too many competing sets? posted by Alan Lastufka

[CSJournals-migration]

Do you discriminate when adding sets? Or do you just add everything?

 

My profile page here seems a bit cluttered compared to some others. I like visiting other profile pages and seeing very quickly that they are Roosie collectors, or cent collectors, etc, because those are the only competing sets they have listed.

 

I would assume those collectors have more coins than just Roosie dimes or wheat cents, but have chosen to only focus on listing their "main" sets, or whatever.

 

Up to this point, I've made a new competing set, when needed, for every coin I add to my collection. This allows visitors to my profile to view every coin I own, instead of me hiding them away privately.

 

But if someone new were to visit, they may be a bit overwhelmed and not click on any sets. Or they may miss some really showcase coins, because they decide to click on one of the sets I'm paying less attention to at the moment.

 

Just curious on your thoughts for which competing sets you decide to list, and which you don't. I feel a clean-up is in order for mine.

 

See more journals by Alan Lastufka

[rons]

Alan, I add everything for several reasons. #1 It is a good way to keep an accurate inventory. #2 At the end of the year I can see what sets I have been working on and what sets are dormant. #3 Because the last date a coin or adjustment was entered appears on my home page it forces me to think about how serious I am about a set or type. Last month I removed 6 sets from my registry because I just wasn't interested in them anymore. These coins will go to market when I have some free time. My goal is to get down to one page by the end of the year. The registry has some quirks when you have more than two pages. If you go to page three, open a set, and then hit the return arrow you wind up on page one and have to navigate to page three again. AND since the page doesn't appear until the bottom of the screen you must scroll all the way to the bottom to get the link for page three. Most inconvenient. Forgive my rant

[Mokiechan]

Alan,

I generally only create sets if they are complete or if I plan on completing them. All the other coins I have are in the collection manager so still easy for me to manage.

[brg5658]

x2 to what Beaw said. I use the collection manager to enter every certified coin I own, but I only create sets for those items I am most focused on and serious about completing sets.

 

For me, the sets of focus are the Sacagawea Dollars and Type Sets. I also have less complete and slowly growing sets of late-date proof Roosies and a very slowly growing set of late-date wheat cents. But, as you surmised, I have a little bit of everything floating around in my "coin room" and in safe deposit boxes.

 

-Brandon

 

(EDIT -- Added Later): As with many things, the Collection Manager is flexible and it is a tool. Each collector can use it however he/she wants to. If you want to add every coin, go for it. I will say, it is nice to have the "% Complete" column when browsing other Collectors Society Registry Sets. I usually am much more likely to click on a set and browse if it is near complete -- Or, alternatively, if the % Complete column is very low but the set is ranked very high (then it usually has a couple really nice rare high-grade coins).

[Six Mile Rick]

Alan,

X2----- with rons, so that actually evens it up. I think that 1 coin for a set you are interested in is the beginning of a new venture. If you wait till you have them all, who will help you at the end? We usually work together buying, selling and trading. If you check out my Franklin MS set today you will find it at 54% but in 1 month with the help from my FRIENDS it will be almost complete by next month. Their is no actual competition in my mind when I purchase coins but I do use the points value to help me create an overall "GREAT COLLECTION" that I am proud to own for a while

 

 

HAPPY COIN COLLECTING--------Rick

[Chris1976]

I personally add all my graded coins into the collection manager so that I can keep track of what I have and print reports here and there as needed. Such as when I prep to attend the coin show coming up in august near me in Dalton Georgia, I will be printing out a report for each set I am working on with hopes of locating an upgrade or two. But my memory isnt as great as I would like so the print outs help show me what I have already and which could be upgraded or not.

 

-Chris

[Mokiechan]

Alan,

X2----- with rons, so that actually evens it up. I think that 1 coin for a set you are interested in is the beginning of a new venture. If you wait till you have them all, who will help you at the end? We usually work together buying, selling and trading. If you check out my Franklin MS set today you will find it at 54% but in 1 month with the help from my FRIENDS it will be almost complete by next month. Their is no actual competition in my mind when I purchase coins but I do use the points value to help me create an overall "GREAT COLLECTION" that I am proud to own for a while

 

 

HAPPY COIN COLLECTING--------Rick

 

Rick,

Our opinions are not as far apart as you imagine, I will start a set if I plan on finishing it, and I would not hesitate to start it with a single coin. In fact I have a set right now with less than 50% completion that started with 2 coins. Bottom line, whether you create a set for every coin you own or follow a more conservative tack, it's all good and its all determined by your individual collecting goals.

 

 

[Lastufka Collection]

Thanks guys for the interesting feedback from both sides. For now I think I'm going to continue to add sets for each coin, when needed, until I decide where I want to focus long term. =)