| Author |
 Replies: 84 / Views: 5,144 |
|
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
2158 Posts |
The best way to see varieties is to learn what they look like and the best way to do this is to find one.
Finding your first variety is easiest if you know what you're looking for, to know what to expect. I always suggest building a set of the nicest coins you can find and these will form a great reference collection. Anytime you find something that might be different just compare it to the specimen in your reference collection. Very soon you'll know exactly what to expect and won't need to do many such comparisons.
Time don't fly, it bounds and leaps.
|
|
Bedrock of the Community
United States
19676 Posts |
I can search hoards very quickly, it takes time but not that much if you know what you're doing and looking for. For me it's NOT all about varieties and errors, it's about gem coins and I've found some amazing memorial cents over the years. Hey, I'm glad lots of people don't bother, leaves more for me to find. :)
Lincoln Cent Lover!VERDI-CARE™ INVENTOR https://verdi.care/
|
|
Pillar of the Community
  United States
4696 Posts |
Quote:
I always suggest building a set of the nicest coins you can find and these will form a great reference collection. I think the value of the reference collection is often understated for varieties. I have acquired some fairly spectacular unattributed mint state varieties in slabs. I would not have been able to confidently identify them without having first assembling a library "junk" coins at a modest cost, and studying those coins thoroughly. Certainly I would not have mustered the courage to spend $100-250 on a single coin in the hopes of making $500-800. You've got to take the practice pitches. If the only result of searching this hoard is several evenings in the basement enjoying a few pints, and some low budget reference varieties getting sold on ebay, then I would consider that time well spent. Maybe some of these coins will become practice pitches for others who are honing their variety hunting skills.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
4696 Posts |
Quote:
You would think that common sense would prevail and that young collectors would better spend their time reading the books of Dave Bowers, going to local coin shops, attending shows and getting ready to be a serious collector. You've beat around this bush many times, but I don't recall ever hearing your conclusion. What do you think new collectors should do once they are properly educated and "serious" about coin collecting?
|
|
Pillar of the Community
 Canada
5184 Posts |
I will help answer your query .." What do you think new collectors should do once they are properly educated and "serious" about coin collecting?"
Then and only then should any hard earned funds vacate your wallet and go
towards coin collecting.
Very , very few ever get this .
I have been a coin dealer since 1978 and can count on both hands
the number of excellent well thought out collections that we have purchased .
Most people who collect coins never buy a book or learn .They just dive right in with both feet
and spend recklessly on junk , counterfeit coins , wild , meaningless or
minor variations. The rest never spend a nickel and just endlessly roll hunt.
Nothing wrong with either of the two approaches, but you will never be a
successful NUMISMATIST who assembles a prominent or even worthwhile
cabinet of treasures .
Yes it takes money , but it also takes knowledge , patience , and an
intelligent approach .
Those who do not wish to do this should try another hobby .
Edited by Pacificoin
01/05/2025 8:11 pm
|
|
Moderator
United States
72105 Posts |
wow, lots of good thoughts and strategies for assembling a great collection.
|
|
Bedrock of the Community
United States
17517 Posts |
Collecting and appreciating coins is a highly personal pursuit. How individuals go about it is their business, and their business alone.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
2158 Posts |
Quote:
I think the value of the reference collection is often understated for varieties. I have acquired some fairly spectacular unattributed mint state varieties in slabs. I would not have been able to confidently identify them without having first assembling a library "junk" coins at a modest cost, and studying those coins thoroughly. Certainly I would not have mustered the courage to spend $100-250 on a single coin in the hopes of making $500-800. You've got to take the practice pitches. My clad quarter reference collection is simply spectacular and a source of pride in itself. I began it in 1997 so all of the coins are very high grade and can no longer be duplicated. The coins might contain a few coins that came from mint sets but the bulk of them were issued for circulation and are both well made and very lightly worn. Since each coin is typical for the date I can use it for even BU versions. I can see what year little design changes were instituted and even use it to figure out the date of a coin that lacks a date for any reason like Cuds or clipped planchets.
