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 Replies: 23 / Views: 2,470 |
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Valued Member
United States
392 Posts |
I sometimes feel I don't fit the mold of the "typical" coin collector. No Whitman album as a child, no type or date sets, and I tend to like proof coins more than Unc or Mint State coins. I'm a random collector. I'll buy a variety coin, then an ancient or a bullion coin. I don't do a lot of coin role hunting. I often focus on the artistry rather than the rarity of a coin. Yet, I'm quite happy with my collection.
Are you a "typical" collector or do you follow a different strategy?
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
7935 Posts |
It depends on what you mean by "typical." Being an engineer, that means "median" to me.
But median of what?
So, I will go out on a limb and say the "typical" American collector collects one or more U.S. types.
I don't, so I'm not. But there are many other ways to answer your question.
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Moderator
 United States
56855 Posts |
If you have more than one of a thing you are a collector   John1  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7273 Posts |
There is no typical collector.
Some collect for the registry set.
Some do full albums
Some stack silver and gold.
Some do paper
Some do foreign
Some specialize in 1 or 2 countries
Some have top pop and crazy rare coins
Some have coins that are pretty
I do a little of each.
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Valued Member
 United States
392 Posts |
Nice! Now I know I'm not completely insane...
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
19129 Posts |
Coin collecting is a very personal matter--one can have an extensive array of full, top-grade albums backed up by an exhaustive/exceedingly thorough 10+ gigabyte excel database. Or, one could gather coins that are interesting and attractive at the moment, and store them any which way that enhances enjoyment. Or any approach in between.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4233 Posts |
I don't follow the herd either. For example, I have 28 Barber dimes but only 9 different years, because they're all variations of hub type pairs. I have no interest in putting together a date/mint set. To each their own.  |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10034 Posts |
Quote:
Nice! Now I know I'm not completely insane...
Just saying...if a person relies upon the opinion/approval of others and what they do in order to "know" what to collect, then how is it any fun? It is no longer a hobby. Quote:
I often focus on the artistry rather than the rarity of a coin. Yet, I'm quite happy with my collection.
Which tells me you are a true hobbyist having fun with what they like rather than some who collect with value in mind all the time as a deciding factor for them. A hobby's deciding factor is, be definition, what we personally enjoy and having fun with it. While only collecting with value in mind can be fun and there is nothing wrong with it, IMO the a person actually enjoying their hobby has no ties, no cares, and not eve necessarily a reason for collecting what they like other than it appeals to them. It is much more mentally relaxing that way as well...which is also what a hobby is supposed to be! But this is just the opinion of someone who always thought giving in to peer pressure was one of the dumbest ideas ever (even in my school years)! |
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Moderator
United States
187862 Posts |
We are a rather diverse group here and I do not see a plurality opinion on what a typical coin collector is. The best advice, as always, is you do you! |
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Pillar of the Community
Russian Federation
1557 Posts |
A "typical collector" is probably a person who has an album for coins from a certain period (say from 1900-1950). I think he will collect coins from each year and each mint that fit into the album that he has. Keep in mind that in most countries there are only 1 or 2 mints. So it will be something like 500 coins. I think this is a typical collector.
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Valued Member
United States
434 Posts |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
19129 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3848 Posts |
Quote:
Nice! Now I know I'm not completely insane... Oh you are definitely insane....... like the rest of us! A large percentage, if not most, collectors develop a specialty once they advance into collecting maturity. I personally collect Capped Bust half dollars. I know someone who collects any toned coins. And another who like affordable US Type coins. As long as you are wise with your purchases and don't go overboard or spend too much, you will probably be fine collecting in any style you want. Suffering from bust half fever. Want to learn how to attribute early half dollars by die variety? Click Here: http://goccf.com/t/434955Shoot me a PM if you are looking to sell bust halves. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
676 Posts |
I generally do errors, but I have some modern commemoratives, silver, etc. I have a foreign coin album, but don't really add to it much. It was from when I was younger.
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Valued Member
United States
157 Posts |
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I'm a random collector. Does that actually make one a "collector," or something more akin to an "accumulator?" This is something that's been debated for centuries, but it seems to me that if there's no possibility to organize what one has in a logical way (whether one actually does so is another matter), then it's not a collection. |
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Pillar of the Community
Russian Federation
1557 Posts |
I want to add more. I think many people collect coins in one form or another. But I believe that a collector can only be called a person who has already moved away from collecting simple commemorative coins of his country. Those people who only collect modern commemorative coins are beginners. If you have already outgrown this and look at the coins of the past, I think you can call it a collector.
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Replies: 23 / Views: 2,470 |
Posted 12/22/2023 08:21 am
