The lost generation

I sat there with a slightly bemused smile on my face as I studied my latest acquisition. I continued to turn it over in my palm when a trusted colleague approached my office. She seemed intrigued as to what was keeping me from my work. I explained to her, “It’s a 1915 Barber Half Dollar, one of only 138,000 minted that year” as I handed her the piece. I noticed a slightly puzzled look on her face as she noted the price which was still on the Mylar flip.

“Why did you spend so much money on something that’s only worth fifty cents?”

“Well, I’m a collector”, I replied.

“You do this for fun?” She replied with a hint of skepticism.

I struggled for several minutes attempting to explain to her the significance of my collection, and why I am passionate about it. Her blank response was more than sufficient. Albeit I was discouraged, I was not altogether surprised at her response. This response was common when approached by my peers of a similar demographic.

If I was in the hobby of collecting coins to meet women, I would have a snowball’s chance in **** of procreating in my lifetime. I am one of many that compose a generation that I consider numismatically lost. This is a long winded way of stating that no one my age collects coins. This concerns me. Trying to explain the art of collecting coins to girls that I date renders them looking like cows on astroturf (fake grass), they have no idea what is going on.

In the same respect, I find my indulgence in this hobby is not always positive. I am critiqued, judged, and often dismissed as incompetent due to my age. Working with the same shop negates much of this; however, many collectors usually feel my youth reflects my intellect as a collector. I know what I’m down, and I know what I’m looking for. At my age, respect seems to be difficult to earn, but very possible to achieve as I have in many instances.

I’m 26 years old, and I have earned my keep from many of my local shops. My keen eye for halves has been noticed by many individuals since I’ve moved to San Diego. However, judgment by those who do not know me is unavoidable, I find. I look forward to upcoming shows, and my future visits to my local shops with a peculiar excitement that I might just meet another collector in my age group. For now, I will have to keep my socializing to these boards.

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

I think that anyone who doesnt collect things that are considered "cool" get the look. My friends collect comic books and action figures. By no means is that a chick magnet. In addition to the coins I have a mourning jewelry collection which gets just as many raised eyebrows.

Do what you love

 

I know the feeling. I'm 18 and still in high school. People always ask me why I do so much with coins and honestly I've found it's just easier to say that it's an investment instead of the fact that I like coins. I also find it interesting how people with other collections, ie teddy bears or shoes, seem to think I'm just wasting my time. But alas.

 

Well I'm half of your age, and nobody get's it either. "You spent $50 on a dime??", then I try to explain that this dime is rare and is well worth that price. But alas nobody understands. I to feel a little underestimated because of my age. Not on CT so much, but with any dealers in person. They break it all down for me (though I really don't need it) and tell me that this coin and that coin is alot of money. So I try to explain know the coin is better than just a penny. And that I can afford it. It has gotten better, especially since I began to attend my coin-meeting.

Glad someone feels the same.

 

Wait...wait. You're 13?

 

Yep

 

Same age as I was when I first started collecting!

 

I began at 9 seriously. Then stopped, and then I dove right in at 12.

Third Times the Charm. I have a bigger passion for coins then I ever could've imagined now. Really unfathomable, and it grows everyday.

 

Well, I'm about 3 weeks shy of my 28th birthday, and I understand completely

 

Same as me, I just turned 28......Nice to know there are fellow board members in my demographic! So many of us, make me feel like we are the up and comers!

 

I'm 22, and I've had the same experiences and thoughts, glad someone else put them in writing. I think that our generation is too obsessed with ourselves, social networking, and all the gadgets that are produced every year as a result of fast-paced technological progress not seen before, that many people our age have never developed an interest in history, or developed a real "hobby" of any sort. I keep my collecting under wraps and have only shared with a couple close friends. My main reason for not sharing it publicly with people I know is because I know they are ignorant to our collecting on so many levels... historical level, financial level, etc.... the hobby won't die out, that's not an issue, but I think that with each generation going into the future, the number of collectors will shrink and shrink, until it hits a plateau, like 0.01% of the population, or less.

 

I'm only a year older than you. I started collecting last year. I have found a few people on this board and others who were more than willing to answer my questions and guide me through purchases or just attribution help. At coin shows it seems to be different though and I'm not sure why yet. As far as people that collect at my age goes, I know a few that do collect. Not many though. I have had plenty of deer in headlights looks when I tell people. It's fine with me though. I give them the same look when they say they watch Jersey Shore.

 

I began when I was 7 or 8 and im now 19 so ive been collecting for a while now and in my town there arnt any dealers but none of my friends thinks it weird that i collect coin b/c most people around here either there dad or grandad have coin (i just cant get my hand on them :/ lol) so they kind of understand it
yes we are a smaller town lol

 

Im 15 and started collecting 2 or 3 months ago, I enjoy it alot and I have some good coins, but not as much good ones as every one else who collected for 5 years. Coins are beautiful such as Indian Head Cents thats why I spend most of my time researching them and collecting them. Here in Coin Talk its very cool how we can talk about coins no matter how old we are.

 

I'm 19 and kinda got lucky with my current (and permanent as far as I'm concerned) girlfriend. My last one's dad collected a little but she just gave me that blank look you talked about. My current one is much more interested and pulls stuff from tills at work for me when I'm not there I've gotten tons of wheats and silver stuff from her. She gave me a silver dime she got in change last week (1960 in XF). Most people don't understand but there are those that do. I actually got one of my college buddies to start collecting lol. Anyways, I collect them cause of the history. I love history and coins are my way of owning a piece of it.

 

Because of Debit Cards & Credit Cards, the Lost Generation is seeing less & less of coins changing hands. Therefore they are not interested in collecting coins. Maybe they will start a collection of expired plastic cards

 

I hate when people pay for everything with their cards.

 

+1, you know another thing I hate?? People never use postage stamps anymore!!! Everything is pre-paid. What happened to sending letters?

 

As a long time collector (since 1954) I have to say that I'm excited to see so many of you young collectors with the same passion as I have. I loved reading all your responses to this thread and know the hobby is in good hands because of your active participation. We're certainly of a different generation, but your enthusiasm and intelligence never fails to impress me. Your insights and fresh perspectives always make me think. As far as the "negatives" are concerned, I don't think there are any with this hobby. We older collectors have gone through the same trials and tribulations with non-collectors that your experiencing now and will continue to experience. It has never deterred me because this is a life long passion of mine...the history, the research, and the stewardship of these pieces of history. Thanks for the thread protovdo and thanks to all you great young people for participating in our hobby. I salute you.

Bruce

 

I'm 22 and female lol. But I understand where you're coming from. A lot of my friends just give me that deer in the headlights look when I try and explain my hobby. They just don't get it. Personally I don't understand how they couldn't. What's not to love about preserving your own little collection of U.S. minted history?