What Degree Collector/Investor Are You?

I voted somewhat important as well. I fully expect to loose money on my collection. I have collected other things only to find out I was going to take a bath if & when I sold them. I do however believe coins will not be as cold of a bath.

Well, I am new to this but value is very important on some level. I am an autograph collector for a long time (12 years plus now) and first, I started collecting for joy. A couple years ago old collectors left, about three hundred new Star Wars people became known (actors/extras) and the extras are now selling graphs (not free or cheap anymore) at high prices. These prices will never reach close to the value bought at, as Star Wars hit it's peak and no more movies will be made (and the last three films weren't as well received as the trilogy). Coins are different in a way though. However, my feeling as I age is, I should buy only things that if I HAD to sell, I could at least get close to my original investment back. I used to be a completeist but learned you can't complete; there's too much and unless you are Donald Trump or something, try to be balanced in collecting.

I also collect to collect. It is nice to go through every few years, and see that the prices for them are going up, but I have no intention of selling anything. I just enjoy the hobby.

Very important. My coin collection is my retirement account. Period.
I am 46 and when I retire I will begin selling off and live off that and SS if theres any of that left.

Collecting is a fun hobby that my grandfather got me into when I was a young boy. However, collecting is an investment. I look at my coin collection like a stock portfolio. Selling off lesser grades for funds to buy higher end coins. This of course isn't always the case. There are a few coins that are G-4 that I'll never let go of...

Collecting is fun but it's better if you're collection could by you a house :)

I voted: Not very omportant, because I will not see any appreciable rise in value, (other that thru accumulation), because, at my age, there is no "future to worry about, because I am already there"! I collect to enjoy the unending learning process, and the newness of the hobby. I have collected for over 50 years, but, in the same time frame, have gotten rid of the collections I have amassed, "to feed the kids". Other than for the good of the family, my collectiomns have never been sold. I have never sold to a private party. This last two years, I have gotten seriously into varieties, and will keep it up for the rest of my lifetime. The Bov't hopes it will be a short time, because they have been "supporting me for 45 years, after "retiring"! I look at it differently, I'm going to be around for a long time to come, because I am in lousy health, but stubborn as a "Missouri mule",. and my goal is to live to be 125 ytears old, just to see what kind of mess the "Politicians" can get us into! And, I'm only 82 years old.
Dick

I voted somewhat important. I'm a collector first and for most. My select "core coins" I can and never will part with--they have more sentimental value than the marketplace could ever place on them...I just can't see myself getting rid of some of my favorites. I do, however, plan on selling some of my silvers in the coming years. I suspect the value of silver will continue to rise over the next few years and I think parting with a few of my least favorites and using the profits to purchase others is definitely something to consider for all of us. Think of all those 1964 Halves lying around the house...then picture silver at $25 an ounce....