ok, that’s it. I have been hooked. I am now more interested in world coinage then American. it started innocently enough, a few gold coins here, some pesos there, didn’t think much of it. I am now purchasing foreign coins almost exclusively.... it sure sneaks up on you I am not abandoning America completely, still have a very nice type set i am working on as well as my commemorative type sets... but it will be a while before i complete my buffalo nickel and merc. date/mm sets. currently working on: Mexico type set Australia type set Canada type set Panama type set Mexico one peso 1910- set its nice looking at so many different coins and not the same designs over and over again My wife and i are actually planning a vacation to mexico... secretly i want to go just to go to the mexican mint and see all the museums of mayan art ( i have a love of mayan art ) any one know if the mexican mint has tours? I am having a tough time finding info... thanks all!
Ranch...do you speak Spanish? MEXICAN MINT Casa de Moneda de Mexico Paseo de la Reforma No. 295 to. piso 06500 Mexico D.F., Mexico Telephone: (52/5) 514-4268 Fax: (52/2) 396-3682
my wife is fluent in spanish and yes, i have gone off the deep-end! The hobby is so big, with so many ways to specialize... I have decided to be a "type" collector... but in a large way. I want to have type sets from as many countries as i can. I already have a nice type set of commems ( "classic" and modern ) as well as a type set of US coins going, the US coins i am trying to get "special" coins, for example my clad roosevelt dime is a 1996-W. anywho, for the world cons i am not going to worry as much about getting rare coins, just the best possible example that i can find. I understand that the coins are not as "liquid" as united state coinage, but it sure can be interesting. so much history and art!
I wouldn't be so sure about that !! World coinage is probably the fastest growing segment of the hobby
Just wait until the cry of world crowns reaches your ears and heart! Early European silver is really REALLY addictive and they never quit coming. You need to pick up a wish book, er, I mean a Standard Catalog of World Coins and lust your heart out. I finally, with help of Ebay and Amazon.com picked up the 1600's, 1700's, 1800's and of course the 1900's editions. The coins in those books will drive a collector mad!!! Welcome to the dark side where the force is strong!!!
I agree with crystaltalk. I collected coins from my youth (about 35 years distant). I took a 10 year hiatis from collecting after moving to England but started up again about a year ago. Now I am into the euro big silver big time lol. Must say my 1st love is still the good ole USA Morgans but hey only marriage is supposed to be monogomous! Daz
I wonder why. World coins are half the price as US coins. I’ve been finding some nice stuff for a little over melt.
That was one of the appealing factors to me since I enjoy buying gold coins but I have been thinking about Spanish and Mexican Silver as well. But those are just thoughts most likely will stay with the gold.
Most of what i am building now are mexico sets, nice big shiney silver coins got a good collection of canadian going as well. mostly its all about what i can find! I still get nervous purchasing coins on ebay, but i have a show coming u october 15 in austin. last time i went i found several dealers that specialized in qorld coins... rows and rows of them... amazing! Plus my local coin dealer has boxes of world coins, but i need to ask nicely for him to dig them up. I usually go on y lunch break to dig. I like "proof-like" silver coins with nice toning. I have a bunch of coins that i have purchased just because they look pretty... some nice rupees from india ( 1919-1944 ) and a 1909 3 mark from germany that is stunning! I will post pics when i can...
I just started in the world scene and I’m all about “The Pretty”. I’ve found world coins to be way different than US. The two local dealers will grade the same coin differently so I have to be much more careful when I buy. I’ve been finding miss labeled coins too, so price can be wildly highly or low. It’s been a lot of fun.
Hey Dazman, Good to find another silver euro collector!!! For a while it seemed I was the only one in the U.S. actively chasing the silver commemoratives. They do seem to be coming a little slower this year but I am still after them and my connections in Europe have really been great keeping me informed and trading with me.
I know I won't be popular for saying this but......It has NEVER been dark concerning being a collector of world coins. People who come here either already bask in the light of world / ancient coins or are at least beginning to see the light through their own darkness and have come to recognise the possibility of their salvation through world coins. For me, turning to the dark side would be collecting US coins. OK. mea culpa. Indeed mea maxima culpa (on occasions). For my sins, I have been known to occasionally taste the fruits of the dark side by buying the occasional commemorative half dollar or bust half dollar or a silver proof set, MS69 Ike, the odd Morgan etcetera etcetera..... but i've always returned to the light. Of course, the brightest possible light hovers over the collecting of french silver jetons of the period 1560-1880. Just thought I would mention that to give you some guidance on your pilgrimage. For anyone wishing to stay in the dark (that is, collecting only US coins), may I humbly suggest that you discuss the finesse associated with state quarters, the differences between NGC MS69 and PCGS MS69, whether a coin has been bent post strike or is indeed some rare mint error over on the US coins forum . It's much darker there and the coins are not quite so pretty. If however you have seen the light and want to discuss / collect world and ancient coins then welcome brothers and sisters. It is warm here in the light. OK, so i'm an arrogant snob, but it's not me who is sitting on the dark side.
There are some very nice Mexican coins, especially mid 20th Century stuff. I have considered focusing on them.
i think its called "the dark side" as a kind of tongue and cheek thing, don;t take it to seriously quick dog: yes, the mid 20th century stuff from mexico is really awsome, lots of variety! I will post some pics of my mexican silver when i get a chance...
Ian, The term "darkside" is not meant to be offensive! Most North American collectors wallow in their dead presidents all their lives and don't venture out in to the world collecting area. That is changing very rapidly at this time but....for years....if you collected foreign coins you just didn't discuss it openly. Lots of things have brought on the changes as the Euro is what got me to open up my eyes and from there things have exploded with all sorts of possibilities. My there are some beautiful coins in the world and some how I need them all!!! Lots of collectors over here see the term "darksider" as a compliment NOW as we had the ability to open up those eyes and proud of it! The flip side would be someone in Europe, Austrailia, Asia or any where else for that matter, collecting U.S. We may be slow over here but we are trying to catch up. I do know this...there is a lot more competition for quality foreign coins over here, at this time, than I have ever seen and prices are escalating every day. Quite honestly some of the world crowns and European classics, as I call them, are very very pricey and must be compared with key date U.S. coins. Ian, I am a darksider and VERY proud of it. You have a LOT of history and culture that was NEVER taught in our schools and world coinage is telling me all about it! I just hate it that it took me 30 years to realize what I was missing!
Oh but I don't. I just find it amusing that people who have `seen the light' talk about it being `the darkside'. A bit of a contradiction in terms. It also brings a whole new meaning to the term `lighten up'. Ian (wh was wooed to the darkside by Oregon commem 1/2's).
