Oldies, But Goodies! Coin Collecting And Age!

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Author	Replies: 29 / Views: 2,931	Page: of 2
Jess1234 Valued Member Canada 333 Posts	Posted 04/10/2023 3:58 pm Hi everyone, For about a year and a half now, I've been obsessed with researching, organizing and collecting coins. My family thinks I'm nuts! Well, I am, but only nuts about coins! My son sent me this photo to add to the pun and said, this is you mom! I thought it was hysterical! So the photo got me thinking about age in relation to coin collecting, and so I did what I always do, I turned to Google. And here's what I found: Coin Collector Age Coin Collector Years Percentages 40+ years 66% 30-40 years 23% 20-30 years. 11% So, my question is, is coin collecting an old person's hobby? I certainly don't consider myself old at 58, but I guess that's debatable! What do the members here think about this? Eager to hear what you think! Report this Post to the Staff

tdziemia Pillar of the Community United States 7936 Posts	Posted 04/10/2023 4:16 pm There was a poll on CCF a couple of years ago, and if I recall correctly, the median age of the respondents was mid-50s. Maybe someone can find it. Report this Post to the Staff
ijn1944 Bedrock of the Community United States 19146 Posts	Posted 04/10/2023 4:26 pm The 40+ breakout above is likely accurate. Report this Post to the Staff
RPT Pillar of the Community United States 921 Posts	Posted 04/10/2023 4:33 pm That's probably accurate. Less young people seem to be taking up the hobby. Report this Post to the Staff
jbuck Moderator United States 188130 Posts	Posted 04/10/2023 4:41 pm Quote: There was a poll on CCF a couple of years ago, and if I recall correctly, the median age of the respondents was mid-50s. http://goccf.com/t/391074 Coin Collector Since 1978 Avatar Old Avatar 7070 Eisenhower Australia Canada World CCF Members on eBay CCF eBay Search Engine Report this Post to the Staff
Jess1234 Valued Member Canada 333 Posts	Posted 04/10/2023 4:51 pm Thanks Jbuck! Just read the thread. Some pretty funny people here!!!! The oldies but goodies are awesome!!! Loved the babysitting Nostradamus comment by Paulie! Report this Post to the Staff
jbuck Moderator United States 188130 Posts	Posted 04/10/2023 4:57 pm Quote: Loved the babysitting Nostradamus comment by Paulie! Coin Collector Since 1978 Avatar Old Avatar 7070 Eisenhower Australia Canada World CCF Members on eBay CCF eBay Search Engine Report this Post to the Staff
HondoB Bedrock of the Community United States 25102 Posts	Posted 04/10/2023 5:35 pm We codgers need to do more to encourage youngsters to take up the hobby. When did you buy your first coin? For me, over 50 years ago. But back then, we could still score goodies in change on a regular basis - nice wheaties, buffaloes, and silver (although it was getting scarcer). Nowadays, what is there really cool for them to look for in change? The rare error or some such. And newcomers are getting priced out of the market unless they find a niche. Inordinately fascinated by bits of metal with strange markings and figures Report this Post to the Staff
Dearborn Moderator United States 95517 Posts	Posted 04/10/2023 5:45 pm Well I hope the 'newcomers are getting paid much more than I did when I was younger. But, I'm not letting go of my collection for a very long time (maybe 10 or 20 years - if I last that long) "they can only coins unless they pry them from my cold, dead albums, err hands I mean.." Oh yeah, I agree that it is an older persons hobby for the most part. In my younger years (10 to 21) I mostly got my coins from my paper route (10 to 13) and pocket change from until about 21. Then my time in the military started. I entered as an E-1 and my Monthly gross pay was only $3100 bucks (that was in 1981) so no money to buy yet. Now that I'm close to retirement and have absolutely nobody else to spend my extra cash on except me, I'm going bonkers on fulfilling my dream of having a 'complete' modern collection (1900 - until I die). So Yes, it is an older persons hobby. Collecting since 1972. Learning from then on "Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn." - Benjamin Franklin 7070 type set coin count: 51/76 Uncirculated American Silver Eagles My American Silver Eagle Proof Collection Sacagawea Dollars Innovation Dollars Eisenhower-Dollars Kennedy-Half Dollars Washington-Quarters Roosevelt-Dimes Buffalo-Nickels 1938-2005 Jefferson-Nickels Lincoln-Cents Edited by Dearborn 04/10/2023 6:04 pm Report this Post to the Staff
