What do you collect? 0

[GoldFinger1969]

On 11/28/2022 at 11:07 PM, JessicaJoe said:

Thank you for this... I can't wait to see how this goes hopefully people are informational with there knowledge... I know I'm new here  and I need all the help I can get so I posted in this thread... To make sure I seen all the post from everyone..😁

We were all in the situation you are in at one time or another, Jessica.

Are there any areas of coin collecting you want to concentrate or focus on ?  You've asked us about a few different coins, but what you pursue going forward may be totally different.  Also, what you FOLLOW and educate yourself on might be something you don't collect because it's either too difficult to collect and/or too expensive.  Nothing wrong with following a coin type thought it certainly is more fun buying every now and then. 

There's also nothing wrong with just collecting all different kinds of coins and commemoratives -- what we call a "Type" collector -- and being a jack-of-all-trades sort of.  I actually have elements of this in my own collection.

[GoldFinger1969]

On 11/29/2022 at 5:53 AM, Hoghead515 said:

Your very welcome. I can tell your willing to learn and I think you will do well. Cant ask for a better hobby to get into. Lots of fun and educational. This forum is an excellent place to learn. Ive learned quite alot on here reading all the post and links people provide. And by asking questions. The experts on here answered many questions for me that helped me along the way. Feel free to come back and post here anytime you like. If you find an area you want to collect or things you learned. There are several people on here that would love to hear about it and help you improve. If your willing to learn and want to learn they are more than happy to help you. Its great to have you on the forum. 

This is so true...and as I said to JJ above, your work, reading, and education don't necessarily have to lead to a purchase.  I am fascinated by the circumstances surrounding the stolen 1928 Saints and questionable 1933 Double Eagles but I won't be getting one anytime soon (unless I win PowerBall and EC is willing to sell !!  ).

While I still am looking for future Saint (and Morgan) purchases....I've also expanded my knowledge and notes to include interesting facts on high-priced sales of those coins....hoards....and interesting stories involving the coins like their use in backing Gold/Silver Certificates to their usage overseas to their use as circulating currency here and elsewhere.  I can share my knowledge then on these topics just like others helped me.

It's not just about going to an LCS or bidding online ! 

[The Neophyte Numismatist]

On 11/19/2022 at 6:24 AM, Hoghead515 said:

Ive been thinking real hard on some type of birth year set. I was born in 82 so Ive been thinking about all the varities of the 1982 Lincoln cent....

As you are likely aware, 1982/1983 quarters in grades MS67 and higher start to get pretty pricey.  There were no mint sets in those years, and the country was in recession.  It's not that they are rare - you can find them... but they carry a premium over the other years in the 1980s.

Edited November 29, 2022 by The Neophyte Numismatist

[The Neophyte Numismatist]

My collecting journey:

I started my collecting journey in April 2020 during the COVID lockdown. Within a few months of my start, the "coin shortage" forced me to pivot my collecting strategy and I started buying graded coins. While it did not seem like it at the time, this was probably the best thing that could have happened to expedite my numismatic knowledge. My introductory goal was to establish a modified type set of US Coins using the Dansco 7070 as my model.

Today, my main focus is US half cents (but I am still working on the Type Set in the background). I am building a "major variety set"of half cents, but not trying to go full Cohen (yet). Early American Coppers are my favorite, because I love the history and finding nice examples can be a real challenge. 

Note: @JessicaJoe In my opinion, there is no better way to learn numismatics than building a type set (if you do it right).  By "right" I mean to study each coin series before you buy your example.  Understand the rarities in the whole series, which ones are easier (and less expensive) to find "nice", and learn the stories behind the coins.  It's fun, you learn a lot, and you don't feel the pressure of buying every coin in a series. You can start with modern coins, and work your way back to help you to ease-into numismatics and not make costly mistakes before you know what you want.  I honestly could not point you to a better direction to start in numismatics.

