Before last year, I was a guy that always wondered why people collect stuff. Then I went metal detecting and dug up an 1876 seated quarter. I didn't even know that existed before it fell out of the dirt. Of course I had to get the first year of issue of that coin, and the last year. I was officially a "coin collector". Then I dug up an Indian Head Penny. After, I had to get the book so I could get them all. I had no idea I would be spending over 500 bucks for several of the key dates, but somehow I justified it in my mind to spend thousands for 1/2" pieces of old copper. A year later I have lost track how many ounces of silver I now have, which is awesome because it was easily justified it with my wife since I'm spending money and I still have my money. All the old coins I now have sent me down a rabbit hole of history of American currency, and I will officially be a collector for the rest of my days....
For me it's the history, artwork, potential tangible investment, and most importantly a way to transport back in time when the object was used in American life.
The artistic beauty of several things pique my collector attention. 1893 Columbian Exposition admission tickets, military payment certificates, bonds, stock certificates, 1800s lottery tickets, et al are all super neat to see as a complete set in person. The major allure is when you have a complete set that you can look back on, almost as if it were steps needed to finish a treasure hunt. Keep collecting, my friends.
I'm laughing out loud over this video for many reasons. I got my job as a press forge operator in the defense industry by only talking about coins in the interview. I literally always have a coin on me to share with random people. The idea that I hand them a coin from 536AD, the very worst year in all of human history, gets them googeling history within seconds. It's so fun to share my love for historical artifacts with people who never care about history. Or I hand them an 1814 large cent and calmly describe what was happening and who could have held that before them. Most people in the US don't realize the White House was burnt to ashes by an invading force. Or that Canada gained their independence through that war as well. Or that a small group of mixed races, speaking 7 different languages, destroyed 2500 of the worlds greatest military soliders within 24 minutes in New Orleans. That dude on the twenty dollar bill was their leader. Soon, it'll be another "general," Harriet Tubman. I collect because I appreciate those that came before me. So few people care about history anymore, but we're already seeing it getting repeated in our daily lives. Stop the insanity and read a book, or google a coin, or ask an elder what it was like in their day. I'm 47, and this modern age makes me feel ancient, like my justinian I coin. Lol. Thank you coin geek, keep up the great content.
My wife and I had a massive ‘life laundry’ over the last two years clearing items and getting ahead for a planned down size in a year or two. But our coin collection completely escaped the cut; lots of memories, historical interest and fun times hunting for items over the years.
Oh, I am a COLLECTOR! I collect coins, autographs (baseballs, mostly), guitars, watches, stickers, and pocket knives. Never got into stamps, although my grandparents did. I collect for the stories. Each item in each collection of mine has a story, and I know the story for all of them. Also, I'm 28 years old and been collecting for all my life!
As a child, my dad suggested I collect beer cans (He didn't drink, I had no supply!) From my meager collection I ultimately kept a few cans that are plain white except they say "Beer" on them.
If you were waiting in line for Blantons, I get it. It is rarely seen in my area. It looks like you got a straight from the barrel one also. That's even rarer still .
If these coins didn't somewhat keep their value, I wouldn't collect them. It's as simple as that. I used to collect video games carts, disks, and consoles (I still have some) and very few kept their value or gained any. I was lucky to get what I paid for on some things, and was at a loss for most things when I recently sold a bunch of stuff a few months ago on eBay. The main thing I like about this hobby is that I don't feel like I'm pissing my money away when I buy new things.
One of the first things I collected was comic books when I was twelve or so, My buddy got me into collecting, and now I could probably be called a pack rat of different collectibles
Deep and multi branching topic. How about the distinction between the collecting of items that were originally intended, or made or manufactured primarily to be utilized, or consumed/enjoyed etc. at roughly the time in which they were made, and those items that are made and marketed almost solely for the purpose of being collected, or to stimulate collecting/accumulating? To me they are a very different class of collectible objects. (and yes I personally hold one of these groups of objects in higher regard than the other!) I also understand there is a lot of blending and intermixing of the two groups when talking about certain collectibles areas.(proof coins and many other specialty mint products, 'rare' or 'limited edition' wine, whiskies. and spirits, Concert 'T' shirts and other specific swag items etc. just to name a few) In answer to the broader question, "why do we collect", I would say it's because we are herd animals, and to deviate much from what the herd has been sold as being of value or having worth would probably make us feel uncomfortable, uneasy, and 'less than' in some ways. Plus it fills our time in a pleasnt way/occupiess our focus, and allows us to feel we have 'mastery' or at least some control over one small aspect of our human existence, and maygive us a chance to feel superior to someone who does not have as nice/complete/or as valuable a collection (or single item) as our own. So long live, Beanie Babies, Pogs, Bobble Heads, and the Franklin Mint's U.S. Presidential Medallions (struck in genuine pewter!) Thanks
Ive only been a coin collector for about 2 years and i have been a gem/mineral collector for 17 years, started when i was 14 and now im 31 lol both hobbies are almost identical but only difference is, gem/mineral dealers are actually willing to make a deal with you thats more than 5% off the price 🙃 coin dealers are so stiff on their prices, that it makes the hobby less fun than my other one.
