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 Replies: 45 / Views: 6,011 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6130 Posts |
I'm a hoarder all the way, but trying to prune it down into a collection. It started out with every Wheat cent and pre-1960 nickel that I found from CRHing, then half dollars, BU State Quarters, and BU dollar coins entered the ring. Then I got into world coins obtained by lots on ebay... it doesn't take many $10 lots of 200 coins to reach stupid volumes. My ultimate goal is full sets of BU circulating modern US coins for each of my kids, plus whatever I can get for very cheap. I couldn't tell you what my collection will look like one year from now, but I don't see myself spending crazy amounts for a BU set when I can get an XF-AU set for a fraction of the cost. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1192 Posts |
I would not be ashamed for the hoarders tv show to show off bathtubs filled with the brim with small silver coins :)
Copper coins I would be embarrassed. I hate copper coins toning ;)
Though at that point I guess I be a pure stacker of coins rather then a collector hoarder,
Edited by Bertensgrad
02/05/2016 5:53 pm
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Pillar of the Community
Russian Federation
5178 Posts |
Quantity, mostly, but I rarely buy many cheap coins of the same type (unlike most hoarders, apparently). It's just that the types are so numerous (and the cases when I want several because the type is beautiful, or just plain forget I had it already*, are so common) that I end up with loads of stuff anyway.
But in any case, for some reason it's a lot easier to me to justify spending $25 on 50 coins for 50 cents each than spending $20 on 2 coins for $10 each. So I end up with quantity because I feel I can't afford quality.
*) A few years back, there was a silly case when I bought an Italian coin (very cheaply) after forgetting I bought an example of the same type and date the day before (also very cheaply). Then I came home and realized I had two. Turned out the mintmarks were different - but even if they weren't I might well have ended up keeping both anyway.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1373 Posts |
For the most part.....it's quantity for me. I'm pretty happy with the majority of coin sets I've completed. I am trying to upgrade a handful of Buffalo nickels that I acquired with acid-dating, but most of my other coins are pretty good. I do have a couple 'caveats' however. First, almost everything I bought 1960 or newer is (had to be) high grade coinage. Secondly, although lower grades for earlier coins are fine with me, I do have limitations on how low a coin grade can go. I insist on all numbering and lettering on all coin areas exists 'in full'. MY main problem now is getting lower priced Canadian coins from the 1800's with full dates (similar to 'smudged' dates on US Buffalo nickels). Fun vs Investment? I don't consider any coin collecting as an investment; just an expense. Edited by atticguy
02/05/2016 9:14 pm
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
818 Posts |
Since I started collecting I decided to only buy coins in VF or higher. Common dates I buy in the highest grade I can afford and key dates I always end up around VF or EF, depending on the price. I am glad I stuck to my guns because I appreciate my collection a lot more. Any coins I've picked up along the way in low grade, I don't spend much time admiring. It's a lot more expensive this way but I do get much more enjoyment out of it.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
11951 Posts |
Quantity vs Quality Please sir .... Can I do both  For me I think there is both a serious side to collecting (Quality) And a fun side (Quantity) Also as one member posted. Try to buy what is the best deal. Of course the best approach would be a quantity of quality coins. I think it has been discussed in other post. A quality coin is different for each collector. Some collectors will not have a coin the has a value of $100. Some collectors might have dozens of coins with value of over a thousand dollars each. I often wonder what a quality coin means to me. Oldest? Most valuable? A coin with a family connection Most rare / lowest mintage. Maybe coins I got a good buy on. Or one I hunted the longest for. " Ok I give up ..... I want them all" Everyone .... Just send me all your coins. Maybe if I have them all the madness will stop. |
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
I enjoy the exercise of identifying low grade ancient coins.
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Rest in Peace
United States
18456 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
5828 Posts |
I used to be all in quantity, but lately I've been trying to buy more quality stuff and selling off excess coins. I'm stepping back from my Barber dime, Mercury dime, and Franklin halves for a while, and selling a few of them off (especially my extra mercs) to try and get some $$. |
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Valued Member
Canada
127 Posts |
I suppose in many ways I've always been a hoarder type collector. Don't get me wrong, I have bought many high grade slabed coins even very early into my collecting career, but most of my collections come from large lot purchases. It's quite common for me to buy 500+ silver dollars at a time in hopes of finding 1 or 2 upgrades/varieties for my collection, sell, rinse, and repeat. I'd say 75% of my collections have been formed this way.
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Moderator
 United States
189763 Posts |
Quote:
Please sir .... Can I do both I think you already do. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
606 Posts |
A very wise collector on these forums told me to not settle for anything less than XF. Save up if need be.
So far I am very happy with the results of following that advice.
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
818 Posts |
Thanks T-Bop. I liken it to going to the ballgame. Maybe the first couple times you sit up in the nosebleeds but once you splurge and sit behind the dugout for a game, you can never go back. The game looks better, the beer tastes better and you notice and appreciate the intricacies of the game a lot more.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2850 Posts |
Quality. Most shows I'll only walk away with only one or two pieces -- Be it paper money or coins. I like the look of quality when I look through my stuff. |
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Valued Member
United States
345 Posts |
It is a challenge turning the "hoard" into a veritable "collection" ... trying
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Replies: 45 / Views: 6,011 |
First Page
Posted 02/05/2016 5:52 pm
