Hello Everyone, Several years have passed since I originally started my coin collection. My original intent was to compile a complete collection of coins from my base but as of yet a problem has been constantly nagging the back of my mind. Coins from the series that I collect are either extremely expensive or either extremely cheap. As such throughout the last few years I have managed to purchase 1 or 2 NGC graded coins a year which have really give my collection a solid base. My dilema arises in that some of the inexpensive coins can be had in mint state condition for a few dollars each. However, its almost as if there is a stigma in the back of my mind now in not wanting to purchase the inexpensive coins because they aren't worthy. Not to come off as a coin snob but I enjoy the unilateral, banal nature of my small box of NGC graded coins. Having a group of common coins in air tites on the side almost seems destructive to the beauty of my main collection. So I suppose the question to be had is if you consider yourself a numismatist of high end stuff is it acceptable to also indulge in coins of almost no value when the "completeness" of a collection is at stake?
Fred, I'm a coin slob, and I collect coins holdered and unholdered. My commems don't necessarily have to reside in 'slabs' to be acceptable to what it is I enjoy collecting. Then again, I'm not a collector of 'high end' stuff. If something appeals to me I accept it for what it is, and throw out the snobbish nature of this hobby we so love......
The stigma is that of many dealers. They don't see the potential profit in the low valued coins so they don't tend to carry them. If you want them there is nothing wrong with wanting them.
You definitely make a solid argument Green; I appreciate your view as well as yours Jgreen although unlike a dealer my intent isn't to capitalize on my collection
A coin doesn't have to be expensive to be "high end". I know you have an amazing collection of scarce and expensive Albanian coins, but even the common coins of the set can be a challenge to find in pristine condition. If it were me, I'd shoot for a complete set. If not only for the reason that the common coins in the set are also amazingly beautiful.
well from my experience.... it was start out cheap and buy higher grades when you can afford them. given enough time you can appreciate higher end coins that you can finally afford. do not get me wrong some of my cheap MISC. world topic/themed coins section someone else look down on cheap coins....I don't.... it's what I get from them. down the road you can upgrade the coins you want higher grades from. I have done that on I few coins recently. It also depends if you are a coin collcctor, collector investor, investor only ??? I am a coin collector for fun but know the value of some of my better "higher end/scarcer" coins.
I have an "A" collection and a "B" collection. The average price of my "A" coins is 10x that of the "B" set and while the less expensive coins are still appealing to me, they are in a different class. While not always true in every collection, my B coins are relatively replaceable compared to the A coins, so I consider them to be the "first to go" if I wish to trade up. As everyone has finite funds, the opportunity cost is important to take into account when adding coins to a "B" collection. They are individually less expensive but add up to an appreciable sum, perhaps using funds which would be better suited to a single, larger purchase. Additionally, a single coin is easier to sell than a dozen - yes, there are fewer potential buyers, but you only need one rather than doing the legwork for many more. Hope that helps!
I am skipping key dates and I really don't care if a single year is missing... this saves money and prevents from feeling bad because I can't afford a certain year in AU/MS... anyway I can still get it once I hit the jackpot ;-)
