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 Replies: 12 / Views: 1,305 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
595 Posts |
I recently posted a list of some coins a friend had given me from mostly Europe and the Middle East, and it got me all charged up about world coins. Up until now I have concentrated on U.S. coins, although I have always kept every foreign coin that comes my way.
I've been trying to think of some systematic way to go about collecting world coins -- not country, because I like so many different ones. Year? Metal?
On the other hand, I bought a Liberian coin the other day because it had an elephant on it and I liked it, and it was $3. Maybe I should be wondering if systematic matters.
Any ideas or suggestions?
Jan
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Pillar Of The Community
Turkey
1205 Posts |
you could go for a theme?
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Moderator
 Australia
16809 Posts |
Some common darkside themes are:
"OFEC" - One From Every Country - try to collect as many different countries as possible. This can be quite a challenge, particularly if you don't limit yourself to a particular time period.
"Year" - aim to collect all coins from a particular year or years, or decade if year seems too limiting.
"Geographic/Historic" - some collectors like to start off with places that have links to where they live, either historical or geographic. Americans, for instance, might go for coins of Hawaii, Philippines, Liberia, Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean. Australians would go more for places like Britain and British Empire/Commonwealth, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and the Pacific islands. Another related theme Americans like to collect are coins minted in the USA for other countries.
"Topical themes". Options here are endless. Ships, Animals, Birds, Maps, Flags, Portraits, Coats of Arms, Architectural... you name it, you can find it on coins.
"Personal" - if a country has particular interest to you, go for it. For instance, I was born in Canada, so Canadian coins have a special interest to me.
Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very"; otherwise, you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite. - C. S. Lewis
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
595 Posts |
Thanks, RenaL and Sap. So far, lots of countries is appealing, so probably I'll try looking for coins from places I don't have yet. There are probably more countries out there than I even know about.
Jan.
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Pillar Of The Community
Turkey
1205 Posts |
192 recognised countries present. Around 590 countries in Sap's listOne from each country is hard task to accomplish. I go for "anything I like and can afford"  Edited by RenaL
03/03/2007 8:58 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2269 Posts |
I personally like to collect coins from the countries my ancestors came from. In a way it puts me more in touch with my heritage.
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Pillar of the Community
Luxembourg
588 Posts |
I like a lot large copper or bronze coins.
Another interesting and challenging theme is coins with foreign characters.
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
1262 Posts |
I collect world bi-metallic or tri-metallic coins.
There is enough of these around (including 1 & 2 Euro coins) to keep you busy.
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
1360 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1840 Posts |
While there are certain things that I find it hard to pass up (like fish coins or territorial coins) I collect whatever catches my eye and fits into my budget.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
595 Posts |
Well, these are all interesting ideas. Thanks, everybody.
I'm still not sure which way to go, so for now I'll just buy whatever I like the looks of and can afford.
Jan
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Valued Member
Finland
79 Posts |
janknez, are you interested in some specific era and/or empire or kingdom in history? Are you more interested in modern times? Or is your interest in coins more random? For me, the interest in history was the 'big bang' and through the interest in history, I also got interested in the coins and banknotes of the specific era. Thus my primary collecting interest is Germany during the infamous 12 years - 1933-1945 or Third Reich. Every coin and Banknote from Third Reich interest me. In addition, I've gotten more and more interested in the currency of Nazi-Germany's ideological enemy - Soviet Union. Thus my collecting interest has expanded to cover the history of SU; 1924 - 1991. Even this has not been enough, for some reason, another aggressor of WW2 has become more and more interesting...now the Imperial Japan of 1930 - 1945 is added to my collection-wishlist And of course, since I live in Finland, I do find some interest in Finnish coins and banknotes minted/printed before Euro. But this is only secondary interest - I do buy some coins if I find them, but I do not seek them actively. And I must say, that although I'm not a fan of totalitarianism, nazism, stalinism or any other non-democratic government, I do find myself being more interested in the history and currency of such totalitarian states. On the other hand, almost all of my coins and banknotes are from countries that do not exist anymore...Third Reich, Soviet Union, both disappeared. Imperial Japan as it was 75-80 yrs ago, it has too disappeared. Finland being the only exeption. Maybe one could say that I'm trying to understand and learn from history, through collecting currency of disappeared empires? But, janknez, I dunno if this helps you, but this was my process of defining the way for me to collect interesting and visually appealing collection. -JJ- Edited by -JJH-
03/08/2007 02:55 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4589 Posts |
These are all great advice so far. I know you like dogs . amybe collect coins with dogs on them. I wish I had the ability to limit my self I like the all, no matter what country what composistion or what theme
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Replies: 12 / Views: 1,305 |
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Posted 03/02/2007 7:31 pm
