Home› U.S. Coin Forum

Are you tired of being an average collector?

Billet7Billet7 Posts: 4,923 ✭✭✭
in U.S. Coin Forum
A prominent east coast collector posed the question "Are you a member of the Vast Middle Market?" Well...yes I guess I am. I would like to do important things in numismatics too, but there are things in my life that dictate otherwise.

Who is sick of being an average collector? Maybe we should pool resources and put together a serious collection...something that would contend with the TradeDollarNuts, Simpsons, Gardners and Holmes' of the world! Everyone send me your resources and I will do my best! image

Comments

  • dohdoh Posts: 6,457 ✭✭✭
    I love being an "average" collector...if that's what I am.
    Positive BST transactions with: too many names to list! 36 at last count.
  • RedTigerRedTiger Posts: 5,608 ✭
    I'm proud to be an average collector. I'll leave the top open for that tiny group of collectors that are in the top 10% of graders, the top 10% in terms of contacts, and the top 10% in terms of money ready to spend.

    Those with top quality collections, tend to have some combination of superior grading skills, exceptional access to coins, and lots of money. Given that I don't have any of those three, the middle road is the best and most realistic road.

    Those that are some what average graders, with average access to coins, with an average amount to spend are almost surely going to end up somewhere in the vast middle. They might be upper middle, or lower middle, or middle middle, but the vast middle it is. No reason to be tired, or ashamed. Collect what you like and enjoy the hobby.
    Investment blog: gold, stocks and more
  • DennisHDennisH Posts: 14,011 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I've always been very happy in my own skin and have never been concerned about getting validation from anyone.
    When in doubt, don't.
  • BaleyBaley Posts: 22,663 ✭✭✭✭✭
    No, I'm just an average coin collector, and also just an average husband, father, friend, son, brother, cousin, nephew, employee, supervisor, citizen, taxpayer, bike rider, skiier, scuba diver, horseback rider, volleyball player, cook, plumber, gardner, handyman, video game player, scientist, philosopher, astronomer, photographer, woodworker, artist, lover, and fighter. I'm also very average at many other things, too many to list.

    To become significantly better than average at any of those things would have to be at the expense of the others.. I'm only an average collector, by choice of having a balanced life. I actually feel kind of sorry for some of the very upper eschelon of collectors, whose sad, narrow lives apparently almost completely revolve around silly little disks of metal.

    edited to add, for clarity, that I'm not insinuating that anyone mentioned above or reading this thread falls into that category! image be happy

    Liberty: Parent of Science & Industry

  • cone10cone10 Posts: 1,021
    I'm the Kurt Rambis of coin collectors and very happy with my VF coinsimage
    A nickel ain't worth a dime anymore.
    Yogi Berra

  • RedTigerRedTiger Posts: 5,608 ✭
    I would disagree with Baley. Talent and inclination have a lot to do with things. Those with a natural talent for grading coins and developing contacts with people have a huge advantage over those with average talents. Take volleyball, which Baley listed as one of his activities. A person that is 6' 6" with excellent eye-hand coordination, and natural quickness is going to have huge advantages over a person that is of average height, and average dexterity and quickness. That smaller, slower person might get to the same level of skill in volleyball as an average weekend taller player, via an intense focus, but the taller, quicker person starts way ahead. If that taller quicker person puts in the same effort, they will always beat the smaller slower person.

    So it is with coin collectors. Some are born with better eye sight than others. Some are naturally inclined to have a better mind for details than others. Some are naturally better at developing long term relationships than others. Those coin collectors that are blessed with exceptional eyesight, eye for detail, and natural people skills are like the 6' 6" person in volleyball. The "naturals" can make an average effort and still be superior players, because they have a big head start. Now if that person with natural talent also puts in exceptional effort, they might get to the world class category.

    There is no need to feel sorry for people, if they choose to spend a lot of time in an activity where they have lots of natural talent. That is human nature, if that person is also one of the 20% that is also competitive in nature. Plenty of those folks have well rounded lives too, though of course, there are some extremes where a hobby becomes an all consuming obsession. However, I don't think that too many of those obsessives end up with very best collections, unless they were also blessed with a good talent set to begin with.
    Investment blog: gold, stocks and more
  • dizzyfoxxdizzyfoxx Posts: 9,823 ✭✭✭
    I'm tired of being an average anything! image
    image...There's always time for coin collecting. image
  • Billet7Billet7 Posts: 4,923 ✭✭✭
    Thanks guys, you have reaffirmed my positive existance as an average collector.
  • Bayard1908Bayard1908 Posts: 4,094 ✭✭✭✭
    Anyone who owns non-bullion coins costing over $500 is not an average collector.

