Why do we collect

I have always wondered why other people collect coins? For me its the history and beauty of the coins. I also love the hunt for a rare coin. But after I own some coins I end up selling them and start a new hunt for some other type of coin. So I think the hunt is the best part of collecting. I do buy silver but I sell it for a profit as soon as possible to help pay for more rare coins. Silver will go up and down so for me to buy silver and just hold it and not sell for a profit seems foolish. A stock broker once told me to hold something that pays you no interest is not smart, take a profit if you can on your investment. So why do you collect?:smile

 

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I've answered this one before and the answer hasn't changed. Because it makes me happy.

 

I'm a freshman in college with a part time job, so my budget for coins is quite small. I collect because I like it. When you can look at a coin and say to yourself, "Wow, this looks really cool", then you know it's something probably worthwhile. I'm not in it to find the rarest thing I can and turn it for profit, I'm in it because I like that fact that I can get enjoyment out of even low price, and not so good quality coins. For me there's no other way to go.

 

I collect because I enjoy it. I enjoy sorting through daily finds, I enjoy peering through the light and glass to scrutinize, I enjoy learning new facts about currency, I enjoy the fact that my husband relishes in my interest in this hobby. I enjoy it because it is something we can pass on to someone else for their enjoyment. I enjoy wondering to myself, exactly how many hands has this coin/note been through? Where has it travelled? I enjoy being able to connect with other people like you who also enjoy the same thing.

 

Takes my mind off of other things.

 

Same for me. It's a different way of collecting art. It's art that has been passed around for many many years through the hands of our grandfathers, great-grandfathers, etc. To see the date on a coin and image the events that took place during that time. We don't have time machines, but we DO have coins.

 

I love collecting silver art bars and hobo nickels because that is what makes me happy and I love the art work on them especially the silver art bars. I like to hunt for silver art bars when I go to local coin shows and at local coin dealers. It is always great whenever I can find a rare silver art bar at a coin show or at local coin dealer and pay only .999 generic premium for it instead of the ebay collectors premium.

 

I don't know I just think a penny worth $100 and the like is really cool

 

I collect because it's fun and the art and history

 

Asking why I collect coins is kind of like asking someone why they want to climb mount everest; because it is there.

 

So my kids don't get my money Just because it's relaxing and enjoyable

 

I collect because it takes the edge off of a stressful day extremely well. I also love discussions on CT a lot more than watching violence, politics, reality garbage on the television.

 

I think the obvious answer for everybody here is because we enjoy it, why else would we do it? To me the implied follow up question is, why do we enjoy collecting coins? And this question can further be divided into two fundamental questions - 1) why do we enjoy collecting? and 2) why do we choose to collect coins and not something else?

I've always struggled with question 1 - the best I can come up with is that it must be something compulsive in our personality. Some people who don't collect can't understand the collecting bug, and frankly I don't understand it either. Question 2 is (for me at least) easier to answer. There are many reasons why I like to collect coins: they are so superfluous in our everyday life that they are easy to come by, and it's easy for anybody to get started in the hobby. And the fact that there are so many different denominations, and they are all identified by the year they were minted means there are large, well defined sets of coins to complete. Also the fact that most every set has at least a few rare, hard to find varieties adds an extra challenge. There is also the historical aspect of numismatics - when you learn about coins, you also learn a lot about history - not just the history of coins or money specifically, but also about political, economic and cultural history. Not to mention the fact that some coins are simply beautiful. Nothing beats the glint of a shiny newly minted coin in your handful of change!

Yes, I think too much.

 

Amen

 

+1

Don't have to think about who's DUI, fighting, robbing, kids crying, wife talking "perfumes" and junk on TV.

 

Now we have PK Boomers' other two questions. The first one is easy. I think we enjoy collecting because we are genetically inclined to enjoy it. If a person has the collecting "gene" you will most likely collect something, you will be compelled to. And it can't be explained to someone who doesn't have the "gene". Nor can you convert such a person into a collector. You might get them to start collecting something, but as soon as you stop working with them and leave them to their own devices the collecting will quickly stop.

The second question is more difficult. We now understand why we collect, but why coins? I think we will avoid the idea that it's a facination for small shiny objects. To some extent I think it may be an extention of some of our other interests. I like history, economics, politics and some other fields Coins fit in well with all of these. If I liked geology I might have been more interested in rocks and minerals or maybe gemstones. If I had a talent for art I might like paintings or prints or other objects of art (hummels? gak). If literature was my thing, I might collect books. But you get the idea.

 

I definitely have the collecting "gene", and my wife definitely doesn't. She just doesn't "get" collecting but she knows it makes me happy so she is understanding about it. My theory is that the collecting gene is a tamer version of the "hoarder" gene. I suspect it's related to anal-retentive personalities.

As for why coins, I guess everybody will have their own reasons... and I know that many coin collectors also collect other things, especially stamps. I for one collect only coins, and only circulation coins in fact. I have a very few banknotes, proofs and error coins that I came by over the years, but I don't actively seek out these items. And I'm a completionist - my ultimate goal (unrealistic as it is) is to get one of everything. When I am one or two coins short of a set, I have an almost compulsive desire to get the last coins I need.

 

i collect becuase it takes my mind off of other things, just looking through old pennies, and learning about everything that has to do with coins, and because i get to be with all the great folks here at coin talk

 

Thats the same answer I have.

As to why coins, I like history, which is why coins are only a small part of the other things I collect which allow me to literally hold history in my hands, like historical artifacts and art. I'll probably be one of those guys who when he retires buys a building in town just to house his lifetime worth of accumulated "treasures" and then I'll just sit there all day looking at them. I can't wait!
Guy

 

My grandfather showed me his dad collection.:kewl:
That is all it took history in your hand . plus I enjoy it & is relaxing & fun too.