Collection or Accumulation

In your opinion is there a difference between the two when it comes to coins and those who collect or accumulate them? What sets the two apart?

Take Care
Ben

 

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Oh, I dunno... I suppose we could go by dictionary definitions...

Yes, I guess there's a difference. To me, "accumulation" connotes less attention to what's being accumulated, while "collection" implies much more focus.

A collector has more intellectual interest, and the collection has a theme. It's more coherent than a simple accumulation.

A collection has a goal, and usually a finish line. An accumulation just goes on forever.

 

I would have to say when I first started out at the age of 12 and into my early twenties I was an accumulator. When I decided I wanted to make a complete set of buffalo nickels, that's when I became a collector. I think every one of us "accumulates" at some point. And this is not limited to coins

Good post Ben.

 

To me, collecting means getting coins of the same type for a specific set; versus accumulation, which is buying any coin that meets your fancy. Nothing wrong with either of them, but I prefer the former.

 

I would say a collection is merely a more organized accumulation. Collections in my view have a pattern, whereas an accumulation is a jumbled mess. Oddly, I do a lot of both.
Guy~

 

I completely agree with coleguy.

For me I accumulate specific years in any grade for variety/error searching at a later date. While my collection is made up of specific grades.

 

I think it's common to start as an accumulator and move into collecting.

There are several ways to view "high end collecting". One is bagging ultra-expensive items without necessarily being an expert.

But another is a guy who really reads up, studies up, and becomes an authority on a specialty. Say Overton varieties, for instance.

This type of collector is "high end" without necessarily spending big money.

Collectors do that sort of thing - accumulators not so much.

Some guys are well studied *-and-* have ultra-expensive items as well. I bet the Huzak collection of Large Cents is a good example.

 

Then call me an accumulator as I collect whatever takes my fancy. Sure I collect specific types more often than not but I like em all and want them all. One way of collecting I could never do it type sets. Collecting the same coin design over and over and over again. Like at the coin show when I saw a huge collection of Morgans...how many Morgans do you need!! They all look roughly the same!!! People will do the same with ancients...only collecting the coins of one era. I understand what they are doing but I would get bored collecting that way so I concentrate on specific types and eras but in the end I want anything that catches my fancy and always will.
but I think of myself as a collector in the true sense of the word all the same.

"One that collects"

 

I Collect coins by Grade and Age. I like OLD HIGH END stuff. I have a few Modern's but just a few.

 

I hate to be the one to tell you but a type set is a single example of each type of coin. A type set would include only one Morgan.

What you described is a collection by series. That's a completely different animal as it will contain many similar coins with slight differences (e.g., date, mintmark, variety, etc.)

I am primarily a type collector although I do collect shield nickels.

 

My personal perceptions of the terms:

ACCUMULATION - A large number of coins with a commonality other than date.
It could be as general as US coins.
It could be more specific such as US silver coins.
It could be even MORE specific such as US Mercury dimes.
But there is no intent to get one (and only one) of each date/mintmark combination.
You can have more than one accumulation BUT you can't have two of the same accumulations.

COLLECTION - A one-of-each group that covers a certain area with a certain criterium.
A full date set of Mercury dimes.
A full date/mintmark set of Mercury dimes.
A typeset, even if constraints are put on it such as 20th century.
You can have more than one collection with the same definition (Lincoln cents), but each collection only has one of each coin.

 

Really a great question and some great comments made.

I guess one would STILL classify me as an accumulator. However, if you like many different types of coins it's a phenomenon that can easily happen.
I love the 19th century stuff but have completed a whopping one set in 35+ years.
I love bust halves - will I complete the set. Has never even crossed my mind but if I see a nice one, price is right and I have the money I'll snatch it up. Course I'd do the same with large cents, half cents, half dimes etc.

After all these years I realize that I'm only missing a few Lincolns. The biggies, SVDB, 22 plain, and varieties. Got all the other dates and mintmarks and have NEVER considered myself a Lincoln collector. Price was right so I bought them.

I do like to have at least one nice example of my type coins. Whatever my budget will allow.

I do concentrate on higher grades now but still tend to bounce all over.

I'm an accumulation collector I guess.

 

i have both...sets in Danscos and accumulations in dbl row and triple row boxes, way tooo many

 

I am a collectulator I love to collect but end up accumulating. I have my main collection then I have my "Other Coins, boxes of coins, in rolls & 2X2's. I never met a coin I didn't like

Regards,
S

 

I agree with coinman I never met a coin I didn't like..although a have cans and shoe boxes of wheats I still go through the give a penny, take a penny at sheetz in the morning when i get my coffee and have found quite a few wheats in there...i am an accumulater..but slowly a collector of Morgans

 

Ben,

It becomes an accumulation when your wife tells you you've done too much collecting.

 

Accumulation tends to make one think of gathering with no intended purpose other than to own.?.

Collection tends to represent purpose.

The difference as I see it is that at some point the accumulation could become a diverse collection with intended purpose. Or the Collector could lose focus and have a collection that is more like a large accumulation.

So as I have defined it with my meandering is as follows:

Collection = acquisition with a specific set of goals beyond that of just accumulation
Accumulation = acquisition as the primary and possibly singular goal

Okay - back to the card game

 

LOL - that's a much simpler way of saying it and something any married/divorced guy can relate too!

 

Why do you hate to correct me, I used the wrong term and should be correted But thats what I meant, I was think all of one type. My bad...I cant do that, I need variety...so I collect type set One of each type.

 

Thanks, but your definition is probably more accurate.