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 Replies: 13 / Views: 1,494 |
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Press Manager
 United States
1420 Posts |
PCGS - I've been a coin collector since 1992, which is more than enough time to have ridden numismatic highs and also hit the doldrums with my coin collecting adventures. In that time, I've became a teenager, went to college, got a job, bought a house, worked on starting a family, and reinvented my career. All those events are liable to nudge collectors out of numismatic activity and into hobby passivity. It's a pretty common situation for numismatists to go all gung-ho into coin collecting at one point only to venture back out when something throws them for a loop - a significant life event, financial calamity, or other "distractions." I can easily speak to three times I've hit roadblocks in my coin collecting but then eventually managed to right my numismatic ship and resume my ardent hobby activities. Let me share these episodes in brief with you here. #1 - I Became a TeenagerFrom the minute I began collecting coins in 1992 at the age of 11, I was all in as a Lincoln Cent guy (I still am today). I also ventured into type sets and dabbled in Canadian coins. But then I turned 15 years old. School became more intense, and I went into other hobbies. What lured me back into coin collecting?  Washington 50 States Quarters, 1999-P 25C Delaware, PCGS MS68Three years passed, and the 50 State Quarters became all the rage in 1999. Maybe it was seeing Kermit the Frog pitch the new " State Quarters" on TV in a series of United States Mint ads announcing the arrival of the new coins. Perhaps it was the spark of something new to look for in pocket change - at a time, mind you, when the 50 State Quarters were really the first new "cool" thing to look for in circulation since the Susan B. Anthony dollars were hitting the streets during my infancy. Yes, I was there, but I don't remember the SBA's disco-era heyday - if they ever had one at all. Read the Entire Article
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Valued Member
United States
309 Posts |
This should generate an interesting debate.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
7933 Posts |
#4 - I had kids and there were far more important things to do with both my time and my money
#5 - I lost my job (substitute: loved one, marriage, health, etc. depending on one's circumstances) and hobbies seemed too trivial an indulgence
It's easy to add to that list as one gets older.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
Only time I hit a lull is when I run short of money!  |
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Moderator
United States
187540 Posts |
That list somewhat checks out for me.  I fought off #3 by upping my US Mint purchase game and starting a PCGS Ike collection. I still need the keys for my Dansco albums... 1877, 1909-S; 1909-S VDB, 1922 Plain; 1916-D... I do not even need to name the three series, do I? Maybe this year.  |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
19110 Posts |
Interesting read. I must say I haven't hit any lulls. I may have shifted focus on other coin collecting priorities--like slowing acquisition but ramping up cataloging/organizing--but no overarching lulls.
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
999 Posts |
I started collecting as a kid in the early 90's. Then I hit a lull after a combination of my LCS closing and school/other activities taking up my time. I never fully stopped, but was mainly just getting the current year coins out of circulation and adding them to my albums.
In 2016 I had been working for a number of years and had some extra disposable income, so bought a couple of key dates to finish my Canadian one cent and nickel collections. I then looked into local coin clubs and shows. Since then I've been a lot more involved in the hobby. My interests have migrated to various areas, which I think keeps things interesting. I still have some key dates on my list, but getting into other areas helps keep the interest level up.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4085 Posts |
I started collecting Lincoln cents and Jefferson nickels in the mid-70s as a pre-teen, as well as a few of the common type coins like Barbers, Morgans, etc. I kind of lost interest but will have to say that I got re-interested in coins by a combination of the State Quarters in 1999 and a decision at some point in the early 2000s to complete my 1973 Topps Baseball set that I had from childhood. I had so much fun hunting down baseball cards that I decided to start buying some type coins, discovered this forum and the 7070 album, then decided to finish out a Lincoln set later on and here we are today. I am in kind of a lull right now but occasionally will buy something if I see something I like. My most recent purchase was a well worn 1798 Large Cent for example. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3634 Posts |
My biggest lull was a result of a burglary of my home around 1987. I lost the collection I'd started as a kid in the mid-60's; I had insurance, but pretty much every coin I owned had some sort of sentimental value to me. The loss of my collection absolutely devastated me - I basically stopped collecting then. What surprisingly got me going again was the introduction of the State Quarter program in '99. I started picking up the silver and clad proof sets from the mint, then after a few years started buying the occasional type coin. By 2012 or so, I'd pretty much got back that passion I'd been missing for 25 or so years, and there hasn't really been a lull since! Member of SPMC, FCCB, ANA and ANS. My U.S. Classic Commemorative Complete Set: https://www.NGCcoin.com/registry/co...sets/278741/My U.S. Fractional Note Set: https://notes.www.collectors-societ...eSetID=34188Edited by hokiefan_82
05/27/2021 7:08 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5177 Posts |
I barely made is past #3 in all those years.
As seemingly everyone else, I started collecting (world) coins when I was a teenager. Easy to do as my parents brought back tons of coins from Africa and Europe. Then, when I went to college my interest waned as I was focusing on too many other things.
Just last year (with having a well paying job for 20 years) I got interested in numismatics again, only to discover that collecting 19th Century Type coins is rather expensive (not to mention the key dates).
So, I'm selling that half finished set now and refocused on 20th Century coins. That works much better for me and I derive a lot of satisfaction from it.
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21786 Posts |
I don't know much about the lulls, I have never had one in a lifetime of collecting, but I DO know how to always keep fresh in the game.
Collect and research in an area that is impossible to make a complete collection, but where a new acquisition is usually available after a lot of searching. The main by product of this approach is that there is always lots of new stuff to learn. If you are prudent, you don't have to spend much money, either.
For instance, collect coins across the whole of American numismatics to build a collection that illustrates the development of the United States of America and it's history from it's earliest beginnings to right up to current times. Such a collection can also include exonumia, and lots of other non coin stuff as well.
I do the same with World history in all cultures from the beginning from the beginning of coinage 2600 years ago, but I stick strictly to coins that have actually been used as money.
Your collection will never be complete, and neither will be your knowledge, but there is ALWAYS something new to acquire at a reasonable price, and the acquisition of new knowledge is for free. Books and the internet help in this quest.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4680 Posts |
College, career, kids, marriage.....all played factors for me.
BUT
College long over with, consistent career, kids are all out of the diaper phase, and happily divorced, now with an amazing woman who's just fine with my many hobbies? Addictions?
Only time I hit a minor lull is due to finances as well.
Side note: not to be that guy, but...... that 1909-S vdb in a straight holder? Bit generous even for a key.
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Pillar of the Community
4628 Posts |
#6 Having your coin collection stolen out of your car when you are 24.
#7 Getting sidetracked into stamps for 14 years.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2457 Posts |
'lulls'... yeah, I've had some of those. reasons? too busy enjoying my energetic yute; school; college; army; girls; other hobbies; money, or more accurately a lack of it. what got me back in the game? becoming a prepper/stacker; money, or more accurately an abundance of it; and I can honestly say that cats have also played a minor role, especially lately. to quote william burroughs, Quote:
My life with cats has saved me from a deadly, pervasive ignorance. and robert frost, Quote:
...I took the road less travelled by, and that has made all the difference. |
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Replies: 13 / Views: 1,494 |
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Posted 05/27/2021 09:57 am
