Type collectors, what makes a coin a different type to you?

Hello all, I have been collecting coins for a few years but only recently did I start being more serious about it. I prefer having types for my collection rather than different years or mint marks as I like having variety in my collection. However, I am a bit confused about slight changes in coins of the "same" type, whether I should keep them as separate coins in my collection or whether I should dump them in duplicate coin part I primarily keep for swapping, some examples of these confusing coins are:

2009 1 turkish lira which has a wide base for the number 1 vs the other years which have a narrow base: https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces6163.html

2000 2 belgian euro that has a slightly larger font for the year and the stars vs other years that have a slightly smaller font for the year (the link here doesn't show the difference but I will add a comment showing the difference when I have the time): https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces80.html

What about change in material while the exact same style is kept such as the Lincoln Memorial penny which was made of bronze from 1959-1982 but then switched to copper plated zinc from 1982 to 2008 or magnetic/non-magnetic types of the same design coin

A more obscure difference such as different types of edges and reeding (coarse/medium/fine) like the ones found in 25 Egyptian Piasters from 1993 https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces1825.html


What would you do in such cases? :)

No, the question is back to you, since you're the one collecting your own, private collection, so start to stay awake during the long, cold winter nights and think about it I'm sure you'll find a solution suiting you and your future collection How I collect is only from my point of view and I'll NOT try to convince YOU, that my way of doing it, might be better than yours

Quote: "Geli1221"​Hello all, I have been collecting coins for a few years but only recently did I start being more serious about it. I prefer having types for my collection rather than different years or mint marks as I like having variety in my collection. However, I am a bit confused about slight changes in coins of the "same" type, whether I should keep them as separate coins in my collection or whether I should dump them in duplicate coin part I primarily keep for swapping, some examples of these confusing coins are:
​
​2009 1 turkish lira which has a wide base for the number 1 vs the other years which have a narrow base: https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces6163.html
​
​2000 2 belgian euro that has a slightly larger font for the year and the stars vs other years that have a slightly smaller font for the year (the link here doesn't show the difference but I will add a comment showing the difference when I have the time): https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces80.html
​
​What about change in material while the exact same style is kept such as the Lincoln Memorial penny which was made of bronze from 1959-1982 but then switched to copper plated zinc from 1982 to 2008 or magnetic/non-magnetic types of the same design coin
​
​A more obscure difference such as different types of edges and reeding (coarse/medium/fine) like the ones found in 25 Egyptian Piasters from 1993 https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces1825.html
​
​
​What would you do in such cases? :)

​Hi, you answer your question allready by yourself, in a way. If you like to collect on a serious way it is actually impossible
NOT to do it by year, variety etc. Sometimes ther are multiple varieties in a single year, which one to collect and which
one not....? You see the dilemma? Everybody should collect on the way he/she likes, but if you do it by type only, you have to make a lot of difficult (and unnessecary) choises. That is offcours only my opinion. Sorry for my poor english.

This is the question which pop up every now and then. I quess we somehow fear that there are something above us which judges which style is "the right" one to do "numismatics".

I have collected by KM types and subtypes but I'm considering to clean up my collection and throw away coins with minor differences (such linked above) and lowballs.

If two coins can be distinguished from each other then someone would want the two coins in their collection. And I'm not just talking about the minted state of the coin -- some people collect examples of one type in different grades.

My criteria? Well, it varies by country and era. In a few areas I will pick up any discernible difference (not counting wear) and other situations I won't bother with major differences. But if I happen to acquire some variation I wouldn't search for I still tend to keep it in my collection.

I only collect major variants where you don't need a loupe or there is only a difference in text thickness or position for most world coins.
For my high interest fields like Japan I collect them by year and also smaller variants but still only the ones I don't need a loupe for that' where I draw the line.

Hey all, thanks for the replies, Ive been thinking about this and I concluded that I won't particularly try to get minor difference coins for my modern coin collection but if I come across a difference that is visible without the need for a microscope or loupe I will keep the coin. :)

try to look here:

https://fr.numista.com/forum/topic106012.html

My hobby in the hobby

Interestong question, cant really tell you which type or way of collecting should you adopt, can only share the way am doung it. Basically am collacting from every country every year every variation. 

There are my favourite coins and issuers tho, but just as for the collection I collect them all thta are available for circulation (No sets or BU).