How Did You Decide How To Narrow Your Collecting Down?

I've been collecting for more than half a dozen years now and I still haven't narrowed my collecting down, other than my shift in focus from paper money to coins. I still buy affordable coins I like with no focus. My collection continues to grow- I'm almost ready to move on to my 4th 3" ring binder full of pages of 2x2's (around 1400 pieces)

I narrowed my interest to Barber coins with emphasis on the nickels and dimes.
I had a good head start and finishing both sets in decent grades was the goal.
I exhibit them in Manchester at the Barber Society Table.
The dimes range from Fine to MS with most in XF.
The nickels are all VF-20 at least.
Not easy but a worthy goal.
Second collections were common in the 60s and 70s. If you want several of the same coin buy different grades and make a little grading set. It will give purpose and organization that you need.
A good, a fine and an XF is a good start. Different dates. Start with your favorite denomination.
Welcome to the family.

I am still buying all the world coins I can find because they are very cheap. But I have a few countries of special interest that I am putting more effort into completing - that's Panama, Iran, Latvia and Mexico. The Latvian date and type set has no key dates so if you ignore proofs you can actually finish it - and who wouldn't want to say "I have one of every coin this country's ever made?". Meanwhile Panamanian coins are like American coins, but cheaper and more interesting, and modern Iranian coins are also really interesting but they get very little attention here (and getting littler every day). And the Mexican post-1910 type set is the most diverse type set in the world.

I could never get into American coins because they're so expensive and so well-known - maybe if I had lots of American coin knowledge I could find undergraded coins and turn a profit on slabbing, but instead I studied world coins and to me it's a lot more fun (and a lot more likely) to find a great coin for cheap that the seller hasn't even identified right. But if you keep at it something should catch your interest.

I'm lucky in that I was drawn to one particular denomination (face value) from the start. Then I realised I could never afford all the coins I wanted and had to narrow it down further!

Ten years on my collection consists of..

.. 64 coins. Though I have bought, owned and sold many many, more as I have added to and upgraded my collection.

But I'm finally happy with the majority of the coins I now have!

Started out collecting like everyone over 30 years ago now, I've narrowed my specialty to Colonial and old copper in general.
That's not to say I don't collect type coins, specifically the keys.

Hey Kellikae I know what you mean I have had the same issue.

as WheatBack stated



Others on this site have echoed this over and over and I believe it to be one of the best tips for a newbie. The second being to educate yourself. There is some much to learn about grades, varieties and value of coins. There are so many different types of coins out there it could take awhile to narrow your range down. Just remember to have fun along the way.

Hi Kelli and welcome.

The most important thing to remember about this hobby is that it is indeed just that - a hobby. It's supposed to be enjoyable. If you're having fun as you collect whatever comes your way, then feel free to keep on doing that. If on the other hand you find you're becoming frustrated with the way you're doing things and it's starting to seem more like hard work than fun, then I would certainly recommend changing things - and choosing a focus may be just the ticket.

Finally, don't let anyone tell you "you're doing it all wrong". There are no wrong ways to collect coins. But collecting certain coins just because other people tell you that's what you should be collecting, when you yourself aren't all that interested in them, is a surefire way of turning your hobby into a boring job.