What Is The Most Amazing Collection You Have Seen-And Why

Does it specificly have to be a collection?...or can it be hoard like? Cause in that case, it would have been the night my uncle showed all the coins his mother sent him from her owning a bar. Large amounts of silver and old paper currency. It was a breath taking site to a 8yr old me.

I cheat!

I spent a whole day in the safe room of the
Coins and Medals Department of the British Museum.
Prior written appointment was needed.
That was way back in 1971; I remember that occasion like it happened yesterday.

Saw and studied literally hundreds of Roman gold coins, then I spent an hour or so looking at heritage coins relevent to Australian history:
Things like
Port Philip 2 ounce gold pattern piece sitting in thepalm of my hand (THE piece illustrated in Renniks Coin & Banknote Values, sitting in my hand - 2 known), and
Mc Intosh & Degraves pattern silver Shilling.

My own collection has some very interesting coins in it.

I attend one or two world class international auctions per year, where excessively rare or unique coins come up for sale.

I am thinking that would be very impressive to see. Would be a lot of "WOW" coins there.

On SimCity 4 I tried to make a whole city within an hour and I failed. I found out I had to give it time for it to grow and become a true metropolis, that way I could sculpt it in a way to what it would become one day.. just like my coin collection. Its better to take it slow than buy them all at once. Its natural that way. I guess you all know by now I like metaphors.

I used to work in the numismatic section of our national museum. It has the worlds premier collection of Irish banknotes as well as over 50k coins.

They were happy days :)

"I am most interested in what a average income person can put together
over many years of collecting."

GR58,
I am reminded of my trip to the Smithsonian Coin Room. Way too much to take it.
Then I saw a 1913 "V" Nickel "V" sitting quietly in a corner of a display table.
I KNEW the story behind that coin and it looked so humble compared to a wall full of rare gold coins.

My own set is not amazing when compared to a condition census rarity guide, but it amazes me and the folks that I show it to. Just HOW did I track down these coins? Not an overnight success. A fatter pocketbook would not have made the task easier.

Perhaps the most amazing opportunity I had to view sets was up in Manchester, NH. when I sat next to two sets of
'registry' dimes. Seated Liberty. Proof and Unc. (I was helping out at our table.) I could not fathom just how difficult that search was. Nor could I begin to understand the determination of the gentlemen to assemble these sets.

To own a single 'wow' coin is a dream of many collectors.
To own a set of "You don't see these every day' coins is possible, at least it was, by doggedly pursuing
the task with a zeal that I suspect you can appreciate.

The 'average income person' as myself got the bug one day to put together a set.
And on and off for more than a quarter century it has ... evolved.

(Between you and me I love it when dealers say, "WOW!")

I'll just continue to exhibit it when the opportunity arises.
Not because it is the 'best.'
But because it solicits a 'wow' from those who, as we do, appreciate a collector's effort as much
as the coins themselves.

Do YOU have a zeal, a goal stirring within you?
If you do, follow it and do not be (overly) over-amazed by what you have the opportunity to see.
There are 'wow' coins to be had for every budget (IF you can find them!)

The advice I was given awhile ago by an older gentlemen was, "spend as much as you can afford". He told me that he would save for long periods of time just to get that one coin, so I try to take his advice, and spend a lot on one coin vs a little on multiple coins.

Mathew
You really hit on some points I have been thinking about lately.

Mostly the "Wow" coins.

Coins with the wow factor, seem to be the ones most collectors want
the most. That wow factor, will be very different for each collector.

We have collectors that collect from circulation and some that
seek out multi thousand dollar coins. Their wow coins are going
to be much different.

I have to remind myself not to judge my collection by what I see other
have in theirs. Just to be happy with what I have accomplished.

That is not to say another of your points is not valid, I think it is.

Save up your coin budget and buy better coins. I really need to do
this more. But that does take me out of my comfort level.

The coin collecting area of my brain says, save up a couple thousand
and purchase a nice 1916D Mercury. The rational area of my brain
says use the couple thousand to purchase more rolls of ASE's.

I have only a hand full of coins that would sell for over $1000. I think my
comfort level is more in the $25 to $100 range. The exception seems to be,
if I am fairly certain I can re-sell a coin for at least what I paid for it.
Which is a very hard thing to do.

So as much as I like seeing some of the fantastic coins/collection other
have, I should be happy with what I have so far.

Hopefully I will be around longer, so I can fill in some of those key coins
I really would like to have. So maybe someday those I pass my coins to
will say "WOW"