Comments on: Coin Rarities & Related Topics: The rise in the number of collectors of rare U.S. coins and the importance of the PCGS & the NGC http://www.coinlink.com/News/us-coins/coin-rarities-related-topics-the-rise-in-the-number-of-collectors-of-rare-u-s-coins-and-the-importance-of-the-pcgs-the-ngc/ Rare Coins & Currency News for Numismatic Collectors - Updated Daily Mon, 07 May 2012 19:57:47 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: AMB http://www.coinlink.com/News/us-coins/coin-rarities-related-topics-the-rise-in-the-number-of-collectors-of-rare-u-s-coins-and-the-importance-of-the-pcgs-the-ngc/comment-page-1/#comment-344317 AMB Mon, 07 May 2012 19:57:47 +0000 http://www.coinlink.com/News/?p=7386#comment-344317 Hi. I'm a young-adult coin collector who is about to hit middle age--yay (with a sarcastic tone of voice in case if you didn't know already). I consider myself a real coin collector for I collect coins for their historical and artistic value and not necessarily for their bullion value. I'd rather collect an ancient copper Roman coin than a modern-day US bullion coin, say. However, I am really sad about the dying hobby of coin collecting 'cause over the years, I've noticed that coin collectors like me are less and less, each year. All the focus of collecting coins are almost restrictfully on precious-metal bullion content. It's all about gold and silver and platinum and other non-common metals. How I have easily noticed this from my own personal perspective is that whenever I "prune the rosebush" in my collection (meaning sell some coins I no longer want), I get a payment for far less than catalogue value. Now, I understand that dealers naturally pay less than catalogue value 'cause they too need to make a profit, but now it's far, far less. I am lucky to get a price, roughly ten percent above melt value, for a nice histrorical coin that I am selling. Also, in the traditional coin shops (I buy from online too, but I sometimes like to frequent the shops, so I can get something nice right away, instead of weeks later in the mail), all I see are people either buying a gold bullion coin or selling a collection that they've inherited. I have not seen a real coin collector, such as myself, in person for a long, long, (not exaggerating) long time. Yes, this is very sad 'cause coins are real pieces of history that you can hold in your hand. If you have a very old coin, then maybe a distant ancestor of yours held and used the same very coin that you are holding now. Perhaps a famous historical figure held and used that same coin. With historical coins, one can learn about history and geography, but no. Coins are all and entirely about buillion. Though I've been a real collector for several years, I am transitioning myself out of the hobby 'cause I may be one of very few real coin collectors left in probably a couple of decades or so. And if we don't get the young interested in coins for their historical and artistic merit, then the wonderful and meaningful hobby of coin collecting (the real coin collecting) will be a dead hobby. Hi. I’m a young-adult coin collector who is about to hit middle age–yay (with a sarcastic tone of voice in case if you didn’t know already). I consider myself a real coin collector for I collect coins for their historical and artistic value and not necessarily for their bullion value. I’d rather collect an ancient copper Roman coin than a modern-day US bullion coin, say. However, I am really sad about the dying hobby of coin collecting ’cause over the years, I’ve noticed that coin collectors like me are less and less, each year. All the focus of collecting coins are almost restrictfully on precious-metal bullion content. It’s all about gold and silver and platinum and other non-common metals. How I have easily noticed this from my own personal perspective is that whenever I “prune the rosebush” in my collection (meaning sell some coins I no longer want), I get a payment for far less than catalogue value. Now, I understand that dealers naturally pay less than catalogue value ’cause they too need to make a profit, but now it’s far, far less. I am lucky to get a price, roughly ten percent above melt value, for a nice histrorical coin that I am selling. Also, in the traditional coin shops (I buy from online too, but I sometimes like to frequent the shops, so I can get something nice right away, instead of weeks later in the mail), all I see are people either buying a gold bullion coin or selling a collection that they’ve inherited. I have not seen a real coin collector, such as myself, in person for a long, long, (not exaggerating) long time. Yes, this is very sad ’cause coins are real pieces of history that you can hold in your hand. If you have a very old coin, then maybe a distant ancestor of yours held and used the same very coin that you are holding now. Perhaps a famous historical figure held and used that same coin. With historical coins, one can learn about history and geography, but no. Coins are all and entirely about buillion. Though I’ve been a real collector for several years, I am transitioning myself out of the hobby ’cause I may be one of very few real coin collectors left in probably a couple of decades or so. And if we don’t get the young interested in coins for their historical and artistic merit, then the wonderful and meaningful hobby of coin collecting (the real coin collecting) will be a dead hobby.

]]> By: Tom http://www.coinlink.com/News/us-coins/coin-rarities-related-topics-the-rise-in-the-number-of-collectors-of-rare-u-s-coins-and-the-importance-of-the-pcgs-the-ngc/comment-page-1/#comment-176837 Tom Thu, 26 Aug 2010 15:58:21 +0000 http://www.coinlink.com/News/?p=7386#comment-176837 In absolute terms there were far more people fitting the coin-collector demographic born in the 50s and early 60's then in years hence. That means fewer people hitting the collecting-age sweet spot down the road. Birth rates plummeted in the 70's and this group will start hitting 50 in 10 years. If people do wait to 50 to really start their coin spending in earnest this does not bode well for the hobby. On the other hand if as the author suggests there is an unseen wave of Gen-X and Gen-Y collectors that collect incognito, then there is hope. Well I am a gen X-er and my anecdotal observations cast serious doubt on the "underground young collector" hypothesis. That is very difficult to prove with physical evidence severely to the contrary. More is to be learned by the evidence we have actauly have to go by... #1 for me is coin show attendance, and that skews dramatically toward the older folk. Once a collector attends a show, he knows instictively that it is a superior method of trading, even to the internet. In absolute terms there were far more people fitting the coin-collector demographic born in the 50s and early 60’s then in years hence.
That means fewer people hitting the collecting-age sweet spot down the road. Birth rates plummeted in the 70’s and this group will start hitting 50 in 10 years. If people do wait to 50 to really start their coin spending in earnest this does not bode well for the hobby. On the other hand if as the author suggests there is an unseen wave of Gen-X and Gen-Y collectors that collect incognito, then there is hope.

Well I am a gen X-er and my anecdotal observations cast serious doubt on the “underground young collector” hypothesis. That is very difficult to prove with physical evidence severely to the contrary. More is to be learned by the evidence we have actauly have to go by… #1 for me is coin show attendance, and that skews dramatically toward the older folk. Once a collector attends a show, he knows instictively that it is a superior method of trading, even to the internet.

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