Coin Collecting makes no sense... Why??

Ah, Got your attention with that title didn't I.. OK sorry...

Seriously, What do you say to those that ask why you collect coins and say they just don't get it??? Its a waste of money and Blah Blah Blah...

The topic came up on another forum (related to PMs) and I tried to explain, but they weren't having it...

 

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umm.. it's like smoking cigarettes, except prettier

 

Hello

I never answer why I collect coins. And I never ask people if they would like to see them. Some know, are interested and ask to have a look : I'm always pleased and able to "bore" them for hours. Some don't care and don't ask and that's all. I don't want to waste time explaining things that people don't want to know about coins

Cucumbor

 

It's like most hobbies, it costs money. Except, you always have the option to sell your collection and get some, all, or more of your money back out. Try that trick with most other hobbies and you will lose your shirt.

 

Collecting

Like smoking, coin collecting is addictive, sometimes to the point of obssesion ( who me????) . but I can think of worse things to spend ( waste? ) money on, exept we have a strong chance at getting our money back if need be. Besides that, we can hold money, art, and history all at one time.

 

Nobody ever asks me why. Maybe they are afraid.

 

I always have fun with people. Many times I have been asked why and I simply say "here's the dollar you have now" and I hand them a Sac. Then I say "this is the dollar you can collect" and I hand them a Morgan dollar. Once they see the "obvious" difference they usuually get a little more interested and the "why's" usually turn to "where can I get those?". Then we get serious.

 

It really isn't nuts.....I mean no matter how much money you spend on coins you will ALWAYS have some left over!!!
My Bro-in-law used to think I was nuts....then we decided to start our own business and we needed funds...I sold part of my collection and had cash in hand in less than 2 weeks--now he thinks coins are great!

Speedy

 

People tell me that sometimes it it pointless, and "a penny is worth a penny" and the large cent I recently bought wasn't worth $11...
However, I see what they do and doing art on your graphing calculator seems more pointless than coin collecting, which can be an investment...
While on the other hand, people think my ancient coins are fascinating, partially because they've never held anything in their hands as old as that.
Am I helping you? Sorry if not.

 

Well, I'll put it this way. Yesterday I was excited about getting a bonus, unlabeled coin in the mail. There was an ugly guy with a hat on it, but it looked Indian to me. About 5 minutes of looking around online, I learned a little about WWII-era India and about the principality of Jaipur, which was apparently lead by some ugly guy in a hat. Like people have said, it's neat to have a little bit ofhistory/culture/art/antiquity in your hand. Now, with that kind of experience with one coin, I can do that again several times over again.

Granted, that's partially just the way I collect.

 

Hey Smullen, check your Private Messages :smile

 

My girlfriend: "Why do you spend money on money?"
Me: "Why do you buy crossword puzzles?"

Answer to both: Because I enjoy it!

Unless you are a coin/note collector, you will never understand what makes the rest of us tick.

 

I have a co worker who thinks he collects coins..He doesn't understand why I want a Nevada-D. All I have is a P I tell him..you need to have both,.why he says..a quarter is a quarter..growllllllllllllllll

 

You can always say:

Coin collecting is the only hobby where you could spend all the money in the world, and you'd still have some left over.

 

Collecting makes no sense to those who do not have the collecting gene so there is no sense in trying to explain it to them. And if they have the collecting gene, there is no need to explain it.

 

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I couldn't have expressed it better myself.

 

my answer

I simply say that every coin is a lesson, in history, geography, science and art. And I love to learn new things. And staying interested in learning keeps you young. People who have hobbys that excite they live longer, happier lives, than people whose most exciting moment comes when someone gets kicked off the island. JonySky

 

The real answer is thus:

I have had many hobbies in my time... all very, very expensive and equally addicting.... yet coin collecting is actually the cheapest hobby in the world (provided your not an idiot) in fact its an investment really, now if i had every dollar back from that which I've spent on hobbies in the past, including an anualized return of say 12% I would be far wealthier then I am today. Coin collecting is the hobby for the inteligent. enough said.

 

I like old stuff & coins are cheaper than antiques.

 

MorganMan99, I agree with you completely I have spent nearly $50,000 on my other hobbies thruout my life, comics, sports cards, aquariums, and many others. While yes some of these things can be considered investments none of them can be cashed in at the bank. Not that any of us would do that with our collections. I now have a garage full of aquariums that are doing nothing more than taking up space.