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 Replies: 31 / Views: 3,461 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1620 Posts |
@ Philadelphian what part of philly you from I grew up there and all my family is in the area
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2661 Posts |
Don't let these dudes drag you down man. I like to brag a little on my cheap acquisitions myself from time to time, but I am not in this for a profit. If I can pick up MS and high grade proofs for below fair market value or in the case of my graded 2009 LP1-LP4 proof set for less than the value of one of the coins I will. But those coins go straight into my collection even though I know I could turn a small profit on them I don't. So don't sweat those guys and continue to enjoy the hobby.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3253 Posts |
@daniels
The obsession I saw in money and coin value that turned me off coin collecting in greater Philadelphia in the 80s certainly wasn't on the part of you or any of your relatives; I felt it developing in myself. I'm Bucks County born, Chester County raised, and a proud Philadelphian now, by the way.
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1411 Posts |
@philadelphian
I see it in my dad... and don't like it at all...
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
I have been at numismatics for almost all of my life, but I have never been on a downer.
I love cherry picking, just like the next bloke.
So, what does it matter if the next guy can do it a whole lot better than me?
I have always tried to pick the best value for money in my purchases, and never with the idea of looking for particular items. Nevertheless I think I am very lucky, but that is because you make your own luck.
About 30 years ago, I decided to expand my interests to include ALL coins from ancient to modern, all cultures and countries. My collection started as accumulation, but has grown to be many collections within collections, with an extensive general numismatic library to back it all.
To me, a cherry picked coin may be one bought for less than a dollar, but is now valued at tens of dollars, all because they were purchased right to begin with. Opportunities to buy extremely good value for money items come up very often. I know of a couple of other guys here in the CCF who operate in the same way, and they have very extensive and varied collections that would have great interest, even to non collectors.
With such a collection, you never begrudge a collector who may have done much better than yourself, but you just like to share your experiences with them.
That is why I so much enjoy being a member of the CCF.
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Valued Member
United States
61 Posts |
I understand how you feel, and to some extent I have been there myself. I even took an almost decade-long break from the hobby without buying, selling, or even looking at my coins after having been swindled badly by a trusted friend and dealer.
I've come to realize though, that the disappointments I've had in this hobby were with people, and they were very much in the minority. Most hobbyists like ourselves are honest, friendly, helpful, and encouraging of other hobbyists. I never lost my love for the beauty and history of the coins themselves.
I also finally came to the realization that my focus should be on the coins I enjoy having, building the sets I like, and improving those sets slowly over time.
There will always be many others that have bigger, nicer, and much better collections than myself. Many collectors have bigger budgets than I have for acquisitions, have been collecting longer, and have better knowledge of the coins than I do. I must choose not to begrudge them that, but rather celebrate them for it as they have the same enjoyment of numismatics that I do, they simply have more resources and more invested in it than I do.
Once I came to that epiphany I was able to resume enjoying the hobby once again, and enjoy what I have and adding to my collections at the same time as continuing to learn from others. This community is an excellent forum for doing just exactly that, and I thank you all.
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Valued Member
United States
386 Posts |
"Having collected coins for over fifty years now, there were lapses in my interest, the reasons varying, the absence sometimes lasting years. Yet, I would eventually gravitate back. This hobby has been a joy. The CCF has many kindly and helpful folks therein...."--Exoguy
Nicely said, ExoGuy. I could almost have written that.
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Valued Member
United States
366 Posts |
Many coin collectors are treasure hunters more so that collectors... they are seeking rare coins but enjoy the hunt more that completing a series. They spend hours each day searching websites for valuable varieties with hope for the huge find. Certainly this is the case for many VAM enthusiast and many if not most error specialist. Once found, they will likely sell for a profit. The profit is a result of their expertise and time and effort. Rick Snow is an honest dealer who is a true expert in Flying Eagle and Indian cents... he literally wrote the book(s). He is well respected as a coin dealer and has a reputation for honesty. I actually think it nice to see him still get excited about finding such a rarity. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4416 Posts |
Welcome aboard, blackjack, and thanks for the kindly acknowledgement!
Windycity's treasure hunter analogy is a good one, yet the old adage about one man's trash being another's treasure works both ways. Sure, coins can be boiled down to the state of being simple commodities. Take my avatar as an example. As a damaged coin, most collectors would not pay $50 for it. Yet, amid the dozens of S-VDB's and 16-D's offered for sale at most coin shows, try and find a mate to this avatar. Only a handful exist, and only those who have the books, do the studying, know this. It's the history, attached meaning, that makes it a treasure to those who are able to view it in a certain light. IMHO, it's finds like the one made by Mr. Snow that can, if we let it, charge all our collecting batteries when it comes to hunting numismatic treasures.
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Valued Member
United States
386 Posts |
Thanks for the welcome, ExoGuy. It feels real good here.
You're right. The history is everything.
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Moderator
 United States
188560 Posts |
I went through a time where I lost some interest. I still enjoyed what I had in my collection, but my zeal for learning and adding coins was at a twenty-five year low. The coin shop I frequented had moved and the coin shows were not as exciting during this time. This was during the few years just before I joined CCF, but my excitement was reborn once I became active here.
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Bedrock of the Community
13014 Posts |
Quote:
The coin shop I frequented had moved and the coin shows were not as exciting during this time Sounds like it would have been the perfect time for that first ebay purchase  |
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Moderator
United States
188560 Posts |
You are not going to let that go, are you?  I keep checking your ebay link hoping to find something I want, just so I can make you happy.  (And for the record, I am watching a few other members' items, too.) |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3283 Posts |
You really can't let what other people do or think affect what you do or think.
At least not the negativity aspects of life anyway.
Just do your own thing, whatever makes you happy.
The last thing I try to do with coin collecting is make money,
takes all the fun out of it and you have to sell stuff.
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Moderator
United States
16679 Posts |
Remember, your not into this great hobby to compete with someone else, it's all about you and what you like to collect, as well as the avenues you choose to take in the hobby. Rick Snow is one guy. There are thousands of us out there that are all different in our collecting interests and knowledge. Enjoy  swcoin.ecrater.com
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Replies: 31 / Views: 3,461 |
First Page
Posted 11/11/2012 6:09 pm
