Are you all Investers. Is anyone a collector on here?

After being on here now for sometime, I have come to the conclusion that many of you on here are into coins for profit, and not the joy of collecting. I have never seen so much picky picky. A coin has a little mark, it's been cleaned. It's not quite the right color, it's been dipped. It has a tiny bit of oil on the rim, and no more uncirculated. Someone put a mark with a white glove, it's ruined. Half the coins on Ebay are fakes. I'm not buying this coin it has a mark, I checked it with my 400X microscope. Albums are no good for coins, they ruin them. You keep your collection in a vault. You get to see them only when you buy another coin. That coin I bought just increased in value 10% yesterday....Time to sell... I,m sure I'll be crucified on here now. Sorry, not sure how you spell crucified. have a great day...

 

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Ed,

I consider myself a collector. When I think about it, I know it would take a lot of prying from my cold, dead hands before I would let any of my coins go!

I do sell coins on occasion but only ones that are duplicates or more often, even triplicates! I would rather have another hole filled in my Dansco albums than a bunch of duplicats sitting around.


- Jake

 

I consider myself 100% collector. I love collecting because of the beautiful designs alot of our (U.S.) coins have and the history behind them. Most of my collection is in circulated condition....from AG to AU. Theres barely a handful of my collection in BU and they're housed in the same albums as my AG coins. There is a few exeptions that are in slabs....my 16-d Merc and a few Morgans that were bought that way. Investor types could care less about the design of any coins or the history, just how fast they can make a profit. Those coins are bought and sold again faster than you can say NASDAQ. My collection will never be sold again as long as I'm alive, although my wife considers it her retirement fund, after I'm gone of course.

 

A lot of us share the philosophy that we should do our best to preserve these small pieces of history for the future. Hence, we don't want to damage or alter them, and generally want to preseerve them as best as possible. Maybe you see that as trying to get the maximum resell value for them, but that's not what it's about.

 

I consider myself a collector and I love studying and researching coins. I appreciate the beauty of our classic designs and the history behind them. That said, I approach all things I spend money on in a similar way. If I purchase clothing, I want a nice piece of clothing for the right price. I want something of quality without defects. When buying a coin, I attempt to buy the nicest coin I can afford, as I want my collection to be as nice as possible considering my budget. I try to avoid haphazardly buying coins that I will later look at and not enjoy their look. I figure if I am careful and astute in my purchases, then I will get a good value for my money (even if I don't plan on selling) and will be satisfied with my collection.

For example, I had been looking for a nice 1859 Indian cent for quite some time. They are readily available in lower grades, but these often are problem coins and have poor eye appeal. I knew I would not be satisfied with a low quailty example. So, I finally waited until I found a nice original AU piece for my collection.

Sorry for the long post, just thought I would justify my criticism of certain coins from a pure collector standpoint.

 

ED.

As for me I do not sell coins and I do not collect for a profit I however do trade coins at times but I have given away far more coins then I have ever traded. I always have been a collector of coins I love this hobby and it is my opinion that the only people that will ever make huge amounts of money investing in coins are the wealthy.

Bruce.

 

I dont sell or trade coins and to be honest I like a nice circulated coin and almost all my coins are circulated, I dont particularly care if a coin has been cleaned lightly, I have never understood why, if a coin still has a nice tone or what not light cleaning is so bad...I tend to think its an arbitrary standard and since I dont resale coins it doesnt concern me much (not that have done much more than soaking a particularly grimy coin or 2 in some distilled water or light soap). I like to touch my coins and since almost all my coins are circulated...a few more times being touched aint going to do it no harm...

The only coin I am REAL picky about is my new single gold coin (I have another on the way) and I want to keep the gold in perfect condition because I paid a lot to get an almost FDC quality gold coin...I want to keep it that way...

My ancient coins I do treat gentle just because I think they are important historical coins but I will hold them in hand without gloves as well. They survived more than a thousand years, they will survive a few more times in hand

I would say the main thing that I am very picky about are gashes and a lot of scratches especially on the obv. portrait as the portrait is all important for me...

I am about as collector as they come but I collect more for study, history, and portraits than anything else.

