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 Replies: 14 / Views: 1,103 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1613 Posts |
For fifty plus years I've been collecting with the intent to complete as many series as I could filling numerous albums and three-ring binders of 2x2 or Air-tites along the way. In short, just the average collector doing it for the history and artistic design. With 90% of my hoard in raw form, adding asembling a few modern NGC and PCGS sets that appeal to me and are relatively inexpensive, there was that point where I began heavily debating the pursuit of a classic series or two in mint state. As an example, the Flying Eagle cent in the mid-range of MS64RB. Both a challenge and expense for certain. Something I've pondered on for perhaps ten years or so, but paying up would have meant much fewer of the coins I'd become acustom to buying over the year. With a new year fast approaching that's become a serious goal, the Flying Eagles to start. Ten years ago they were much less expense. In that time my income grew somewhat slower and I find myself thinking that I should have began the pursuit much earlier. Was I wrong? To be clear, I'm quite content with where my collection is, with the coins I've added. So I guess it becomes more of a quality over quantity regret. ANA member - PAN Member - BCCS Member There are no problems only solutions - the late, great John Lennon
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Moderator
 United States
94636 Posts |
Quote:
To be clear, I'm quite content with where my collection is, with the coins I've added. So I guess it becomes more of a quality over quantity regret. I understand that sentiment - although I went the opposite direction with my collection - I concentrated on my world coin collection and it was a Quantity over quality for me. I bought well over 1000 world coins this year alone.  |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
19108 Posts |
No surprise...coin collecting is a highly personal pursuit, which often morphs over time. Therein, for many, is the fun of it all.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
7933 Posts |
One regret I have is that I never picked up a Polish thaler, say, 10 to 20 years ago when they were far more affordable than now. But I'm generally pleased with how that part of my collection wound up, regardless (and was able to pick up some smaller coins from the same era in higher grade than the thaler I could have afforded).
As for quality vs quantity, I've managed recently to spend quite a bit on a coin in rather low grade (but quite rare) which fit a key collecting theme, and pushed it back a couple of centuries.
A year ago I didn't even know if its existence.
As ijn1944 said, collecting morphs in many ways.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10470 Posts |
My wallet always tells me what and what no to collect  - but whatever I do there's never any regrets - just a lot of "Coulda, Shoulda, Woulda's" |
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Valued Member
Italy
284 Posts |
I am a big believer of quality over quantity  Look at the bright side: you are always free to re-asses your interests/collection. You could very well decide to offload all the bulks to concentrate on few sets/pieces. This will also age better when you will eventually hand your collection over to the next generations. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5029 Posts |
I found joy in both quantity and quality sets in both paper and coin. No regrets at all. They both provided a great joy and increase in my knowledge. There is no wrong way to collect if you are happy doing it.
Edited by scopru
11/10/2025 2:24 pm
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Moderator
United States
187446 Posts |
I have made many bad choice and have plenty of regrets. My collection is not one of them.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6449 Posts |
I regret that my early collecting (in the current era) included many purchases made without regard to grade. Some inexpensive learning pieces are necessary, but only in the last year am I starting to let varieties slip away if the price is too high. Or, possibly, I am just letting my impulse buys get bigger as I learn about older and more expensive varieties. |
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Moderator
United States
187446 Posts |
Quote:Or, possibly, I am just letting my impulse buys get bigger as I learn about older and more expensive varieties. There are worse things, right?  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6449 Posts |
Worse? I suppose. My goal for collecting is to approximately break even on my purchases for fun. I would like any gains and losses to average out towards zero.
However, I am also resolved to slowly expand my knowledge of coins as investments, hoping to make monetary gains by occasional cherry picking. That has proved to be much more challenging.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7933 Posts |
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My goal for collecting is to approximately break even on my purchases for fun. I would like any gains and losses to average out towards zero. I don't sell a lot, but figure if I don't "lose" 20% in dollars of the day it's a break even. |
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Moderator
United States
187446 Posts |
I do not intend to sell my collection and count everything coin related as a loss. It is my hobby, not an investment—I keep those worlds separated. If I need the money, I have plenty other sources to rob access.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1960 Posts |
In September 2011, when silver hit $27.50 an ounce, my sister and I decided to sell the loose silver coinage inherited from our father. This was the inventory: Wartime Jefferson nickels - 60 1901-1916 Barber dimes -6 1916 - 1945 Mercury dimes - 110 1946 - 1964 Roosevelt dimes - 99 1901-1916 Barber quarters - 6 1932 -1964 Washington quarters - 230 1916-1947 Walking Liberty halves - 41 1964 Kennedy halves - 18 Morgan dollars - 3 We pocketed approximately $1,250 each from the sale, and the funds were applied to various needs. At that point in my life, I was not interested in the numismatic value of any of it. My recollection is all of it was heavily circulated. The coins were stored in plastic tubes, not 2 x 2's, so I really didn't think much of any of it. Hindsight is always 20 - 20 so my regret isn't especially painful, but I wish I had held on to the Walking Liberty halves. So it goes. Edited by cptbilly
11/11/2025 2:47 pm
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Moderator
United States
187446 Posts |
Yikes.  |
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Replies: 14 / Views: 1,103 |
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Posted 11/07/2025 1:49 pm
