So, we are all collectors of coins and for me at least part of the fun is in the hunt!! But after you collect them, what do you do with your coins. Just look at them once in a while, show them to friends and family? Maybe buy, sell and trade? Just HOARD them? Just curious!!!
My biblical coin and artifact collection is going to be displayed at my school over Fall semester of this year. I like showing them as often as I can. Several years ago, I gave a show and tell of American coinage at a private school. I love connecting people with history through them. Sometimes I just like looking at them too. My collection is not huge, so it doesn't take long to show off.
I have a process. First, I catalogue them on Numista, their respective grading registries (almost all coins I buy now are already certified) and mycollect. I use these tools to keep track of what I have. Then, I take photos if the coins didn't have true views, photo vision, etc. Next up, I post them to my Instagram and write up a little blurb about one. Then I usually share them on discord and here on CT. Lastly, if raw I put them in saflips in a D ring coin album or if certified I have two suitcase like holders that hold slabs. One for NGC one for PCGS. Each has 4 rows and row one has coins A-E, second row F-J, etc. I take them out every so often and go through them. After all, I buy coins I like to LOOK at! It's one of my favorite rainy day activities. I don't really share them with anyone off line because I don't have any fellow collectors near by!
A new coin sits on my desk for a while, until the thrill wears off. I examine it multiple times with a magnifying glass, looking for die cracks, clashes, anything unique. After a while it goes in a box. I photograph it and save off the seller images, plus an electronic invoice if there was one, put it all in a folder on the computer. Once in a while I'll pull one out and it becomes my desk coin again for a while. Sometimes I find something new on an old coin. Mostly they just sit in random boxes.
I just purchased a hastings triplet by recommendation from another thread someone posted. I'll be sure to put it to good use the next rainy day!
I share with friends and family the odd coin occasionally. But recently my efforts have gone to preparing my collection for permanent gifting (to family). In the process I have looked at each denomination and removed many. I discovered that my collecting focus has changed and I have removed and am still removing, coins I never should have kept. The ones I am returning to circulation have excess wear, damage, corrosion, staining and any exhibiting unattractive or egregious die deterioration. I liken the effort to “getting rid of the evidence”. Seriously. I don’t, and refuse to pass on any junk coins to my family that cannot be considered an heirloom. So lots are great condition but low value. But about 40% are valuable but have varying condition. As I proceed I am disseminating my collection to various family members. Currently, I now only have 25% of my collection started 65 years ago. But everyone in the family is getting something, and everybody oohs and ahhs when I show them. Then their jaws hit the floor when I announce that they now own them. Gold, silver, silver bar, bullion, proof sets, commemoratives….it all goes, I’m 75% finished. I hope that answered your question. Thanks for asking…Spark
