CCF Census! (Or: Collector Demographics)

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Author	Replies: 62 / Views: 7,247	Page: of 5
ninamason Pillar of the Community United States 1227 Posts	Posted 09/27/2012 10:19 pm So, first, a confession: before I got into collecting, I thought most collectors were wealthy, slightly stodgy old men who for some reason I always inexplicably pictured in smoking jackets, and that my mom's cashier-drawer collection was an oddity. Now I'm here and while the community does seem very male-heavy, I have yet to meet anyone stodgy and there doesn't seem to be a smoking jacket in sight (the bunch here also seems to have way, way more of a sense of humour than I imagined my hypothetical collectors having). So I'm curious: What do our demographics actually look like, and how did you get started collecting (inheritance, saw a pretty coin one day and went "OOH SHINY", childhood curiosity, etc.)? If you'd like to participate in this project, just reply with your demographics: M/F, your decade from age 15 onward (e.g. under 15, 25-35, 55-65), and a basic reason you began to collect (although stories are welcome too). If you have a partner-collector who's not on the forum (friend, sibling, spouse, child, etc.), feel free to add their information too as long as they're okay with it. I'll keep a running tally in the top post! And I'll start: F 15-25, gained interest from my mom's and grampa's little stashes of fun stuff. EDIT TIME!! Here are our demographics as of SeatedNut's post on page two! We have 23 male respondents. We have 2 female respondents. We have one respondent who did not specify. Age 15 and under: 1 respondent Ages 15-25: 7 respondents Ages 25-35: 3 respondents Ages 35-45: 2 respondents Ages 45-55: 10 respondents Ages 55-65: 2 respondents Ages 65+: One respondent! Sel should get a prize for being oldest and presumably longest-collecting, since he's been doing it longer than, umm . . . all but two of the other respondents have been alive. I was going to also list a breakdown of how we got started collecting, but it looks like 99% of us or more all started by finding a weird coin as a kid, or by being introduced via a family member (or both). Apparently this is a near-universal theme in coin collecting as we practice it! Side note: for anyone wondering why I didn't specify a minor/age of majority age range (since I saw a couple of people inventing their own age ranges ), when I was a wee thing being introduced to the internet (okay okay I was eleven), the very first thing we were told is "do not give out your specific age." I think we can safely assume this rule is precluded by "use your best judgment" for adults and also that CCF is not the place a bunch of hopeful creepers would hang out (they prefer chatrooms), but for those who are under the age of majority I didn't want to put anyone in a tough spot. Edited by ninamason 09/28/2012 10:25 am Report this Post to the Staff

basebal21 Bedrock of the Community 13014 Posts	Posted 09/27/2012 10:21 pm M 25-35. Gained interest searching the internet and seeing a lot of coins I really liked Report this Post to the Staff
acloco Pillar of the Community United States 3540 Posts	Posted 09/27/2012 10:37 pm M, 45-55. My older brothers were Boy Scouts and, I believe, they started collecting for the merit badge. Oldest brother was definitely into coin collecting. Pennies, Nickels, Dimes, Quarters, Halves, and Dollars as well. Our mom was the sole employee of the small town credit union....so...from 5 to 8 years old, I always got to count and search coins everyday. I SO wish I would have known what to save. Report this Post to the Staff
Windchild Pillar of the Community Canada 1411 Posts	Posted 09/27/2012 10:39 pm M, nearly 15. I was in the UK on vacation at 5 years old when I was given some (I think) United Arab Emigrates coins from a pair of soldiers returning to Canada from active duty. These coins started my interest in coins. A year after, my grandfather gave me a State Quarter folder and a bunch of old Canadian coins and I have been hooked ever since! Report this Post to the Staff
Earle42 Bedrock of the Community United States 10038 Posts	Posted 09/27/2012 10:42 pm M 45-50 started in late 60's when my grandfather introduced me to collecting - I had found a Mercury dime at his business and he educated me about it. How much squash could a Sasquatch squash if a Sasquatch would squash squash? Download and read: Grading the graders Costly TPG ineptitude and No FG Kennedy halves https://ln5.sync.com/dl/7ca91bdd0/w...i3b-rbj9fir2 Report this Post to the Staff
tzarmarko Pillar of the Community 614 Posts	Posted 09/27/2012 10:46 pm M 15-18. Great-Great Grandmothers coin collection inherited from my Great Grandmother Report this Post to the Staff
Joe2007 Pillar of the Community United States 3843 Posts	Posted 09/27/2012 10:51 pm M 15-25 (closer to 25). Gained interest in coins after my grandfather let me look through his small hoard of silver coins mostly inherited from his father, nothing special but fun to look at. I remember dreaming that I would have a collection like that when I was older. I guess that is one dream that has come true plus some, now I'm mostly showing my grandfather my acquisitions. Edited by Joe2007 09/27/2012 10:53 pm Report this Post to the Staff