 

[l.cutler]

On 11/21/2022 at 8:15 PM, Hoghead515 said:

How many collectors on here collect colonial day coins? I love those old coppers. Vermonts, Connecticuts, and several others. I like those old Fugio cents. Also like those really old shillings. Dont have to exactly be struck in the US. Coins our founding fathers would have packed in their pockets. I have a love for those old coins. If anyone has any theyd like to share I really love to see them if you want to post them. I enjoy the history of that time period more than any other. All I have is that one copper I shared a few post back. 

I've got quite an assortment of Colonial and state coinage and have collected them for years.  Someday I have to get smart enough to post pictures!  I'd be glad to answer any questions you may have though!

[Coinbuf]

A bit late to this thread, kept meaning to reply and then would get sidetracked.  It was my maternal grandmother that helped me get started with coins.   When I was roughly 10yrs old my grandmother gave me a group of old Indian Head cents and a trifold holder.  These intrigued me but they were dark and rather gungy so I asked if I should clean them up, she said I could so I grabbed a can of Brasso and went to town shinning those babies up.  If only I knew then what I know now about the cleaning of coins.  The one saving grace is that all those poor cents were super common date coins in F or lower so there was not much numismatically speaking lost.  I still have those coins in that same folder and they are still quite shinny even today.

But the experience opened my eyes and mind to the world of coins and I began to purchase some very inexpensive low grade raw coins that I could afford as a young boy.  As I reached the late teens school and girls took over the interest, and the available funds, so coins sat in the background for quite a few years.  Somewhere around my mid thirties I rekindled the desire and I started to look around at the available outlets to acquire coins.  By now the coin slabbing business had begun but I was still an album hole filler and I settled on Lincolns, bought myself a Dansco album and started buying.  Boy did I make some costly mistakes buying coins that had been cleaned and recolored, most of which I only realized many years later.

But I was lucky that I found a local dealer that began to teach and mentor me on what to look for and how to grade.  Being rather hardheaded I tended to resist by along the way I started to understand, and my buying got better.  Around this time, I had mostly finished my album except for the expensive keys that I was afraid to purchase raw given my history of mistakes.  One day this dealer had a 1909-S VDB that he put up on his bid board, PCGS MS64RB in a rattler holder.  I was determined to buy that coin and I did, my first slabbed coin.  After I bought that first slabbed coin I decided to investigate other slabbed coins and I was off on the hunt and began to think of registry quality coins and sets.  I also thought that I would clean up by having all my raw Lincolns graded so I bought a PCGS membership and sent off a large submission with great anticipation.  This was the moment that I learned how many mistakes I had made much earlier on my raw purchases.  As you can imagine that first submission was very disappointing indeed.  Of course, being hardheaded (I think I mentioned that before lol) I blamed the TPG and gave them a good cussing out in my mind.

I have no idea why but I stuck with it and over time I found out that most of those first submission duds were my fault and became a better more quality conscious buyer.  Since that time I have gone on to now complete my slabbed Lincoln set thru 1958 and am working to fill in the slots from 1959 to current.  This is not a priority for me as I really am not that fond of the Memorial reverse design so am not as motivated.  Along the way I also developed a liking for Morgan dollars and over time have bought a semi complete date/mm set, just missing the super expensive dates which I may never be able to afford.  I also have gained an appreciation for type set collecting and am continuing with those pursuits including several year mint sets.

And while I very much enjoy putting together high-grade registry sets I still have great fun filling holes in albums and folders.  I currently am filling in the time between larger purchases by finding decent BU/AU coins in change and filling up a VF(ish) merc set in an old library of coins album.

Coins are a journey that takes many twists and turns, a continuous evolution that I have and will continue to enjoy. 

[GoldFinger1969]

On 11/29/2022 at 9:01 PM, Coinbuf said:

It was my maternal grandmother that helped me get started with coins....Coins are a journey that takes many twists and turns, a continuous evolution that I have and will continue to enjoy. 