Exactly, and there are hundreds of coins that are easy to find but are expensive...and many that are less expensive that are truly difficult to locate. Thanks for being here.
We’ve got a local guy who bought & collected Rare hard to find Whiskey for 40+ years; cashed a bit into silver & gold to diversify last year; interesting stuff that folks collect just about anything.
Great video! Thanks for sharing. All it took for me was one trip back east to visit a few Civil War battlefields and I was immediately obsessed with American history and culture. Been collecting US coins and paper currency for about 25 years now. Having bought, sold and rolled over a few items here n there. My small collection is nothing spectacular but I love the search for a new Morgan or Peace Dollar. Still not a pro at eyeballing the MS grades tho! Man that gets tough occasionally Thanks again for the videos! Cheers 🤙🏼
Great thoughts on collecting and hilarious Blantons epilogue. We did a Chicago ANA as our first big show ever and Deere sorry to hear you didn’t make this one.
@@Jan-m5c2r actually, what I wish they would change more than the yellow, I can live with that, I wish they'd use different plastic... it just doesn't feel or look as nice to me as the others!
Hi Ben, thanks for the vlog! I've collected different things since I was in grade school. I don't really know why, I keep on asking myself why but I don't seem to answer. :)
Great video. I'm glad I stuck around till the end. Made me think of this question... I really like the 10 oz Coca-Cola silver bars that are coming out. One part of me thinks keeping the bar unopened within all of its original packaging. Another part of me wants to see, enjoy the bar. Do collector's pay more for unopened? Or still with all original packaging?
So glad I don’t get into the fomo . When the Super Bowl is on I’m watching American pickers . Like I bought a beautiful 1925s in an old soapbox holder it is labeled a ms62 but looks like a 64+ can’t wait to send it to pcgs for restoration. I buy what I like . I have been buying pre 33 gold and now that they are getting hot . I got 5 pre33 in ms63 for 2422$ when we had that dip two weeks ago ago 😊😂
There can be all motivations from mentally challenged/ill individuals who would be hoarders to those that acquire/ collect items that society places financial value on . From posters,toys, minerals ,vehicles,coins,currency,jewelry, watches,firearms, stamps, currency are just a few. People collect not only for financial gain but also entertainment. I learned my collecting from my depression era grandparents who saved everything. Hopefully I have learned to be moderate in my collecting.
I had a psychologist tell me that the difference between a harder and a collector is that a hoarder won't sell things and a collector will realize there are set values on things and if you price something above market they are likely to sell it to you. A hoarder may see trash as valuable.
Great perspective Ben! I had a bottle of rare 24 year bonded whisky I'd saved for 40 years. My brother in-law while visiting decided to open it.( Without asking).I didn't even get a taste of it! The bottle was empty by the time I found out! I wasn't going to drink it. I thought maybe I could find a buyer and make some money. Oh well.
Keeping to numismatics, why is a 1795 Talbot cent far less expensive in relation to a comparable 1795 US cent? There are always what appear to be sleepers, though some coins never seem to wake up.
*Collect what you love, love what you collect, and you'll never be disappointed by how worthless it is* *You don't have to look any farther than the US Mint's Silver Eagle Program to see inequity in access. The Mint is perfectly happy to sell SOME of their products consumer direct...With ridiculous premiums for access to those products. At the same time, the Mint will only sell the cheaper Business Strike Silver Eagles to a certain group of registered Coin Dealers willing to pay a surcharge to the Mint for the privilege of purchasing Silver Eagles. It is literally, a "pay to play" system..Those Dealers are then free to charge whatever the market will bear for those Eagles...It's unfair. It should be Illegal* *BTW...I have a bottle of 12 year old Glenlivet in my safe, my late wife purchased for my 40th birthday, in 2002. She passed away in 2011...It remains unopened.*
Ben, if you find yourself waiting in line for 2 hours, just to buy a bottle of bourbon *first thing in the morning* ... let's just say I have a friend named Bill W. I'd like to introduce you to. 😂
There's a empty bourbon bottle or gallon size whiskey bottle somewhere definitely...this is the only path i can see that would make a collector willingly want to collect only ANACS 🟡 🤢🤮... YELLOW holders..heck, probably 3 or 4 empties to get that troubled.
