Colonial Collectors

Hi Scott ... Sounds like you'll have some excellent reading material for the cold winter months! I'll offer my thoughts on your questions:

As for the mindset, the typical coin collector gets more oriented to completing sets and upgrading. The goals are more easily defined. When it comes to colonials, the parameters depend more on collector tastes and availability than upon tradition. This is why we don't see Whitman or Dansco albums for colonials. There are ever so many angles to forming a personal collection.

Many colonial coppers were struck on defective planchets. Also, many were overstruck upon other coppers from the era. Then too, there are the post-colonial issues and coppers that were struck in Europe that have been "grandfathered" into the Red Book. These factors contribute to or detract from the collector mindset, if you will. Then, there are the many varieties to be considered, or not, within the various series. The Connecticut varieties seem most daunting to me.

Oftentimes, collectors confuse defective planchets with ED. Particularly common are the laminated planchets which many coin dealers see as damage, given their predominantly traditional marketplace mindset. To my "colonial mindset" this adds to the allure of a copper; particularly so, if the color and wear are even. It's the same old story ... One man's trash is another man's treasure.

The new colonial book makes it easier for the average collector to attribute varieties. prior to this book, one would need to establish more of a library. The library is still a great thing to have, and necessary for advanced collectors, but the Bowers' book is exactly what was needed for entry level and intermediate colonial enthusiasts.

Today's coin collectors at large are condition conscious, assembling registry sets that enrich the TPG companies. Most colonial collectors I know have the mindset of wanting to hold their "naked" coppers in hand - carefully, gently, mind you! As for condition, a VG for some varieties might even be the top grade or at least a condition census coin. So much for explaining this colonial collector's mindset.

That was a thank you to both of you.

I would like to add that contemporary counterfeits circulated in the colonial era alongside regal (genuine) coinage. Counterfeits actually filled a void that regal coinage could not meet. Thus, counterfeits are fairly accepted by colonial collectors as legitimate areas of study and worthy of collecting.

Well again thank you for the add on replies. And I look forward to reading replies to what will surely be many more questions as I begin digging in to the subject matter more deeply.

There are some strong truths spoken here. I'll add, specializing in colonials let's you ignore vast areas of numismatics that clog your brain and empty your walled. You'll bypass "green monster boxes", CAC stickers, first strike games, collecting by the roll, Whitman albums etc etc etc. You can ignore all the poo. Once you understand how why and where very early coins worked, you'll be in touch with life in the 18th century. Enjoy the Bowers book, but realize the valuations are only a guide, frequently high. Look at a LOT of coins in hand, you'll get a "feel" for how we 'grade'. You'll understand why THIS coin is waaaaay greater than any shiny new Mint issue!

Really fascinating responses folks... again thank you for adding more and more tinder to the spark.

I personally like that there are so many cool colonial varieties!