So true.  I am teed off I didn't talk more to my grandfather (maternal) who was in the Merchant Marines and travelled the world.  I believe he would have known about Saint coinage and my mother believes he or her mother's parents (my great-grandparents) had several coins because they did turn them in during the 1930's.

Maybe my grandfather even used gold coins overseas.  I don't know.  Maybe my mothere knows -- gonna ask her next time. 

[Hoghead515]

I decided to write a report this evening to use on my quarter registry set. Its just on paper as of now. Im going to edit it and put it on my description in a couple days. It will be a cool little story about why John Flanagan's design was chosen for people whos never heard it yet. If people even take the time to read those things. I find them interesting and read the ones who decide to add them to theirs. Im sure a few others do to. Old John almost didnt get his design on there. If it werent for Andrew Mellon. My personal opinion I like his design way more than Frashers. Frashers was pretty much chozen for it originally. Also some cool information is it was originally intended to be on the half dollar. Most collectors probably already know this but some probably dont. I just want to pep my registry set up a bit and add that soon for the ones who like reading that kind of stuff. Gives me something to do and helps me learn while Im doing it. 

[Lem E]

On 11/29/2022 at 10:10 PM, Hoghead515 said:

I decided to write a report this evening to use on my quarter registry set. Its just on paper as of now. Im going to edit it and put it on my description in a couple days. It will be a cool little story about why John Flanagan's design was chosen for people whos never heard it yet. If people even take the time to read those things. I find them interesting and read the ones who decide to add them to theirs. Im sure a few others do to. Old John almost didnt get his design on there. If it werent for Andrew Mellon. My personal opinion I like his design way more than Frashers. Frashers was pretty much chozen for it originally. Also some cool information is it was originally intended to be on the half dollar. Most collectors probably already know this but some probably dont. I just want to pep my registry set up a bit and add that soon for the ones who like reading that kind of stuff. Gives me something to do and helps me learn while Im doing it. 

I learned a ton of stuff doing the research for the descriptions for each coin in my set. 

[JessieJo]

On 11/29/2022 at 3:42 PM, The Neophyte Numismatist said:

My collecting journey:

I started my collecting journey in April 2020 during the COVID lockdown. Within a few months of my start, the "coin shortage" forced me to pivot my collecting strategy and I started buying graded coins. While it did not seem like it at the time, this was probably the best thing that could have happened to expedite my numismatic knowledge. My introductory goal was to establish a modified type set of US Coins using the Dansco 7070 as my model.

Today, my main focus is US half cents (but I am still working on the Type Set in the background). I am building a "major variety set"of half cents, but not trying to go full Cohen (yet). Early American Coppers are my favorite, because I love the history and finding nice examples can be a real challenge. 

Note: @JessicaJoe In my opinion, there is no better way to learn numismatics than building a type set (if you do it right).  By "right" I mean to study each coin series before you buy your example.  Understand the rarities in the whole series, which ones are easier (and less expensive) to find "nice", and learn the stories behind the coins.  It's fun, you learn a lot, and you don't feel the pressure of buying every coin in a series. You can start with modern coins, and work your way back to help you to ease-into numismatics and not make costly mistakes before you know what you want.  I honestly could not point you to a better direction to start in numismatics.

 

Thank you for sharing!!!! I really haven't struck a main interested in any one just yet but I have been looking for years at my coins as I get them from bank, stores, ect and if they looked odd or a late date I would put them away so during pandemic I pulled them out and now here we set!!!!😁 So these coins I'm going through and asking questions on are ones I already have put away and never did any research on but now it is consuming me and my time lol... So with all that being said I think I like error coins maybe it's the looking for the imperfection in the coin.... 

