Think about this? How much time and money do you invest in coins? You would think we'd have something better to do.
Indeed you would. Other pastimes that would hold seemingly more alure, and yet, we gravitate back to this hobby. What is it that draws us?
Switch to wazoo - watch some classic college hoops. Ky versus vandy is on right now. And some people(not me) might want to ban yakpoo just for using ebay.
Couple hours ago I was searching through my desk for I football card with a superbowl pick I put some money on in the begining of the year (couldn't remember who I picked?) So I come across a small box with some world coins I must've stashed there at least 2 years ago and start picking through them. There it was an 1863 British penny that I don't recall ever seeing before and so I spent the next couple hour reading about the different die numbers and the slender three. Yes. I am a coin nerd. (by the way, I picked Indy)
This thread needs a coin pic. http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o81/blauvelt407/DSCF3050-crop-horz.jpg
Actually I think it may be my way of dealing with my OCD, which remains undiagnosed by medical professionals.
It's very simple Grasshopper. One is either a collector or not. Nobody in my family understands it. My wife is great about it. Probably why we're still married. That and she'll watch a hockey game with me and put up with me rewinding in slo mo to show her WHY a play worked. I consider myself a lucky man for these reasons.
I think it is the hunt and the anticipation. Coppermania said it well in response to Sesop a couple of days ago, especially the part about having one part of life in order: I always try to remember that this is a stress relieving hobby and its the collecting and the hunt that is as fun as the owning. I like having the anticipation of auctions, coin shows and relationships with dealers and collectors in my life as a contrast to my work and family realities. I primarily collect to put order in one small place in my world as a kind of therapy. Anyway , my collection won't sink a battleship and I don't get to add coins to it often, but its heavy duty to me and it represents a lot of work, sacrifice and joy. MT Besides, we have to do something between recruiting season and spring practice. RTR.
Hey green - the answer to your problem is having a DVR! That way, you could have recorded last night's excellent Purdue vs. Wisconsin game on ESPN and watched tonight how the Boilers exacted revenge.
Krispy... would you be my Numismatic psychologist? :hug: Green...an anology I can provide for you is this; Ever wonder why someone has the innate ability to perform complex mathematical equations effortlessly? It is an all natural thing. You can relate to it, you see it, feel it, taste it, touch it and roll in it...well that's the way you are with Numismatics...just that simple. As far as coming here to CT..here you are with folks like you, some even more affected than you, some to a lesser degree and others that are just plain fanatics:goofer:..sort of like me..a true case of addiction...I was offered a note yesterday for $24K and I actually thought of getting a second mortgage to get it...I let reality sink in and passed, however, I added another Treasury note to the mix to satisfy that urge.... this is the Fr352 all I need now is the Fr350 to have this Series Set complete..:smile Here is the Fr 351 as well, it has been cropped but is a 65 EPQ it has the same back...just different sig's. You see my man, people like you, me and all the folks on CT and other forums are preservers, caretakers of history and we are only granted a short time in which we hold on to it. Do not question it, cherish it, roll in it and breath it all in. RickieB
I think the addiction aspect of coin collecting is quite obvious especially based on the threads/posts I have seen on this forum. The relationship to sports is also interesting. Think of March Madness for example. Studies show that mens' testosterone levels increase while watching sports (especially live). There is huge rush to sports. To some, there is also likely a rush to the hunt/thrill of coin collecting. TC
Ken, some people have it in their blood to be collectors....and I would wager that if you are a regular on CoinTalk, you are one of those people! And I would say you would qualify as a regular member of CT Ken!
Thanks guys, I really appreciate the comments and support you have given me. I'm feeling much, much better this evening (KS vs KS State). Rickie...you may make a "paper guy" out of me yet....... Oh yeah....Cat, I saw that game. That Hummel kids somethin' else....
Those California Condors are making a comeback ! We saw one in the wild on our last Grand Canyon river trip. The trip launch site is at Vermillion Cliffs where the condors are released.
Yeah, most our our "hobbies" [obsessions] are not easily diagnosed in rational terms. I sometimes stand back and question myself, "why do I do this?" There's usually an attempt at rationalization such as "it's a good investment" or "it keeps me out of trouble" or "I could be spending my money on gambling and booze." But it usually comes down to simply enjoying the challenge of a chase, owning something old and unique, completing something unfinished, having knowledge and appreciation about something special. It applies to anyone who enjoys coins, antiques, Elvis memorabelia, or classic cars.
Because it tends to have some of the best programing, especially if you don't have cable or satellite. I don't have a TV. My Brother has one but just broadcast. He mostly watches PBS. We have Cable at the hospital and most of the time I have the TV in the back room set to PBS, A&E, or the History channel. My father has Satellite and spends most of the time on History channel, Military channel, A&E, other similar channels (and for some unknown reason The Weather channel. He has two TV's side by side one he's watching and other is running the weather channel continously.) I've never understood why anyone would want to watch sports. The only time I ever do is for the Olympics and usually not too much of that because I have no interest in the eents they seem to want to show. For the Winter Olympics it seem their big thing is hockey, and for the summer they love showing the Basketball games.)