Family attitudes to your coin collecting?

I am the first serious collector in my family. Also my mother thinks of it as a waste of money and time. My niece though loves my collection. She loved what I showed her at Christmas. Maybe she will carry on my collecting.

 

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My wife doesn't give me any problems with my collecting. She's even bought me some things over the years. My kids were interested at one time, but like most other things, they moved on to something else. They can't seem to stay concentrated on one thing for too long. lol Perhaps when they get older...

As for other family, there really isn't any support or discouragement. My uncle also collects coins (as he was the one who got me into it recently) and when we get together, that's all we talk about. It drives my aunt crazy. LOL I'm hoping one day I'll have a grandkid who's into collecting coins. To me, it's much more fun when I can share my enjoyment with another.

 

I had a great aunt who had some silver dollars and her husband was a Merchant marine, so he always brought home foreign coins from his travels overseas. I received all of them after their passing as no one in the family wanted them.

 

My dad collected, but stopped when I got about 12. My brothers friend stole a lot from his collection. I did when I was 8-10 but couldn't save money and spent it all (obviously pocket change in whitman books). I went home a year ago after I started collecting 2 years ago and my dad gave me a surprise, what was left of his collection. Lots of silver dimes, quarters, halves and some morgans. I found a box of mixed coins and discovered a 20¢ piece and some large cents and one 1/2 cent. I was very happy.

 

My grandmother did a little coin collecting. I am the first serious collector in the family. My father collected other non coin items and taught me how to take care of the things that I own. My current live in GF is very supportive of my collecting and loves to come with me to stores etc., even though she doesn't collect herself.

 

I don't know if my grandmother was a coin collector, but she did work to get me interested in the hobby, in part because they were starting to remove silver from US coinage at that time, and perhaps in part because she had a friend whose father had been an employee at the Philadelphia Mint when the Lincoln cent made its debut.

 

My parents and both sets of grandparents collected off and on, though nothing serious, as well as a few cousins and uncles. But, as for my immediate family, my wife thinks it's a stupid hobby and cringes every time I spend money on coins or currency. But, she has her hobbies that I think are stupid, so there is a murky mutual understanding and we just deal with each other's endeavors in what makes us happy.
Guy

 

Got the little guy hooked and he's 4. Wife thought it was ridiculous until I explained it as a part of my retirement investment strategy and diversification. Now she's cool with it. Of course, I stick to the budget I prescribed to myself and always keep the lady prioritized above Silver Eagles and Barber dimes.

 

My dad was a collector, stopping about a year after I was born (1963). Never understood why he stopped until I had my son two years ago! Just so hard to find the time and extra money for the hobby. My dad had a pretty good collection, mostly from circulation, but two of the coins I have from his collection, and now in mine are his 1916D dime and 1932D quarter. Both very worn, but I dont think I'd upgrade them ever. He never really talked about collecting, and I wish I would have found the time to ask him how he aquired them, and the joy he must have gotten when he did.Jim

 

My dad was a collector, stopping about a year after I was born (1963). Never understood why he stopped until I had my son two years ago! Just so hard to find the time and extra money for the hobby. My dad had a pretty good collection, mostly from circulation, but two of the coins I have from his collection, and now in mine are his 1916D dime and 1932D quarter. Both very worn, but I dont think I'd upgrade them ever. He never really talked about collecting, and I wish I would have found the time to ask him how he aquired them, and the joy he must have gotten when he did.Jim

 

I am a fourth generation collector and currently have possession of our family collection. I believe our collection began in the late 1850's and is an extremely complete collection. As such a complete collection, the few dates that it is missing are very expensive indeed.

About two years ago I was at the Long Beach show bidding on a 1794 Flowing hair dollar (PCGS AU-58) when my wife walked in the door just in time to see me raise my number on a six figure bid. One of the dealers that I frequent alerted me to the disapproval on her face. I was too caught up in the moment and foolishly again bid on the dollar.

Although I didn't win the bid, she was so furious that she sold my original 1880 proof set with gold to a dealer that she knew I hated to deal with. A whole different story altogether.

Moral of the story:
ABSENTEE BIDDING IS KING!!!

 

my mom kinda thinks i waste money, buty i disagree. also when i buy silver i tell her silver is real money. my uncle collects coins kind of, but hes not as serious as i am. my dad finds it interesting especially the old coins

 

Agreed! There are coins that only come around once in a blue moon. Do we allow family members to kibbitz on our other financial decisons? Yes if they can add good reasons why something should be bought or sold. Next time show deluge your wife with information on how rare that coin is in that grade with other auction records if she must know.

 

I am a 1st gen in my family. Most of them think it is odd, but my dad is interested, and lets me lok at his change whenever he gets some.

 

I am a first generation collector also. My wife hates the hobby as her dad was a dealer and collector and she says I remind her of her dad and all she could think of was the money he spent all those years. I can say that I started collecting in earnest after he passed and she gave me his remaining collection.

 

First generation coin collecter also.
my 6 year old son loves it and started to collect also, my wife does not mind as long as the bills get paid and there is food on the table.

My mother cant understand the meening behind "all that wasted money".
My mother in law on the other hand always gives me some supply's when she visits.

 

This is a problem for many even when you get married. My response is always simple and to the point: I could be doing worse things. Choose from this list: stock car racing, illegal drugs, gambling, bar hopping, or you can get off my back and let me continue to collect coins.

 

I am a second generation collector. My father gave me his collection. He was never as serious about the hobby as I have become but, the coins he gave me have become some of my most valuable. As some of you may already know my Dad was diagnosed with Alzheimers and is fading away but, on bad days when his mind is troubled he can still tell me will about any coin in the collection. This "silly" hobby as some may call it has become a bridge to my Dad. That to me is worth more than any collector value.

While at times my dearly beloved may give me a look when she overhears what a cent cost me, she agrees there are much worse things I could be up to. Smart money and time well spent in my opinion.


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I think I am the first generation collector though my grandpa did have almost a complete set of v-nickels and some wheat pennies (I did get a 14-d out of it Other than that my family AKA my father thinks it's a waste and that I should be saving my money since I am now a father. I do find it intrigueing that he will ask me questions about coins and if something has value. I just hope I can get my son into collecting.

 

I've tried that and she asked me why we can't invest that money in property instead. That was an argument that I would never win, so I explained to her that money that came from the sale of duplicates in my collection only stays in the collection. She seemed to understand that...I think. After all, it is my family's collection, I am merely its current custodian.

BTW, that 1880 proof set cost me nearly 6k to recover only a half hour later.

Kirk