I think I’m done collecting…..

.....in order to complete a particular Series/Set.

@lordmarcovan posted a thread called “Your top ten numismatic goals for 2025?”, which got me thinking about my future coin collecting goals.

In the past, I always wanted to collect every date/mm for whatever I was collecting. As a child, I had Whitman folders for Cents, Nickles, Dimes and Quarters, and needed to fill every hole (which I never did). As I got older, my favorite coin types changed, but I still felt that, in order to “do it right”, I needed to complete the Set – every date/mm of the series (which I never did).

Part of my problem with never completing a set is that I have always chased the “shiny object”! I’m collecting Mercury Dimes. Gotta complete the set, right? Ooooh, look at that Franklin Half. Gotta collect the entire set of Franklin Halves! Ooooh, wait! Look at that blast white Morgan Dollar! Gotta collect the entire set of Morgan Dollars! Wait – look at the toning on that Morgan Dollar! Yeah, I have that Date/MM, but I NEED that one! Ooooh, another beautifully toned Morgan. Same Date/MM? Who cares? I gotta have it! Oh, no! Look at those red-brown FEC’s and IHC’s! Oh, and those chocolate brown Large Cents! Hmm, that coin seems to be undervalued – I should get it, cuz I can probably make a good profit on it later! What?!!! I never knew 3-cent pieces were so beautiful! Gotta have some! Maybe I can complete that set! Nope!

I’ve resigned myself to the fact that I will likely NEVER complete a set of any coin series!

Now that I’m reflecting on my goals for 2025, I think it’s ok that I don’t complete a set of any series.

I’m starting to lean toward these collecting goals, going forward:

• Forget about completing a series. It just doesn’t matter.
• Get rid of all the coins that don’t make me happy to own, or that I don’t really have an interest in. That might be 80% of my collection – I don’t know.
• Collect only coins that make me happy. If that means I own 10 toned 1881-S Morgans because they’re all differently beautiful, so be it. And, if I want to own only one Barber coin, just because it’s exceptionally struck, so be it. And, if I want to chase after a 18th Century coin, because I don’t have one, that’s ok.
• But, one Set that I DO want to complete some day (and will probably upgrade as funds permit) is my Dansco 7070 Type Set! That set is just cool!

So, what do you all think?
Is collecting/finishing a series by Date/MM “the right way” to collect?
Is there ANY “right way” to collect? I say no.
Is it blasphemy to say that finishing a series isn’t important?
Do you collect for Series, or Sets?
Do you collect randomly – just whatever makes you happy?
Do you collect for resale, hoping for a good ROI?
What other reasons do you have for your collection habits?

BTW – I’m not knocking anyone who collects for Series/Sets (I know plenty of you have really nice PCGS or NGC Registry Sets, which I do envy!), nor any reason or methodology of collecting. You do you, whatever makes you happy!

 

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Sounds like you have found a new direction that several of us have taken as well. It's the "box of xyz" or type set route where you just collect what you like. There is a place for assembling a series but the freedom of picking from multiple different series can be very enjoyable.

 

Yeah, I've seen several "Box of 20" threads, but I don't think I'll limit myself to just 20 coins. Too much of challenge for me! Someone with "shiny object syndrome" can't be limited to anything! LOL!

 

And that is why I said box of "xyz" ...that way the box can be 100, 1000, or even larger.

 

In one breath you ask others opinions, above. In the next breath, same post, you say.......

The ONLY 'right way to collect' is whatever makes you happy. Others opinions are just that, others opinions. Unless they're buying the coins/objects for you, their opinions mean naught.

Heck, there are people who collect barbed wire, spoons, bugs, thimbles, license plates. Jeez, there are people who still collect, choke choke, cough cough, stamps! Even though the whole world basically told them nobody collects stamps anymore. Their money, their time, their collection.

As you said, you do you.

For the record, I'd be interested in watching how your box of 20, 30, 50 or 100 progresses.

 

I never set any rules on what I collected or tell others what they should collect. I would always study a series and find several nice examples to enjoy.

I guess I did have one rule. Don't buy ugly.

 

I don't overthink nuthin'. I collect what I like and what I want in any order or manner. Date and mintmark? Good in some cases. I've completed certain runs on various coin series but I don't like when the mint throws you a 'got to have it' curve ball. I don't subscribe to such nonsense. It's my collection, therefore I get to pick and choose......

 

And since one man's "ugly" is another man's "intriguing" or "character-filled" or "I need a new way to make the other folks at the coin club say 'WTH'"... I may well be grabbing one or two of the coins you pass up.

 

You're correct. But, I was wondering about the collecting habits of others. I know some people have very strict "rules" of how they collect. Just wondering.

 

"I'm not hung up on this completion thing." - Nick (William Hurt), The Big Chill

There are so many ways to look at this. Are you going to be bound by what someone else defined as "complete"? For example, the 1922 1c No D. Somebody at the mint screwed up and polished the D right off the die, so then somebody says you have to have that one in order to complete an album? Does that make any sense? Go your own way, be a rebel, collect what you want.

 

I think budget plays a big part in this adventure for anyone.

 

It's not Sunday but does it have to be? Hallelujah!

 

Not many rules for me. I do like the older coins to collect in any condition.

 

I have always promoted the idea that you get to decide what you think does or does not deserve to be in your collection or what defines a set. i think it is one of the least mentioned but best things about coin collecting. i have finished many sets, (On my terms and no one elses). James

 

Even that one is wonky. The Silver American Eagle is a bullion coin. Who decided that had to be in there in order to be complete?

 

The "right way" to collect is just that...there's no wrong way. Collect whatever brings a smile to your face.

Bruce

 

If you buy the hole, fill it. Otherwise why did you buy the hole?

See, I collect holes first, then the stuff to put in them.