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Author Topic: Going Off Your Collecting Theme  (Read 5813 times)

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Offline Britannicus

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Going Off Your Collecting Theme
« on: February 06, 2013, 10:37:04 am »
Many coin collectors have a unifying theme. Now this theme could be as broad as "ancient coins," but more often it gets a bit narrower such as "ancient Greek" or "ancient Roman" coins. It could be very specific such as "coins of the Twelve Caesars" or "tetradrachms of Tyre." There are many excellent reasons for focusing  one's collection, not the least of which are time and financial limitations (these reasons and more have been discussed in-depth on other helpful threads).

For those who do have focused collections: are you ever tempted to veer from your focus? Have you ever bought a coin well outside of your primary collecting area because you were attracted to the coin's subject matter, incredible beauty, historical significance, or even investment potential? Further, do you feel that the occasional odd outlier from your main collecting theme serves to dilute or enrich your collection? Perhaps these outliers are the seeds of a future collecting focus?

Offline Andrew McCabe

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Re: Going Off Your Collecting Theme
« Reply #1 on: February 06, 2013, 10:46:32 am »
For those who do have focused collections: are you ever tempted to veer from your focus?

No.

Have you ever bought a coin well outside of your primary collecting area because you were attracted to the coin's subject matter, incredible beauty, historical significance, or even investment potential?

No.

Further, do you feel that the occasional odd outlier from your main collecting theme serves to dilute or enrich your collection? Perhaps these outliers are the seeds of a future collecting focus?

When my collection is complete, I will then consider other options in life. I suspect I would not collect coins, but perhaps become a Buddhist monk, or a potter on a remote Scottish island, or a right-wing politician, or a subway station attendee. It would be something completely different than coin collecting. I'll only do coin collecting once, and I am trying to do it properly, and that takes much of a lifetime.

But I admit there have been times when I wondered what other coins I might collect, if I did not collect Roman Republican coins. I arrived at three serious options: (1) modern art medals (2) anglo-saxon pennies (3) low denomination aluminium coins and other small change of the 20th century's new Republics, e.g. Latvia, India

Offline Britannicus

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Re: Going Off Your Collecting Theme
« Reply #2 on: February 06, 2013, 10:51:12 am »
When my collection is complete, I will then consider other options in life. I suspect I would not collect coins, but perhaps become a Buddhist monk, or a potter on a remote Scottish island, or a right-wing politician, or a subway station attendee. It would be something completely different than coin collecting. I'll only do coin collecting once, and I am trying to do it properly, and that takes much of a lifetime.

Thank you, Andrew. As usual, you manage to combine wisdom with humour perfectly!    :laugh:

Online Mat

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Re: Going Off Your Collecting Theme
« Reply #3 on: February 06, 2013, 11:24:05 am »
I mainly focus on the roman empresses. Its something I have liked from the start but at the same time I still buy coins I like. With my romans I do buy the emperors but only focused on 1 of each.

But I do my coins out of my comfort zone at times mainly if the price is right or if I just liked it enough.
MY GALLERY

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Offline ancientdave

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Re: Going Off Your Collecting Theme
« Reply #4 on: February 06, 2013, 02:39:19 pm »
I don't have any rules, other than buying what I like. When I look at my collection, the patterns reveal themselves, and it is clear why I have bought the coins that I buy. I have bought coins that are outside of what I am usually drawn to, which is something I always very much enjoy when it happens. I try not to overthink it and let my nose take me where it will. It has never steered me wrong yet!  ;D

Offline HELEN S

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Re: Going Off Your Collecting Theme
« Reply #5 on: February 06, 2013, 02:55:24 pm »
 

 i am very much a random collector and this gives me the freedom to buy anything i see that takes my fancy
 i have looked at one or two themes to follow but noticed that automatically you start to look for a particular coin the prices rise far above my budget that i have set
 so i will keep doing what i am doing for now and at the moment i am just organising them in some kind of order to put in my gallery   +++

 
 

Offline JBF

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Re: Going Off Your Collecting Theme
« Reply #6 on: February 06, 2013, 03:17:34 pm »
I remember that Wayne Sayles wrote, ' collect the best you can afford.'  I think that he recommended at least VF.  My area tends to be Magna Graecia and Sicily, but outside of that is okay too, if the quality is there.  I only feel like I am "diluting" my collection if the quality and condition are not there.  I have been fortunate to have a friend who collects and who is not afraid to tell me if I am letting the quality and condition of the coins slip.

