Starting Collecting Afresh.

Like most Americans, I started out with US coins as a kid. As a young adult, I shifted to early/colonial US coppers. In my mid-30s, I dropped US coins completely & moved on to medievals with a specialization in early dateds.

For me, it wasn't so much boredom or dislike, but rather the realization that (1) the US has a very short history and not all that much to offer numismatically, and (2) I would never be able to afford any major US rarities.

I've always had a fascination with the middle ages, so medievals seemed the way to go. From there, I found early dated coins, which afforded an opportunity to learn about the history of numerals (something they don't teach in school), as well as a more specific focus in locations/times/cultures/languages. And most importantly, I can actually afford the rarities in this field -- I've paid a few hundred dollars for coins that are rarer than the 1804 US dollar, of which 15 are extant and costs around $2-10 million.

In this field, I also found areas in which there are no primary references, providing an opportunity for collection & research with the intent to write a book on something that's never been written about before.

I guess I don't really have any specific pointers or ideas for you other than to follow your passions... and be realistic about what you can pursue given your means.

Hey MetDet, any chance that you would consider offering your Celtics here on the Forum before putting them in the tangled mess of ebay?

The few Celtics that I have are going up for sale, in fact one sold this Saturday. I was a bit surprised as I thought that I had priced it not to sell if you follow me. The one I have left, but is listed, is the Gold Full Stater that is also priced high. The thinking being is if it sells, it won't be as painful to let go of it. The other reason for selling them is I am in quite a few metal detecting groups and it is quite surprising to see just how often Celtic stuff pops up and I sometimes get offered them.




The one remaining is already listed on the bay. Not the best place for it I know. Check it out on there and if you like it maybe we can strike a deal.

Kev.

If you want to have a go at some really challenging numismatics, have a go at the post Roman
English (thrymsas and sceats), and European derniers and denaros (Goths Visigoths Franks, Lombards Merovingians and Carolingians) coinages of the Dark Ages period.

Almost every coin in such a collection will be a rarity.

Samoth has said it right.

I am in general agreement with samoth's coin buying strategy.
With more significant purchases, do lots of numismatic and price research and examine each coin in hand first, before deciding to buy.

Over the long term, there are better investments to be made than coins, such as tax advantaged superannuation investments into real estate or the stock market, but over the long term, I have never lost any real value of my collection in general, after buying most coins of significant value.

However,
the advantage that coins have have provided me with (that other investments cannot),
is a great expansion in knowledge over my lifetime of World economic history and cultures over the last 2,500 years, since the invention of coinage.

Coins are the hardware of history.
A good metal detector is one of the tools, a good general and specialist numismatic library is another.

This is going to be more difficult than I thought..... I like so much.
The first idea was to go for a really nice set of the twelve Caesars to crack off with. Then I was looking through some of my older books and decided I liked stuff from ancient Greek coinage up to the later 'Gun Money'.
Most of my keepers are with animals depicted on them, in silver but also in bronze and this is another avenue I could quite happily follow.
So far as the dark ages goes, I do quite fancy that as well, thanks for the suggestion Sel. Although I have next to no knowledge of that period.
All of my late Roman stuff has gone via the shop and I am already missing them.
I need to start buying again to ease the pain!!

Definitely going for a set of the twelve, but deciding what else to go for is difficult. Thanks for the suggestion Bob, will consider that lol.

That's interesting, because I find the opposite holds true with me.

I have an extremely specific focus, and sometimes have trouble keeping it going -- delving a bit outside my area helps me keep my mojo going.

MetDet: I don't see why one couldn't have concurrent areas of interest. Just from what you've mentioned thus far:

1-Primary Interest: Twelve caesars can be a primary focus (at least monetarily); save up & cherry pick the best ones over a longer period of time.

2-Cheap Secondary Interest: In the interim, acquire some cheaper gunmoney issues and delve into the die varieties, cherry picking (and flipping?) unattributed rarities you come across over time.

3-Ongoing Interest: Keep the animal theme going with a few hare varieties from Messana or some other animals of interest.

4-Brand New Interest: Buy some references on the early middle ages and set a goal to acquire one issue each from Anglo-Saxon, viking, Merovingian, Carolingian, & Germanic regions over the next x years.

Maybe you find one of those ends up being really boring to you. Great! Sell what you acquired and replace with something new & interesting -- you now have room (and capital) to pursue another direction!

Or maybe you don't need any specific direction: you just want to buy nice coins from wherever and whenever so long as you're really into them. Basically, your specific direction would be an extremely broad type set.