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 Replies: 19 / Views: 3,730 |
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New Member
Cuba
27 Posts |
In my years as a collector, I have found with this curious phenomenon:
Some people like their coins new and uncirculated, some others like them with visible evidence of use and some even like them worn out!
Explanations for these preferences vary, and while it is relatively easy to understand why a person would like to buy the new stuff, collectors of used coins claim new coins have no personality, while used coins have a story to tell. You know there were actually in the hands of someone and were there when certain historic evens happened.
But I have noticed the preferences in this sense also tells you about the individual's own personality.
In my experience, collectors of uncirculated coins are tidy, clean, scrupulous and ordered people, while collectors of used and worn out coins are more passionate, enthusiastic and crazy :)
So, which one of these guys are you? ;)
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6370 Posts |
Give me a nice, pretty AU-58 and I'll be happy.
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Moderator
 United States
188513 Posts |
I like them circulated, mostly because that is how I began, by pulling coins from circulation. For modern issues I still prefer to get them that way, although it is more difficult as we use cash less and less.
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Valued Member
United States
467 Posts |
I'm definitely both. But a lot of it is driven by consistency. I don't want a circulated then an uncirculated next to each other. So if I can't have them all BU, or at least have them flow very evenly over the pages from circulated to BU, then I want them all one or the other. For example-- I would never have a Kennedy half circulated set. I also (for cost reasons) could never have a Barber dime BU set. Can't have BU plus a dozen circulated. Just me, I don't think it is wrong to do it that way. I just have consistency issues in my own head. |
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Moderator
United States
188513 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
500 Posts |
I have a Washington album just like yours jbuck without even looking and my Mercury dime album is all over the place as well...but as I get older I am adapting crazyglues philosophy. My newer coin albums are coming only from mint / proof sets. But the old stuff I started some 40 years ago, now those coins could tell some stories for sure. |
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Rest in Peace
United States
18456 Posts |
Quote:You should never, under any circumstances, ever look at my Washington quarter album. Yep , mine too. I've got VF next to AU next to CH-BU . it's all about the cost.  |
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Moderator
United States
188513 Posts |
For me it was all about the venue. I started the album by filling it from roll hunting beginning in the late 80's, but completed it from coin shop and show purchases in the mid to later 90's. Back then prices were low enough where it made sense to buy the AU-BU grades. I finished the album in 1997 when I bought the 1932-D and 1932-S for way less than they go for now (lower grades though). I always thought I might go back to upgrade the roll finds, but the sentimental attachment got in the way.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3843 Posts |
Personally I enjoy coins that have had some wear but still have the majority of their details and are attractive to look at. So on a grading scale, I prefer high VF to XF coins. It also helps that for older series the VF/XF coins are much more affordable than a coin in MS (Mint State).
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New Member
 Cuba
27 Posts |
So, I take it most people start as passionate, enthusiastic and crazy collectors of used coins and over the years become more refined in taste (but keeping the old stuff because it brings good old memories back? :)
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
 What your asking is like asking what kind of Weather do you like? Or what kind of car do you like. For every coin there is a collector of some kind out there. |
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Moderator
United States
188513 Posts |
Quote:
So, I take it most people start as passionate, enthusiastic and crazy collectors of used coins and over the years become more refined in taste (but keeping the old stuff because it brings good old memories back? :) I do not know if I would call myself refined, but I do enjoy the good old memories!  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7390 Posts |
Holy moly, you're from Cuba!? Welcome!... I thought you needed to be in a public square in Cuba to get online, or is that just for wifi?
Anyways, welcome. And for me I take it on a coin by coin basis regatdless of grade. It's about what appeals to me and I'm not a strict and ridged person by nature so my collection reflects that
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3155 Posts |
For me it's quite simple, I collect both. However... I like circulated coins because of the history. That's what's always drawn me to this hobby. Who might have held the coin I now possess? All grades are acceptable to me if I am interested in that coins history at all.. Put me in that camp first :)
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New Member
Cuba
27 Posts |
jbuck, please excuse any inappropriate choosing of words, I just write what comes to my mind since I do not have a lot of online time.
Cascade, thank you for your welcome, and you are right! Except for the few of us with the privilege of having www at our workplace, most people must use Wi-Fi at public squares, at a cost of around 2.00 USD an hour. I understand the Cuban government has plans to gradually increase availability, speed, lower the prices, etc.
srs77, I most definitely share your point of view. Holding a piece of history is a great feeling.
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
I love the challenge of fully identifying ancient coins in very poor condition.
I have the advantage of a small library, with over 30 books in it on the subject of ancient coins of all cultures, as well as the internet.
Sometimes I fail to identify, despite all efforts.
So,
I have to confess, I have the advantage of a 'go to' man, who has been describing ancient coin lots for an international auction house for over 30 years. The size of their reference library would be more than 10,000 books. Probably in the top ten numismatic reference libraries in the World.
The company? Noble Numismatics, Sydney.
They typically auction more than $10 million worth of rare coins in a year.
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Replies: 19 / Views: 3,730 |
Posted 11/13/2015 11:38 am
