Have You Ever Had An Unplanned Coin Purchase?

very likely half of my collection is unplanned, but that's an aspect of it that I like. I don't worry about dollars, I worry about my happiness or satisfaction with the purchase or resulting look of the collection.

the only other impulse/unplanned buying I do is food.... I have that tendency to go off-script & load-up on fritos & combos & other assorted munchies..

I never buy on line so never buy things I really can't use.

Buying the two Ikes from Bobby which prompted me to start my slabbed set was not planned.

Everything else offered to me from forum members were already on my list. So while I did not plan to buy from them, I did plan to buy them at some point.

This has often been the case with me. Although for most of my collecting days I've had a list of what I'm looking for, I find myself veering from that list when something catches my eye, which then puts me behind the eight ball with my coin budget. Scrolling through ebay can be especially tempting. That's why one of my numismatic goals this year is to avoid impulse buys (i.e. coins that aren't on my list), and so far I've stuck to it.

I never go to a coin show or shop with any specific purchase planned. I have a general idea of what I'm looking for. If I can't find quality for a reasonable price I don't buy.

Most of my coins are unplanned, kind of like my two kids.

My latest purchase was me going on line looking for a 1814 US Large Cent and buying it, so that is planning.

I have purchased many a coin just cause, seems to be working.

My unexpected buy was just yesterday.


I made an appointment 2.5 hours away to meet the owner of Portsmouth Coin Shop in Portsmouth, OH: Daniel Malone. He has a great youtube channel and has a large amount of numismatic educational videos on just about anything coin related.

He and I spent quite a bit of time together with me becoming more educated. He did not have his sales stock out since he is not open for business on Wed., But I told him afterwards that I wanted to patronize his business b/c I appreciated his time and educational videos.

So he went into the back and brought out a large stack trays with 2X2s. A lot of nice coins there, but it was a pretty 1921-P WLH that told me she wanted to live in my WLH album. While little circulated, she has full rims, so I am happy for now.

BTW - talk about honesty in business. Daniel Malone has many youtube videos where he posts his buys, often telling what he paid for the coins, and then you can then find those exact coins on his website for sale. I just wish his shop was closer to my place!