I'm at my wits end here. In a year I have accumulated quite a collection of coins and getting very frustrated. Should I continue with this "addiction" or just concentrate on a particular coin? I currently have (2)complete Lincoln cent sets, Jefferson nickels set, Roosevelt dimes set, Washington quarters set, 20th century type set, Lincoln roll set 1940-current all MM's and alot of pre-40's rolls.This roll set I believe is just a pipe dream. This is getting ridiculous and costly. Please don't think I'm tooting my horn but I'm in need of serious input. Guess my question is should I sell of everything except my better set of Lincolns and just concentrate on those? I told my wife that this is worse than crack and that the great coin talk people would offer some good intervention! I really do appreciate any helpful input. Thanks all
"This is getting ridiculous and costly." It sounds as if you already know the answer. Sell whatever you can do without.
Think I understand where you're at. Some time back I decided to go back to my collecting roots and focus on the cents I started with. Sold off everything else and focused on upgrades to Lincolns and Indian Head Cents. Then the Two Cent bug bit me. LOL Lots of directions to go. Think about what appeals to you most in collecting. Sounds like you prefer date and mint sets. Plenty of opportunity to focus on cents and move into earlier series if you like that direction. The members here are pretty creative in how they define their collections. You can visit the collections at the NGC Collectors Society here > http://coins.www.collectors-society.com/registry/coins/public_sets.aspx or at the PCGS Set Registry here > http://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/ These site should give you some ideas on how other collectors have directed their collecting interest. Have Fun....
Not sure I understand the problem. Of course I'm the sort of person that continuously collects, collects, collects. And example is I start with a Lincoln Cent Whitman Classic Album. Then as I aquire a newer, better coin, the one in the album goes into a 2x2 and the new one goes into the set. When the 2x2's pile up, I acquire another Album and using the 2x2 duplicates, I start filling up #2 with those. Then this continues with more and more and more. This is why I have well over 100 Whitman Albums. 10 of those are Lincoln's, 12 are Mercury Dimes, etc. There is really no end untill you have all the coins ever minted you know.
I used to collect everything that walked my way. Recently I sold 75% of my entire collection so that I could focus on what I enjoy at the time, my Dansco 7070. Of course there are some coins that I will never sell like my Barber half set, or some of my Jeffersons. Collect what you enjoy, and don't be afraid to sell ones that don't please you at the moment.
I try to restrain myself to one area at a time,it's not easy and i am also a addict. When I get the bug real bad I go to the bank and buy rolled coins and start searching and sorting,takes lots of time with little loss of monetary funds. And stay away from coin shops and ebay.
Check with banks in your area for bags of coins. Nothing like a $50 bag of cents to look through. And since probably 90% of all the rolled ones have been searched, many bags have sat in bank vaults for a long, long time.
Sell everything and build a quality Washington Quarter collection. While doing that start a 7070 that will make other collectors bow down in awe to the master of his domain. Cents are cents...everyone does cents. An heirloom 7070 is the fruit of the Gods and something that will be handed down from generation to generation.
Find a comfy chair in a quiet area, get all snuggled in and open your Red Book. Casually page through it taking note of what interests you (and is within your budget). Then examine your list of "finalists" and weed out the contenders until you arrive at a winner. (Keep the list for future reference.) Then examine your current holdings and decide what you can part with to help finance your new interest. Basically become goal oriented.
I'm like Carl in that it's hard to understand completely, because collect is what we do. I suppose you could focus a bit finer. If you like Lincolns, try building a set of say all MS 64 and better in differing colors or tones. Or build a complete set of Jeffersons all with full steps. There's a thousand ways you could focus and really challenge yourself rather than just building date and mintmark sets. Guy~
I think this is a very personal question and only you can answer it. It sounds like you are collecting in multiple directions and are a little over extended. I would take a step back and look at your collection. Is there anything in particular you really like? Is there anything in particular that you like...but it just isn't that important to you. I think you will find that you like everything, but there are some items/sets you really cherish and others that are just "OK." I would then focus on those that you really cherish and let the others go.
I agree sell what does not interest you any longer. Then step back and take a look at what you would really like to do. Some of the sets you mentioned are just easy to collect and with just a little money you complete them. Personally if you do not have a direction - look at Kangas type set and try to do a matching set like him. Again take your time - there is no rush. Just sit back and take some time on deciding your goal. And if you really want a challenge trying something like large cents by varieties - tough but not completely impossible(ignoring the NC's). That would take a life time. Or even cracking the bust half nut club.
Thanks all for the inputs. Think I will be selling alot of stuff off and just work on upgrades for the Lincoln set.
Do whatever floats your boat man. That's the beauty of the hobby. If you want the best set of Lincolns you can afford go for it. If you want a great 7070 set go for it. If you want to (dare I say it) go into paper money then go for it. I've gone through many phases, bought many things and never really regretted any of it. I figure I have more weird "stuff" than any kid on the block and that's cool to me. Like I said. That's the beauty of the hobby.
It just sounds like your a a crossroads in your coin collecting life. We all (most) go thru it. Pick a type or two and make a higher grade set and get rid of your dupes or start a new one all together in MS or what ever your budget is. I think most go thru this cycle or a version of: 1.pocket change picking 2.set making (blue whitmans) 3. other types of coins like tokens,medals ect... 4. currency 5. higher quality/graded coins 6. type coins or specialization then 7. back to roll searching/pocket change Sure there are many varations but it seems to move something like that...look around and specialize and Good Luck
Good idea, if you're comfortable doing that. I've certainly felt the same way but when push comes to shove, I can't sell!!! I mean I can sell a couple, but my whole collection? Heck no!! Anyways, if you do decide to sell I suggest you look over every coin slowly. Two reasons for doing that. To see if you really want to sell it and to see if there are any errors. good luck
Fish... It does make you stop and think every once in a while huh? I have had the same thoughts when I collected coins...it led to a focus shift and look where I am at now, in deeper water with out a Life Raft!! RickieB