[The Neophyte Numismatist]

On 11/30/2022 at 12:44 PM, JessieJo said:

Thank you for sharing!!!! I really haven't struck a main interested in any one just yet but I have been looking for years at my coins as I get them from bank, stores, ect and if they looked odd or a late date I would put them away so during pandemic I pulled them out and now here we set!!!!😁 So these coins I'm going through and asking questions on are ones I already have put away and never did any research on but now it is consuming me and my time lol... So with all that being said I think I like error coins maybe it's the looking for the imperfection in the coin.... 

Well... this is a fun hobby and there are plenty of ways to get started.  But, looking closely/critically at coins is the first step - and you are already doing this (whoop whoop!)

Errors are a lot of fun, but it may be my least strong suit.  I will say that the best way to get started with errors is to first understand how coins are minted.  If you fully understand the minting process, you will be better at differentiating damage from errors.  If it could not occur during minting - it's damage.  I say this because many budding collectors confuse the two.  Resources like doubledbie.com will also help a great deal.  I would study the resources first, and start looking at the coins after you feel you have a good handle on the references.

A common mistake made is newer collectors will post damage and ask is this an error, a doubled die, etc?  If the new collector repeatedly shows the same type of damage, those that are strong in error identification will fatigue and stop responding.  Worse yet, there are several that will argue back, insisting it is a doubled die or error.  This will cause people to totally tune out, and they lose all credibility.  If you ask questions citing the resources, explaining why you think its an error (explaining the minting process), and reference known examples by Wexler variety. Your reception will be much better.

I say all this because we have seen this before (over and over).  Errors are very tough for newer collectors (they are tough for me, too).  The human brain is built to solve puzzles, and this can sometimes lead to your eyes seeing things that are not really there.  This is why knowing the minting process to eliminate that bias is so critical.

I wish you luck.

[Hoghead515]

 

On 11/30/2022 at 12:44 PM, JessieJo said:

Thank you for sharing!!!! I really haven't struck a main interested in any one just yet but I have been looking for years at my coins as I get them from bank, stores, ect and if they looked odd or a late date I would put them away so during pandemic I pulled them out and now here we set!!!!😁 So these coins I'm going through and asking questions on are ones I already have put away and never did any research on but now it is consuming me and my time lol... So with all that being said I think I like error coins maybe it's the looking for the imperfection in the coin.... 

Dont forget to look for West Point quarters. They are out there to be found in change. They are highly collectable. Not sure if you heard of them or not. The only years that have them are 2019 and 2020.  Instead of a P or D they will have a W mint mark.  All the designs of those year was struck at West Point. The mint called it, "The Great American Coin Hunt." They released several into circulation where collectors can find them in pocket change.  They are fun to look for and still plentiful. Ive found a few of them myself. If you find any put them up in your collection. 

[Hoghead515]

On 11/30/2022 at 12:44 PM, JessieJo said:

Thank you for sharing!!!! I really haven't struck a main interested in any one just yet but I have been looking for years at my coins as I get them from bank, stores, ect and if they looked odd or a late date I would put them away so during pandemic I pulled them out and now here we set!!!!😁 So these coins I'm going through and asking questions on are ones I already have put away and never did any research on but now it is consuming me and my time lol... So with all that being said I think I like error coins maybe it's the looking for the imperfection in the coin.... 

I agree with Neo. If you look for errors or varieties it can be tough at first learning the difference between true doubling or strike doubling. Once you learn it and learn to look for split serifs then you will be doing great.  We see post with strike doubling or mechanical doubling almost everyday from new collectors. Strike doubling is very common. Some of it can be quite dramitic also. Its usually caused by worn dies. Not sure about newer presses but if old presses back years ago got out of time they would cause the planchet to shift a little and cause it. Was usually caused by worn parts. Not letting the dies strike exactly in time with each other. Like Neo said we see alot of very damaged coins new collectors think are errors. We call alot of them parking lot coins. They been ran over in gravel lots and things like that. Also people get bored and do all sorts of things to coins. They weld on them, grind on them, file them, heat them, and any other thing you can imagine. Also things you cant imagine. Just keep all those things in mind as you are looking. If you have any questions we will be happy to help you. 