kennedy759 Valued Member United States 240 Posts	Posted 04/10/2023 5:51 pm I collected in my teens when you still could get silver in pocket change, then stopped when kids, mortgage etc took any extra funds, now retired, took it up again by using funds from retirement investments, so the age thing is real. Report this Post to the Staff
Jess1234 Valued Member Canada 333 Posts	Posted 04/10/2023 6:36 pm I wish I had started collecting in my youth as you guys did! I'm fresh, at this at least I'm happy to say that I've amassed several, (quite a few actually) binders full of gorgeous coins in 2x2s that I'll continue to add to and admire forever! But it's never enough, is it? Edited by Jess1234 04/10/2023 6:36 pm Report this Post to the Staff
Dearborn Moderator United States 95517 Posts	Posted 04/10/2023 7:58 pm Collecting since 1972. Learning from then on "Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn." - Benjamin Franklin 7070 type set coin count: 51/76 Uncirculated American Silver Eagles My American Silver Eagle Proof Collection Sacagawea Dollars Innovation Dollars Eisenhower-Dollars Kennedy-Half Dollars Washington-Quarters Roosevelt-Dimes Buffalo-Nickels 1938-2005 Jefferson-Nickels Lincoln-Cents Report this Post to the Staff
hfjacinto Pillar of the Community United States 7276 Posts	Posted 04/10/2023 8:02 pm It's also based on disposable income. Even though I never really stopped buying coins/currency, I was limited in my 20-30's. Just too much going on. In the 40's I had extra cash but I took up photography and astronomy so not much money for coins. Only recently have I come back hard into coins/currency. In a few years who knows, I may get back into astronomy. Lately my wife wants to do more than 3 vacations a year, if we do more that means less money for my hobbies. Being in a relationship, there is always give and take. My Slabbed Dansco 7070 with Gold Page My Slabbed IHC Set My Slabbed 20th Century Type Set Edited by hfjacinto 04/10/2023 8:08 pm Report this Post to the Staff
Raiden Valued Member United States 137 Posts	Posted 04/10/2023 8:02 pm im 15, so I'm not sure lol Report this Post to the Staff
mrwhatisit Pillar of the Community United States 2953 Posts	Posted 04/10/2023 8:30 pm Well, put me in the 23% years at the moment... I found my dad's coins years ago when I was a teen, and safe to say, I got hooked fairly quickly. Of course I had much learning to do for the next 15 or so odd years until I got quite proficient to where I am today, as one can see from my posts here on the CCF. I think one of my first coins my dad and I bought together in my late teens was a general key date of 1909-S Lincoln Cent in VF condition, and was one of my favorites for years until I traded it several years ago for a higher grade 1909-S/horizontal-S variety now residing in my nearly complete VF-20 or higher Lincoln cents. Believe me, it is difficult to complete the Lincoln cents 1909-1958 in VF or higher just to find the right coin for the slot. I am challenging myself for the dates 1940-1958 in all red uncirculated which is semi-hard for me to do but almost there. I do like seeing the younger folk getting into the hobby and sticking with it Report this Post to the Staff
kbbpll Pillar of the Community United States 4233 Posts	Posted 04/10/2023 11:21 pm The age group breakdown is odd - nobody is under 20 years old? I started in my early teens, was quite active for a couple years in the high school coin club, dropped it, then started pursuing it again starting in my 50s. I suspect the same pattern might apply to many other collectors. Of course I was always pulling anything interesting out of change, and foreign coins when I traveled. I would consider it more of a rich person's hobby, which tends to correspond with older age. "Rich" from the standpoint that you have money to spend on hobbies instead of food and housing. Report this Post to the Staff
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