| Author |
 Replies: 35 / Views: 4,979 |
|
Valued Member
United States
52 Posts |
When I ask this question, what I am asking is the ones with character.
My favorite coins aren't the proofs, those aren't too interesting to me (actually, they aren't at all interesting). It's the ones that you can tell have been slowly wore into nothing.
I'm just getting back in to coins. When I was a kid my parents got me going on them, then I quit. They always bought me proof sets. I never liked them much...I never saw the point of having coins that were hiding in a plastic case.
It's goofy to me, but it fits my personality. As a machinist, my favorite tools are those that I have bought used...and by used, I mean well used. As a potter, my favorite pieces are the mugs I drink my morning coffee with. I want something that's used, and still retains it's beauty.
By no means are they junk. I'm not talking about the coins that you have been through a slot machine too many times...but the ones that you can tell have a stories.
Just curious if I'm alone in this.
|
|
|
|
Valued Member
United States
458 Posts |
Depends on the coin, and what it looks like. I like coins that dont look like the others.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
4132 Posts |
I like uncirculated coins, but ones that show some age, like some gentle toning. I do work on albums from coin roll hunting, and I don't always pick the very best condition ones, sometimes I pick one that's just interesting. I have a couple cool counter-stamped coins in my Lincoln cents book, for instance.  |
|
Valued Member
United States
362 Posts |
I like circulated coins for the connection to history it brings to me when I hold one. If coins could talk.......But Ialso must confess that I appreciate proof coins just for the fact of seeing what the coins looked like brand new.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
609 Posts |
I like both. I think I'm leaning toward circulated as my favorite, though. I want a good specimen that shows detail, not extremely worn, but not unc. either. I cant say that I hate worn coins either because I just purchased a well worn 1798 large cent for my birthday and to start my large cent set.
Really depends on what coin it is, in my opinion.
|
|
Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21786 Posts |
Coins were meant to be circulated as money.
Nothing wrong with collecting coin - like objects, I have a few myself, including some rare patterns errors, etc.
Nevertheless, coins were originally made to be used as money, and for this reason almost all of my collection consists of coins that were made for circulation. Easy definition for me. I collect coins of all ages from ancient to modern, all cultures.
NCLT's did not exist in Roman times!
|
|
Valued Member
United States
417 Posts |
I agree with coinut. Where has that circulated coin been?
|
|
Moderator
 United States
14463 Posts |
some coin collectors (not sure on how many) only collect coins that they find through pocket change or roll searching. They will search through boxes of coins for the one(s) they are missing.
That is not me. I generally have a business strike collection. Most of mine are circulated, with some taken from mint sets, and some purchased.
|
|
New Member
United States
10 Posts |
I collect both. I love the flawless beauty of a proof coin.
But a worn circulated coin has character and history. Makes you wonder how many hands held the coin before it made it to your hand and what was exchanged for it.
I wish coins could talk............
|
|
Valued Member
United States
266 Posts |
I agree with DLacroix. I collect both as well. All of my modern day coinage, Lincolns, Jeffersons, Roosevelts, etc, are all from mint sets, where as everything before the modern stuff is all circulated. Whenever I get a new Seated Liberty dollar, or a Half Dime, or another coin from that era, I will sit a wonder what the coin might have been used for, in its day. I love collecting for the beauty of the coins, but it is the history as well. |
|
New Member
United Kingdom
2 Posts |
I like coins with a nice patina, it's nice to think that some of my coins were used by real people hundreds of years ago.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
3278 Posts |
I have a nice proof set collection from '64 to present that I really enjoy, but it's "my other collection". Just send a check every year. My true coin collection that I spend my time working on is filling holes and upgrading my albums. I do look at my worn IHC's and think about were they have been in time and history, so I know what your talking about, but I could not give up on my proof sets. |
|
Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Probably 80% of my entire collection is coins from change, rolls, bags of coins. Many more from friends, relatives and neighbors and for face prices so those too are like just normal coins. Although I go to many coin shows, coin stores and flea markets, my best deals too have been from flea markets and garage/yard sales.
but sure would be nice to have a complete set of anything in all MS grades.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
3453 Posts |
I love the circulated ones. I agree with everyone else wondering about the history. I also try to get a MS example for each series we have. My favorite part of collecting is the hunt - finished my Liberty V nickel collection and am down to the harder 1880's dates for business strikes 3 cent nickels. Have to save up for those but once I have them, I will be throwing a party here. |
|
Moderator
United States
187654 Posts |
I do collect proofs, but I prefer my business strikes to have been circulated (that is, no broken mint sets except to fill the NIFC holes). I started collecting by pulling from circulation, so for me it is a tradition to have a coin pass through some other hands on its way from the mint to me. Some of my circulated coins are nice grades though. However, any business strikes that I buy (think older modern coins, classic coins) are in the middle grades. I see the history of their travel as an added value.
|
|
Valued Member
 United States
52 Posts |
Cool...it's good to know that I'm not alone.
Not saying I completely dislike proofs or anything. I just went through a box of halfs and found two...they'll go in sheet. Just not my favorite part I guess.
|
| |
Replies: 35 / Views: 4,979 |
Posted 07/26/2011 11:08 pm
