Australian-Coins Forum

Non Numismatic Discussion => Chin Wag => Topic started by: ausjack on May 06, 2013, 04:22:36 PM

Title: Why and what do you collect
Post by: ausjack on May 06, 2013, 04:22:36 PM
Just wondering what other collect and why/how have your habits changed if at all? I've always like coins and notes as a kid but then with school and then work and moving all around I lost my way for many years just putting away commemoratives and the like and then after getting hurt I started collecting low mintage pond scum (still do just has to be rare now) but I'm going thru another change at the moment and getting a bit more full on and collecting better quality so I got a few mint sets but thinking about going just predecimal because the decimal is just a never ending story that I just can't keep up with and costs a mint but with pre I can finish sets and slowly up grade..just need to come across them now :good:
Title: RE: Why and what do you collect
Post by: Bigfellani5 on May 06, 2013, 05:03:42 PM
Collect unc decimal change, inc Aussie first/last/standard prefix Aussie notes, Aussie predecimals. Like to have a complete set of all unc coins issued by Australia. Also collect unc euro coins because of variety, could start from the begining and was challenging to do. Only 17 coins off being complete from begining of the euro. Also do world banknotes in any grade. Helps me wind down when I sort them.
Title: RE: Why and what do you collect
Post by: trout on May 06, 2013, 05:18:19 PM
I am Now more into my Decimal coins than my decimals.
I completed my Pre decimal sets ages ago and all I do now is upgrade when I can.
The diversity and amount of different available coins with the Decimal coins is what interests me know :ok:
From 1910 to 1964 there were only 4 different pre decimal commemoratives minted :dash1:,
If you match that with the number of commemorative coins produced from the inception of decimal coinage the decimal stuff becomes far more interesting ( at least for me) and nowhere near as expensive to get in choice grades as the pre decimal coins :ok:
Title: RE: Why and what do you collect
Post by: JeffH on May 06, 2013, 05:29:28 PM
I mainly go for circulated that I can find.

That said, I seem to be accumulating a fair number of ones that would not turn up in change.
I suspect some insidious infection takes hold and causes you to look for different eras and different countries. Intention to only collect certain types of coins has no bearing on the matter!

Jeff
Title: RE: Why and what do you collect
Post by: enworb on May 06, 2013, 08:41:23 PM
I much prefer predecimal and actively collect it. My decimal collection is more of a little bit here a little bit there.

I think the predecimal sets are much harder to get in higher grades and therefore more rewarding personally when i get one.

I love any errors decimal or predecimal and thats because theyre something different. I especially love errors due to human error, like mules. I have a chuckle every time i look at them and think about the person when they realised their mistake and it was too late.
Title: RE: Why and what do you collect
Post by: MattGold on May 06, 2013, 08:46:48 PM
At the moment I am collecting all lol, if I like I grab it (if I can afford it :dodgy:)      I like the pennies though
Title: RE: Why and what do you collect
Post by: triplewitch on May 06, 2013, 09:03:54 PM
I collect modern euro mint sets, BU and circulation coins.  I can get them all except for those of Monaco.  I started in 2002 and just kept going.  I buy Australian and others as interests me.-John
Title: RE: Why and what do you collect
Post by: Fulvio on May 07, 2013, 12:12:48 AM
I guess I got started when dad sold off his barrel of 1966 50¢ coins from the shop for around $9 each. I recall he had a wallet in the till with some predecimal notes and US Silver Certificates, all of which apparently vanished. Also vanished was an intact bundle of DPS $1 I had stashed at the back of my sock drawer. I suspect my little brother of turning them into icecreams or something, but he has always denied any wrongdoing. Musta been the tooth fairy wot did it, eh?

I was into stamps in a big way, bailing out when Aust Post got greedy with their NCLT stuff. Suddenly every issue meant a substantial investment to get all the mini sheets, strips, maxi cards, etc etc etc. So I got into coins, and fell for the NCLT trap. I guess I blew about ten grand before the penny dropped that this was a losing proposition, and since then I've been heavily into decimal errors and varieties, plus anything nice that comes up, like an ATM full of crisp new $20's for example.

I have a tiny amount of predecimals, but only really actively pursue 1940 shillings. Anything else I may have is coincidental.

A few years back, before my cataracts, I was noodling $10,000 a day, mostly in $1 and 50¢. I kept that up for 2 or 3 years, then stopped cold when domestic circumstances changed, my eyes gave out, and I dropped off the map.

