I have been thinking about this for awhile and thought I'd shoot this out to the community. Now disclaimer, I know you shouldn't buy coins to "win" some sort of title. However here's my question, when shooting for some sort of goal/ranking what do y'all shoot for? I ask this mainly because to really play in this hobby most would need very deep pockets but to the average collector who still shoots for quality what do you shoot for. Do y'all shoot to be in the top 100, be in the top 1/3, be above average which in academia means at least 80% which would put you on the top %20...ect.
Truly, I find there is nothing wrong with the strategy of buying coins to win a title if that is what someone finds rewarding within the hobby-industry. However, for myself, I buy coins that are superb and do not care about anything else.
I never thought of it as trying to be in the top rankings, but at one time my goal was to be the first person to collect a date set of Netherlands ducats. To understand what that means you have to realize that the first Netherlands ducats were minted in 1586, and they still mint them today. Now even if I had not quit collecting some years ago, I doubt I ever would have made it because as with most there are some that would be extremely difficult to obtain. But I was about half way there when I decided to stop collecting. That in itself was an achievement, for while there may be someone else who has done it, I don't know of any who have.
I shoot for what I like tdog. Don't care about being top, bottom, or in between in a contest with other collectors. I don't have deep pockets but I do have pockets so I can afford to buy some of the things I like. If I couldn't I would still do my research and enjoy pictures of the coins I love. The enjoyment is in the history not in having more or better toys than another collector. Like some smart guy once said the fun is in the journey not the destination. If I ever got to the end I'd truly be disappointed. Bruce
Being somewhat goal oriented, I struggle with this as well... I'm sure you'll get flamed somewhat with the, "it's the journey" ideal. I've been a hoarder over the last few years because when I see a coin that I like, I buy it. Here are a few ideas on what *I* am doing *now* (which I think might help you) 1. Putting an MS set of Peace dollars together - PGCS graded 2. Doing an AU/BU set of Franklins in a Dansco Folder 3. Seeing how far I can go in completing a nickel and penny set FROM POCKET CHANGE (and a roll here and there from the back) One area that had really, really frustrated me is what to do with sets that are "un-finishable" For instance, I've been working on a Barber quarter set but I'll *never* get the '01-s !!! So to me it'll never be complete and that angers me. I feel like, "why even buy a few of the expensive coins in the set if it won't be complete anyway"?
I am guest here in Chile and thought it would be nice as a gringo to get 99% of all the non gold coins of all years 1900 to 2012. I indeed did so. After, I give the whole set away. Kept like 30 or so best coins from the collection.
Dan Homes who assembled the best collection of large cents ever (he might have done some half cents, but I'm not sure about that) shot for the top ten on each coin.
Well - I don't need to be the tops in anything. I just need my collection to make me happy. Not sure I could make the top 10 in any registry set type competition and I am not sure I want to. I like to just enjoy it and get the coins that make me happy.
I've been collecting for 55+ years and naturally enough started with circulation finds - when you could actually find rare coins in circulation. At that time date/mint sets were my goal as many others also pursued the same ends. Time went on and sets grew and quality improved with the ability to purchase coins. I ran hot and cold and had spells when everything went fallow. Then TPG's came along and as consistency improved it became possible to compare collections. This was not a perfect world but has improved dramatically. I embraced the Registry Set format and have found it FUN - which is all I want from this great hobby. It has also introduced me to collectors country wide who share my enthusiasm. No, I'll never be the best, but my primary interest - the faithful Lincoln Cent now includes the #6 '09 to present and #3 Lincoln Memorial. It's been great fun and continuew!!!
I always thought that a great way for less resourceful collectors to build very significant sets would be to assemble collections of coins that had a nearly identical appearance from one to the next. For every coin to be similar in character to every other in the set requires incredible patience because of the variations in strike, toning, luster and size, placement and orientation of marks. This can be extraordinarily challenging in some series but, when I think back over the collections I pursued most energetically, they were the ones that had no obvious black eyes or sore thumbs in them. They represented to me a deeper commitment to the goal. A collector of modest means, but with such commitment and patience can build sets of unmatched uniformity . . . something that those with the deepest pockets will likely not do, because they pursue the best graded coins, whether they look like the others in a set or not. Coin collecting need not be the hobby of kings, or seem so out of reach, especially for youngsters . . . anyone can get creative and find a collecting angle that works for their special circumstances.
