Is Coin Collecting Losing Interest?

Yes I agree but it seems like there are 1000's of older collectors, but way less younger guys.

I'm 28 and have been collecting for over 20 years. Grandparents got me interested when I was younger and my parents helped me with my collection in the years since.

I think with the internet the numbers get skewed. If you are going to shows you're going to see an older group of collectors because that's what they know. The younger collectors while they may go to shows every now and then do a lot more purchasing online.

I got interested in the hobby as a kid in the late 80s. When it was time to go to college I boxed up my collection and put it in storage at my parent's house. In just the last couple years my interest in coin collecting has renewed. Interestingly enough, when I went to a local coin shop the other day I was talking to the owner about how I was getting back into the hobby. He said it is a pretty normal pattern for people to get started as kids, lose interest in their 20s and early 30s then regain interest in their late 30s (pretty much exactly what happened with me).

If this pattern really is somewhat common that could explain the apparent drop off in interest you see. My guess is that as a kid people are happy with any old coins even if they are in low grades, plus your parents are probably funding most of your collection. Then when you go off on your own you don't have much money but at the same time you have become more sophisticated in your tastes and would prefer higher grade coins. For many people it isn't until their 40s or later that they can start to afford collecting coins in the higher grades they want.

That makes a lot of since happened to me also I stopped around 14 now I'm back in.




Great!

I think it's our reuirement as coin collectors to spark interest in the hobby. I think the key to keep this hobby going is for us collectors to show how cool and exciting coins are. When ever someone shows interest in coin collecting I give them some coins to keep that spark alive. I'm 24 and been collecting since I was 10. I never have gone to a coin show and I almost never go to a coin store. I buy coins online, that way I don't have to deal with dealers attitude.

I'm 22 and I just recently got into coins. I like the idea of collecting coins that are old and I do a little bit of investing as well. However I can't ever get over not starting younger with all the silver and collectable change that passed through my hand into vending machines and at the school cafeteria.