Why Did You Start Collecting NCLT

I started out in a totally different hobby, collecting stamps as a kid. Once I was introduced to video games I lost interest in stamps. I started with the Atari 2600,but, my collection has spanned nearly every system since then. At last count I had over 450 games spanning the last 25 years. Many have never been played. I am a collector at heart, but, since having my son, I don't have the time to play games any more. My son deserves more than a collection of games when I'm gone, so, I've channelled my compulsion to collect into coins. At the very least he can melt 'em down when I'm pushing up daisies. Hopefully he'll appreciate them more than that.

Started with circulation "from the change", then realized, that there is a part of NCLT that deals with the coinage milestones, and nice new silver coin produced to commemorate some of the old/rare/important issues
Wildlife and art on silver - additional branches...

Was watching tv very early last year and an advertisement for RCM came up. Out of curiosity I checked out the site, saw the 20 for 20 polar bear, and pretty much insta-bought it. Since then I saw a ton of designs, and found myself just liking more and more.

Thanks everyone, it's interesting to know what sparked the coin craze in people.

@Dr Butcher probably for another forum, but I'm a game collector too, problem is they're a lot bigger than coins and some of the newer systems probably won't work in 30 years.
Maybe for another poll "What else do you collect" But I have a large collection of pop bottles some dating in the 1800's. Old Post Cards, 1980/90's Hockey Cards, and over stuff that I've currently forgotten about.

I do believe the 20 for 20 has sparked a lot of interest in new collectors as well the newer series of circulation coins offered at the RCM exchanges.
I've seen many foreign coins that are appealing and will acquire if the Mint slows down on their releases.

Started with putting coins aside from my paper route as a kid. Getting back into it as an adult I started with silver dollars (1971+). As that set neared completion I worked back into circulation silver dollars. That rapidly expanded into a full blown circulation collection although I was still picking up NCLTs (non silver dollars) as I came across ones that interested me. As the rate of growth on the circulation side eventually slowed down I picked up a Charlton Vol 2 and focused more on the NCLT side again in the last couple of years. My next (last?) project will be to review what I have for Proof and Specimen sets and what I still need to fill in. While continuing to hole fill, upgrade and keep up to date with new releases of course!

First purchase was $20/20 - brilliant marketing ploy! Started to expand while looking to commemorate my daughter's birth. Throw in some OCD to collect entire series' and voila.

I personally got really bored with circulation coins. Coins that were "different" than others always drew my attention. Coins like 5c 1951 comm, tombac, all 1967 coins, 1973 quarter and comm silver dollars 1949, 1958 and 1964 were all special to me, even if they were not as valuable.