Anyone feel overwhelmed in the beginning?

Bluenose, reading your posts as you have started in this wonderful, addictive, compulsive, obsessive, (have I missed one yet?) hobby reminds me of my own journey. I started as a kid, with a paper route, in the early 70s (yup, just dated myself to being older than a lot here, and younger than others). I would get paid with these old coins and just put them away.

Fast forward to the State quarters program, and I found my passion re-ignited. Like you, I jumped in and started reading and then wanted to get everything at once. Luckily, my budget stopped me from doing anything so foolish, I started with mint products (proofs mostly) and a few Franklins and Kennedys. Then I wanted to actually finish a set, so I started collecting SBAs and IKEs (nice small sets). I've finished both of them as far as one example of each date, mint mark and unc/proof. Then I started learning more about varieties, and the obsession to have a more complete set kicked in. I'm trying to instill a little bit of restraint, so I'm not trying to collect the various double-dies, RPMs, etc that are out there, just the major varieties. I've succeeded with the IKEs (including the 1972-P type II), but still don't have the type 2s for the SBA proofs (1979 and 1981).

I do collect ASEs as well, but have limited myself to only collecting 1 of each uncirculated (not including the Ws). I've fought off the urge to jump into the proofs and others (at least for now ).

I could go on, but basically, I'm trying to repeat what others have said. Let your interests determine what a set is. Like a lot of us, it will change over the years. You will start liking one type of coin, then change to something different, and maybe return back to old preferences again.

Enjoy the trip and don't get too worked up about what a set is. It is exactly what you say it is.

 

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Collect what YOU like and try not to let trends sway you too much and you can't go wrong.

 

Thats what I do, and it's a lot more relaxing to me. You have your whole life to assemble sets. Why waste time, money and worrysome thought on completing sets when you could have a truely diverse and stress-free collection? Buy what you like when you see it, and nothing else will matter and before you know it, you'll have a great collection that is enjoyable to own and build upon.
Guy~

 

anyone feel...........................

1.collect what interests you.

2.research what interests you. read up on the coins, check the web, learn as much as you can.

3.be careful when buying, especially on e-bay.

4.ask questions on anything that interests you.

5.have fun!!!

6.see number 2



steve

 

Thanks again, everyone. I thought I'd share today's acquisitions. I got a little from both sets I was thinking of collecting first.


2006-W ASE and P&D Geo. Washington $1

 

First, take a deep breath.
Then, say to yourself: I really like coins, I really like coins.

Then: What ever you do: DON'T buy a copy of Overton's!!!

That will really make your head spin!

 

Amen, Brother. I started collecting recently with my 9 year old son... he covers the US, I cover the World. Talk about being overwhelmed! 100's of countries, hundreds of years, thousands of coin types, none of which are listed in CDN!

What has eased the pain has been to narrow in on a particular niche that I find interesting: I started by narrowing on WW1 coins, then further narrowed to WW1 era European silver coins. This has given me a great range of coins to pursue, most of which are very, very affordable, some of which are devilishly difficult even to find at any price... a great mix for collecting fun.

Another example: I read a history of the Battle of Stalingrad which made a great impression on me. Soon thereafter I started a collection of WW2 era Soviet coins. This has been great fun, and each one, no matter the condition, tells a story. In fact, I have a 1942 coin that is in very poor condition and I keep wondering if it was buried in some heap near the Tractor Factory in the north side of Stalingrad... I like it BETTER because of the lousey condition.

Anyway, I suggest create a niche that really interests you and go from there. Meanwhile, I'll be off trying to fill in my son's IHC collection at VF - XF. Good luck, have fun.

 

I think there is a chance of being overwhelmed in the beginning, and then there is also the chance of "hitting the wall" somewhere in the middle as well.

That's what happened to me.

I felt that I "couldn't go any farther" with my limited budget, wasn't going to fill any more holes in the albums, was worried that I'd get taken if I bought something expensive (for me that is), and was diffusing out way too much with my inexpensive world coins. So I gave up on collecting, until (as most of you already know) Thalia Elizabeth got interested.

This time, I'm trying to stay more focused and I'm gently guiding Thalia in that direction as well. Although "coins from 2000, coins from 1900 and anything with Queen Elizabeth" can be construed as not exactly focused, depending on how you look at it!

I'm am buying "what I like" within reason and although I've still not filled the key holes in the albums, I am enjoying myself again. Which is the point...

