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 Replies: 22 / Views: 3,616 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4867 Posts |
While I no longer collect coins, I still have some interest. If I see anything in my till I will buy it and that ends up going into a jar. I guess it was a matter of "burn-out" and the fact with this ever changing hobby, I feel it is changing for the worse. I really dislike the multiple designs on US quarters and dollars, the edge lettering, and the butt ugly designs of the prez dollars. I don't like the fact Canada has added security features to loonies and toonies. One day I just woke up and decided that this is the end of the line for me. It was so much simpler when there wasn't so much variety to collect. And I know I didn't have to buy everything but I liked some continuity. The Statehood Quarters were exciting and it should have went back to the eagle reverse after that. But it didn't. Now with ATB and the prez & sac dollars changing too that is just overkill in my opinion. I don't know about anyone else but I really feel alienated from the hobby. Maybe I am just too old school for today's coin offerings. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4897 Posts |
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I really dislike the multiple designs on US quarters and dollars Three words... Classic U.S. Coins! Quote:
so much variety to collect This is where it gets FUN!! imho.... |
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Valued Member
United States
300 Posts |
Good thoughts Force--maybe it was a lot more fun back in the day, when you got intrinsic value at face: http://www.shorpy.com/node/18312Sometimes you wish you had a time machine or today an unlimited bank account!! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1295 Posts |
I totally agree with you on the quality (or lack thereof) on modern coins. I hate the Pres and Sac dollar coins, the portrayal of Jefferson on the nickel makes him look like an ape, and the penny and dime are lifeless and boring. That said, I really like the ATB Quarters; I think they are beautiful. However, I feel the eagle should be put back on the quarter reverse after this series, because anything else would be overkill. Quote:
It was so much simpler when there wasn't so much variety to collect. This is why serious collectors focus on only one coin series that they really like. Quote:
Three words...
Classic U.S. Coins!  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1215 Posts |
I hate all the modern coins. I mean, they are virtually the opposite of collectable, especially with all those dumb ATBs and presidential "gold" dollar. I think this was used to give more money to those companies such as Littleton who cheat new collectors of $100 for an "uncirculated" prez dollar.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1215 Posts |
But notice that the modern coins should not distract you or mar the reputation of the good stuff that is actually collectable. There are a few bad apples in the bunch but hey, some are still god.
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
2805 Posts |
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This is why serious collectors focus on only one coin series that they really like. Ehh... |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1215 Posts |
I collect all kinds of world silver/ american coins...
then again,
I am not
serious.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4809 Posts |
My Two Cents: I think what bugs me is the business trend to "build brand" and "create the market" for tons of crap that in general does little more than enrich the less scrupulous and bankrupt society. I can understand how folks can be disenchanted with something that brought years of interest once it becomes a franchise business. I note here that several folks appreciate the special mint series and collector specific productions. To each their own. Not my cup of tee and if that makes me old school or purist by definition its a label or two that I can live with...or without. It does not matter. Fair enough customers never imagined products and services created by pioneering businessmen and women and in many ways can't imagine worlds withou radial tires and color TVs and automobiles. But the creation of some of these modern coin series just creates more to ignore for me and others. And all the QVC type promotions and sales: yuck! Gold plated quarters that get released to the wild once the luster is lost...the excitement of the purchase faded. Westerners are fascinated by the purchase...addicted might be a better word. So as long as we are going to be mesmorized by marketers we will have our share of gold plated quarters and QVC must have collages. |
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21786 Posts |
I have never suffered 'burnout'.
Started with classic Australian coins in my mid 'teens, and achieved my aims before I was 20 years old.
I VERY SLOWLY took up and interest in ancient coins over a period of five years or so. That interest spread into numismatics generally, that covers ALL centuries.
Numismatics have now been part of me for over 50 years.
Along the way, I have enjoyably acquired a lot of peripheral numismatic knowledge, associated with World history of all cultures, over the last 2,500 years.
It seems the wider your numismatic interests, the less likely you are to suffer from numismatic burnout.
And I STILL collect current coins from pocket change, just as an elementry school kid would!
