Need Help Explaining

It's too late for that. I tried that and she almost cried saying that I'm lying to her about how much I spend on coins. She just doens't believe that coins can cost $40 or less. She knows that in the past I've lied to my parents about how much a coin costs and for obvious reasons. Try telling your parents that you spent $200 on an MS 1882 CC and see if they understand if they're not into collecting. Comon, there has to be a good explanation to coin collecting and why people spend lots of money on it.

You two need to really discuss this or it will turn ugly. You will likely have to set a discretionary spending budget and adhere to it. I am going through this as well, but on a smaller scale (less $$$.) I have had to realize that I am not single any more and that being married has its compromises. I used to throw money at whatever interested me, but now that I am married and have kids, I have had to really scale back my discretionary spending.

Where I used to have $200-$400 a month to play with, now it is more like $20-$40.
So my options are saving and getting an occasional piece, or find things to collect that still make me happy, but are within my new budget.

I have sold some of my stuff on ebay for "coin money" and she had no issue with me spending that. Maybe try and educate her a bit and sell it as an investment? Bottom line is that you will both have to agree or you will have problems.

Easy...intrinsic value....and... Her stamps are like fiat currency. LOL

You gotta be open. If one spouse thinks the other is hiding expenditures, things will go downhill fast. She may not see the coin expenditures as reasonable, so you need to equate it things she CHOOSES to spend money on. Is her clothing budget bigger than yours? A common-date Morgan is equal to one pedicure. Her stamps are a lot cheaper, but they are much harder to liquidate as well. Point out that you can sell that GSA Morgan tomorrow if you need cash.

Things go well if both partners think the spending is equitable. It took Mrs. Specksynder & me a while to get past some bitterness. Now we realize we each splurge every once in a while, but budgeting discretionary funds really helps.

I have a "hobby" bank account. This is where birthday money goes, funds from ebay sales, poker winnings, etc. This is the money I can spend on my coins without any fallout. Otherwise, any unusual expenditures over about $75 from our joint account have to be "discussed." (I can't remember the last time anyone vetoed something, but it's because we really think things out before we bring them up.)

Now, if money is short one month, my hobby account doubles as another savings account. So I have transferred money from there to cover plumber, car repairs, etc. Even though it sits in a separate account, it's still "our" money.

Remember the coins are not as important as your family. You might have to put the collecting on hold from time to time (buying a new house, having a new kid). You've seen members here selling things every once in a while to free up some funds. Tell your wife you'll be up front about your spending and stick to it. (But that being said, she doesn't have to approve of how you spend your discretionary money.)

Each couple is different, so these are just some ideas that worked for us, but above all, my advice is to be honest. It was tempting to fudge the numbers when I spent $75 on a half-dozen nickels last month, but turned out she didn't care and I wouldn't be happy thinking I had to hid something all the time -- especially something I really enjoy.

My wife...understands that anything I collect, is an investment of some sort.
She also knows that coins are one of those things that, depending on how and where they are acquired, will always be worth just as much if not more than what I paid for them.
That being said...
You might just consider an attitude of, If I have to explain, you won't understand.

Why do I collect so many things, Why do I like baseball, why do men like well endowed women...If I need to explain, you won't understand.

Cop out and collect ancient coins instead. The ancients never had stamps!

For some reason that I have never been able to explain, I have never understood stamps, although I do have a few, along with some basic stamp reference books.

I have been married 35 years. My wife couldn't care less what I collect, or how much I spend. I completely neutralized her when I disposed of my entire collection for many thousands just before we married. The proceeds were the 20% deposit on the first house we bought. I must admit, our house was paid off 20 years ago.

I have since built up a much bigger collection than the first one. She cleans up on that if I kick the bucket!

I also own an old Mercedes, which she also doesn't care less about, and I am also into gemcutting as a hobby. I made her a very nice yellow sapphire and emerald ring, and my daughter has definitely reserved THAT when I kick the bucket! Hopefully, they are going to have to wait very many years. Actually, my wife is the best buddy I have ever had. She's a lot of fun.

True that.