[JessieJo]

On 11/30/2022 at 2:06 PM, The Neophyte Numismatist said:

Well... this is a fun hobby and there are plenty of ways to get started.  But, looking closely/critically at coins is the first step - and you are already doing this (whoop whoop!)

Errors are a lot of fun, but it may be my least strong suit.  I will say that the best way to get started with errors is to first understand how coins are minted.  If you fully understand the minting process, you will be better at differentiating damage from errors.  If it could not occur during minting - it's damage.  I say this because many budding collectors confuse the two.  Resources like doubledbie.com will also help a great deal.  I would study the resources first, and start looking at the coins after you feel you have a good handle on the references.

A common mistake made is newer collectors will post damage and ask is this an error, a doubled die, etc?  If the new collector repeatedly shows the same type of damage, those that are strong in error identification will fatigue and stop responding.  Worse yet, there are several that will argue back, insisting it is a doubled die or error.  This will cause people to totally tune out, and they lose all credibility.  If you ask questions citing the resources, explaining why you think its an error (explaining the minting process), and reference known examples by Wexler variety. Your reception will be much better.

I say all this because we have seen this before (over and over).  Errors are very tough for newer collectors (they are tough for me, too).  The human brain is built to solve puzzles, and this can sometimes lead to your eyes seeing things that are not really there.  This is why knowing the minting process to eliminate that bias is so critical.

I wish you luck.

Thank you for in site information I'm fixing to digg into it now...

[Errorists]

Proof die cracks and American silver eagle die cracks. I like the variety of them making them varieties. 

[Hoghead515]

I finally got my report put into my registry quarter set. Took me a while to type it. Im not real good at typing skills. If anyone reads it and sees something thats not accurate please let me know. I dont want to spread false information. I wrote it the best I could after several days of research. Hope I got everything correct. If anyone wants to read it its under 1932-1964 silver Washington quarters in the registry. Im ranked 124. Im planning on doing a little editing and improving but Im to tired tonight. Been a long day. Left for work at 3am and got home at 6 this evening so Ill probably try to edit it tomorrow. If anyone who wants to read it sees anything I need to change let me know and ill fix it. I want to set a goal of adding descriptions to my quarters  and trying to improve my presentation. Gives me something to enjoy in the hobby and the research is helping me learn and grow. Thank you my good friends. Im blessed to have a great bunch of friends to mentor me in this hobby. 

[rrantique]

[Buffalo Head]

On 11/10/2022 at 7:58 AM, Hoghead515 said:

Well Im home stranded with covid today. Im in fine shape, taking it well with only minor symptoms. I didnt want to spread it to my work friends so I figured I better stay home a few days. Im taking this time looking at all the coins in my mixed box. Its coins I bought that I found appealing but havent had no plans to make sets with them. I guess you could call them type coins. I also enjoy collecting coins that I really like as singles. Ive got a few Morgans, couple ancients, ASEs, a Connecticut copper, some world coins, and a few others. I got some Im planning on making sets out of later such as Roosevelt dimes and Jefferson nickels, both going to be business strikes. I got a few proofs I may turn into sets one of these days. It will be later on down the road after I complete the sets Im working on and the sets next in line.  I love this hobby so much theres alot of things I want to do and its hard to choose what I want to do the most because I cant do them all. Im trying to stop myself from trying to start too many sets. But If I see a coin I really like that dosent go to a set Im putting together and Im able to get it, I will buy it as a single. Ive got a few singles on my bucket list. I really want to add a gold coin to my set. Its been driving me crazy for the past couple years. Im thinking about putting back a few dollars in an envelope every so often and save up and get one. I love gold coins but most are way out of my budget. I love the gold thread that was started. Even though I dont own none of my own I can still enjoy admiring everyone elses. Ive seen some amazing coins on that thread. 

