Okay, We're Collector's, Now What...

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My coworkers (about 10 at any given time) know I collect coins. It comes on job sites at times as well (I'm in the new construction trade) as I've met a few other collectors.

VERY few people see my coins. I may meet someone at a show or shop. Did that last fall met CT member Gopher29 and a guy I run into at job sites. Brought a few things to play "show and tell" as it were but they are coin geeks like me.

I VERY rarely have people over at the house and if they aren't into coins I don't bring it up.

I don't really worry about people knowing on job sites actually. I do drywall repair and paint. Over the years you start to know a lot of the other trades as you run into them on job sites all over. The reason I don't worry about these guys tracking me down and ripping me off is that they are all working for decent wages and have been for years. If they hadn't I wouldn't keep seeing them.

I do get one question from time to time. It doesn't really bother me as it's just curiosity. The question is "how many coins do you have?". This is when I really know they have no clue as to how serious we collectors are.
So what do I tell them 8 or 10 or thousands? Heck, I don't know how many coins I have but if you factor in the 5-6000 wheats I still have it's well into the thousands.
Take out the wheats and it's still over a thousand. I guess they are picturing that cigar box that their mom or grandpa had with a few odd coins and maybe some WWII money.

Bottom line is I don't really show my coins unless it's a fellow collector that actually really cares.

It is a shame that we have to think about these things. Many keep their profile a lot lower than I do but I do watch who I discuss these things with.

 

i just got my collection on 2 big shelves.

 

Most of my collection is, at the moment, in an embarrassing little blue binder. I've been looking for an upgrade. What I really want is a cabinet, but one just wouldn't fit my lifestyle right now.

As far as safety goes... I lock my door and that's about it. I know its a problem and I figure it'll eventually bite me, but I just don't know what to do about it. I won't buy a safe for the same reason I won't buy a cabinet. And if I got a safety deposit box, I might as well just bury them. I suppose my best defense is the trust of the people who know I collect. (I don't keep it a secret, by the way.) I must say, I do favor Bonedigger's security system. :kewl:

 

my mom and dad know i collect coins but they don't really talk about it much. my brother and sisiter are those "you paid $2 for a 1893 XF quarter! " kinds of people. my friends know i collect and look through their change and watch out for old stuff for me. other than that i only really talk and share coins here!

 

Wow Bone, I must have missed that old thread. That would have made me sick!!! I don't have handguns anymore, but I sleep with a mossberg pump under the bed, mainly because I know alot of folks like the "trustees" you described. heheh

 

i just show my family the coins and myself

 

Well, as you guys cab see that thread is almost 2 years old and thankfully I've never had to use it in any self-defense situation (knock on wood...) but it's comforting knowing it's beside my bed at night...

Ron is now aware of the importance of not blabbering everything to his trustee crew since one of them stole his car (joyride/DUI) after he's made his Friday afternoon stop by the liquor store several months ago, ROTFLing... Seems Ron would always take a long lunch on Fridays and swing by the package store (before the evening lines) and pickup his weekend jollies... It wasn't funny when it happened but afterwards we all got a big laugh out of it.

 

Never seen that earlier thread.
Thanks for the link to it, Bone.
BTW, nice Kimber you picked up.


I posted before, but here is what lays near my bedside.


I try not to tell to many people exactly what I buy.
There is more on this board than what I tell people at work...lol
I don't have many people over to my house, either.
I am somewhat of an anti-social hermit.
My main interaction with people is with girlfriends and people on the net.

I couldn't tell people what all I have, anyway.
I don't really know.
I REALLY need to get stuff inventoried.

 

Holey Moley. now that is what I'd call Numismatic Protection...

Tak Care
Ben

 

The only people close to me who care at all about collecting coins are my father-in-law and my son and I trust them completely. I don't mention it much to close friends, not because of security, but because they just aren't interested.

I keep my gold and platinum (not that I have a lot) in my safe-deposit box and I'm buying a safe for my proof sets, albums and certified coins. My 1909 S-VDB is kept in the house, but in a place where no thief would find it.

If someone I didn't know well visiting my house asked me about my collection, I'd show them my state quarter and presidential dollar albums, not the platinum anniversary set!

There's an important message here for newbies; don't give out personal information here that would allow someone to find you or indicate where you live.

To provide a somewhat different approach to protection, while I understand the desire to defend oneself with a gun, there's pretty strong evidence that people are much more likely to be shot with their own gun than they are to shoot an intruder. Insuring your collection is a good idea; this requires a detailed inventory with photographs and will cost extra, but it's worth the peace of mind. The other good thing is a 600 pound safe bolted to the floor. No one is going to run away with it!

 

Great thread Bone.
It is really a shame that most collections have to stay locked up. I have a 20th century type set om my wall, but the bulk of my collection stays locked up. I open the safe occasionally to add coins or just admire them. Unforunatly most people would be unimpressed even by the rarest coins (not that I have any).
The hunt, I think, is the best part, but it would be nice to be able to show the coins to people that would appreciate them.
I happen to have a fairly large collection of die cast models and vegas memoribillia that goes un-viewed as well. I guess that is just the nature of hobbies/collections.

 

When the phone rings, be careful you don't answer a gun!

 

Several good points - especially things about habits, magazine subscriptions, etc.

I don't worry so much about my acquaintances and colleagues. It is THEIR friends that I worry about. How many times have you heard people talk about their friends in an exaggerated way. "Oh yeah, Jason, yeah he's got several harleys and goes to Sturgis every year." The actual fact is that the guy probably has one working harley and two broken down ones and he's been to Sturgis twice - once by Greyhound. But now a seed has been planted and all of a sudden Jason's garage is a potential target.

If your local coin shop is ever burglarized, I'd check with the dealer and find out if any paperwork such as receipts or any records were also stolen.

I don't necessarily buy into the thought that things are worse now. I don't think people left their expensive coin collections on the coffee table in the 1960's either.

 

I have my ASE's on in a book case in my den allong with my mint sets. I like to look at them. None of my coins are very valuable but I guess to a thief they all seem it. The books of coins I just have tucked away to keep from getting yelled at.

 

My collection is stored in plain binders located on a shelf amidst other reference items so they don't look out of place draw attention. it is easy access from my desk, however not very fire proof . I have been thinking about making an old fashion strong box though to store them in only with a few modern improvements.

 

Just curious...
Does anyone have any experience with the reliability of Senty fire safes ?
How do they rate and does the fire retardant hold moisture more ?


Oh, also...
Here's other protection that I have in case someone made it into the back yard with a safe.

 

Okay, here's my numismatic protection with a few reasons why I purchased her...

Take Care
Ben

 

I do not have pictures of my guns (which are NOT stored in my gun safe ) but Here is a link to the company i bought my safe from. I purchased the 'collector'. The safe is heavy when empty, has a huge fire rating, has a guarantee, has a UL listed tooling time limit, has huge 1.5" moveable steel bars ... if anyone is interested in a safe, check around, look at all the things these safes offer ... unless you can afford This Safe , the safes by Patriot Safe company, offer what i found to be the best safe for the money. And at 30 cubic feet, has lot of room as my collection grows Z