• When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

In The Eye of The Beholder posted by Jackson

5 posts in this topic

  • Member: Seasoned Veteran

Design, Toning, Patina and RD vs BN

 

We are all unique in our tastes. We may share a common taste for many of the same things-such as coins/medals in general-but what we find appealing is divergent.

I could write a book on all of the different ways that numismatists collect-series, by date, by color, type, one of each, by mint, by medal, theme, country etc etc etc...but we all have our style and preferences.

I have assembled sets by theme which have hundreds of coins--and other times I collect a series by "short set" because I don't want to invest the money, time and effort into assembling every issue and mintmark of the same design.

My most recent short sets were of the 1900's Barber Halves in VF/XF and then the Buffalo nickels 1934-1938 in MS66 and above.

Having finished those sets, removed from the registry and set aside, I now have begun 2 more. The SLQ One-Per-Date set is a registry category but I added my own parameters again in that they all must be AU grade.

The other set I am building was an Indian Head Cent Short Set. I initially set it for just the 1900's coins but have since decided to extend it from 1890 thru 1909 as I am enjoying the collecting of the varied looks of the coin and the parameters I set to increase the challenge is still somewhat easy in our internet age. All coins must be MS64 and all must be "BROWN."

Why brown? The truth is, I am just weird and the appearance of bright red/orange copper is less attractive to my eye than the deep chocolates, purples, wood grained look and/or depth of design that an aged looking copper coin has.

On the plus side is that the browns most often cost about 1/3rd of the price of a RED, but often I end up with a coin with "exceptional eye appeal" and end up forking out more for my coins than your plain brown examples.

So if I can find a coin in the look I prefer and at a lower cost, for me that is a win/win and if my collecting choices don't jibe with someone else's --then good, less competition for the coin's I'm hunting.

The latest addition--an 1891 MS64 BN....Happy Hunting everyone

17694.jpg

 

See more journals by Jackson

Link to comment
Share on other sites

You sound as if you really enjoy your collecting and that you collect what and how you want to. (thumbs u

 

It saddens me when I see collectors who don't seem to enjoy themselves and, rather than collect what and how they want to, they appear to be slaves to their collecting.

 

PS - I generally prefer BN or RB copper to RD, myself.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think that BROWN and RED/BROWN coins are all unique and very beautiful and have a lot of character. You also don't have to worry about them 'mellowing' with age, if stored in a reasonable environment. There are also deals to be had and many are priced less than RED coins, even with eye appeal factored in.

 

That is the beauty of our hobby, so many different choices, styles and combinations for any budget and any preference.

 

That is one beautiful IHC!!

 

Congrats and keep up the good work!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thank you for the kind comments. It can be a challenge to stay true to one's tastes with coins--it would be easy to allow one's self to chase a Registry #1 set or to assemble a set that would impress ( and if your goals are to compete for #1 sets, more power to you and best of luck), but I like my quirky small sets with my own grade range limits/goals and varied interests.

Link to comment
Share on other sites