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 Replies: 12 / Views: 1,091 |
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Valued Member
United States
420 Posts |
Hello, As a novice collector (I have not graduated to beginner yet,) I was wondering if multiple collections are a good idea? I started collecting Proof Sets but I'm also interested in the 50 State Quarters and Commemorative coins, but the problem with commemorative coins is do I want to collect events, people, years, or what? Any Advice? Thanks, Rich |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
790 Posts |
Though the biggest piece of advice to a "novice" is to collect what you like. You also have to consider the future. Do not "invest" a lot a money into something you are not familiar with. Collecting 50 State Quarters from circulation can never steer you wrong. Collecting gold plated "special limited edition" quarters sold by the Bogus Mint is a bad thing, even if you "like" them because they are a bad way to spend money. All that being said, I have a lot of collections within my collections. I collect US and foreign coins, I collect paper money, I collect stamps, I even collect fiscally related material (old checks, deeds, payroll receipts, etc). The key is I really enjoy what I collect. |
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Moderator
 United States
187446 Posts |
There is nothing wrong with collecting different sets of things; if that is something that interests you then go for it! Try not to get too many things going on or you might find it difficult to complete any of them.
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Valued Member
United States
264 Posts |
Well if you are like me you will collect everything. I collect world and US currency and coins. Now this is lots of fun but the downside is I never focus on one thing. As such I only have a few complete US coin books complete, etc. Upside is if price of one set of coins or such gets to high I can work on my world collection or such. Downside is you can end up spending even more money and/or never finishing a set. You need to decide what you like and want to collect. A penny (minus keys) and State Quarter collection is sort of the entry level. Is how many of us started out I'm sure. One of the fun things to do is searching rolls of coins. You can put together a 1950-present day 1 and 5 cent collections together from roll searching. Dimes and Quarters are a little tougher as most of the silver has been removed from circulation over the years. Collect what you have a interest in and can afford. |
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Valued Member
United States
429 Posts |
Why not, personally I think that most people do. You will always have one set that you like the most but will buy others now and then. As long as you do what you want then there should be no problem. When I got back into collecting a few years ago I bought a lot of different coins, did some research and then decided what I liked the best. For the most part I collect Lincolns and other coins when I can not find what I want for the first set. Besides, you never know when you will come along a great buy if you are not looking at different types of sets.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2373 Posts |
It is easy to stray when collecting. I started by buying anything silver close to melt. Switched to Eagles once I had a hoard of "junk" silver. Then I changed my mode and started collecting coins that have some numismatic value. Went from Mercs to Roosies, then Morgans and Lincolns. Currently working on Indian Head cents and Large Cents. Man am I broke now! Whatever trips your trigger is fine but Jays-Dad has some good advice about the bogus mint stuff. Edited by nlp coins
10/06/2008 8:14 pm
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Rest in Peace
United States
2668 Posts |
Don't try collecting chocolate coins.
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Valued Member
United States
264 Posts |
Lol Parklane64 - I collect chocolate coins. They are great to give out to the friendly tellers.
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New Member
United States
22 Posts |
my first purchase came on a whim, I bought a treasury vault of Buffalo nickles, still sitting in my closet. from that point on I caught the fever and started collecting everything, I found myself being overwhelmed and I had to narrow my collection down. fortunatly I purchased a hoard of morgans and almost a full set of silver eagle proofs at almost melt value 2 yrs ago, I sold them all in april and march when silver and gold shot up and made a tasty profit. I have narrowed my collection down to ngc ms69 silver eagles, icg ms70 silver eagles ( missing 3, 88, 90, 92 ) icg pr70 silver and clad State Quarters ( need a 2004-s michigan silver ) and the presidential icg pr70. I have since taken on the task of compiling the rest of the washington proofs, hope to finish that in 09. you have to enjoy the hunt |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
19930 Posts |
Collect whatever you like, but try to focus on one thing so you can get it completed. It's very gratifying to complete a part of your collection. (Then you can work on upgrading!) LOLOLOLOL
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6326 Posts |
Quote:
Try not to get too many things going on or you might find it difficult to complete any of them.
Ahhh.........if only someone had told me this many years ago.......  I have 563 "oars in the fire" so to speak......and "little" completed !.... ...  .... One must focus Grasshopper !..... FOCUS !Edited by eaglefoot
10/07/2008 2:58 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
666 Posts |
Like everyone has said... collect what you like. BUT... I've constantly got lots of pots in the fire, but like BadThad said I try to focus in on one collection at a time. Just as a for instance, when I was working on my Barber dime I started picking up BU Roosies (the owner of the shop I visit was selling them at melt). So once my Barber set was complete I was well on my way to completing my Roosie set. At the same shop I'm constantly picking up other stuff (semi complete Jefferson sets at face, semi complete lincoln folder #1's for an average of 4 cents a coin, etc...) Right now I have several complete sets and if you were to ask me what I'm working on I'd say I was finishing up my Roosie set. BUT, in my might work on later pile I have a great start on FS Jeffersons, IHC's, Nearly complete Liberty nickel set, LOTS of Barber halves, etc... Once I finish the Roosies I've got several options about where to go next. I guess what I'm trying to get at is that it is important to focus in on one set but at the same time it's also important to be able to recognize a stellar deal in something that you're not currently working on as well. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Quote:
Don't try collecting chocolate coins.
Why not? I'm allergic to chocolate of I'd have not only a chocolate collection but a really big stomach. Quote:
Try not to get too many things going on or you might find it difficult to complete any of them.
HMMMM. Someone should have told me that about 60 years ago. My advise is to start as many collections as you can afford. If you find a problem finishing one, start a second set, then a third, etc. Eventually you'll find all that is needed to finish a set. What I've done over the years is just that. I use Whitman Classic Albums. I think there were only Whitman when I was a kid. I started one set, then eventually a second one. The best coins always go into set #1. I now have over 100 such Albums. If I purchase a coin that could go into set #1, then the one in #1 goes to #2, and from #2 to #3, etc. At the end the last coin goes into a 2x2 as a duplicate and into a box. Eventually all the duplicates are enough to start another album. I recently put together Mercury dime Sets #11 and #12 from those duplicates. Only missing 3 coins in those. Oddly those are not the expensive ones except for the 16D. The others are the 23S and the 30S. Good luck and you too will be saying this in about 60 years. |
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Replies: 12 / Views: 1,091 |
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Posted 10/06/2008 1:19 pm
