I Think I'm An Unsophisticated Numismatist

And here I thought I was the only one.

I go for the obvious. When I got the Morgan red book and learned about the 7/8 tail feathers, I had to get one. Then there was the slanted/parallel arrow feather on them. I bought two 2-cent coins because it was the first coin to have the IGWT motto on it. I also like the coins with the flying eagle on them because they are different from all the other coins with eagles on them.

 

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I am also in the same boat about the more micro side of the hobby. I lean more towards the social side, i.e., how coins were used, what they could buy, why designs were chosen and by who and for what, etc. Foibles at the mint never did much for me, either, and rarities just seem expensive (and often overpriced). I own no VAMs, double dies, errors or anything along those lines. I tend to like more common coins in high grades because they likely resemble coins as they first looked when used by real people in that era. Sort of like this common 1914-D quarter, which I like to imagine someone in 1914 having in their pocket, flipping in the air or buying patent medicines with it.

 

Having come back to the hobby last year after more than 25 years away from it, one of the things I have noticed is the obsession with errors, be they perceived or real. I have no such interest, instead collecting mint state and proof examples of the minters' art. That is one less in the grab for error coins, so that should be some good news to collectors of such things.

 

I too have never understood the obsession with quality control problems.

 

I too had a hiatus from collecting while I raised a family and was somewhat stunned that errors/varieties had become so popular while I was away.

 

Well from what I can tell after readying all of the responses is that we are all very visual people. Like one poster stated, he appreciated those that take the time to find those ever elusive die cracks and VAM variations. But for me...I buy coins for the visual appeal. If I get the warm and fuzzes about a coin and I like it...well then its a done deal. Yes I do research; but for the most part I go by what I "see" and in turn what I like. Kudos to the OP for bringing up what everybody knows but don' say out loud too much.

 

Amen to that. I have often posted that if I can't see it with my corrected vision, it doesn't matter to me.

 

Honestly, I'm not convinced they really are that popular in the wider hobby. Here on CT, we have our own little microcosm.

 

The owners of the local coin shops in town have absolutely no interest in errors. They don't deal in them, mainly because there are so few customers for them, so little demand.

 

Maybe that's it too. My only real connection to the social side of this hobby CT. In fact, several years ago I had a falling out with some of the members here and decided to leave the forum for a bit...and I basically stopped collecting for a while too (got back into it some time later and they finally returned to the forum). I guess part of my hobby interested is tied to CT. I don't have a great feel for what is "mainstream" outside the forum. I know what I like and what I don't like. Maybe I'm more normal than I think...which would be a first.

 

I honestly think the only true error of this type that I have any interest in owning is a 1955 Lincoln DDO...which is probably about as popular (and obvious) as they get.

 

Add me to the list of the fellow "unsophisticates." My collection revolves around eye appeal, and being able to see it is the primary requisite.

 

We know Paul...you like shiny, pretty things.

 

I always knew preferring raspberry sorbet would get me into nothing but trouble.

 

It's funny you should mention that - I literally just put a batch of raspberry ice cream into the ice-cream maker. Churning away now!

 

Man...now I want ice cream and I'm stuck at work.

 

New member here - first post! This topic caught my eye because I've felt "unsophisticated" as well, at various times. I may be more of a collector than a numismatist. (Sometimes I feel like I want one of everything). But having said that, I've recently gotten interested in the Capped Bust Half Dimes and their various die marriages - and it's fascinating to me! To be able to trace the various obverses and reverses through the short span of that series puts me back at the US Mint, almost 200 years ago. "That one's cracked? Better let it roll for another day and then we'll replace it with the one from last year for a while..." (I imagine). Anyway - I've been lurking a while and enjoying the board!

 

I had my mom over for mother's day brunch last weekend, and she was really disappointed that I didn't make ice cream. She didn't tell me she wanted ice cream!

So, now I'm making ice cream to have mom back over and finish mother's day.

 

With your new found love of CBHD, you’re certainly on your way to being more sophisticated than me!

Welcome to CT!