Stamp Versus Coin

I have known 3 barbers in the last 40 years and for some reason..each of them collected coins..perhaps because they received them in exchange for haircuts..at times the discussion of stamps and coins would come up and these barbers would preen and declare how there coin collections would put their Grandson through college or whatever and they would ask about my collection..what is your collection worth they would say...i would reply Nothing ! Or its not for sale..just to see the expression on their faces...and that Caro Mio is why I do not collect coins !!

Have not known that many coin collectors but of those I have known, their main concern seems to have been money. It is, after all, money that they collect. They see coins as an investment and have a slew of grades. After being away from stamps for a number of years, it's interesting to see this kind of grading infiltrating the stamp hobby... or rather the stamps for investment sphere.

Soon after I began collecting stamps I was given a Whitman Lincoln Cents folder and began collecting these. In the 1950's coins dating back to the early 1900's were still in circulation. But coins were so unexciting and so uninspiring. Identical pieces of copper or silver, save for the date and maybe a D or an S.

Stamps opened up the world to me and even the least attractive among theme were more colorful than coins. I remember going to the library with my father and, over time, bringing home every book in the kids section that I could find about different lands and peoples.

Collecting stamps was special. Collecting coins was just filling in holes.

My husband collects coins. He absolutely loves it. He doesn't really focus on the monetary value of the coins though. He's not interested in the expensive mint condition or rare to find. He collects for the sake of collecting. All of his coins are circulated and he's just trying to get as many kinds as possible.

nuit_boreale I meant no offense by my post about the coin collecting barbers..to each his own....i saw in your bio that karate is one of your hobbies..my daughter Monique all five foot and 100 pounds of her is a kick boxer and fitness trainner..

This is the age old Chevy vs Ford argument.

I think anyone who collects as a hobby for enjoyment - from stamps to coins or cat collars to beer cans - will have a special room in Heaven. Collecting for an investment is OK also, but I think those people miss out on the cultural, historical and educatioal aspects of their hobby.

Don't know that many coin collectors aside from the coin forum but I think that it is somewhat more value based. but also many of the coin collectors say they would never sell their collection.

I myself am more value oriented but I also can see the beauty of things.

I think that it is more the kind of people who are attracted to coin collecting are just naturally more into the value of things.


Jser

Hello everyone....

My coin collection consists of nothing but foundlings. Anything I come across that's the least bit out of the norm. Started as a kid with the Lincoln wheatbacks and just expanded a little over the years. Nothing serious, just a fun little collection. As the manager of a Subway Sara finds a few silver coins or wheatbacks once or twice a month or so.

I did sell a fair amount of my silver in the mid 70's.....guess I just thought $30.00 for a beat up silver dollar was a pretty good deal. Sold about 50 of them and bought a car. Kinda wish I still had the coins some days, the car was hit by a snow plow the next winter.

philb said:nuit_boreale I meant no offense by my post about the coin collecting barbers..to each his own....i saw in your bio that karate is one of your hobbies..my daughter Monique all five foot and 100 pounds of her is a kick boxer and fitness trainner..

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Oh don't worry. I did not take offense :) I'm sorry if I sounded like I did. English isn't my first language and it's not always easy finding the right words to express myself. I'm sure there are many folks out there who collect coins that focus more on the monetary value of their collection. Just as there are people who collect for the sake of collecting. I actually liked your post especially the "barbers" part. I have several barbers in my family (my late grand father, my father, my uncles, my cousins). And perhaps someday I will be one too. So I could be a stamp collecting barber.

As for your daughter being in kickboxing, that's really cool. We don't have to be tall to be tough. I'm only five feet as well. :D

Coins are cool too. Some of my best friends are coins.

i have to have coins for the weekly nickle dime poker game !

Stamps can be collected cheaply - try asking your friends to save their used dollars for you as opposed to their used stamps.

Advantage...stamps.

Charles.

I like to think my stamp collection is a mini photo gallery.
Snap shots of places all around the world.