Time don't fly, it bounds and leaps.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
2158 Posts |
Quote:
I can search hoards very quickly, it takes time but not that much if you know what you're doing and looking for. For me it's NOT all about varieties and errors, it's about gem coins and I've found some amazing memorial cents over the years. Hey, I'm glad lots of people don't bother, leaves more for me to find. I've found lots ands lots of Gems over the years and frankly these are the main reason I look at all. Coins issued for circulation often look different than mint set coins and are truly special when they are also Gem. There are simply not going to have been enough coins saved since 1965 for future collectors. People seem to think that with such large mintages they don't need to be saved because they can never all wear out. But these coins are all getting long in the tooth and finding something like a1969 dime is getting quite difficult. When you do find one it will be heavily worn and cull. 1966 cents are also elusive and this date actually circulated so there won't be a few high grade ones kicking around.
Time don't fly, it bounds and leaps.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
4696 Posts |
Quote:
Nothing wrong with either of the two approaches, but you will never be a
successful NUMISMATIST who assembles a prominent or even worthwhile
cabinet of treasures .
Yes it takes money , but it also takes knowledge , patience , and an
intelligent approach .
Those who do not wish to do this should try another hobby . This is where I feel that we descend into the No True Scotsman fallacy. Becoming a highly educated, discerning numismatist who spends serious money on a hobby cannot be the cut line for who can enjoy the hobby. I also don't think that assembling a cabinet of treasures or a prominent specialized collection can really be the goal of all coin collecting enthusiasts. I know a lot of people who enjoy fishing, go several times a year, and spend at least $100 per year on the fishing license, supplies, gas for travel. By and large, they don't eat what they catch. It's just for fun. That's what I would call a hobby. I know a few obsessive fishermen (and fisherwomen) who organize trips, own boats and racks of rods, cabinets of lures, and spend $1000+ every year. They catch huge stripers, steelhead, trout, bass, and other desirable sport fish, and their freezers are full of great filets. But I only know one professional charter captain, and another guy who has a Cabelas sponsorship, travels the country to competitively fish, and makes serious money at tournaments. So which of those groups is "serious" enough to enjoy fishing?
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
4696 Posts |
Quote:
1966 cents are also elusive and this date actually circulated so there won't be a few high grade ones kicking around. Well, maybe we should talk about what constitutes high grade. I just went through an entire jar with nothing past 1970. Many full red coins from 1965-1970.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
2252 Posts |
Quote:
Collecting and appreciating coins is a highly personal pursuit. How individuals go about it is their business, and their business alone.
 It's up to the individual, how they go about their numismatic journey.
|
|
Moderator
United States
164276 Posts |
Quote:
This is where I feel that we descend into the No True Scotsman fallacy. Becoming a highly educated, discerning numismatist who spends serious money on a hobby cannot be the cut line for who can enjoy the hobby. I also don't think that assembling a cabinet of treasures or a prominent specialized collection can really be the goal of all coin collecting enthusiasts. Quote:
Collecting and appreciating coins is a highly personal pursuit. How individuals go about it is their business, and their business alone.  
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
7057 Posts |
If you enjoy getting high grade moderns, that's great. But I have no interest in modern coins. The cents after 1982 are barely coins. The errors/varieties seldom have almost no value so getting a case of them and leaving for your heirs means most will end up in a coin star.
In the end we all collect what we like but looking through hoards for high grade coins and varieties does not sound like fun.
Like the fisherman post above a lot of us have different interest in the hobby.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
2158 Posts |
Quote:
If you enjoy getting high grade moderns, that's great. But I have no interest in modern coins. The cents after 1982 are barely coins. The errors/varieties seldom have almost no value so getting a case of them and leaving for your heirs means most will end up in a coin star.
In the end we all collect what we like but looking through hoards for high grade coins and varieties does not sound like fun.
Like the fisherman post above a lot of us have different interest in the hobby. I guess you disapprove of VAMS and early cent varieties as well. And you believe there's no point in searching for Gem or PL Morgans or Buffalo nickels. So what US coins are worthy of collecting? Is it just worn scarce date US gold?
Time don't fly, it bounds and leaps.
|
| |
Replies: 84 / Views: 5,144 |
First Page
Previous Page
Posted 01/05/2025 09:31 am
