I am to the point, in my collecting life, to where I do not know what to do, and i'm fed up with it .... I sold off most of my collection to start dumping money into seated AND barber coins, but, now that I am into seated coins, I don't like barber coins as much anymore, and tend to buy seated before barber, so now i'm to the point of contemplating selling all my barbers to buy up some more nice seated coins, but, then I got to ponderin around on e-bay and yahoo auctions, and bought my first bust dime in XF, earlier this week I purchased an MS bust half dime that has yet to reach me. So now I am back to the point I was a month ago of selling off some of my collection to buy what I REALLY want.................................................................................. .......... What do I REALLY want? Does anybody else go through this cycle? and have you gotten to a point to where you are satisfied yet? I have older brothers, and watched them go through their mid-life crisis, buying all kinds of stuff, just blowing money and never being satisfied, is this my premature midlife crisis that is lashing out on my coin collecting passion? I feel like I hit purberty again...................Sure, at first I was satisfied with chasin a mutt around the playground, but, now that i'm at the prom dance, I want a pedigree to tickle my funny bone. Could depression be causing all this rumble? Have any coin collectors you know of or you yourself been depressed and it's been taken out on the type of coins you collect, or think you want to collect, but, aren't sure................................ * THROWS UP A BIG SOS SIGN *
Since what we collect and how we collect tends to mirror our personality and character, I think that depression or dissatisfaction with an area of your life would certainly affect how you collect. If you feel that there are portions of your life that are beyond your control now, or if you are depressed because you're "feeling your age" it would stand to reason that you would take it out on the one thing you have total control over - your collection. Keep in mind that we all feel these things over the course of our lives and the age milestones are always good for a new bout of depression and "This is not where I planned to be by now" blues. That is exactly what the so-called "midlife crisis" is. Why don't you take out all of your coins, group them together in different ways, take some time to see what jumps out at you. It may be that what you have isn't even what you really want to collect right now. It all comes down to realizing that, when all the world around you is beyond your control, your collection is the one thing that no one else can take away from you or take control of. Revel in that. God knows, that the outside world can make everything else so difficult!
Thanks susanlynn, that really does make sense...... I just, I don't know.....Plain and simple, I'm thinking I need to take some time off from this town, go somewhere and think... Just mind wander for a while... Also contemplating that I should go with whatever I'm feeling at that exact instant, if I think about selling my barbers, place them up on e-bay at that moment, and don't look back, get the money, and buy some other coins.... I mean, It's nothing that I cannot replace if I'm not satisfied, it's just time that is against me.
Can you put everything aside for a couple of days and take a short road trip? Sometimes a change in scenery can do wonders. Keep in mind that the change in weather this time of year can always cause depression. Getting away from everything for even a couple of days can improve your perspective and rejuvenate your outlook. When I'm feeling down, I have found that a good view of the mountains or the ocean can put everything back into perspective for me. It always illustrates how insignificant many of my concerns are.
I have watched many people do this. Some collectors make major swings. Our own GDJMSP dropped U.S. Coins in favor of the World and Ancient beauties. That is a major undertaking. There is NO wrong way to collect. As we move through this life, our tastes will change, our desires change, our attitudes change. This is just the facts of life. Most of us our always contemplating our next move and we rethink our positions. This is normal and good. Make your collection special to you. Don't worry about what others think or appreciate.
At the risk of being lumped in with religious zealots for trying to convert the world , let me suggest that you take a look outside the boundaries of the Lower 48 plus 2. A simple circulated One From Every Country collection might be a good way to dip your toes in the dark waters. You, my friend, are waaaaaaaay too young to be having such "crisis" thoughts. (I guess one of the weird things about me is that I have always believed that whatever age I was at is the best! As a result so far I haven't had any "mid-life" crises, and now that I've been retired for almost a decade I doubt that I ever will.)
That I did - and major undertaking is an understatement. But I had a leg up you will - for I had collected one form of world coinage, columnarios, for almost 30 yrs when I made the change. But since columnarios were the primary coin in use in the USA until well into the 1800's - I rationalized that I was still collecting US coinage. But let me offer a suggestion Penny that may help you. Instead of jumping around from one coin to the next - do as has been suggested - look around first. Look at everything - US & world coinage from all time periods. But don't - and this is important - look at high grade examples. Look at circulated, worn coins - and when you find a design that makes you go WOW !! - then perhaps you will have found something that will hold your interest. One other point to consider - cost - cost is always a stumbling block for any collector. For it is human nature for most collectors to want nice examples of the coins they collect. This is where looking at world coinage will be helpful for it is but a fraction of the cost of many US designs. And this enables even those collectors with limited budgets to collect very nice examples.
Crisis Hi Penny, I know excatly what you mean!! I am into quite a few things myself other than coins and I want to do it all now, well it can't be done. Even with coin collecting, I just got back into the hobby and I thought long and hard of where I would start my collection, I also think the smaller the series you concentrate on the easier it'll be to stay focused. I would suggest though that if you are going to change subjects maybe go very early, Colonials? Half and Large Cents, World Coins? You'll settle down and make up your mind sooner or later. Edited for promotional content. No offers are allowed on the Main Coin Forum JMO Tony
Hey i'm going through this mid-life crisis and i'm only 20! I've sold most of my coins off, i just can't focus. I've quit trying.
Ever pick up a key date to fill in the open slot? You feel great...then the high wears down as you go after another open slot. Along the way, you find coins that are in better condition/grade than the ones you have and you get that mentality..."I have to get it!" You get it...feel good for awhile and then the cycle starts over again. You go to a coin show and you are blown away with the vast amount of coins you would love to own...at least for a day. It is a cycle where sometimes you have to walk away from the hobby to get your senses, otherwise you will want everything you see. Part of the hobby is enjoying the hunt, but after you "capture" it, it is almost like, "Now what?".
My simple solution to this problem. If I purchase a coin it becomes part of the collection...period. Some coins I might have to save up to buy but that makes getting them even better. I don't sell coins, Im not a dealer, Im a collector.
I agree with you I've been tempted to get caught up in the mentality of "I think I'll sell this one to get a higher grade to upgrade" mentality and you always seem to be buying the same coin and more often than not losing money. I good way to think about it is once I've bought it, it's mine.
It's alright. The thread would probably continue along if everyone else stop posting too, cos i'd think of something to put! Anything to break the silence...