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Valued Member
United States
449 Posts |
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I hate all the modern coins. I mean, they are virtually the opposite of collectable, especially with all those dumb ATBs and presidential "gold" dollar yeah because it would be a lot more fun and collectible to have the same quarter design for 100 years.....  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1215 Posts |
crazyforATB, I disagree... Even if you have the same kind of quarter, you got key dates, mint marks, error coins, die varieties and perhaps even patterns.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1132 Posts |
I like what I like. No amount of variety or change will swade my personal like or dislike for what I'm interested in. I pick up Statehood Quarters here & there from circulation, but I didn't go all out & order a subscription to the silver series. However, I bought a 2007 mint set because I wanted a Indiana quarter proof. Doesn't mean I want them all...I'm from Indiana & I wanted a nice example. I don't bend over backwards looking for presidentials, but if I come across one I don't have I still shell out a buck & pocket it. I don't get bent out of shape because a new commemorative comes out & I don't wanna shell out $100 for it. Let the big spenders worry about that & when the decide to sell it I'll pick it up if I like it. I got a commemorative Washington 90% silver half in OGP for $12 last month. . I pick up a box of pennies from the bank here & there. It passes the time, is inexpensive & I have fun learning about varieties along the way. My collecting style isn't for everyone, but I have fun. What's more important than that?  Edited by CopperCastle
10/17/2014 02:26 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1192 Posts |
You just collect what you want to collect and realize you don't have to collect every new gimmick coin that a produces. Also please encourage what young collectors like collecting and don't push them into things they don't like. I was a young teenager when the State Quarters came out. I didn't have much interest but my dad encouraged me to use my allowance money to buy rolls of uncirculated state roll quarters. I got sick of spending all my allowance money for years on them. It soured me on the hobby from the most part until I got out of college and rediscovered what I had collected before them. I'm from Indiana too and stop collecting after that State Quarter came out. The funny thing was I was super into older silver coins and foreign silver bullion and proof eagles. It was all super cheap back them when it was $6 a ounce so I got tons. Even today I prefer silver dimes over anything. I got back into it but only after I found a whitman Mercury dime album on sale at hobby lobby. For some reason I only collected type sets before that since I didn't have access to albums and hated folders. I do have a State Quarter album but that was more of a type set too. Edited by Bertensgrad
10/17/2014 02:41 am
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Pillar of the Community
3772 Posts |
My experience in coin collection is quite similar to that of 'sel_69l'. Got a couple coins of the pre-modern period from family when I was young, I went on to collect a selection of change. First of my home country, then on travels from other countries. Slowly started a type collection of world coins (not that it ever could be completed) and after only few of those coins current at the time came my way, I started sorting through junk boxes stepping more and more back in time.
While I still pick up the odd modern coin, just because it is interesting or to further my collection of dates/countries (there are so many different dating systems and so many countries), my key interest is now with ancient and medieval coins. It never becomes boring because coins are linked to history and finding one from a different region/ruler is still exciting.
Can one hit the wall like 'TheForce' described? Yes, certainly - for me the urge to get a type set from every modern country is gone, especially with so many issues by so many issuing agencies creating a novelty market.
Collectors collect for various reasons and when the key aim cannot be realised or is no fun anymore (eg having to register for nclt issues and hoping that I might be getting one is not for me) the question one has to ask oneself: should I change my focus or should I give up?
Living in Australia for some years now, I have more than 90% of the pre-decimal types/years. Do I want to complete the set or improve the quality of the coins to a top grade? Personally this is a big "Maybe" to the first part and a clear "No" to the second. For the same amount I would have to spend for a 1930 Penny or a 1923 Halfpenny I can get quite a few ancients, which give me personally more pleasure - let me win the lottery big and I might splash some of the spare cash out for the missing coins.
Americans are privileged to have a very long line of coins which can still be found in change or mint-rolls (except perhaps Norway and Denmark, not sure about those) which can add some excitement to coin hunting. But on the other hand it is a disadvantage because there is no closed chapter (one can draw artificial lines somewhere but only removal of older types after some sort of currency reform would provide a definite cut) - yes, I know about the large cents, the 2 cents and some others you will not find in change but that doesn't change the general idea.
'TheForce', I hope you find renewed interest, perhaps by expanding your area of interest - if not, then have fun with whatever other hobby you pick.
Edited by Medieval
10/17/2014 06:31 am
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
I too am starting to think of stopping coin collecting. Starting that is and I do that about every 20 or 30 years too. One of these days, for sure, maybe. I've actually cut down going to coin shows 4 times a Month. Now down to 2/Month.
As to modern coins. Regardless of collectors that hate them, more and more kids are becoming collectors due to them. Not those baby sized dollars though. No one wants them and kids don't collect them either. But as to those Quarters. It started a all new thing for manufacturers of Albums and Folders to make and many new makers pop up every day. Parents like them due to educational benefits. Yet those baby sized dollars just sit, sit, sit.
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Replies: 22 / Views: 3,616 |
Posted 10/16/2014 2:08 pm