    The average collector is proud of his circulated 1931-S cent and considers it to be the centerpiece of his collection.
  • crypto79crypto79 Posts: 8,623 ✭


    << <i>Anyone who owns non-bullion coins costing over $500 is not an average collector.

    The average collector is proud of his circulated 1931-S cent and considers it to be the centerpiece of his collection. >>



    I think you are the first person to insinuate that I was above average since the 2nd grade.image You're good people
  • DennisHDennisH Posts: 14,011 ✭✭✭✭✭
    crypto79: Anyone who can use "insinuate" correctly in a sentence AND spell it correctly is most certainly above average!
    When in doubt, don't.
  • Billet7Billet7 Posts: 4,923 ✭✭✭


    << <i>Anyone who owns non-bullion coins costing over $500 is not an average collector.

    The average collector is proud of his circulated 1931-S cent and considers it to be the centerpiece of his collection. >>



    I think it would be better said that I am an average, serious collector, since most collectors have a Whitman holder with state quarters, a circulated Morgan dollar and a jar full of wheat cents in their sock drawer!
  • crypto79crypto79 Posts: 8,623 ✭


    << <i>crypto79: Anyone who can use "insinuate" correctly in a sentence AND spell it correctly is most certainly above average! >>



    Or lucky in my case, FYI there is a fight behind the bleachers over in the My Sonnier grades are in ! 11 stunning coins thread
  • drei3reedrei3ree Posts: 3,430 ✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Anyone who owns non-bullion coins costing over $500 is not an average collector. >>



    Is that market or book? Are we counting "W" coins as bullion? This may be the wrong board for this discussion... image
  • RWBRWB Posts: 8,082 ✭
    Without the "average" collector there would be no coin collecting hobby.

    It is not from the "big name/big bucks" collections of old that most of the nice coins have come, but from the thousands of hobby collectors over the past 150 years. Contrary to the attitudes of some big ego-small mind folks, it is the "average" collector of what some denigrate as "excrement = dreck," that makes the business and hobby tick. Take the “average” collector out of the bourse, and there’s little left except crickets; hobby periodicals vanish; auctions crash; the incentive for new research and new coin designs fades to a whisper.
  • yellowkidyellowkid Posts: 5,486 ✭
    Average , IMHO, is boring, the average coin has no appeal to me. I don't go for types or dates, I want the most visually appealing examples I can afford. I'm sure not spending the money that some people are, but I like to think most of the pieces I acquire are at least above average.image
  • dbldie55dbldie55 Posts: 7,742 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I thought longacre asked the question?
    Collector and Researcher of Liberty Head Nickels. ANA LM-6053
  • anablepanablep Posts: 5,160 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I am very happy doing what I do. If I'm average, then so be it. Being average shouldn't be cast in a negative light- nor should anyone's "average" collection.
    Always looking for attractive rim toned Morgan and Peace dollars in PCGS or (older) ANA/ANACS holders!

    "Bongo hurtles along the rain soaked highway of life on underinflated bald retread tires."


    ~Wayne
  • MowgliMowgli Posts: 1,219 ✭
    Depending on who sees your coins they are going to be viewed as dreck, average or superior. That includes you. The more pictures of coins I see on this forum, the worse my collection looks to me.
    In the land of the blind the one-eyed man is king.
  • RYKRYK Posts: 35,800 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I am tired of being a collector! image
    My Box of 20: https://pcgs.com/setregistry/collectors-showcase/box-20/ryks-gold-box-20/17132
  • BearBear Posts: 18,953 ✭✭✭
    Just think, in 200,000 years, your dreaded "D" collection
    might be worth a fortune.
    There once was a place called
    Camelotimage
  • BillJonesBillJones Posts: 34,843 ✭✭✭✭✭
    You can make yourself “above average” by study and dedication. When I was a young collector, I looked at the guys who were from the father’s generation, looked at what they had, and thought that my day would never come. But I kept collecting and buying the best coins I could afford in the areas that interested me. I held on to most my best coins resisted the urge to “churn” my collection. Now some people refer to me as “a whale” although I’m really no more than a fat dauphin or maybe a little sperm whale. I’m not even close to being a blue whale like some of the names mentioned here.

