Is bigger really better?

Discussion in 'Coin Chat' started by lordmarcovan, Jun 4, 2024.

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  1. lordmarcovan

    lordmarcovan 48-year collector Moderator

    I was going through my SDBs the other night. It was my first time looking at my coins in hand in a while. (90+% of the time I view my collection online- I know that makes me different from some of you in that regard.)

    Aside from the unflattering fluorescent light in the office, one thing that struck me is how small a lot of my coins are. For years my budget limited me to minors, and I didn't add a lot of my crowns and sestertii and Seated/Trade dollars, double eagles, etc. until later.

    Some of the ancients are tiny, even.

    In hand, the big dollars and crowns and sestertii were much more impressive, while the smaller stuff shines more online.

    In my online galleries, where all the photos are the same size regardless of the diameter of the coin, they’re all kind of equalized.

    I guess diminishing eyesight as one ages contributes to the preference for bigger coins somewhat. But bigger coins are definitely more popular, and I can see why.

    ("Duh, thanks, Captain Obvious", I hear you say. "Tell us something we didn't already know.")
     
    lordmarcovan, Jun 4, 2024
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  3. lordmarcovan

    lordmarcovan 48-year collector Moderator

    I’d like to add more biggies. Roman sestertii and European thalers in particular.

    But only up to 40mm or so. I don't want anything that requires an oversized slab.

    This is my biggest. This 45mm and 4mm thick ”whopper copper” barely fits inside its standard NGC slab. In fact, the slab bulges in the middle!

    IMG_8597.jpeg

    IMG_8601.jpeg
     
    Last edited: Jun 4, 2024
    lordmarcovan, Jun 4, 2024
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  4. lordmarcovan

    lordmarcovan 48-year collector Moderator

    My oldest coin is also one of the smallest, at 9mm. But being tiny adds to its charm and makes one admire the skill of the ancient die engraver all the more.

    IMG_8599.jpeg IMG_8600.jpeg
     
    lordmarcovan, Jun 4, 2024
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  5. Randy Abercrombie

    Randy Abercrombie Supporter! Supporter

    That is a stunning coin. And I TOTALLY get the large coin fascination. I had eagle eye vision until I turned fifty and it’s deteriorated every year since. Even with glasses I couldn’t tell you the date and mint on a cent. I often wonder how many doubled dies pass thru my hands without me ever having a clue.
     
    Randy Abercrombie, Jun 4, 2024
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  6. lardan

    lardan Supporter! Supporter

    I have read many times Americans prefer larger coins, and I think this is true. I also like larger coins, like you I also admire the engraving for a small coin. I really like all the coins you posted here, but prefer the smaller coin.
     
    Last edited: Jun 4, 2024
    lardan, Jun 4, 2024
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  7. -jeffB

    -jeffB Greshams LEO Supporter

    With every passing year, I'm more grateful that I'm nearsighted...
     
    -jeffB, Jun 4, 2024
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  8. green18

    green18 Unknown member Sweet on Commemorative Coins

    LOL! :)
     
    green18, Jun 4, 2024
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  9. green18

    green18 Unknown member Sweet on Commemorative Coins

    I almost spilled my scotch.......
     
    green18, Jun 4, 2024
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  10. lardan

    lardan Supporter! Supporter

    Wish I could give this a triple like.
     
    lardan, Jun 4, 2024
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  11. physics-fan3.14

    physics-fan3.14 You got any more of them.... prooflikes?

    There has been a longstanding theory that the larger coins are more well liked because... they are larger. If you think about it, the Morgan is possibly the most popular US coin... and also one of the largest. The idea is, bigger coins are easier to see marks, and the marks are more forgiving because it's a bigger coin. It is easier to see because it is a bigger coin.

    I personally don't buy that, because the coin itself interests me more (no matter the size). But, the Morgan is by far the most popular by a wide margin.
     
    physics-fan3.14, Jun 4, 2024
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  12. ddddd

    ddddd Member

    There is certainly something to having the larger sized coins but not too large (especially for slabs since those get to be too bulky).
     
    ddddd, Jun 4, 2024
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  13. potty dollar 1878

    potty dollar 1878 Well-Known Member

    By the title i thought you were referring to your wife at first lol.It depends honestly but if you have bad vision even with glasses larger coins can be helpful.For the people that can afford it the 5oz bullion coins have become popular,the Apollo piece for example.The larger coins can give a woah factor for some based on size and detail.My favorite are quarter size pieces,not to big but not to small.Small blast white coins are a beautiful sight also.Gold pieces seem to be a lot easier on the eyes both large and small compared to silver.
     
    potty dollar 1878, Jun 4, 2024
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  14. lordmarcovan

    lordmarcovan 48-year collector Moderator

    I'm exactly in the same boat. I had very acute near vision when younger, but by my 40s, I had to start wearing reading glasses (which I still do). Even with my readers on, I can't read the date on some smaller coins. I need a loupe. I don't even bother looking for doubled dies and stuff (though admittedly, I've never been particularly interested in those anyway).
     
    lordmarcovan, Jun 5, 2024
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  15. lordmarcovan

    lordmarcovan 48-year collector Moderator

    What's my wife got to do with anything here? o_O:shifty:
     
    lordmarcovan, Jun 5, 2024
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  16. ZoidMeister

    ZoidMeister Hamlet Squire of Tomfoolery . . . . .

    My largest piece is the 80mm Pope Pius IX medal which dwarves its companion at 40mm. Both have architectural reverses and are designed by Bianchi.

    The smaller medal below outsizes a Morgan Dollar.

    Z



    IMG_3373.JPG IMG_3374.JPG
     
    ZoidMeister, Jun 5, 2024
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  17. lordmarcovan

    lordmarcovan 48-year collector Moderator

    That's not a medal, it's a manhole cover! :hilarious:
     
    lordmarcovan, Jun 5, 2024
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  18. ZoidMeister

    ZoidMeister Hamlet Squire of Tomfoolery . . . . .

    My smallest would be something in my George Soley collection. I need to dig through it to confirm. Here are a couple of the bigger Soley pieces measuring in at 16mmm.

    Z

    IMG_5326.JPG IMG_5327.JPG IMG_5332.JPG IMG_5333.JPG IMG_5338.JPG IMG_5339.JPG IMG_5353.JPG IMG_5354.JPG IMG_5360.JPG IMG_5361.JPG
     
    ZoidMeister, Jun 5, 2024
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  19. lordmarcovan

    lordmarcovan 48-year collector Moderator

    On at least one occasion (maybe two), I found an example of that first type with the US Mint building in bulk lots.
     
    lordmarcovan, Jun 5, 2024
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  20. ZoidMeister

    ZoidMeister Hamlet Squire of Tomfoolery . . . . .


    Unsold souvenir stock I suppose. NOS.

    Back to sleep, I hope . . . .

    Z
     
    ZoidMeister, Jun 5, 2024
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  21. lordmarcovan

    lordmarcovan 48-year collector Moderator

    Not me, alas. I need to get back to work. Still haven't run my night audit, which I should've done around 2:00 AM... *sigh*

    Dang CoinTalk... distracting me when I should be working. It's all y'all's fault. ;)
     
    lordmarcovan, Jun 5, 2024
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