But I think that influences in the ancient Greek world, often spanned the entire Greek world, so therefore it is sometimes possible to draw connections from different parts.  For example, Kraay noted that the poses of the bulls of Phlius in the Peloponesse imitated those of Thurium.  Also, Eretria, with its cow, head turned, scratching its nose with its hind leg, Corcyra with its cow, head turned, and calf and, Sybaris with its bull, head turned, are all allies of Miletus along the trade route from East to West.  It is a variation on theme.  Karystos is based on Eretria and, Apollonia and Drachyium are based on Cocyra, but if a collector just sticks to their area, they might miss such an interesting connection.  The coins of Phlius are relevant to the coins of Thurium, even though geographically, they are in quite different areas.

JTF

Offline David Atherton

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Re: Going Off Your Collecting Theme
« Reply #7 on: February 06, 2013, 04:59:07 pm »
I haven't strayed from my collecting niche of Flavian denarii (although a few Trajan denarii were purchased early on), but would like to expand to complementary areas such as Judaean or Alexandrian coinage.

There is still so much I would like to add to my primary interest, so I really don't have the time or resources to expand in any great detail elsewhere.

Offline Gilgamesh

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Re: Going Off Your Collecting Theme
« Reply #8 on: February 06, 2013, 10:46:32 pm »
I started collecting coins at age 8. Over the years I acquired a broad range of coins (mostly as gifts) and in researching them, gained a great deal of useful general knowledge. I also acquired an interest in ancient history, particularly Roman, but it was not until my early thirties that I was able to afford commencing a serious specialist collection of Roman Republican coins, although my study interests had focused on the RR for quite a few years. It was those early general interests that gave me the study skills not acquired via my appallingly bad schooling and developed the desire for the more detailed research that gives me so much pleasure and meaning today as I ease my way far too rapidly to 70. I’ve never sold any of my general pieces. They get slowly given away to the young who show them an interest.

The summation of that experience is that any focus of investigation develops useful mental skills and broadens our knowledge of the world. Any object / coin becomes a focus for gaining knowledge. The major purchasing limitation is usually financial; more for some of us than others. I think it is often that, not a primary study focus, which limits what we buy, even if we can’t study everything to the same depth. Who among us wouldn’t pick up a decadrachm or an owl just for the ascetics if we could afford it?

If I were able, I would broaden my collecting to coinage of the Long Eighteenth Century. I have made more than a passing study of the period for reasons I won’t go into. It was a period of great social change and what could be called the birth of the modern world. The coins of the period, like Greek and Roman, become an affordable physical link to the period and, with types reflecting the sociology of the period. It is that which makes us collectors isn’t it? Not simple, mindless fondlers of metallic objects. If it interests and can be afforded, buy it!

Ted
Every day I know less and less about more and more. Soon I expect to know nothing about everything.

Offline stlnats

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Re: Going Off Your Collecting Theme
« Reply #9 on: February 06, 2013, 10:48:23 pm »
I've collected "seriously" for the better part of 30 years and have developed several specialized collections (aka "themes") none of which are connected beyond being interesting to me.  For instance,  I collected folles and fractions of RIC 6 exclusively for about 10 years.  I was getting burned out and finding little new to buy (and everything I semi-liked seemed to cost at least a couple hundred $) when a career shift (banking) ignited my interest in local currency to the exclusion of almost everything else.  Also, currency was relatively cheap at the time, and I could get a couple nifty banknotes for the same price as a single so-so follis I "needed."  Same thing happened a  few more times ("Oh look, a shiny new thing that seems cheap by comparison" LOL).  

At this point I'm "filling holes" in a few of the collections (folles and papal coins/medals especially) and am considering disposing of a couple of others - those which I think I've taken about as far as I practically can and doubt that I'll return to or have proven to be "dead ends" for me - to focus resources on a few of the others.  In the case of the folles, I discovered a few years ago that there was lots of new material which I'd previously not seen so my interest was rekindled and everything was new again.  In the case of Papal medals there's been a ton of new info published/available to me over the last few years that have really increased my appreciation of the series.      

Not sure that this approach would work for anyone else, but it does for me and keeps my interest fresh during the "dry spells."

 ;D    

Offline cliff_marsland

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Re: Going Off Your Collecting Theme
« Reply #10 on: February 07, 2013, 12:18:56 am »
Yep, Yep, and Yep.  I just have too many interests to focus on just one genre, or even one hobby, for that matter.

My primary interests are:
Julio-Claudian Sestertii
Sestertii of Postumus & the 3rd century
Imperial AE of Perinthus
coins by patina
Alexandrian Drachmae
 
There's some others - Bactrian, Seleukid, Ptolemaic AE, etc.

