How Do You Collect?

At least 50% of my purchases are done through some sort of Internet use, 30-40% is done by actual visits to shops/shows, the rest is through the forums, friends, the U S Mint, out of state bullion companies who I have known for years, roll searching, family etc, I hope this helps your data collecting, How have you come to do a topic like this, are you a collector, if not, stick around long enough and you just might become another person with a passion to fill empty holes in nice colored albums!!

90% of my purchases are on line, some from ebay and the rest from online dealers. I have been using about 4 online sites form most of my purchases. I only have one local coin dealer and he has a very limited number of coins so I try to find coin stores when I am traveling.

Yes - I obtain coins either by trade or purchase, How it is completed depends entirely on the price range per coin, e.g. Below US1$ by fancy, $1 to $20 is whichever and wherever, $20 to $100 requires some level of trust on the source, but willing to take the risk, and at $101 above, will have to be face to face, with coin on the table... For trades - as the wind blows...

most of mine are from searching from rolls and I try and use my roll finds to trade for other coins I dont use e bay but I have bought many coins from the good folks at this site and I have 4 coins shops in the area that I also visit one shop will trade with me so he gets alot of my business

Wherever I see a coin(s) that I like. I have bought from ebay, local coin shop, local coin club auctions and shows, the Mint, circulation and people that know I collect that offer me silver, etc. If you are gathering statistical data, my answer may be too broad. I currently buy most of mine from coin club auctions and hope to buy some through this forum.
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My collecting started with odd coins found in the till (when I had a retail business). This was supplemented by my mother's collection on her passing. Biscuit tin, no sorting, everything just got thrown in.

Then I, sort of, got serious and used to purchase on ebay. Job lots, about 5kg at a time. Then begged, borrowed and stole from friends. This was in the UK.

Now I live in Thailand, but away from Bangkok, it is much more difficult. I still beg, borrow and steal but now I've got tourists to prey on as well. I don't buy on the Internet now because the Thai postal service is, I'm afraid, not very reliable.

My collection of Thai coins of the current King (commemoratives and general circulation) is almost complete.

No ryhme or reason to my collection. Anything I haven't got (including individual years) just gets added.

Almost all of my coins and bills are pulled from circulation. I buy coins very infrequently and when I do they are from a flea market or shop. I really like looking through straps of bills or rolls of coins for the good ones. I have sold a few coin on ebay like a statehood clad error I found at work, but I have never bought a coin online.

Prior to ebay mostly from circulation. Now that I have learned about ebay I mostly buy through the forum here or from trustworthy on-line dealers.