Check_M_All

So in reading around here and talking with various people about coins, I've come to the conclusion that there are four basic collector types.

Type 1. The Hoarder - This person puts away anything they find that they perceive as different. They have no idea what value anything they have may hold nor do they have any real determination to find out. They simply hold on to it because it might be worth something. They would never dream of actually buying a coin.

Type 2. The Collector - This person knows his stuff. He has read the books and can practically tell you what page of what book by what author you can find information about a particular coin. He buys his coins with no real thought of what they may be worth later. Having the coin, completing the set, studying, learning and appreciating are his primary drives. He would not hesitate to pay a high price to get that one missing piece, but could never dream of selling his collection.... that's what heirs are for.

Type 3. The Investor - This one has no interest in the history or design of a coin. He'll pay any price for a coin so long as he believes that he can very quickly turn it over for a profit. Buying low/selling high is his motive. If he never actually sees or holds the coin it's all the same.

Type 4. The Investor/Collector - This guy has a reasonable appreciation for the study of coins. He enjoys learning and building his collection. He buys coins and searches for them in circulation. He has built a considerable knowledge of his areas of interest and knows what he is looking for. He loves watching his collection grow, but is thinking about the possibility of profiting from it one day, and if he runs across a really great bargain, he would hesitantly turn around and sell it.

So, I thought it would be an interesting study to see where how we rank ourselves and which is the majority here. I imagine that Type 1's are the majority in the world. I meet them all the time, but I doubt that there are many that would spend time here.

Myself, I'm certainly a Type 4. Maybe I will, maybe I won't ever make anything of value from my collection, but it's always a consideration when I make a purchase, and if I had an opportunity to turn a coin over for a substantial gain, I cannot reason holding on to it. I would be very reluctant to let it go, but I just don't got it like all of that.