Are you an accumulator, a collector or a numismatist.

I have always collected based on history. As a young "collector", I was frequently accused of having a "coin accumulation" with snide chuckle by my local coin shop.

 

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All of the above

 

Currently, I picked collector; but during several points in my numismatic career I think I have actually been all three. I guess I settled on collector after a while. Thanks for the poll.

 

I started out as an accumulator, but now that I've filled in the sets that I want with stuff I can pull from circulation, stuff is getting expensive so I need to shift to being a collector and numismatist. I'm trying to learn more and research stuff so that I can be more discerning about my purchases

 

Currently I picked Collector.
I'm an accumulator to an extent. When I look at all of the stuff that I've bought over the years I say to myself, "where did I get all of this stuff"? I always think I should be selling off some of it to make for the new, however, I never do.

I'm a collector. American Silver Eagles and Aafes Pogs are my passion.

I don't consider myself a Numismatist. I consider myself a student of the art. Always looking to learn, regardless if it is ASE or any other US Coin.

 

I'll add another type: A Saver

When people learn I'm a collector they might say " me too, I've got a bunch of Kennedy quarters" or " I like those silver pennies"

I tell them you're not a collector because you have absolutely no idea what you're talking about.

 

I'm a bit of all 3, but my friends call me a coin geek.

 

Isn't that the same as an accumulator?

 

Hmmm!!!!
Self analysis....
I'm an opportunistic treasure hunting student hoarder of coins.

 

I'm undefined. My collection, if you want to call it that, consists of the first example of each year that I receive in my pocket change. All circulated, of course, but because each one is so new it is in extremely pretty condition. I do look for older coins, major variations and error coins as well, but I don't invest in purchasing coins, except in a very rare case. Minor variations such as a tiny DD on one letter on a coin do not interest me in any way as those are just coins that fall within the quality control limits of the minting process anyway. I have accumulated rolls of US pennies (or cents, if you prefer) as they have appeared in pocket change here in Canada, as well as nickels, dimes and quarters. We no longer use pennies here, so I have kept all of the pennies that I have accumulated and still find occasionally, but the white coinage just gets reused unless there is a date that fills a gap. (In reference to someone's earlier post, as a Big Bang Theory fan, I also have a favourite 'Penny'.) I also rather half-heartedly set up a collection of British, French and Belgian coins (just because I could), but my participation in that part of the hobby has not gotten any farther (yet).

 

"My first collection of coins I'd purchased as far back as when I was 8 had to be sold because I hadn't learned how to fuel a collection, and I hadn't learned which coins to avoid, and which coins I could make a decent profit on."
How can I learn to do this? Can anyone assist me? Thanks

 

I tend to think of a hoarder as someone who buys but never sells. Most of the "collections" I've been asked to appraise over the years have really just been accumulations, or hoards, if you prefer. Personally, I consider myself a collector/investor/part-time dealer/numismatist. I've always liked selling, which keeps me out of the hoarder category. At least that's what I tell myself.

 

I thought I was a collector a while back but realized I had accumulated a lot of stuff. I have sold most of this and my goal is to focus on a much smaller number of higher quality, and more expensive, coins. So I think I evolved from the accumulator stage to the collector-numismatic stage. I think for many long term numismatists there's a natural evolution.

 

Interesting poll, and I also see some of my tendencies in all three categories. I guess I just like coins, and my interests drift around a bit. I have lots of Morgans, but multiples of some dates, and a lot of gaps too. Always looking for nice looking type coins in most series, and if they are a better date, that's even better. I also look for stuff priced low enough that I can make a few bucks on. And there are lots of well-made world coins that catch my eye, like the German coinage someone mentioned. I don't do much in-depth study, but I like history and enjoy reading about coins and appreciate the connection they make to the past. Learning more about grading and evaluating coins is also a crucial and interesting facet of the hobby.

 

We don't want to derail this thread, but I will say it takes study and experience to become knowledgeable enough to be a success at it. It helps to have sources that are willing to sell to you at wholesale levels. You have to know grading backwards and forwards, you must be able to evaluate eye appeal and spot a host of problems. You can make money on any coin, but you must buy it at a level that gives a profit when you sell. Do lots of reading and look at lots of coins. Develop your coin eye.

 

Are you an accumulator, a collector or a numismatist?

yes.

Accumulator? yes, Barber dimes: 3,122 including about 9 complete sets.
Barber quarters: 2,858 including 1 complete set, and about 6 sets minus the '01 S.
Barber half $'s: 2,232 pieces including about 5 or so complete sets.

collector? Yes, student of Bust $1/2 die marriages.

Numismatist? Yes, studies die varieties and have found over a dozen formerly unlisted RPM Barber dimes, a few Barber quarters & half dollars, plus the 1909 S half $ inverted MM, no listed in the CPG.
I also write a bi-monthly column on coins for Lost Treasure magazine.

and I also hoard/collect Red Books.

hmmm... I am sure that there are more.

 

That's a lot of haircuts. 1 barber per follicle.

 

I guess I'd be an accumulator, since I hoard every wheat penny I can get my grubby little hands on.

 

I am all three but I prefer packrat instead of accumulator. I am definitely not a hoarder because I get rid of things when required. I moved from Minnesota to Washington about a year ago and guessed that I had 20 pounds of common foreign. The best price local dealers would pay was three dollars a pound but none would buy more than ten pounds.
I started selling coins by the pound for four dollars a pound at yard sales and had well over 100 pounds. Lots of German 5 and 10 pfennig, Japanese 10 yen and all the common types there are always too many of.

 

In 1948, when I was 5 years old, my aunt gave me an 1885 nickel and an 1883 W/O Cents. When I saw what that 1885 was worth ($5 in 1948) I was hooked and have nearly every date and mint mark in the late 19th century, nearly all of the 20th century and 21st. But, I avoid too many duplicates as 1 each is my preference. I prefer coins that I have found in circulation. And, a very large portion of my collection are coins found in circulation.

I guess that makes me a collector.