Do you think we need more younger collectors?

A Time Consuming HOBBY!

Your post really "hit home" after delivering a 1250 coin order of guaranteed VG to VF condition 90% Silver coins today, having no mutilated culls. The coins were sold for less than melt, every coin being inspected, both sides, under an illuminated magnifying lens.

The coins were packaged in $10 face labeled packets, delivered in $50 face labeled boxes. I haven't found others willing to participate in this grueling time consuming process, but return customers love the packaging/product.

Several days are required to complete this "loss leader" process where return customers are cultivated.

Younger buyers can't seem to understand why a $50 face order can't be delivered in an hour or so. I suggest they purchase through eBay. I often receive a retort/complaint that eBay coins are relatively too expensive, can only be acquired in small lots requiring many bids and an appreciable amount of time to complete a comparable order. I then recommend Apmex and others, where I'm told they're too expensive, and the product is relatively inferior. I believe patience/understanding is probably an advanced age phenomena, as life takes it's toll on the seeming impatience/exuberance of youth.

Older buyers seemingly realize a quality "deal", and gladly accept a 3-4 day delay in acquisition of product.

The youths of today might appreciate todays bargains if they would have experienced the collection days of the 60's and beyond when coin premiums were relatively more significant. As silver was removed from coins, Hunt brothers tried to corner the market, etc., at a time when salaries were relatively less than today, affordable options were less. Coin collecting had to be a major priority in order to accumulate.

YN seem to fail recognition that they are collecting the same denominations as their predecessors. There's seemingly greater discretionary funds, and I believe far more choices/opportunities to locate something worth collecting which might be appreciated by peers.

I believe that the "hobby" would be advanced if more youths participated. I also believe coin collecting is beneficial for youths, as it can enhance an understanding of history, economics, and international "values".

JMHO :thumb:

 

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Sadly, the average coin collector (at least in clubs in my area) is about 20 years too old to get this.

 

I'm 12 and I collect!!!

 

Yes, it's good to educate kids about the fun to collecting coins. My kids already look at what I am doing. One day, they will ask me to start their own collection. Of course, I will help them with expenses on regular rolls, but not silvers.

 

YN's seem to abound on these boards. And most of them seem to know more about collecting than this old sod...........

 

Same here and so do some of my friends. Not one of my peers isn't interested when i show them money from Zambia or Germany or wherever.

 

Hahaha I can relate!!!

 

I think we'll get collectors the way I got into it. They will begin to collect by starting with "junk silver" and copper cents, then move into more numismatic stuff. I have a bunch of young guys who buy a couple of dimes, or a half dollar every week. They are aware of the value of them from stuff they read. Then they will become interested in the other kinds of coins that are out there.

 

Im in my 20's and my brother in law is now into collecting mint sets and proofs. He is only 14. We spend my days off in pawn and coin shops. He is the only one his age we know who is into it. Mostly they are into ipods and sitting at home.

 

Bully! And hopefully picking up collectibles? ")

 

Is 41 considered young?

 

I hope so, whom shall I sell everything to?

 

I'm twenty if that helps. What got me started into coin collecting was inheriting a collection of 33 morgan and peace silver dollars. Since then, if I can afford it I may try to buy a few more.

 

Have I already replied to this? If not, then NO. The hobby doesn't "need" more younger collectors. They couldn't afford most coins anyway and would simply get frustrated. Besides, who are you (but a young one) that, in his "limited experience", is one to say or even suggest that there is somehow a "shortage" of new blood? "New Blood" usually comes in the form of those that can "afford" to dabble in this hobby and that ability "usually" comes with a certain level of financial comfort and responsibility.

 

How do you know. Did you look at all of their IDs?

First, compared to today they were probably the same when inflation is taken into account. Second, some old coins today were newerish coins in the 60s.






I agree with you about most collectors starting at a young age. I myself first became interested in coins 16 years ago when I was 8.





I feel like I just got rick rolled, replying to a Detecto thread a year later and not noticing beforehand.

 

Im 28. I've been collecting for about 4-6 months.

 

Tim, why do you start these threads and not respond to them? That is the essence of being a troll. I assume you're not here to troll, since you consider this forum to be family, so why do it?

Anyway, to answer your unasked questions:

1) Nearly all older coin collectors you talk to started collecting at a younger age.

Logically, your statement is fallacious. 100% (not nearly all, but all) coin collectors (older or younger than you) started collecting at a younger age. This is by definition. After all, if you're currently a collector, you MUST have started collecting at a time before the present, which means you started collecting at a younger age.

Semantics aside, it should be obvious that collectors "of a certain age" would have started collecting in their youth. Why? Those who started "collecting" at an advanced age consider themselves "investors," as opposed to "collectors." So, the vast majority of those who view collecting as a hobby (and understand that coin collecting never really was a way to make a quick, or even slow, buck) would be "lifers" who stuck it out when their friends gave up on it.

2) A kid in the 60s could get old coins cheap.

Umm, no. In 1963 a gallon of milk was ~50-cents, and a gallon of gas cost ~30-cents. Today, a gallon of gas costs $4.25 and a gallon of milk costs $7.85 here in Hawaii. A 50-cent silver piece is "worth" $7.90 (coinflation.com) and three 10-cent silver pieces are worth $4.74 (coinflation.com). Basically, the same price as they were back then.

So, essentially, you'd be telling a kid back then that they could buy four comic books and one or two chocolates... or hold onto that for 50 years and buy a gallon of milk.

 

Tim continues to non contribute.....

Er all that imbues,

Troll wise, no surprise,

Answer the question, pure suggestion,

If I may make a point,

Your non-responsive nature, and stupid nomenclature,

Leave much required to the source..........

 

Sounds like a blessing.
Nice!

 

We do need "young" collectors... It's the future of the hobby, so I say that with confidence. I believe that coin collecting isn't in any danger of going away though. I teach 2nd grade and when I do talk about coins... kids are interested. I think it's their age as the desire to learn is a very natural one for an 8 year old. Kids are expected to learn how to add up coins as 2nd graders, so that gives me an opportunity to talk about coins a little bit. My class was really interested about the Kennedy Half Dollar in particular. They hardly ever see them in circulation, but I had them use the half dollars in adding up change with other coin combinations. I have had a few kids express interest in collecting, so we'll see what the future holds. When I was a kid my logic was this... "Why collect stickers when they really aren't worth anything in the long term?" The next logical solution to collecting something was therefore coins! I guess you could say that I was in it for the money and I still am.