Williamsonj320 Pillar of the Community United States 538 Posts	Posted 09/27/2012 10:58 pm Male, 15-25, I sort of just decided one day that I wanted to start collecting Kennedy half dollars. I guess I needed something to keep me busy. Then my Nana started sending me pieces of my late Papa's collection and that cemented my obsession. I'm a huge history buff and love the history and story behind every coin. Report this Post to the Staff
DNA Pillar of the Community United States 2734 Posts	Posted 09/27/2012 10:58 pm M, 45-55 I started saving silver coins from circulation after the Hunt Brothers run-up in 1980. Granddad told us silver was going to skyrocket again someday. He gave us Proof ASE's for Christmas from 1986 to 2008. Granddad passed on in 2009 (by sheer coincidence, no Proof ASE's were made that year). In 2010, I resumed his tradition of giving my family members Proof ASE's for Christmas. While silver hunting, I was also saving all the Buffalo nickels, Wheat Cents, etc. I could find in circulation. In 2008, I decided to join CCF and reorganize my hoard of coins into something more resembling a proper collection. None of my circulation finds can match my aunt's. She received a 1937-D Three Legged Buffalo nickel in her change in the late 1940's, and yes she still has her "pride and joy", despite her nephew's repeated offers to buy this coin. Report this Post to the Staff
Buddy Rest in Peace United States 7075 Posts	Posted 09/27/2012 11:20 pm F 55-65 I had a part-time when I was 14 and from time to time I worked the cash register. I had never seen a Morgan dollar or a Buffalo nickel -- and people were still using those way back then. I bought them whenever they turned up. Two years ago my husband and I inherited a small stash of old coins and I finally started to learn about them. Report this Post to the Staff
robster Pillar of the Community Australia 674 Posts	Posted 09/27/2012 11:48 pm M 45-55. My coins were accumulated by Dad and I in the 1960's. I have only recently dusted everything off ( I finally have time on my hands) and have rediscovered my interest. I would also be interested to know the percentage of people who consider themselves as collectors as opposed to investors.! Report this Post to the Staff
argentum Pillar of the Community United States 1195 Posts	Posted 09/27/2012 11:53 pm M 25-35 I had a small cache of coins pulled from circulation as as a kid, refined that to a collection when my hordes of Westard Journey nickels and s mint cents got too big. Seeing pictures of ASE's online made me want one, and that got the ball rolling to me buying not only that, but other silver as well. Report this Post to the Staff
sel_69l Bedrock of the Community Australia 21786 Posts	Posted 09/28/2012 12:06 am M, 65-75, BUT, I started at less than 10 years old (6, to be exact). I have never lost interest. At 6 years old, I was fascinated by a brand new Royal Visit Florin my grandpa gave me. From 12 years to 18 years I worked full time, 3 months per year for my dad. I spent ALL of my money on coins. By age 21, I had a complete Australian type set in gold silver and bronze (including an Adelaide Pound) with the silver and bronze represented by the rarest date for type (except the '30 penny). At age 30, I sold all of that for a downpayment on my first house. Since then, I have collected ancients and World coins, all centuries and cultures. Have about 4,000 coins, and about 200 books and papers. Report this Post to the Staff
murrellington Pillar of the Community United States 3276 Posts	Posted 09/28/2012 12:44 am M, 15-25 (23 to be exact) I started collecting in 1999 when I was in elementary school and the State Quarters came out. I began putting a set together waiting every few months for the new design. Finally in college the last of the states were finished and I had the same map of State Quarters. That was the extent of my collecting until december 2010 I just decided to collect coins. I had always had an interest in coins but never had the funds. I realized coins were always something I wanted to collect. And I was now old enough and able to buy coins with spare money. So I've technically been only collecting for 2 years now but I absolutely love it. I love buying and selling and improving my collection :) And I always thought you were a boy Buddy, interesting. The name just struck me as male. Report this Post to the Staff
D0ubl3Eagle Pillar of the Community United States 5854 Posts	Posted 09/28/2012 12:55 am M, 15-25 I stopped by at a local trading cards/used videogames shop that just happened to have the most fascinating group of classic U.S coins that I had ever seen at that point. I purchased the two cheapest coins he had: a 1914 Barber dime and a 1893 columbian half dollar. Report this Post to the Staff
BH1964 Bedrock of the Community United States 10982 Posts	Posted 09/28/2012 01:17 am M, 45-55. Filled penny boards in the 1970's and toured the Denver Mint as a teenager in 1979. My Dad pulled a lot of silver from circulation from 1965-1975 and that fascinated me as a kid. ANA #R3154474 Report this Post to the Staff
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