A different view of the hobby

I’ve seen a few threads over time here at coin talk focused on what we don’t like about coin collecting. Let’s try the other side of the coin (yes, I did that…).

what are the things you enjoy about the hobby? You list can be as long or as short as you like…

I’m at lunch at work right now so I’ll start with a quick list, might post more later when I’m not here.

I enjoy the connection to the past most coins bring. I’m not one who collects only the best and brightest, I like coins that have done some work too. Knowing the coin has passed through hand after hand is a wonderful thought to me.

I also enjoy the art on the coin. From foreign to ancient to modern a lot can be learned about what’s important to a society from its coins. How that gets depicted is always an interesting experience.

finally for now, I love the opportunity to learn that the hobby presents. That’s also why I keep coming back to coin talk. There’s so much information in books and here that it’s a learners dream.

How about everyone else?

 

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Me too... Ever since I was a kid holding an old coin in my hand, I could build a whole story in my mind about that coin. A steel cent that stormed the beaches at Normandy or a silver dollar crossing the plains via stagecoach headed out west... Each coin I hold is a short story in my mind. I still do that with my coins.

 

Yes, history and connection to the past.

 

Yeah you named my biggest hook in coin collecting.... holding that 200 year old coin and just wondering who else might have held it and what they might have spent it on.. and I do as you say also love the artistry and symbolisim on those new and shiny pieces but they lack something that those old worn coins have.

 

Especially when you find it in the ground. Thoughts of it being used in a Pub or Saloon come to my mind.
Case in point> Found while Metal Detecting.

 

Very well said. I accidentally came into coins with my dad’s penny jars and misc coin jars. Some foreign and some are old but most of all as you state, it’s the beauty, the why and the who. The history of some of the foreign coins, which are not many, but all in my dad’s hands from that country. In circulation yes, but in that time span.
The art of coins and the designs as well are unique and original. I say this because it’s just that one person’s initial on that coin. A design that one’s ancestors designed. Sounds silly I guess but I look at a Lincoln in different ways I guess. Like our friend, @Mountain Man states, in so many words, the reasoning and history behind the coin. But I will note, our friend does not care for those Zincolns. Thanks for posting this @cwart . People do collect for different reasons. To sell or trade etc. I look at it as, people have their reasons behind anything collects and sure, one may not find other’s collection or hobby interesting and vice versa but to that person, it means something.
So if one posts from a find, circulation, a purchase, etc… there is a reasoning of why. Some care to know and the ones that choose not to, well, their choice of course. Again, a reason behind each coin posted. Even if it’s one that posts, “hey how much is this worth?” Lol! That’s their reason. The pros tell them, it’s worth a penny!

 

I like the history of slabs, especially because nobody wants to talk about "the old days" even though it's within living memory. I want to catch the information while it's still available.

Last night I was researching a company whose name is on some slabs with mystery dates from 2010, 2012, 2013, and 2014.

I can find a little history: they were the first company to be a submitter for NGC before they opened their in-country offices.

But we're talking 2009! Less than 15 years ago and there's nothing.

 

I, too, am attracted by the history of the coins I collect. This is the major reason I don't bother with not meant for circulation mint products. They HAVE no history.

Even more important than the history behind the coins are the friends I have made over the 60+ years I've been involved with the hobby. They are worth more to me than any coin I have ever owned.

 

Yep, history is a big deal for me. It often means more to me than rarity. Rarity can put something out of reach that you would like to have.

This was in a tea caddie full of gold that Lucian Losier brought back from California in 1848. Unfortunately it is scarce, with about 200 known, and expensive.

 

I didn't start collecting until after my father passed. He left us his "coin collection". His coin were in various jars that had no rhyme or reason. They were left to my brother and me. Since both my father and my brother lived in California, it seemed best that my brother take an inventory of the coins. He sent me a list of the coins and asked me to come up with an equitable division. I made an A/B list and told him to make his choice. When I got my "equitable division", it peaked my interest in coin collecting. That was in 1996. Since then, I have become an avid collector...my brother.... his coins are still in a jar. I offered to buy them from him. I let him name his price... that was about 3 years ago. He has yet given me a price. It goes to show that even brothers have different attitudes about coin collecting. As for me, I thoroughly enjoy collecting coins.

 

I also love the history and connection with the past, and as others have noted, the artistry and industry that went into producing these little pieces of copper, silver and gold is amazing. Collecting also scratches my itch to capture, organize and categorize and exert some control over this corner of my life. It's a calming and enjoyable hobby but it also has plenty of excitement in bidding, new discoveries and opening packages. I even have fun doing my inventory.

 

I've read that people who have an absorbing hobby are healthier, happier, and live longer.

The world of coins does it for me. I can disconnect from responsibilities, stress, humdrum, etc. and recharge with what numismatics and collecting do for me.

 

I love how you can see currency debasement throughout history through coinage.

 

Collect imperial Roman coins. You go from the silver denarius to the Antonininius was heavily debased, to the almost nameless copper coins.

 

I like the history of coin collecting itself and the people and events that made that history. Events like the Centry of Progress World's Fair, the 1950-D nickel craze, the silver dollar treasury raids, the ultra rare 1903-O Morgan that became common after bags of them came out in the treasury raids, the roll craze, the world proof set craze, the art bar craze...Even Susan B. was a major episode back then, just not something I would take home to mother. "Certs" and slabs were a major, major historical event for coin collecting. Oh yeah, and so was the adoption of 11 point Psycho Grading. Didn't take that one home to mother either.

Then there's famous collectors and/or dealers of long ago such as: Ed Cogan, Joseph Mickely, Ebenezer Mason, Chapman Brothers or Gus Sage. Sage founded what would become the ANS. He was 15 years old and they had their first meetings in the living room of Sage's house. How's that for making coin collecting history?
Sage would have been the Dave Bowers of his day had he not chewed the carpet from pneumonia when he was 33.

 

same with British coinage (silver penny to copper to whatever they have now), and US coinage, and more.
It's a byproduct of progress, I suppose.

 

I totally agree with your observations, and for me, who at 82 is involved as a Pro Bono presiding officer in "Seniors" organizations where legal assistance is virtually unavailable, the relief from life stress is a "Godsend".

However, it has become a sickness, finding treasures online that are available/overlooked.

When I can find coin as a PCGS 70DCAM or MS70 $5 Gold Eagle, delivered for 50% above base value, what a treat to trade my Fiat!

JMHO

 

I also love the history lessons numismatics brings. It's nearly magical to me to hold a raw, circulated coin from a century (or more) ago.
In addition to researching the coin itself is to research that year as well. So interesting to see a snapshot of the world at that time, to think about how things were, what events were transpiring, etc.

 

I also enjoy the comraderie with other collectors and their views and experience. In addition, I have to admit, the challenge of building a set of coins I can be proud of.

 

It’s a long list but I enjoy the feeling I get when holding an early US coin. My mind always wonders about its history, where’s it been and who handle it.