I hope you’re feeling better my coin brother.

[Hoghead515]

On 12/2/2022 at 4:56 PM, Buffalo Head said:

I hope you’re feeling better my coin brother.

Im doing great now. I got to go back to work. We are over our covid. My wife and I both had it. 

[RWB]

Dust. Verdigris.

[rrantique]

On 12/2/2022 at 4:59 PM, RWB said:

Dust. Verdigris.

 

[polisciguy2011]

My interests are mostly Danish and Swedish silver (1, 2, 5, and 10 kroner/kronor), and 2- and 3-mark pieces of the constituent states of the German Empire. I've picked up a few 5-mark pieces in the past, but they tend to mostly fall well outside my price range in the MS that I'd want them in.

I also like collect some of the modern NITC issues, like the Australian Koala and Chinese (PRC) Panda series, as well as the Armenian Noah's Ark design.

[GoldFinger1969]

On 12/4/2022 at 11:49 PM, polisciguy2011 said:

My interests are mostly Danish and Swedish silver (1, 2, 5, and 10 kroner/kronor), and 2- and 3-mark pieces of the constituent states of the German Empire. I've picked up a few 5-mark pieces in the past, but they tend to mostly fall well outside my price range in the MS that I'd want them in.  I also like collect some of the modern NITC issues, like the Australian Koala and Chinese (PRC) Panda series, as well as the Armenian Noah's Ark design.

Very interesting...how did you get into the Kroner's ?

Many of us like to collect a modern or two from various countries and of various designs (i.e., proof and/or reverse proofs) which is a fun/different way to collect gold every now and then (obviously, gold is alot more than silver for most of us ).

[polisciguy2011]

On 12/5/2022 at 11:38 AM, GoldFinger1969 said:

Very interesting...how did you get into the Kroner's ?

Many of us like to collect a modern or two from various countries and of various designs (i.e., proof and/or reverse proofs) which is a fun/different way to collect gold every now and then (obviously, gold is alot more than silver for most of us ).

Part of my dissertation in grad school is about Denmark during WW2, so I was looking to branch out into Danish coins after previously collecting British shillings when I was younger. Turned out many of the issues were within my price range, so I started focusing on getting quality and higher grades to try and build out my set registry. Started the Swedish line because the coat of arms designs during the reign of King Gustav V really appealed to me.

I also admit I quite like the size of the 2 kroner/kronor issues, being somewhat close to a US half-dollar (another coin that has appealed to me in the past, but which I haven't really pursued yet).

[GoldFinger1969]

On 12/5/2022 at 8:32 PM, polisciguy2011 said:

Part of my dissertation in grad school is about Denmark during WW2, so I was looking to branch out into Danish coins after previously collecting British shillings when I was younger. Turned out many of the issues were within my price range, so I started focusing on getting quality and higher grades to try and build out my set registry. Started the Swedish line because the coat of arms designs during the reign of King Gustav V really appealed to me.

I also admit I quite like the size of the 2 kroner/kronor issues, being somewhat close to a US half-dollar (another coin that has appealed to me in the past, but which I haven't really pursued yet).

Interesting....just curious, I am fascinated by the circulation of coinage from the U.S. to European citizens and banks which resulted in the hoards of many coins we have today (mostly Saint-Gaudens Double Eagles, Indian Heads, etc.).

In your dissertation on Denmark and Danish coins, any stuff pop up about the preference or usage of U.S. Double Eagles or other coins ?