I do not hold it against anyone who is super picky...its just the way they approach it and if they are trying to make a buck, good luck My wife would love it if I would make money instead of drain our account on coins...but thats another story. I do think some people can be a bit...tyranical...about how things should be done in this hobby but in the end...you do what you want...it is best to treat a very valuable coin well though as their value DOES make them investments regardless of why you bought it...

I recently started buying Gold...I decided to go down the road of If I see a gold coin I like as a coin...then I will buy it but I just wont start buying stacks of Krugerrands and locking them away...I just cant bring myself to do that so I shop interesting historical coins as I always have..I just include nice gold coins on the menu...

 

Purely a collector. The only time I sell or trade coins is when I have duplicates, and any proceeds goes right back into buying more coins lol... it would be a nice thing if my coins appreciate in value but I don't intend to sell any while I'm still alive unless I come across other coins I want more (though prefer to just buy them too, unless I just have redundant pieces lying around!)

Right now have deicded I'm not going to work on series quite so much (will keep up with the Kennedys, since I have a complete set besides what new ones are still due to come out, and will keep up with the president dollars as they come out, and get a new clad proof set every year) and work on filling my type set. It's basically compete back to the 20th century, not counting gold, and am working on filling the 19th century now. When the type set is done may get back to working on that Lincoln cent series that I've been working on for 20+ years now lol...

Minor damage that investors would run away from is my friend... it puts a lot of still very nice type coins with good detail but just a minor, not too distracting, scrath or dent here and there into my price range that I otherwise wouldn't be able to afford. Got a great capped bust half that way (easily an EF if not for the scratches and dents), and a good deal on a nice flying eagle cent that I otherwise wouldn't be able to afford with the amount of detail it has (but just a tiny nick on the obverse).

 

I am about eclectic as they come in my collecting...my critiria for bid or buy is:

Do I think it looks cool.

Do I not have one like it

Portrait over non-portraits but I cant even stick to that because there are outstanding coins without portraits.

I used to only buy coins and tokens but I cant even follow that...I have been buying notgeld notes and interesting banknotes and medals as well...

 

Hmmm. This thread has taken an interesting twist. I guess I don't see how being picky about scratches, nicks, dipping, etc. somehow throws you out of the collector club

I don't think anyone knowingly collects crap. Even though I collect circulated coins because that's all I can afford, I sure wish some of my Mercs and Walking Liberties weren't so darned worn.

Finally, as a collector you "invest" a lot of time and emotion into your collection - collectors are investors too.

Having said all this, I still agree that some threads really go over the top. I mean, come on, not all of us are collecting museum pieces!!

 

Hi Ed


I do agree with you on some of your thoughts but think most here are collectors at heart. I myself started collecting when I was like 12. Only time I ever sold my coins is when I went into the service and I was sorry after that I did. I have only traded a couple of coins in the last 30 years one of the trades about 15 years ago I traded a 1972 Lincoln BU Double Die for a MS 64 CC dollar from the US Gov stash . But at the same time it is nice to hope I’m making a good investment with what I’m buying. I do not collect any certain coins except proof sets and mint sets. If I see a coin I like and can afford I buy it. Right now I’m on the Ike and SBA kick just picked up 30 silver Ikes on Sunday at local coin show (I go once a month) 15 blue Ikes and 15 Brown box Ikes all for 150.00 that’s $5 for each. Something I can afford.

I think your talking about the people that only post to say how much money they made or lost

 

Collector, and although I pay attention to what my coins are worth, it doesn't play a major role in what or how I collect. For me, a VF is as good as an AU if it's something I don't have. This is not to say that I don't appreciate my uncirculated coins and notes , but I get as much joy out of having something that looks like it was dragged behind a car.

 

I am purely a collector,even though I do work part-time for a coin & stamp dealer.

Aidan.

 

Don't let a few fool you...

There are many very passionate collecters here and plenty of people to learn a lot from...

I'm a collecter 1st and I would not consider myself much of an invester... I do hope that if I go to see off any of my treasures, that I would gain a profit or atleast break even... However, I don't plan to sell for atleast 20+ years and at that point, I might leave most or all of them to my daughter...

