Am I a collector or a hoarder

Its a simple question but is there a simple answer? I have been collecting coins since I was a kid. I received a few of my Grandfathers coins and kept acquiring more throughout the years. My only problem "if it is one" is that I cant seem to part with any of them. I have been working on several different sets for quite some time now. I have self graded them to the best of my abilities. 'I do plan on having several of them professionally graded.' Hoarding away all of the rejects that will never see my books, but I just have never been able to sell any of them. I know that if I sold a few of my duplicates that I could afford to buy some of the coins that I'm missing. I just cant pull the trigger. I guess my question is, would you sell your extra coins or would you keep them and just save for the missing ones in your set?

Brent

 

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Well, theres two ways you could look at this, I would say more of a collector because you appreciate the history the coins have gone thru and I know the feeling although I do sell to either upgrade or for just more $

 

Hello Brent,
You might even be a collector AND a hoarder. Regarding coins there isn't anything wrong with either.

 

If you have trouble selling or getting rid of coins, chances are you have hoarding tendencies.

Takes one to know one.

 

I sell my extras and then some to continue my upgrade path. Quality over quantity is what I'm shooting for.

 

I kinda wish I were more like you in this sense. I think I am going to try to sell a few of my least favorite coins and see how I like it.

 

'
There may be little difference in practice, but I call myself a collector because I have more than a hoard of coins, which is knowledge and experience. Knowledge of the coin making and distribution process, plus some awareness of the history and market for coins. Experience with managing and grading coins, as well as learning from other collectors.
If you have no desire to sell it is your business. If you change your mind, start small and experience will teach you.

 

I sell my duplicates after a long debate about what to get rid of. Then I just fund Higher quality or missing peices from that money.

 

Just because you love coins so much you do not wish to sell them, why does that make anyone a hoarder? I fit that description, yet I don't think I fit normal profiles of people accumulating junk just for the sake of it.

It may be a fine line, but I believe the difference between the two is INTENT. A hoarder buys for the sake of buying, and then just puts them in a pile. A collector like me may buy 8 of a certain coin, but many times that is to study the die differences on each of them and how they differ.

 

I think you're a hoarder simply because you asked the question...

Even taking the question seriously, Brent, the answer goes back to the idea of collecting. If you're accumulating to improve the quality, then you're collecting. If you're accumulating to increase the quantity, then you're hoarding.

Here's the best way for me to demonstrate this: Craigslist.

Craigslist has silver hoarders who magically become "collectors" when it's time for them to liquidate. Why? Well, because they're hoarders. They want to maximize quantity over quality, so as soon as they find quality pieces, they try to sell them off to get more quantity.

 

While I do buy silver as an investment, I don't keep my coins for that reason alone. I love trying to add to my collections.

Brent

 

And Thad (the Bad ) is indeed correct. Sometimes it takes awhile, but sooner or later you're gonna be pressed for space to keep your collection. You're also gonna find that some of the old stuff taking up space in your collection just doesn't hold that much interest anymore. When that day arrives you'll find yourself parting with a few of your extra items. It's happened to me. At some point, you're going to want to upgrade or branch out to another series, and I find that an excellent way to finance such an expedition is to sell off some of your less desirable holdings. There's a marvelous way about this hobby of ours......in a sense it can pay for itself.

 

I say you are a collector. Find a commonly accepted definition of hoarding below:

Acquiring and failing to throw out a large number of items that would appear to have little or no value to others (e.g., papers, notes, flyers, newspapers, clothes); and/or, severe cluttering of the person's home so that it is no longer able to function as a viable living space.

 

You are a collector. . TC

 

Luckily space is no issue for me. I do believe I will start selling a few coins that don't mean as much to me. Test the waters so to speak.

Brent

 

I always thought the two were interchangeable. I mean "hoarding" and "collecting" both involve keeping things... so, just flip a coin. =)

 

Good for you. I know that selling off part of your holdings can be traumatic but it's really necessary at times and it does indeed help you to grow as a collector by zeroing in on what is really important in your collecting endevour. Buying and selling go hand in hand with this hobby we all enjoy. Welcome to the forum Brent.

 

Aren't we all hoarders?
I mean collecting and hoarding are very similar. I guess the only difference is a hoarder won't let go of anything but a collector will in order to clear space or upgrade.

 

Thanks!

 

In a sense, what you said is true. But a collector tends to keep things with a specific mind 'set'. For example, a set of american silver eagle bullion coin from 1986 to 2012 or a set of buffalo gold PROOF coin from 2006 to 2012. On the other hand, hoarders just keep whatever coins that they find or afford to buy.

Just my five cents