Is it wrong to just collect coins I think are cool without any sort of "collection" intended?

Just about everything Scott Travers recommends...I do the opposite.

I wish there was a government regulatory agency to keep me from making bad coin decisions.

 

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There are no right or wrong ways to collect, IMHO. Collect what appeals to you, and enjoy this great hobby. I think we all enjoy collecting "our way", whatever that is.

 

Traver forgot the first run of coin collect whichis that coins make for terrible investments.

 

You are free to collect whatever you like, but I've found that I get more out of what I have if there is a rhyme or reason to it. Sometimes I get something, don't do much with it for years and then come back have an interest in the same topic.

For example, I bought this denarius of the emperor Geta (lived 189 to 211 AD, was emperor with is brother, who killed him 209 to 211.) for a high school history project. Many years later I got interested in Roman imperial coinage, and this was my first piece.



To complete the story, here is Caracalla, the brother who killed Geta ... right in front of his mother during a "peace conference" they were supposed to be having.



That's the goddess Dea Caelesits riding a lion and holding a thunder bolt. Don't try that at home!

Some years after I bought the Geta denarius I bought a few old British coins. My interest did not bloom until a few decades later. I bought this Commonwealth shilling because of the date, 1652, which has a connection to the Massachusetts silver coinage.

 

Hoard as much as you want of anything.

Just make sure you don't have to clear a path to walk through your house.

No fire traps!

 

If eclectic buying is your thing....then you'll have alot of fun at FUN.

Or any other big coin show.

 

100%
Collect things because you love them.
Sometimes themes happen, because you love them too.

Careful! Sounds like you might be accidentally coming up with a theme

 

I just buy whichever coin that catches my eyes. The collecting themes come naturally when I display my coins in coin trays.

 

I knew you would ask, seems like something you would really enjoy.

 

Oh yeah I do like that!

Except I don’t like albums. :/

Id definitely enjoy collecting the same coins in slabs.

 

Collect what you like. No right or wrong way. I started trying to do a US type set. side tracked into Trade Dollars (over 40 now); capped bust halves (complete set); early Walkers (mostly complete); CWT's, HTTs, a few Conders; pre 1850 seated dollars; and assorted other stuff including gold back to the Classic Head era. It's a lot of stuff, but a lot of fun, too. Having fun, that's the main thing.

 

I guess what I meant was like does it count as a “collection” if there is no rhyme or reason behind the coins?’

I just see random coins and think “wow that’s cool!” and I get it.

But it’s not like there are any dates or mints that I’m looking for like most people.

Like how Morgan Dollar collectors usually try to get every date & Mint (or as many as possible) so they’re always looking to progress their collection.