I have been collecting US coins most of my life. Early on coins found in change, but now purchased from various sources, usually the coin was picked because of specific interest, such as a 1861 O half. I have just started putting together collections in Dansco albums, nothing special. Now I am sitting back and wondering why are complete collections so appealing? The hunt for each coin? Just the accomplishment? Or is it monetary? I know there is no correct answer, just your thoughts.
I guess it is a sense of completeness. I am guilty of trying to do the same with German coins but I know I will never succeed for most sets before 1933.
I had a complete set of Mercury Dimes a few years back I sold. Accomplishment in getting that 1916D was a huge reward. Had to save up for it for a while but did finally get it. Now I am pretty much starting over, sold most of it years ago when my daughter was born, now rebuilding my collection so when she grows up I can pass it down to her. So if anyone has a spare 1916D laying around, I have a few wheaties I am more then willing to swap you with, heck I will even through in a really nice 2017P I found recently, what do you say.......I didn't think so
See, this is what I am struggling with, no offense Coinman1974. When a Merc was still found in circulation, it was exciting to "fill the holes", even if you could not fill them all. Now all that's needed is a check book, and most complete collections require a very deep check book.
I agree. But as much as I would of loved finding one of those in circulation, it was still quite the rush to own one either way. There are still some series that even I am able to complete with not really paying for them, if I am not lazy and take the time to roll hunt, etc. With me it is as much about the history of a given series as it is completing it. My Dad laughed at me when I told him I had paid $500.00 for a dime, it was a G-4 and not a bad one. Always had planned on using that to upgrade later on, but well life happens. Now once again I am on the hunt, lol.
It's like everything else in the coin collecting world, just comes down to preference and those preferences can evolve over time. I don't find a ton of joy searching through change for coins, others really enjoy it. I'd rather buy coins that stand out to me and keep chipping away at a few sets. Will probably take me 5 years or so to complete a set and even though all I did to complete it was open my checkbook I still think it will be a real satisfying achievement at that time. My problem right now is I keep buying doubles and triples of coins I already have because I can't pass on the look of new ones I see. I should just keep my favorite and sell the rest but I like them all too much lol
As others have said before: It is a compulsion for me. I guess I am a little OCD, which is not good in coin collecting. I not only have to have every coin in that series, I go out of my way to find the accepted varieties. But to take it a step further, I can't just focus on one area of coins. I have Dansco folders (most complete) starting with Cents through modern dollars. And even that wasn't enough. I had to go back far enough for each collection to satisfy my compulsion. Example: it wasn't enough to have cents. I went back to the Flying Eagle Cent. Because I did, I also had to go back to Liberty V Nickels, because I did, I had to with dimes, because I did, I had to with quarters, etc, etc, etc. OCD + Coins === Poor Man.
Maybe its the hunt itself. I think it would not be as satisfying to purchase a complete set as it is to find and purchase individual coins, the best grade at the best price.
I have the same problem. I recall getting stuff in change and collecting it. Well, I collected all of it actually and just shoved everything in coin rolls, and boxes, and containers, etc. Fast forward and now I have to buy everything. I've never done a dansco to get each date and mint, but I like the different designs (not year and mint mark). So after I finished my "design" coin collection I turned towards paper money. Then it hit me. Why do I want to pay $90 or $200 for a $10 bill? I tried to justify it to myself as I was trying to collect paper money that states "redeem in silver/gold" But still .. $200 for a $10. Hmm .... I stopped at that point. ... and started collecting ASEs LOL which has basically stopped too for the most part after I worked on collecting one of each year circulated ASE. That was easy, though a couple years a bit pricey. I've gone to a couple coin shows and other than 1800 and less 50c or dollar coins I'm really not interested. I do like 50c busts though but not spending the money as I already have a few. So now even coin shows I don't buy anything. I should just write a book.
FWIW, Roger's book, "From Mine to Mint" is one of my favorites, and I am constantly referring to Mr. Bowers', "The Official Red Book of Morgan Silver Dollars". Be that as it may, if either of these gentlemen ever endeavors to write a book about die cracks, "double" dies or machine doubling, I will not buy it. Chris
Eh, I'm the same way. I get stuck on certain date/mm's. I'll spend days-->weeks-->months on one specific coin. Thus, putting together complete sets is probably never going to happen unless my collection grows to enormous proportions. Even in my favorite series there are coins I find boring, not worth the time and money.
I generally am a "hatah" for Rog, but I may need to break down and get his new tome on the proofs of 1936-42.
Here is a 1861 O Half. My passion is cent rolls from 1934 to present. I find pre 34 cents to expensive and almost impossible to find in original bank or mint rolls.
