Family Rivalry

I am the only coin collector in my family, but I think that it would have been more fun to have another one or even more collectors in the same family.

My son is interested in coins, though it remains to be seen whether this is a passing childhood interest or a real interest. I have given him quite a few coins, but even though they are going to my own son, I feel a little bit troubled letting anything go. Sounds terrible, but it is the truth.

My father and my 2 brothers all collect coin and currency. I think it's great to have more than one in the family that collects. Better chance for it to stay in the family if something were to happen to any of us. No rivalry here. But then I think it has a lot to do with how well the family gets along.

My dad loves to show us what he has amassed over the many more years he has been doing this. And of course we love to look at it. Just wish I could get my 2 daughters interested.

My brother and I both collect, me more than him. I pick up odd lots and give him any extra that I have more than one. Picked up four state qt, proof set the other day. He would do the same for me if he was able

Just Carl.... tell him those Mercury dimes are for keeping not selling.... well maybe not since you might want to do the buying.

-SWUSC

I was lingering over responding to this topic due to a fight with carpal tunnel syndrome and doctors orders not to type. lol But it is an interesting topic and I wanted to share an opinion too.

In my family I have my grandmother, mother and sister that collect as well as me. I do have some aunts and uncles as well but I am not too sure how seriously they collect. I do know that my grandmother tends to hoard and be secretive about her collection so there isn't a lot of sharing the hobby going on with her. lol

As for my sister, she collects and hoards what she thinks will someday make her some money. (not my idea of a true collector) My mother and I share the same passion for collecting and we very often take out our spreadsheets and doubles of things and help to complete each other's sets when possible. Also every year I buy her an new binder with all kinds of notes and coins and usually a box of supplies as well, both on her birthday and xmas. I notice at these times my sister seems to watch closely for what is there.

So sad as it was to talk about I did sit my mom down and explain that if she doesn't want her 50 years of collecting to be sold piece by piece by my sister one day that she would need a will. That is what created the jealousy situation as now my mother's entire lifetime collection (which she could open a store with if she wanted) will go my daughter in care of myself until she is older.
Now we tend to not really even discuss the coin subject unless my mother and I are alone and can enjoy it without any guilt or pressures.

Sometimes collecting things of value can be a sore spot. But I agree with the above statement as well..... it definitely depends on how well the family gets along.

Both my sons (ages 3 and 6) are collectors. No jealousy there. They both collect world coins, but have different interests. In fact, they recently split a bulk lot that I bought from a favorite coin show seller. They dumped them all on the living room floor and took turns choosing. No fighting, no problems. I was very surprised to see they weren't even interested in the same type of coins.

I think the family that collects together grows together. My father collected coins he pulled from circulation as a kid/young man and got me started collecting when I was in third grade. We shared many trips to coin club meetings and the occasional coin show (very little money growing up so very few "bought" coins). He has since passed on but he planted the seed and I became a more serious collector. I have started my son collecting and he seems to have the gene for it which is a blessing for me, I want someone to pass my coins to that will appreciate them, not just sell them as fast as they can. At 19 he is still going strong and we often take trips to attend large out of area shows and to go diving together for treasure coins. We never fight, we learn together for the betterment of "our" collection. I tried to get my daughter interested but other than the snacks served at our local club meetings, she doesn't seem motivated by much in the way of coins. At this point in my life I am starting to give away a lot of my duplicates in the hope of encouraging other collectors, I wish I had more family that was interested. I have no desire to sell my duplicates to a dealer who only views them as "stock" to be sold. I wish my wife collected but she is not interested, at least she is accepting of my addiction.