What Makes One Coin More Valuable Than Another?

I love this. This is why I joined this forum. I have been collecting coins off and on for nearly forty years. In all that time I have rarely had anyone I could carry on an in depth conversation with about the hobby. There are times that it strikes me, we have a strange passion. We collect little discs of metal with some allegorical or homage image on it then we want more of them when the only difference is some small change in the number representing the year.

I proposed the original question with the intent to explore the idea of why do we select one coin as desirable and another coin as something to by pass. I was rather tired when I formulated this original post, so maybe I did not select the best coins to compare. Let's say we compare the Kennedy half dollar to the Statue of Liberty commemorative half. Why would most collectors select one of these coins as being more desirable? Is it the "coolness" factor that was briefly mentioned before or is it something else? By and large President Kennedy is admired by the baby boomer generation which I assume most of the members of this forum are a part of. Why is this particular series of coins not as popular as another series of coins?

I selected the KHD as an example, we could explore any other series of coins with the same question. I happen to be partial to the Jefferson nickel series right now, but my preferences change with time. There was a time when I could not get enough Eisenhower dollars, now I rarely look at my set (sorry Jbuck). Why do l happen to like the Jefferson nickel? I'm not completely sure. I think my answer to that would be long and complicated.

Does anyone have insight into why we do what we do? What makes us want a particular coin to the expense of most others? I suppose if we had a good answer to that we would all own piles of gold coins!

I've heard many call the Barbers ugly and boring but they are my favorites. Its all personal preference. I think that's what most people like about numismatics, there is a wide variety of choices and you can go between them whenever you want.

I don't mind the design of the Jefferson nickels from 2006 to present. I do prefer the older design, in fact I prefer the look of all coins that were made before the mint started lazer engraving the designs. The coins look mechanical now.

In general I like the designs of all 19th century and early 20th century coins, I just can't afford very many of them. I think the Barber design is a great looking coin and I own a few of them, but I have never recovered from the first good look I got of a Walking Liberty half.