 

I'm lucky I guess because when I started collecting coins I didn't know enough to even consider how many different kinds there were. I just started collecting coins as most kids do for a hobby and would collect what ever came accross my fingers that I could afford to keep. Same with many other items that I collected over the years. Now as I get older and older and older I realize I know so little of what I'm doing I just say so what and continue to collect. It's a hobby and hobbies are fun.
You just got to keep telling yourself this is a hobby. That is all, just a hobby. Don't even think about what to collect next, just collect whatever you can afford, like, want or find. If you feel overwhelmed, don't worry about that since there is always so much to learn in any hobby you may still be learning in another few hundred years.

 

YES!! no question about it. when you look at all the coins types, prices, ect..it is an overwhelming experience and makes it so difficult to decide what to collect (unless you have an unlimited budget, you probably can't start w/ an 1804 silver dollar)!

my suggestion to you (and only my opinion). please consider joining the ana and take the numismatic diploma course (whether you choose to take the whole course at once or one at a time). it is set up in a study pattern which will intro you to all facets of numismatics. it truly helps to focus, buy books, and hook up on forums before you make ANY coin investment.

if nothing else, please spend $15 on "coin collecting for dummies book", it is worth the money spent.please be patient in learning and PLEASE listen to the advanced collectors!!!! never hesitate to ask questions. there are good people out there who can help you.

welcome to numismatics. it is a hobby that can bring you yrs of enjoyment and i certainly hope it does.
sincerely...steve

 

Remember, you don't have to collect anything you don't want to! A set is still defined by YOU! Back when I still did US sets, I would consider myself done as soon as I'd acquire every coin affordable (of course, I would still try to go farther!)

And trust me, there are areas of numismatics that can overwhelm you MUCH more than silver dollars! Try collecting ANYTHING by die varieties!

 

You should consider building a Type Set. It doesn't have to be a complete set of every variety of every series. It can be whatever you want it to be.

It could be something as simple as 20th Century coins. (IH Cent, Lincoln Wheat Cent, Lincoln Memorial Cent, Lincoln Zinc Cent, Liberty Nickel, Buffalo Nickel, Jefferson Nickel, Barber Dime, Quarter and Half, Mercury Dime, Roosevelt Dime, etc.) Your type set would not need to include gold coins.

You could put together a type set of Seated Liberty coins - Half Dime, Dime, Quarter, Half Dollar and Dollar. (If your set doesn't include the Gobrecht Dollar no one will think poorly of you.) Your Seated Lib type set could be expanded to include Motto and No Motto, With Arrows, Rays & Arrows, etc. Whatever you want is OK with us.

Another possibility is to build a type set of obsolete denominations - Half Cent, Two Cent, Three Cent (silver and nickel) and Twenty Cent. (Again, no one says your type set has to include gold coins.)

The great thing about building a type set is that you will learn something about a lot of different coins. You might just run across a series that you didn't know much about and that, after learning about it, you really like and decide to collect that series.

 

I'd recommend that you not get too caught up in the value of your collection. Many collectors tend to obsess about how much each coin is worth. If you collect what pleases you, your collection has value beyond money. I'm not suggesting that you don't need to read and learn about the relative values of your coins, everyone needs to purchase wisely. Just that collecting is an end to itself. As Ardatirion stated "A set is still defined by YOU!". At the end of the day, as has been said here in many different ways- let your collection reflect your tastes and opinions. Don't worry about what others may or may not like.

Andy

 

The value of any collection or coin is the knowledge and understanding it bestows on the bearer. There are some great articles and essays by Walter Breen. Its History.. not just money.
:computer:

 

lol....sounds like me

dont worry about it too much...just collect what you like...thats what I do..
I collect all the coins that catch my eye...

I still run all around the hobby but I think it's alot funner that way, you can learn about all different types of coins instead of just one type..

If you did want to do a set, the franklin halves might be a good place to start...they're fairly cheap and nice looking...I love them....Thats the set Im working on right now...but it will probobly be omething different next month...lol....

stainless

 

Here's my two cents. According to my moniker, I collect pocket change. Big time. And all of that goes to coins. Then, as luck would have it, I can easily visit my local coin shop - so I RELIGIOUSLY go there once a month (at least - maybe every two weeks) and I make a small purchase (less than $10) - so I don't really miss it.

Well, guess what? The Pocket Change thing and the $10 every once in a while at the coin shop is leading to a pretty cool collection and I don't feel the "pain" of actually spending money on my collection. Of course, the tactics I'm using result in a lot of lower priced coins - no 1916-D mercs here!!! But, the idea is that I'll sell some at some point to get the holy grail!