Have you ever seen those shows like "American Pickers" where a collector says he's ready to sell, but then every time they try to buy something he doesn't want to sell it? I had kind of a similar feeling. I was trying to cut down on some of my coins that are less important to me. For a long time I pretty much wanted to get one of everything from everywhere, and eventually I started to re-evaluate my philosophy and try to focus more on things that I really like and cut down on some of the rest. So today I was looking at a few albums and trying to cut them down, but when I start it turns out way more of them speak to me than I expect them to. I had an easier time getting rid of the post 1950s coins, but the older ones are really hard for me to part with. I don't know how some people can have their entire collection be like 50 coins. I can't even cut my Swedish collection that low.
I tend to be a mixed bag. I can let go of some coins if I am getting a better example of the same type, going towards a bigger purchase, problem develops *Bronze Disease*, or taste just changing. Most of my partings are via trades, but I have sold many, just via privately to other collectors. I avoid ebay when possible. Now can I sacrifice those special or rare coins? NO! Too many ancients and some world I could never let go of, unless it was a dire emergency. Can't take them with you
Most of the time, I can't bring myself to sell coins I haven't specifically bought for resale, either. I don't mind so much: it just means I don't sell a lot of coins. I try to make every coin count. I would honestly rather have the prettiest example of (say) a common date Mercury dime than a 1916-D. The only way I would get rid of a coin from my collection is if I decided later it didn't measure up.
One thing I know I did when I was getting started was I'd like one or two types of coin from a country and then decide I needed all the coins from that country. Now I go back and it's hard to get rid of the coins that I originally liked, but it's easier to part with some of the others. Like my Swedish collection, for example, since that's what I was working on. I like the older 2 and 5 ore coins the most, and it's hard to get rid of those. I had less trouble getting rid of 10 and 25 ore even though they're silver, because they're not really attractive. I have a soft spot for dark colored bronze coins, especially if they're large. But I ask myself, how many do I really need? I was wanting to cut it down to more of a type collection, but it's hard to let go.
well as time goes on... I think we all get more focused. I have made judgement calls on which coins mean more to me. I think thee older coins are really getting my attention more more. I think I am spending less on common coins and more on more attractive older coins. some coins speak volumes and some not so much. could I part with half of my collection sure, just not right now. I think you are talking about an emotional connection. I am now on my 20th year of collecting coins. Yes I have gotten way more focused on which coin are on my want list. That's the beauty of coin collecting. your coin collecting ways evolves. I can understand why some people might have only 50 coins in their collections. It is all about what you like/love to collect. each person is different.
Here's one way: Make a special binder (s) for your favorite coins. Leave the less desirable coins (or those you wish to relinquish) in an other binder-after awhile you'll find you can part with those in the secondary binder.
I was thinking of separating my coins like the bear coins, turtle coins, elephant coins into their own place. Right now everything is sorted by country. I like keeping most of it by country because it makes the most sense to me. I should add that I have 37 binders averaging about two to three inches thick apiece. So not only is it a hefty collection but it would be a heck of a task to reorganize.
Gulp! I understand why you're wanting to prune. My collection (comprising 40+ years of collecting) fills 4 binders, and all of the pages are for either Air-Tites or certified holders, so 5 to 6 pages per binder on average.
I probably started collecting around 2010 or so. Most of what I have is from dealer's 25 cent bins or eBay purchases. It quickly grew on me, and I'm not quite sure how it got so big. Many of my coins wouldn't be what a lot of people on this site consider "collectible," but to me a coin isn't just worth saving just because it's worth X number of dollars. On the other hand though, I'm realizing I don't need everything. On a side note, I'd recommend people go through their collections every once in awhile and re-examine them. I feel like I'm seeing a lot of them for the first time.
coins are great in any value. I also recommend everyone visit their whole coin collection. it's like visit old nice friends.
While my collection isn't as sizable as yours, I understand the need to slim down and focus. My collection has two clearly different directions: First focus is collect able WWI and earlier German and Austro-Hungarian Empire as well as 1900 and earlier Spanish coins. I really have to watch myself as I'm easily tempted to veer off sometimes. 2 albums. Second focus is modern world coins I acquire during travels. I'll hit 20 years active duty this summer with more years circling the globe than stateside. I have not always been a collector but I always gathered a type set of circulation coins from change while I was there. Was really fun pre-euro. 99% not collectable but wouldn't get rid of them for anything. 3 albums. I certainly do not collect with resale consideration. I often over pay if I have been looking for a while. If I did this for an investment I'd be failing pretty bad.
After 10 or so years of focused collecting, my collection is ~60 coins. I did it out of necessity, since I simply was spreading myself too thin and came to realize that unless I focus, I will not be able to afford the quality and rarity of coins that I wanted. Forcing myself into a PCGS registry format helped with it, as well, as I try to find examples that I believe to be up to (what I consider to be) stricter PCGS grading standards.
Absolutely. "Collect what you like" should always be our mantra. That said, I have to admit that after paring down my holdings (I went from 500+ coins down to around 280) and focusing on buying better coins, I like the fact that my collection is now of higher quality and greater value. That was simply a by-product, however, never the objective. What I didn't like about having a larger collection, and what motivated me to scale back, was that it became overwhelming to me. It was like the old saying, "can't see the forest for the trees," except in reverse. I couldn't see the "trees" (i.e., the individual coins) for the "forest" (the entirety of the collection). I'll bet a lot of coin collectors have reached a similar tipping point. Sounds like you have, too.
I agree, I now feel like I want to focus on buying better coins, but it doesn't mean that the ones I already have are no longer interesting. I just frankly have about everything you can find in a junk bin. Maybe not every date of every coin, but I rarely see anything new anymore, and I decided there wasn't any value in just collecting every date of every series. While I do still aim to have full collections of series like British and Australian pennies because I really like those coins, I don't need a full collection of Norwegian 1 ore coins, which I was buying just because. This does pretty much mean I'm hardly buying any coins now because I have to decide what I really want to pursue next. But that's not so bad. It gives me time to look at what I already have.
The worst part is trying to figure out how to move them. It's fantastic to buy $3-5 or $10 coins for 25 cents but they're not worth selling 1 at time and people are rarely willing to pay the real value for a large random batch. You put together $150 worth of coins, try to sell for $100 and end up at $45 total minus $8 shipping. It's easier to keep them and not deal with it. That said, it's unusual for me to leave any coin dated 18xx in a junk bin.
I agree, I can't leave behind anything from before the 1940s. I do sell my doubles or the coins I don't want anymore, but you're right, it can take months. You have to make sure you don't pay listing fees, you aren't in any hurry, and you have to be efficient. Right now I'm trying to sell groups that I purged like "30 Japanese coins," "40 Guatemalan coins," etc. If I'm lucky I'll get $3-$4 for them if I can sell them at all. It's a terrible deal, but some of them I just want to disappear.
I used to have over 2k of coins about 300 or so slabbed PCGS/NGC. I recently started selling of the lower graded extras and other odd and ends to pay for the new Chinese set im completing. I figure if I sell of the extras and raw coins I wont grade I can put together nice sets I enjoy. So far its working well.