[AcesKings]

I started collecting in the early 80's when banks were paying $0.75 for a roll of cents. At the same time I could go to the local flea market and get a roll of "unsearched" wheat cents for the same amount. I'd search the rolls for ones I liked, refill them with cents I got in change and sell them back to the bank. In order to know what was worth keeping I bought a Red Book and photograde book. After seeing all the different old coins in the Red Book, I bought my first coin outside the roll, a 1917 Standing Liberty Quarter. I collected whatever I liked and could afford at the time till I got married, bought a house, and had some kids. Got back in the hobby around 2010 when we started having more expendable money. I THINK the first thing I bought then was 10 silver Eagles. I wound up concentrating my collection on designs I liked. My main collections consists of Bust Halves and proof Indian Cents. My secondary collections are Morgan Dollars, Walking Liberty Halves and Standing Liberty Quarters. I have started a Type set, so we'll see how far that goes. 

My first non-roll buy, still in my collection......

[polisciguy2011]

On 12/5/2022 at 9:27 PM, GoldFinger1969 said:

Interesting....just curious, I am fascinated by the circulation of coinage from the U.S. to European citizens and banks which resulted in the hoards of many coins we have today (mostly Saint-Gaudens Double Eagles, Indian Heads, etc.).

In your dissertation on Denmark and Danish coins, any stuff pop up about the preference or usage of U.S. Double Eagles or other coins ?

Ah, sorry! I think I should clarify: my dissertation doesn't touch on coins themselves; my interest in the numismatic side of things was piqued by wanting some kind of "physical" connection to Christian X. As my username implies, I'm a political scientist, so I'm looking mostly at how the Danish state responded to the German occupation. Sorry about not being more clear!

That is a fascinating question, though; I haven't looked into it before. Given how little Danish gold was issued, and most of it in smaller denominations, I wonder if any of those hoards did exist in Copenhagen banks...

[GoldFinger1969]

On 12/5/2022 at 10:57 PM, polisciguy2011 said:

That is a fascinating question, though; I haven't looked into it before. Given how little Danish gold was issued, and most of it in smaller denominations, I wonder if any of those hoards did exist in Copenhagen banks...

Most of the gold coins appear to be from banks in France, Switzerland, and Austria.

[World Colonial]

Late to this thread too.  I started in 1975 at age 10 when my family was in Bolivia.  My aunt had a hoard (not collection) of world coins which I believe she obtained from my father when my parents did a lot of traveling in the 60's.  I got my start from her, along with an 1880 Morgan dollar she bought from a plateria (silver shop) and missionaries from the school I attended.

When we returned later in the year, my step-grandmother took me to her bank where we spent the morning looking through a 10X10 SDB full of Whitman folders and boxes of 2X2 flips.  She had US type back to 1794, though no gold, no silver dollars, none of the early silver (up to 1807) and missing a few others (some of the capped bust and Liberty Seated).  She had several hundred capped bust halves, and large cents and mostly complete sets of many (not all) of these denominations in low to mid-circulated grades, but I don't remember specifics.  I only saw it once and she wouldn't let me take an inventory.  She did give me a few worn early large cents (best was an 1803 VG) and Virginia half penny.

That's what led me to trade all my world coinage for a Bust half and buy a few other similar coins later with the limited funds I had.  It's also a primary reason I never had an interest in the coins most US collectors have at a young age, or later.  After seeing her collection, collecting Lincoln wheat cents or anything like it was uninteresting, even though I had little money.  I also hadn't lived in the US much up to this point in life, so US coinage didn't have the same attraction it has for most US collectors.

[World Colonial]

Part 2

After this, I started and stopped several times, having other priorities and limited funds.  I resumed in 1998 permanently once I started using the internet regularly and finally had sufficient disposable income.

My initial primary interest was South Africa Union (since I had lived there in the 70's) along with a few other sets like Bolivia decimal coinage.  One of these was also the pillar coinage which is now my primary interest.

I switched to pillar coinage as my primary interest around 2010.  I had bought it occasionally previously when I could find a coin I wanted.  South African coinage was in a bubble at this time and I decided to "cash out" and once I did, to choose another primary interest.

This is about all I buy now, Lima and Potosi 1/2 real real, two reales, and four reales; 86 coins covering four denominations