I'm sort of back, catching up on years of accumulation at the moment, and we'll see what happens once I clear the backlog (curse these tiny little 5¢ coins...).
Title: RE: Why and what do you collect
Post by: stevo1962 on May 07, 2013, 08:29:02 AM
I started out collecting all predecimal coins in reasonable grades about 4 years ago but the collection was getting too big so I thought it would be better to condense it to higher grade rarer coins and so I sold the lower grade coins to concentrate on high grade KGV coins and have had periods when I concentrate on collecting a particular denomination.I also had a period of collecting early decimal sets 1969-1974 unc wallets and have a few 1966 FDC proof sets with perfect cases (weeded out the average ones and sold them off) but mainly concentrating on KGV unc
coins if I can afford them.I also spent a few months buying up high grade predecimal and the occasional high value decimal banknotes so have an album full of them but I probably wont go back to buying them but will look over them occasionally.
       I also started buying UNC-CH UNC 1972 and 1973 50c pieces when I could get the cheap from the USA but they are hard
to get for the right price
Title: RE: Why and what do you collect
Post by: Bigfellani5 on May 07, 2013, 08:59:47 AM
Quote from: 'triplewitch' pid='13864' dateline='1367840034'I collect modern euro mint sets, BU and circulation coins.  I can get them all except for those of Monaco.  I started in 2002 and just kept going.  I buy Australian and others as interests me.-John

Monarco is by far the hardest to get. Forms most of my spaces
Title: RE: Why and what do you collect
Post by: Robster on May 07, 2013, 09:10:05 AM
Pre-Decimal for me. As some may be aware I am currently re-jigging my 'third generation' collections handed down through the family.!
Currently shifting all my "variety and error pennies' into the "MattyB' system which is incredibly time consuming but fulfilling at the same time.! Now if there was only some time for housework.
The Treasurer has been assisting and has 'caught' the bug- with the help of some of the Forum members she is compiling a "Dollar" album bit by bit.!
Hopefully by the end of the year I will have a comprehensive and tidy bunch of albums and will then have a bunch of spare stuff for anyone who requires some run of the Mill spares.!
Thanks to all here who have assisted me so far.!! 12 months down the track I still feel like I am "just a kid" in the hobby.!
Title: RE: Why and what do you collect
Post by: Goldseeker on May 07, 2013, 09:32:42 AM
Lets see.   A set pre decimal circulating coins.   Partial collection of pre decimal sovereigns and half sovereigns.

Full collection of decimal UNC circulating coins and $1 Mint Marked coins.   Full set of official PNC's and medallion envelopes.

Now maintaining the collection as required.

Now noodling $1, 50c and 20c coins for errors.
Title: RE: Why and what do you collect
Post by: Triggersmob on May 07, 2013, 06:40:14 PM
I collect both stamps and coins. I started off with stamps back in about 1966 and still collect them now. Coins came a few years later, in late 1969 or early 1970. I had been in Australia for a short time and was running around Point Walter migrant hostel, when I tripped on a stone. I turned to check what I had tripped on and the stone had flipped over revealing and stash of pennies and half pennies under it. I gathered them up and that was the start of my collection. I then slowly added any coins that came my way, but didn't collect in a big way until I joined CCF in about 2005 or 2006. Circulating coins are what I prefer, I don't go for all this NCLT stuff. Along the way I have also gathered about 200 banknotes, although I don't really collect them ( I might end up trading them for coins one day). My favourite is coins for sure, but don't tell anyone, I might loose my job as mod over at SCF.
Title: RE: Why and what do you collect
Post by: Mister T on May 07, 2013, 08:03:03 PM
I started with Australian decimals from change. Then I started on Australian predecimal as well. Then Commonwealth predecimal.
I've got some notes too but coins are the preference which seems to be a common theme.
Title: RE: Why and what do you collect
Post by: coxspau on May 08, 2013, 04:17:54 PM
My grandfather got me started on Dansco predecimals and a few random albums of world coins. After many dormant years, I revived the interest and while living in Europe, started on European coins and banknotes, while trying to maintain Australian decimals and predecimals. Sending large amounts of floor sweepings from Australia to the UK got expensive after a while. Since returning, my love affair with decimals has deminished (directly linked to my ability to keep pace and also the lack of investment return). While I don't only collect for investment purposes, it often helps.
I'm now trying to focus on Australian pre-decimals, German Notgeld, Swiss coins and Central Asian Bukhara. I can't seem to shake off collecting 1st and last polymers either.
Title: RE: Why and what do you collect
Post by: Possie Ron on May 09, 2013, 12:54:27 PM
As a younger guy in the 60s I did not like a pocket full of change. Those pennies and halfpennies were so big with no real value, so I put them aside in  a money box. Later after decimal came in I sorted through my £5 of 1d. I had a complete date set minus 1930 and 1926. 26 is not uncommon but just never came across one. 25 I had but was stolen, "DO NOT LET PEOPLE LOOK AT YOUR COLLECTION UNSUPERVISED '  The point of my collection is that it is totally from my own pocket. I have never bought a coin.
Title: RE: Why and what do you collect
Post by: ausjack on May 09, 2013, 02:01:22 PM
Hey Ron good to see ya mate and :welcome: coxspau hope you enjoy :good:

Gee Ron I bet there's a lot of us here that wish we could say that, I was like that until a few year ago when I joined these bloody forums :mocking: but it's all good and all good fun and as long as you enjoy..I some times get lot and have to find my self again as I find it easy to fall into the bling trap and wanting coins that I can only dream about so hang in there mate I recon ya doin well and I wish I kept more as a kid but like they say about hindsight :)