I don't collect much beyond 312 A.D. in Roman, though.  Occasionally, I'll get on a Byzantine kick.


Offline Britannicus

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Re: Going Off Your Collecting Theme
« Reply #11 on: February 07, 2013, 11:57:58 am »
Yep, Yep, and Yep.  I just have too many interests to focus on just one genre, or even one hobby, for that matter.

Quite a diverse collection! Thank you for sharing your interests. One interest will inevitably lead to others, which is one of the joys of the learning process that the study of these objects facilitates. Expansion of interests can be a bit hard on the wallet, however.   :)

Offline benito

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Re: Going Off Your Collecting Theme
« Reply #12 on: February 07, 2013, 02:04:36 pm »
Expansion can be good for your wallet and collections. In fact some years ago I expanded my interests to precolumbian cultures. Later
 I decided to keep the best pieces and sell others to finance my budding collection of greek flora and fauna and completion of my Romans. Given that the cost of my Precol was (give or take) 15-20% of market price I,m getting my greeks very cheaply.

Offline Andrew McCabe

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Re: Going Off Your Collecting Theme
« Reply #13 on: February 07, 2013, 08:21:44 pm »
Expansion can be good for your wallet and collections. In fact some years ago I expanded my interests to precolumbian cultures. Later
 I decided to keep the best pieces and sell others to finance my budding collection of greek flora and fauna and completion of my Romans. Given that the cost of my Precol was (give or take) 15-20% of market price I,m getting my greeks very cheaply.

I would say that this is untypical. There is usually a very expensive learning curve in any hobby, with early purchases typically costing much more than usual retail, and later expert purchases costing less than retail. Jumping around is a risky investment strategy. That said, I've not found my own collecting strategy to be financially enriching. Not at all at all.

Offline Adrian W

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Re: Going Off Your Collecting Theme
« Reply #14 on: February 07, 2013, 10:06:49 pm »
About 15 months ago I decided to start collecting ancients again I started with $300 from money I had made on ebay  in order to buy coins I have to keep rolling funds over,my collecting style is very diversified as I buy coins I like so I am a magpie.15 months later I have approx 500 coins around 300 are small AE'S  though some of those are quite rare but the other 200 are decent coins some of which are in my gallery.
If I sold all of those it would be at a subtantial profit so if I quit today and decided to collect something their would be plentyof money to do that.
What I am trying to say is it can be done and anyone can do it, I have sold over 100 coins that I would like to have kept but needed to sell those to buy others  I used that money to buy ones I really want.

So I am with Benito on this one as I think he does something similar though maybe not with coins,I also sell other things I can make a profit with and use that to buy coins.

I do like large coins of Trajan,Hadrian and Nero and I have about 60 of those and some are quite rare I am in the process of cataloging all the coins once done I will post on here and see what you think of the collection I am about half way through them all.
If you would like to see what I have catalogued so far I would be happy to  post them. I have never been in a position where I could afford to loose money on what I collect its always been with profit in mind if I needed to sell fast

So I do lots of research firt
Adrian
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Offline Britannicus

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Re: Going Off Your Collecting Theme
« Reply #15 on: February 07, 2013, 11:59:54 pm »
I do like large coins of Trajan,Hadrian and Nero and I have about 60 of those and some are quite rare I am in the process of cataloging all the coins once done I will post on here and see what you think of the collection I am about half way through them all.
If you would like to see what I have catalogued so far I would be happy to  post them.

Adrian,

I am very curious to see whatever part of your collection you would like to share when you have a chance to post them.

Mike

Offline dafnis

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Re: Going Off Your Collecting Theme
« Reply #16 on: February 13, 2013, 04:53:21 am »
I started collecting ancients over 6 years ago, and focused my collection on Roman denarii, either Republic or Empire. That is still my main focus, though in the last couple of years I've expanded to a few sub-collections focused on specific mints (Carthago Nova, Londinium) or themes (Venus). Finally since my boy (Alejandro) was born I later decided to have a few Alexander drachms  :) - if I find nice ones at a decent price I'd still go for them.

Offline cliff_marsland

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Re: Going Off Your Collecting Theme
« Reply #17 on: February 14, 2013, 09:26:14 pm »
I consider ancient coins in general my niche.  It's just too dull and confining for me to confine myself to one niche, although I have several sub-specialties that I rotate through, as the fancy strikes.

The same goes for my other hobbies.  I favor detective shows in my radio hobby, but I collect most genres.  A random example; a very obscure horror show from c. 1932  I don't know many collectors there who collect just one genre, although there are a few.  OTR came slightly before coins - I've been doing both for 20 years, so I suppose my radio collecting habits influenced my coin-collecting habits.

