked them more than I did the money that I originally spent on them so why get rid of them? Do I have coins in my collection that other people might like a lot less than I do? Again, probably yes, but so what? I didn't buy them to impress anyone else. I bought them for ME.
As for never knowing what a coin is worth unless I occasionally sell one, that is simply untrue. I know what every coin in my collection is worth--AT LEAST, TO THE ONLY PERSON THAT MATTERS. I received that information when I paid for it. As for what it might be worth to someone else I simply don't care.