Is coin collecting like gambling?

Ever see coins online that you like but really don't want to buy? Feel the compulsion to at least throw in a low ball bid? I saw one tonight, a Morgan that looked PL but had a hideous obverse, baggie from hades. I threw in a low ball near the end, and was quite relieved when I didn't get it.

 

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I wouldn't consider it like gambling, but it does involve some risk. Sometimes I've gotten some coins and haven't resold them, but there's always that chance that you can resell it. Here's what I say: while it's quite conservative, just know that you should buy it for many reasons, not just resell.

 

Coin collecting is not like gambling. Investing in coins is.

 

Truer words never spoken......

 

Well, they both lay traps for compulsive personalities...

 

The addiction is...

 

not for me coin collecting is more of a wait and see what comes my way

 

I agree. There are times you just have to have something, sometimes not. I've had some good things just fall into my lap though, and I take them. Some times it's a reach, and some of those work out, some don't. I've been somewhat lucky lately, so I'm more careful. So far I've been winning more than losing by quite a bit. I'm a horrible photographer so I really don't post many finds here and seller's photos are sketchy.
I've been around long enough to know when to just walk away from the table when on a winning streak. I'm finding myself less and less willing to throw the dice. Digging for diamonds in a coal mine is quite fun though and hard to resist.

 

I find that there is no gamble if you collect what you like to look at and have no intentions of ever selling it. My heirs can get what they can for it when the time comes. I just enjoy the experience.

 

Perfect! Amen!

 

It's a gateway to... OH nevermind, it's not a problem unless you're loosing

 

Don't do it!

 

I finally got over my Mint Error coins addiction. I haven't purchased any in almost 2 years. I admit it got a bit out of hand.. now I'm making the decision soon to start selling them

 

It's a game of give and take. The gamble is that you are right in your decisions. If you don't or can't walk away from collecting, you're gambling. "It's a happy, safe, crap-shoot." That's the way my wife sees it anyway, the boss of the toss!

 

I hope you give CTers first shot at them!

 

That's... actually my style of gambling, I think. I'm an opportunist.

 

If you have the time and patience, sniping auctions is not only fun but a great way to accumulate value at a reduced cost. I probably shouldn't have posted this, the less people that know, the better it is.

 

I couldn’t have said it any better.

 

Oh, I lived that dream/nightmare for a couple of years. I spent more time camping on eBay's new BIN listings, though. I eventually decided it was consuming too much of my life. (Oh, who am I kidding -- I just found another compulsion to replace it.)

 

But Ed, you are the go to guy for examples when we need them. I am getting in the mood to start thinning things out also.