First Page
Previous Page
" ...for whatever reason. Rather than classifying it as insanity, I prefer to categorize this phenomenon in the same category of trying to explain why I perceive something as humorous which results in the physical response of laughing.
Posted 02/08/2016 3:14 pm
In my 40's now, I'm just getting back into this hobby the last several years (after the typical boyhood penny folder days). At first, I began purchasing coins considering it as an alternate way to "invest", while at the same time buying coins that I found interesting. So I ended up buying several modern commemorative $5 gold coins. I bought the bulk of them before the gold spike. I should likely call this speculating - as buying gold isn't really an "investment", but you know what I mean.
I realized fairly quick that most of these don't really appreciate, in the numismatic sense, and I started considering the classic series' more. That way, I figured, I could "invest" via the numismatic angle. I read some articles on CoinWeek about collecting strategies and read some suggestions to focus on pre-1933 issues. I was going down the road to start collecting by date/mm, but as others have mentioned above, that seems boring on a level, as all the coins are (more or less) the same coin.
Now, re-evaluating again, I think I am going to try and hit some sort of investor/collector sweet spot...so silver and gold, pre-1933, but maybe just key or semi-key coins in Fine or better grade. I keep being pulled by the glimmer of gold, but I know it is volatile, and I don't want my coins to be halved in value (or worse) because gold goes bearish again.
First and foremost I feel I appreciate the classic coins for their "value" as American cultural artifacts. I especially like the idea of collecting higher grade circulated examples, knowing that possibly thousands of people handled each one, during a by-gone era. A dime doesn't have much purchasing power anymore, but it once did; and a vintage dime was literally worth something to all the people that had it in their possession...not the wealthy, but the common everyday American, a demographic that I am proud to be a part.
It would be cool to cash in my "rare coin retirement" one day. Or if I can afford NOT to, then to pass it down to my grandchildren, so they can learn about our history, and have a nest egg.
To me the crazy part is when I get overly obsessed about it, about looking at coins on ebay, etc. But of course how will you find the bargains if you don't look all the time, you might miss something. So far, I typically go on coin collecting haitus outside of winter. This is my hibernation hobby, and then when its warm again, I shelve it and do other things.
I realized fairly quick that most of these don't really appreciate, in the numismatic sense, and I started considering the classic series' more. That way, I figured, I could "invest" via the numismatic angle. I read some articles on CoinWeek about collecting strategies and read some suggestions to focus on pre-1933 issues. I was going down the road to start collecting by date/mm, but as others have mentioned above, that seems boring on a level, as all the coins are (more or less) the same coin.
Now, re-evaluating again, I think I am going to try and hit some sort of investor/collector sweet spot...so silver and gold, pre-1933, but maybe just key or semi-key coins in Fine or better grade. I keep being pulled by the glimmer of gold, but I know it is volatile, and I don't want my coins to be halved in value (or worse) because gold goes bearish again.
First and foremost I feel I appreciate the classic coins for their "value" as American cultural artifacts. I especially like the idea of collecting higher grade circulated examples, knowing that possibly thousands of people handled each one, during a by-gone era. A dime doesn't have much purchasing power anymore, but it once did; and a vintage dime was literally worth something to all the people that had it in their possession...not the wealthy, but the common everyday American, a demographic that I am proud to be a part.
It would be cool to cash in my "rare coin retirement" one day. Or if I can afford NOT to, then to pass it down to my grandchildren, so they can learn about our history, and have a nest egg.
To me the crazy part is when I get overly obsessed about it, about looking at coins on ebay, etc. But of course how will you find the bargains if you don't look all the time, you might miss something. So far, I typically go on coin collecting haitus outside of winter. This is my hibernation hobby, and then when its warm again, I shelve it and do other things.