    If you study coins, work with your budge, and are willing to take a few decades to get there, you too can have an important collection although it probably won’t include any 1913 nickels or 1804 dollars.
    Retired dealer and avid collector of U.S. type coins, 19th century presidential campaign medalets and selected medals. In recent years I have been working on a set of British coins - at least one coin from each king or queen who issued pieces that are collectible. I am also collecting at least one coin for each Roman emperor from Julius Caesar to ... ?
  • LongacreLongacre Posts: 16,717 ✭✭✭
    We should all join together, sisters and brothers, and have a communal coin collection. image
    Always took candy from strangers
    Didn't wanna get me no trade
    Never want to be like papa
    Working for the boss every night and day
    --"Happy", by the Rolling Stones (1972)
  • lcoopielcoopie Posts: 8,873 ✭✭✭✭✭
    non of us are average collectors,
    just our presence here, IMO,
    makes us above average,
    and improving.
    LCoopie = Les
  • johnny9434johnny9434 Posts: 29,304 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I dont mind being an average collector. i do the best i can with what i got image
  • crazyhounddogcrazyhounddog Posts: 14,071 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I like to think I am an average collector with above average coins, I think?....image
    The bitterness of "Poor Quality" is remembered long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.
  • speetyspeety Posts: 5,424 ✭
    Nope, and I love the fact that the "TradedollarNuts, Gardners, etc." are willing to share pics and experiences with us. Overtime a collection of ordinary could easily become extraordinary, i'm still young and have plenty of time to work on it! image

    Plus, with the number of rather large Wieners I have, I doubt many people will mock me! image (medals that is...)
    Want to buy an auction catalog for the William Hesslein Sale (December 2, 1926). Thanks to all those who have helped us obtain the others!!!

  • BaseballAbsBaseballAbs Posts: 2,621 ✭
    Yes i am , but i lack the funds to be other than an average collector.
    Winner of the "You Suck!" award March 17, 2010 by LanLord, doh, 123cents and Bear.
  • MidLifeCrisisMidLifeCrisis Posts: 10,561 ✭✭✭✭✭
    What is an average collector, anyway?

    Average number of coins in a collection? Average total value of a collection? Average value of each coin in a collection?

    Is an average collector one who collects state quarters, Morgan Dollars or Lincoln Cents (these are among the most popular collector coins)?

    How do you know if you are above average?


    image
  • IGWTIGWT Posts: 4,975 ✭
    The US Coin Forum is the Lake Wobegon of coin collecting.
  • AnkurJAnkurJ Posts: 11,370 ✭✭✭✭
    I love my widgets and very avg coins!
    All coins kept in bank vaults.
    PCGS Registries
    Box of 20
    SeaEagleCoins: 11/14/54-4/5/12. Miss you Larry!
  • OKbustchaserOKbustchaser Posts: 5,549 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I'm not sure that there is an average collector on this board since the average collector has never paid over face value for a coin--and probably never will. For that matter, the average collector never even looks at a coin. Instead, he simply dumps his pocketfull of change into a jar every night and then takes it to the bank when the jar is full.
    Just because I'm old doesn't mean I don't love to look at a pretty bust.
  • coolestcoolest Posts: 2,281 ✭✭✭
    I think coin collecting would be very boring if I had unlimited funds.
  • jmski52jmski52 Posts: 23,281 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I like collecting coins, always have. I have no idea whether I'm an average coin collector or not.
    Q: Are You Printing Money? Bernanke: Not Literally

    I knew it would happen.
  • lordmarcovanlordmarcovan Posts: 43,895 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Are you tired of being an average collector? >>

    I was, sometimes.

    Now I don't have to worry about it, because I've slid to below average. image

    (At least on the economic scale.)

    Explore collections of lordmarcovan on CollecOnline, management, safe-keeping, sharing and valuation solution for art piece and collectibles.
  • razzlerazzle Posts: 993 ✭✭✭
    My name is Chuck and I am an average hoarder...
    Markets (governments) can remain irrational longer than an investor can remain solvent.
  • Billet7Billet7 Posts: 4,923 ✭✭✭


    << <i>Nope, and I love the fact that the "TradedollarNuts, Gardners, etc." are willing to share pics and experiences with us. Overtime a collection of ordinary could easily become extraordinary, i'm still young and have plenty of time to work on it! image

    Plus, with the number of rather large Wieners I have, I doubt many people will mock me! image (medals that is...) >>



    image
  • dac076dac076 Posts: 817 ✭
    Dreck owners unite, and embrace your averageness!
  • chumleychumley Posts: 2,305 ✭✭✭✭
    I,m striving to attain average.....currently at dreck drover stageimage

Leave a Comment

BoldItalicStrikethroughOrdered listUnordered list
Format
SpoilerCodeQuote
Heading 2Heading 1
Emoji
:):D:(;):/:o:s:p:'(:|B):#:*<3o:)>:)
Url
Image
Align leftAlign centerAlign rightToggle HTML viewToggle full pageToggle lights
Drop image/file
Home • U.S. Coin ForumComment As ...