Why are US coins so collectible?

You are right about that too. I guess it stretches into many collectables. I think one reason antiques are cheaper there is they are more available? But like your saying, a piece of Paul Revere sliver flatwear is extremely valueable as compared to say a piece of silver flatwear that a king of England may have actually used.

 

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You make valid point as well fret, LOVE the dime! Thanks for posting it!

 

I would NOT go as far to say the world likes us because of pricing. Antiques are a worldwide commodity and they know US collectors pay way too much for our own items, so they place prices accordingly.

To me, the US had a complex from the beginning about a lack of history versus the rest or the world. This is why we value early American items so much, since we are trying to create more history than is there. This is why every early US coin is collected by die. Early collectors were trying to make more "varieties" than really existed, so took it down to single die levels as "different". You do not see that kind of behavior with countries that really HAS history.

For at least 150 years that I can prove, US collectors have struggled to argue we have as much history as anyone. Look at the early cent collectors and their NEED to create hundreds collectible items when we really only had about 60 at the time. This and lack of common exposure to other nations coins, and now the whole "condition census" stuff has drove US coin prices to the point where many of us have finally started collecting other things. The internet has been a huge blessing for US collectors.

P.S. I would also indict our horrible History and Geography education in this nation as further reasons fewer US collectors collect anything other than US coins, since it is the only history and geography we know about. It wasn't until after college and I educated myself on ancient history that I really knew anything. Even college history in this country is sad.

 

So apart from the US the rest of the worlds countries are Third World ?
The last time I was in Phily the natives were behaving like savages and killing each other, I`ve felt safer walking the streets in certain Asian and Middle Eastern countries.
Here in the wilds of Yorkshire we can stretch a little over $100 per annum salary

 

That is an aspect I have not thought of, a need for us to "make" a history. That is a very interesting theory and could be one of the answers.
Your also correct about the whole "variety" idea" I think. With so few coins from other counties avalible at the time we needed to find other reasons to collect the same coins over and over again. You really don't see much of that outside of the US. There are exceptions but very few.

 

I started collecting US coins, back in 1992, because they were the ones that were most accessible to me when I started the hobby. I could buy from the mint or grab coins from every day change if I wanted. That is what made them so "collectable" for me. As got more experience and as the internet grew I was able to find dealers that had coins from other nations that expanded my interests to coins outside the US. So initially for me it was just ease of accessibility that made US coins more "collectable".

 

Understood, and that is normal. I think the OP was referring to why som many US collectors ONLY collect US coins, and why the prices are SO much higher in relation to rarity for US coins over all other coins. I mean, I have ancient coins with maybe 5 known, worth $50. A US coin with that rarity would be worth serious money.

 

As a person that has traveled to many countries including many affluent countires in Europe, I think that Americans in general are more driven to acquire "stuff". When I visited my friends' homes in Europe, they had far less "stuff" cluttering their homes. They aren't so obsessed with money and the need to acquire "stuff". I'm always amazed at some of my friends in our country who will have garages, attics, and large barns filled with "stuff". Therefore, it is only natural that we would have some people who would collect coins to meet our needs to collect "stuff". I know that I'm in that category. It is part of being American. And as many have mentioned, Americans that like coin "stuff" will collect American coins. Thus, the price differential of American coins over other countries coins is based on the demand from American consumers. It is the American need to collect "stuff".

 

Good point Phil. I have European friends and they save a much larger percent of their income than even I do, and I think I am conservative. They very much do feel content with less possessions, but on the other hand do not feel free to move like Americans do, seemingly feeling they should live and die where they were born.

Maybe I could save more if my wife didn't like her Coach purses so much........Just kidding, its my coin and coin book purchases that really slows us down, though I still believe my coins will be worth percentage wise more than her purses when it comes time to sell, (when I am dead).

 

That is true for most of us here in the US,"ease of accessibility".
I guess the hobby has grown so much in the US that we are all still trying to collect the same coins thus making them rare? I mean there are only so many 1909s vdbs out there, that number wont change but the number of collectors has skyrocketed making the coins that are available even more expensive. But some world coins have even lower mintages and arent nearly as costly.

 

I have to agree with your "stuff" point too. We Americans are all hoarders to some degree or another. I've also have friends in Europe and your correct there too. They have what they need and live very happy lives with little stress. Unlike here in the US where everyday is a race.

 

I think it''s becaue we have only made coins of one currencey. If you think about it, Ireland has used many diffents units. From 997 to 1826, they used thier own pound. Then from 1826 to 1928(?) they used British pounds.Then from 1928 to 1971 they used a new Irish pre decimal pound.Then from 1971 to 2002, they used a decimal pound. From 2002 to now, they've used the euro. With the U.S it's always been the dollar

 

I just think Americans collect coins, because many of the founding Fathers of the country. Liked to collect coins as a hobby. I guess its in the blood.

 

A little strange, I think: When it comes to Ireland, you seem to take British coinage into account - but when it comes to the US, you don't? The introduction of a new currency, I fully agree here, is always a good starting (or stopping) point for a coin collector. But that would not explain why, for example, around here, e.g. Austria and Germany, collecting is pretty popular.

Most of the reasons I can think of have already been mentioned here. A fairly stable economy is an important factor. And of course you need money that you can buy coins with. Collecting coins used to be called a hobby of kings because royalty and affluent nobility could more easily afford it ...

Christian

 

in the UK british coins are the mainstay of nearly everyones collection and they tend to be the most expensive, but as chritian has already said the coutry of origin of the collector is the main reason for the popularity of that countries coins....

 

True, but I have friends in Europe and they collect at first their coins, but quickly branch out to other countries as they are exposed to them more readily than here. Plus, you guys have better language skills than US collectors. I know a ton of collectors here who if they cannot read the legends refuse to collect the coins. I personally love learning pahlavi, latin, greek, and others. I cannot speak another language, but by golly I can read quite a few dead languages enough to know the coins!

 

That is something I need to rectify if I'm going to start collecting world coins

 

Then there is always the challange of Kanji.

 

like me i have an affinity with french and german states coins, but the origin and still the main part of my collection is UK and islands.