Minimalist Collecting: Passion posted by Numinimist

[CSJournals-migration]

What drives you?

 

Why do you collect? Is it Passion about coins?

 

I love to view great things: the architecture of the Atlantis Resort or, fancy casinos; a $17,000 PF 68 Barber Half with monster toning or a high resolution photo of an 1804 Draped Bust Dollar; or well-dressed, high-society people. Seeing them brings pleasure, but I don't have to own them to enjoy them.

 

There's nothing wrong with owning them. There wouldn't be an Atlantis Resort if some entity didn't own and maintain it. A friend who owns the high-end Barber Half may be kind enough to let me view it. Great owners can possess great treasures.

 

Not everyone owns a casino, nor can afford one of the five 1913 Liberty Head nickels. I love to view Pedigree Collections and Pedigree coins. I'm PASSIONATE about them. Yet, my passion isn't limited to Pedigrees only. If it were, coin-collecting would be a frustrating hobby. Setting aside Pedigrees, many collectors can't afford Top Pops, or even next-to-top pops. Is the ability to own #1 or #2 pops what drives you to collect? Or is it something else?

 

If you're PASSIONATE about coins, you can enjoy the hobby at many different levels. If you have limited means, don't allow that stop your passion. It's OK to own under $500, under $250, or under $100 coins (or whatever you can afford). It's okay to have a 29-piece "Type Set" (I'll write about this later) instead of full 97-piece US Type Set (1792-1964 without Gold). If you are passionate about COLLECTING, then you can set your own level, according to your means.

 

You can focus on premium quality at your level. If your limit is $500 for a Trade Dollar, then find the best AU 50 to 55 you can find. Your focus might be originality and eye-appeal. You find an outstanding toned original AU 53 and pass on a whiter, dipped AU 55. You're passionate and, therefore, content. You can't own the Top Pop -- so what? Another fine person with the means can do that, and we don't begrudge that.

 

Passion! I'm passionate about coin-collecting. I think many collectors here are too. Are you?

 

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[coinsbygary]

You nailed it on the head! I'm passionate about coins and in particular the allegorical nature of coins. I am currently working on a custom set entitled, "The Use of Seated Imagery in Numismatics." However, my collecting is not limited to these since I also collect Morgan Dollars and type coins. Below is a link to my latest rage and one of my type sets. By the way, nice trade dollar. I still need one of those that is not details graded.

Gary

 

Garys Type Set

 

The Use of Seated Imagery in Numismatics

[RichH]

Hi Numinimist,

 

Very much agree with you philosophy. Coin collecting, as with life is all about choices.

 

This year, for example, I started two new sets, GSA CC Morgan Dollars and Indian Head Quarter Eagles, and both have been targeted for grades that I can afford. In fact, I always make sure to put this type of grade range and goal in my set descriptions.

 

For the GSA's I am pursuing obverse crescent toned pieces in MS62-64. This set will not come close to top registry ranking, but to match them up nicely will take time, effort and study. It is this continual chase that I am passionate about. Same with the Quarter Eagles, high end MS62's are a great value, and finding the right coins that match and also fit my budget is a great challenge.

 

Finally, your last point about not begrudging those with top pop collections is so true. I could never hope to even come close to the top rankings of these or other sets I collect, but this board allows me to take a peak at what others have accomplished and admire their efforts.

 

Down the road, I will eventually sell my registry sets, but hopefully chart a different course at that time, maybe I start collecting raw Indians, Mercury Dimes, XF Barber Qtrs , whatever ....I'll be quite content in pursuing these coins and just as passionate a collector. That's what makes this hobbby so great !!

 

Much continued success !!!

 

Rich

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Numinimist-migration]

Hi Gary,

 

I looked at your Seated Imagery set. Nice! The pics are great, and the stories are awesome. I can see you're passionate. Thank you for sharing it.

John

[Mohawk]

I'd say I'm definitely passionate about coins and this great hobby of ours. I think what I like doing best in this hobby at this point is being a trailblazer, doing things that not many people are doing at the present, places that have a lot of uncharted territory to explore. That's a huge part of why I specialize in Ottoman and Third Reich coins. Not many people on here are active in those areas, and those coins are just as amazing and historic as the more popularly collected American series. And I enjoy them, especially my Ottoman Empire pursuits....those coins are just so beautiful, scarce and have such amazing stories. So that's what drives my passion....treading new ground, learning new things and gaining an expertise in fields that don't have many experts among American collectors.

[vumc409]

Passion is definitely one of the demanding aspects of numismatics. Without out you could quickly lose site of your goals especially if your pockets are not lined with gold.

 

However, we often have to motivate ourselves to keep the passion up for this set or the next. This year, at least for some of my sets, this came to me via my competitive spirit for the registry points. My Lincoln 1959-Date set is one example. For the first six months of the year, I added several coins but barely enough to keep my rank up. The last six months of the year, meeting or exceeding those ahead of me in the rankings helped spur me one. I started the year number 5 and finished number 3. The passion was still there but I lacked the motivation to go the extra mile to make drastic improvements to my set. I finally came around and my set benefited greatly.

 

This same thing happened with a few of my mint sets. I maintained number one for one set and gained number 1 in another. Several sets now rest in the top five or better because of this same motivating factor and the passion remains alive to better the sets still.

 

And you are 100% correct in saying it doesn't matter at what level you collect because passion itself is unrelated to the grade, IMO.

 

Keep collecting and keep making yourself happy. That is what passion is about.

 

Michael

[Durham Collection]

Excellent Post! We all have various passions. Coin collecting (and now currency notes!) is one of mine. I really appreciate your open ended commentary. I think you nailed it for me at least.

 

What drives me is what I call "the hunt." I never understood someone handing a check over to another guy/gal and saying "please build me an awesome collection." For me that takes the fun out of it. I am currently building the US Type Set and I know its going take me a LONG time, but I love staying up at night and comparing eBay listings vs. collectors corner vs. websites and trying to find that right coin for the right price...or even the frustration of losing auction-after-auction trying to get that Type 1 1956 Proof Franklin only to find a seller having that exact coin in an old PCGS holder that was actually type 1 but not advertised as such. After a quick inquiry...instant win! then send it in for x-over to NGC. All those experiences create endorphins. It's the journey per se. Thanks again. Great post!

[Walkerfan]

What drives me is what I call "the hunt." I never understood someone handing a check over to another guy/gal and saying "please build me an awesome collection." For me that takes the fun out of it. All those experiences create endorphins. It's the journey per se. Thanks again. Great post!

 

You nailed it there!! I really live for the hunt, so to speak. It is such a rush!! This is what has kept Eric Newman going for so long. Having someone else do the work for you eliminates all the fun and costs a lot more money. Besides, NOBODY but me knows what I like in a coin. No matter how well you explain yourself, even to a dealer who is knowledgeable in a series, it is still something that can't be completely understood or relayed. Dealers want to fill your want list and make money, obviously, so they may not be as quite picky as you are, anyway.

[Catbert]

A good journal thread!

 

I think collecting motivation is greatly influenced by collecting goal definition. Without some kind of focus, the thrill of the hunt and the satisfaction of completion (including incremental steps) are lost and motivation diminishes.

 

My pursuit of a basic type set gives me structure so as to channel my passion for the artistry and history of US type.