As the narrator intoned, "Do you believe in ghosts....do you?"

https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/albums/userpics/24073/normal_Do_You_Believe_In_Ghosts_-_%23007_-_3xxxxx.jpg

One will never know what opportunities one can experience if new genres are never tried.  I've found delightful new shows, as well as some klunkers.  The same is true of coins.

Offline Enodia

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Re: Going Off Your Collecting Theme
« Reply #18 on: February 15, 2013, 03:07:03 am »
"Pet-Pet-Petri Wines"

my other main collecting interest is Sherlock Holmes. in fact that collection is 4 times larger than my ancients. among those are many cassette recordings of the old radio shows with Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce. quite fun to pop in occasionally. 

~ Peter

Offline cliff_marsland

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Re: Going Off Your Collecting Theme
« Reply #19 on: February 15, 2013, 09:56:46 pm »
Oh cool,

I love Sherlock Holmes too - especially the non-original stories, since I've heard them so many times.  I have original transcriptions of most major detective shows, but unfortunately Sherlock Holmes is one of the  few I don't have.  SH network ETs are very rare in private collections.   I suppose SH was carried on AFRS (Armed Forces Radio Service), but I've never seen one.  Basil Rathbone was my favorite Holmes.

My personal favorite series is I Love A Mystery.  I was the last person to discover a new episode.  It seems that the cool series are always the rare series,   Just like coins.  unfortunately.  Only c. 120 out of 1700+ exist in audio form.  I got mine for free, but due to a cruel quirk of fate, the original engineer had keyed up the discs (the Senate hearings on the other side were untouched).  I had to spend 40 hours piecing together the complete transfer.

How's this for a cool tite, The Terror of Frozen Corpse Lodge?  Read the scripts, and it doesn't quite live up to the title..

Offline daverino

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Re: Going Off Your Collecting Theme
« Reply #20 on: February 18, 2013, 01:05:33 pm »
I was never a collector of anything before I took up ancient coins - which I scarcely knew existed five years ago. The result has been a rather 'scattershot' approach to the hobby which I wouldn't necessarily recommend but was perhaps inevitable. If anything my theme has been to look for a really interesting portrait rather than to focus on numismatic details because this tells me more about the people and culture that made the coin than any classification.

If I were doing it over again I would perhaps plan a collection, decide which coins were necessary, consider the pricing and then set out to buy the particular coins, i.e. do the research first and the buying later. My real-life approach has been much less efficient but still a lot of fun.

One thing I would recommend is this: Don't be afraid to give the hobby a 'break' when you are lacking inspiration or the price tag is starting to get to you. I've quit several times and always found my way back to it after a few months.

Offline areich

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Re: Going Off Your Collecting Theme
« Reply #21 on: February 18, 2013, 02:50:45 pm »
I don't think this approach could ever work, with hindsight it might be a good idea but when you start everything is so interesting. Sitting down and planning a collection on paper isn't realistic and I think it would be much less fun. I actually found that I specialized (though still very broad fields) and then broadened again, just with better quality coins than when I first started.
Andreas Reich

Offline daverino

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Re: Going Off Your Collecting Theme
« Reply #22 on: February 18, 2013, 03:31:02 pm »
"Planning your collection" seems to be one of those things that is great in principle but hard to do in practice (though I do admire those who can set exact goals in collectiing). It is a little like advising the kids to throw away their comic books and start reading up on useful things like medicine, engineering or corporation law. Good advice, to be sure, but don't expect too much compliance,


Offline arizonarobin

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Re: Going Off Your Collecting Theme
« Reply #23 on: February 24, 2013, 03:32:49 pm »
I go off my collecting theme all the time  ;D
I still focus on the Ladies and JD in particular but if I see something I love <3, it is definitely coming home with
me if I can afford it.
 :P
The one thing I have noticed in my collecting is that the longer I collect the more expensive the coins I like.  :-X

Offline Britannicus

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Re: Going Off Your Collecting Theme
« Reply #24 on: February 24, 2013, 04:09:49 pm »
The one thing I have noticed in my collecting is that the longer I collect the more expensive the coins I like.  :-X

I have found this to be true of my own tastes as well. It would be interesting to know if anyone's tastes have migrated in the opposite direction, from more expensive to less expensive. I can think of several good reasons why they might, such as the discovery and appreciation of more obscure and therefore unpopular collecting areas that hold great historical interest nonetheless.

 

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