I have begun to look through all the coins I have collected over the years and overall I view what I have accumulated with dissatisfaction. The majority of the quantity of my collection was accumulated during my college years and before when I had limited money and a strong desire to "fill holes." I find now that I have a lot of coins...most of which are below the quality which I would consider acceptable. I'm considering going through my collection and significantly downsizing it. I think I will try to organize it into 3 categories: 1. Coins of acceptable quality that I want to keep in the "long term" collection; 2. Low quality coins from my youth with sentimental value that I should hang onto for my children and because of the memory they contain; 3. Low quality coins to get rid of. It would not surprise me if 50% or more or my collection fall into group #3. As I have gotten a little older (I'm still only 31)...I have discovered that my true passion for this hobby is in individually picking out coins that I really like. The thrill of "filling a hole" in a book is fun for a moment...but that thrill is fleeting. I find that I rarely look back at that filled hole once it has a coin in it. To me, that's accumulating coins...not collecting them. I'm unsure how I'm going to go about this process...but I think I need to sell off the coins that mean nothing to me and reinvest that money into a few nicer pieces that I will cherish. Does anyone have any experience in doing this...or has anyone found themselves in this position before? I'd be curious to hear from others who have done this.
I have hit the same wall - I've spent much of the last 8-10 months aligning my collection, upgrading pieces that still interest me, and selling off a lot of "bulk." The areas of collecting that really interest, I am investing in. Areas that aren't as attractive are being thinned out or liquidated.
I need to tidy up my collection. Sell of my Peace dollars and Franklin halves and buy some ancients or tokens. Thankfully since late 2013 I stopped buying U.S. and there is nothing from my token or ancient collection that I want to part with...well there are a couple duplicates that someone might be happier with. Good luck with your selling!
I started young, picking coins out of the change, and putting them into albums. I also picked a lot of duplicates (Washington quarters, Franklin and Walking Liberty halfs) out of the change and put them into manila flips.......that stuff I can't bear to part with. I've got more than a few mint and proof sets. These I don't want to get rid of either, though the day may come. An open option, but one that I will not profit on. I've got a lot of modern commemoratives and these I will keep also, along with special issues (coin and chronicles, Legacy sets,etc.). One thing I regret is not buying the best quality classic commemoratives I could afford when I started collecting them. I was more interested in obtaining the example coin, and '63/'64 was OK. Now that I'm a little farther on into the collection I find I'm not as satisfied with some of my 'original' purchases. These coins will be traded up for better examples. There really is some 'horse sense' in what many of the folks on this forum state, and that is, "buy the best example you can afford". I probably should have (bided my time a bit. Saved some money for it) been more patient. It's a common mistake many of us make.
I am actively looking for upgrades all the time. Currently about 50% of my US collection consists of coins with outstanding eye appeal or really high grades. No way I'd sell any of them. Selling some of the others however allows me to permanently upgrade all the "average" coins. I also started crossing over my best ANACS and ICG coins, i.e. those I'd like to keep. E.g. this beauty:
I'm doing the same thing. Deciding which coins to let go in order to fuel my new interest in ancients. Good luck paring down your collection. It's hard to make the decision but as soon as they're gone, you feel good about it.
Very wise decision. The biggest advice I'll give is: don't worry about taking a loss. It will count as a tax write-off, and your collection will be better for it. It is better to have a bit of pain now and see a great collection on the other side.
I did the same last year. Anything that was just taking up space, was ugly, or coins I lost interest in went to GC. Process was easy and they paid quickly.
I've been analyzing my collection for about 10-15 years now. Some point, hopefully soon, I am seriously thinking of paring off 99% of what I currently own and going down to a box of 20 that encompasses coins that are significant in some way - not always the nicest ones, but ones that were always special for some reason. An awful lot of stuff needs to traipse through various sundry auction houses. I've an interest in coins since I was little, but I have gotten to the point where most of them reside in several different SDB's and rarely if ever are enjoyed. I have realized that I just have too much stuff. I have been paring down paper money slowly since 2004, but think USA and more stuff will go soon. Then most of my Scottish/British will go. I have sold some significant USA coins, but am to a point where I have stuff I mostly want to keep.
I started collecting at 68 years old (wish I was 31 again.) I had and still have little direction other than I try to acquire coins that will appreciate. I've resigned I will never have every Morgan, and now look to "rarity within grade."
Hello Camaro Supporter: I started collecting when I was 14 (my first Roman coin ! for the equivalent of now a day $.7 ) I am now 80 and follow exactly the same approach as you describe.. a bit late in the day !
