Has Coin Collecting Led You To Other Hobbies Or Interests?

I guess my love of history as a kid did make me like coins more. I was never into currency or stamps, they just seemed so easily destroyed that I was afraid of them. The hobby has made me want to do metal detecting but I haven't dove into that yet.

I collect coins most actively but I pull paper money out of circulation if it catches my eye. I also collect rocks and minerals (less actively).

These hobbies did not originate together (maybe paper money stemmed off a little from coins) but they have now become connected.

Rocks and minerals connect to coins and paper money in an interesting way. I went to a rocks and minerals (and gemstone) show expecting to pick up some cool specimans when I was hooked by this booth that had mostly silver jewelry and the like. He had some trays of world paper money and world coins/tokens from which I pulled a "few" out. He asked me if I was interested in coins and paper money and I obviously responded "yes!" He showed me some of his coin inventory. The connection: [some] coins = silver = a mineral = rocks and minerals! I never expected to find a coin dealer at a rocks and minerals show. I was pleasantly surprised! (although severely under prepared with money)

coin collecting led me to pursue metal detecting, as a young country the better finds tend to be old British coins, but I don't complain, I still love digging up a penny. The history side of collecting is interesting too, I'm doing a degree in history at university with emphasis on military aspects, so the occupation coins I am fascinated with

That is very pretty Bas.

Coin collecting led me into studying the history of the New World which led me to metal detecting which led me to treasure diving in the pursuit of more coins. When my wife married me she knew she would have to humor my collecting of small metal discs, but now the house is packed to the gills with history and reference books and I want to go to Florida all the time to dive. I fear I may be pushing the limits of her acceptance.

I have personally brought up Spanish 8 reales cobs and others in the group I dive with have brought up every kind of cob coin there is including 4 escudo and 8 escudo gold pieces.
Here is a picture of my wrinkled hand and 2 8 reales and 2 musket balls found off Ft Pierce Florida on an early morning dive.

The reading of World history, over the last 2,500 years.
Why?
I collect World coins, ancient to modern.

Thought I'd bring this thread back. As I sometimes buy coins and or bullion on ebay, I started selling on ebay. I have been "thrifting" vintage and antique things at used stores like antique malls and even goodwill, selling them on ebay and buying coins and bullion either on or off ebay. I am having a great time spending my "profits". So because of coins I have a collection that is about to make me start using another room in the house to store things but my wife is holding me back. Besides adding to my stack I am building another collection too.