My problem is I collect everything (US coin wise) even moderns and need to focus, but there are just so many cool coins out there....

I have more than one set of almost everything I collect too...

Ex:
I have a
Plastic box of very well Circulated Cents in 2x2s and then Certified Cents in Slabs (NGC), the slabs in an NGC slab holder Box
Plastic box of well Circulated Nickels in 2x2s and then Certified Nickels in Slabs (PCGS), the slabs in an PCGS slab holder Box
Plastic box of well Circulated Dimes in 2x2s and then Certified Dimes in Slabs (PCGS), the slabs in an PCGS slab holder Box
Plastic box of well Circulated Quarters in 2x2s and then Certified Quarters in Slabs (PCGS), the slabs in an PCGS slab holder Box
Plastic box of well Circulated Halves in 2x2s and then Certified Halves in Slabs (PCGS), the slabs in an PCGS slab holder Box
Plastic box of well Circulated Morgans in 2x2s and then Certified Morgans in Slabs (NGC), the slabs in an NGC slab holder Box

Same with SAEs and a few other coins....

Thats a lot of Boxes....

Then I collect Mint and Proof sets...

Now you know why I'm gonna buy a second and bigger safe as soon as my dang tax refund gets back....

So as you can see, I collect a lot of coins, not just ones that I think are going to make me a lot of money...

Alot of them, I'm sure I'll never realize a profit on....

I also collect and read coin books, I think I'm up to 15 or 16...

However, I enjoy the time of looking at each coin and learning its history, and about the different mint marks, types and finishes... That enjoyment is an investment that is already paying off and is priceless...

Did you really think that there were no collcters here or was that just a ploy to get a rise out of a bunch of us???

 

Hi Ed,

I'm not going to crucify you. I've only been coming around here for a few months myself. It may seem like much of what you've observed is the norm, but from what I've seen of these people, it's a bit 'over the top'.

I can't speak for the others, but I'm a collector and have been for 50 years. However, I'm also an investor. Is it OK if I'm both?

For example, I order a lot of stuff from the mint each year and this past year I sold some of my duplicates and items that had gone up quite a bit in value. I sold my extra Marine Corps commemoratives (er, and I was a vietnam Sgt), bunch of extra proof sets, etc.

What I did with the proceeds was to BUY MORE COINS for my collection. I bought some buffalos and indian head cents. I'm gearing up to do it again. This past year I ordered and then re-ordered some more of the 2006W Silver Eagle Burnished BU from the mint for $19.95 - figured they would be a winner. Well, they are - selling for ~?70-80. I bought 10 of them and I figure I only need 3 (me and the grandkids). The others are 'investment'. Ah, but they mean I can buy more coins!!!

As for being picky. I'm probably not as picky as some around here, but I do try to take most excellent care of my coins. I don't clean them but do dip them in Coinsolv. I use top quality albums. I buy the boxed stuff that's supposed to keep the moisture out. I don't handle my coins with my greasy little fingers.

And I invest big time in gold and silver coins and bullion whilst I'm doing the above - the whole nine yards - mutual funds, ETF's, silver rounds, ASE's, AGE's, individual mining stocks including penny stocks (OTC and Pinksheet).

A wee suggestion. If a particular post or thread is getting a little too detail oriented (10%), skip it. Go on to the others that are informative, instructional and show a true love of the hobby (er, the other 90%)

peace,

rono

 

certainly feel i am a collector...been showing pics of my morgan set which i am slowly acquiring..hard to call it investing when the top coin is a common date ms65....also tend to do a lot of reading as well as the ana diploma course. from many of the posts i have read, i feel this site has many collectors..there are also a lot of people in the background who don't post...a lot of people feel they are both collector/investor....my own viewpoint...steve

 

Dang...Rono

We must be cut from the same mold...LOL

I am what you say you are...

RickieB

 

Guess you'd call me a Coin, Book, Die-Cast, and Sports-Card (sold most of my early stuff though) collecter.

Take Care
Ben

 

I think most of the collectors follow their heart and not their brain... and me too is not an exception..