Anyone else contemplate collecting by birth year?

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neilithic

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Posted: 26 Jun 2013, 23:17 #

I've been thinking recently that at some stage it might be fun to try and compile a complete set of coins minted round the world from the year of my birth (1978) It shouldn't be too expensive but it might take a fair amount of time to complete.

Mark240590

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Posted: 27 Jun 2013, 00:40 #

Not really, I do want a 1990 proof set for the UK. I also will buy a coin from 1990 if there are several dates available

neilithic

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Posted: 27 Jun 2013, 01:36 #

Had a quick check and on Numista there's 721 coins listed for 1978. I'm sure there are more that aren't listed. Maybe it's a project for me when I retire in 30 years or so. Most of them look pretty cheap but there will be a few of the silver ones that may be a bit more expensive.

neilithic

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Posted: 27 Jun 2013, 01:40 #

Whoops, 113 silver coins, 23 gold coins and one platinum coin issued in 1978. Maybe it will be a bit more tricky than I thought.

torontokuba

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Posted: 27 Jun 2013, 03:49 #

Not even if I was 150 years old. Seems to me, like an idea for a very boring collection on many levels (coin composition, mintages, designs, varieties, history, minting practices, effigies, etc.).

ALLRED1950

Joined: 2 Jul 2012
Posts: 5049

Posted: 27 Jun 2013, 04:14 #

Neilithic would you like me to start pulling all 1978 US coins for you. yours daryl

It is, what it is, or is it.

neilithic

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Posted: 27 Jun 2013, 04:23 #

Of course a coin collection based on my birthyear would be boring to everyone else, it would be a personal collection, like a snapshot in history from the year I was born. My parents kept a copy of the local newspapers from the day I was born. I've done the same for my sons.

I can't see how the coin composition of a complete collection could be boring sice you'd get coins from each metal there were Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze, zinc, nickel, cupro nickel, aluminium, aluminium bronze, there'd also be great variety in mintages a few thousands for the comemmoratives up to billions for the US pennies, variety of designs.

And no thanks, don't worry about setting anything aside for me. It was just a thought about what I might do someday. At the moment I'm concentrating on my Pacific, silver and unusual metal collections.

torontokuba

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Posted: 27 Jun 2013, 05:31 #

Quote: neilithicOf course a coin collection based on my birthyear would be boring to everyone else ... Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze, zinc, nickel, cupro nickel, aluminium, aluminium bronze, there'd also be great variety in mintages a few thousands for the comemmoratives up to billions for the US pennies, variety of designs.

Any single year in our lifetime would be very boring to me, not just yours. I was going to say, commemoratives must be included with that variety of metals. I was aiming for circulation coins. Now I have even less interest in such a collection, having to buy non coins from mints, just because they happen to have a year on them. In my opinion, it would be a collection filled with expensive crap and dull circulation coins.

neilithic

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Posted: 27 Jun 2013, 05:36 #

Oh well, to each their own.

torontokuba

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Posted: 27 Jun 2013, 05:39 #

I like the newspaper idea.

neilithic

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Posted: 27 Jun 2013, 05:43 #

Yeah I thought it was quite cool, they gave them to me on my 21st.

manxcat12

Joined: 14 Jul 2012
Posts: 1004

Posted: 27 Jun 2013, 08:04 #

I think it would be dull too, unless you were born in the golden age of colonialism or during a world war, when coins really did tell a story. Any particular year since 1950 at the latest would be completely dull, all modern rubbish or at best, near-scrap silver.

Catalogue referee for British, English and Scottish coins.

Le référent pour des pièces britannique, anglais et écossais.

Mark240590

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Posted: 27 Jun 2013, 08:33 #

In my opinion a nice proof set from your home country is enough for that type of thing I actually believe that torontokuba is right on this occasion. It would be full of crap really, although once you have your main goal done you may have to consider this because you'll probably fill alot of that map that way ;)

My plan is at minimum a proof set from the uk and the country my children will be born in (if another) but ideally I would like to have a sovereign for their 21st to give them then its something they can either keep forever or if they are ever in the shizz pawn it in lol

SummerUK

Joined: 3 Jan 2013
Posts: 116

Posted: 27 Jun 2013, 09:16 #

I am quite surprised about the strong words here. I do exactly the same, and I like it -- a snapshot in time, with "dull" and non-dull coins around the world.

Glad that no one has to like my collection!

bam777

Joined: 5 Aug 2011
Posts: 4414

Posted: 27 Jun 2013, 09:45 #

Personally, I haven't thought about it. But I'm collecting all types and dates. I do like it when I find a 1984 coin. I think to myself that the coin is the same age as me! Cool!

Mark240590

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Posted: 27 Jun 2013, 11:06 #

That's it Ben, like the BUNC Belize dollar I got the other day that I mistook for silver and gambled on. I paid over book price for the one it turned out to be but as I day its BUNC and its my birth year. The fact I didn't have it already is also satisfying. I haven't seen many Belize dollars for sale recently anyway !

Mark240590

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Posted: 27 Jun 2013, 11:14 #

Summer, that's fine I'm not saying there's anything wrong with. It but if you get one coin of each type from every country you're gunna have alot of coins and storage the becomes an issue (in my opinion its like collecting every Canadian commemorative) there's just too many ! People think I'm mad for restricting my collection to only commonwealth/colonial stuff and for preferring a VF/XF to an UNC. because I like the history of the coins telling the imperial story but I also like the fact slightly worn examples have a story of their own.

Diego Knyte

Joined: 14 Feb 2013
Posts: 176

Posted: 27 Jun 2013, 20:18 #

I was born in 1969. A good, ahem, round number.

I don't go out of my way but when I find that date, I keep 'em.

My favorite I came across was a US set of coins that are suspended in an acrylic cube.

My interweb site: http://www.dknyte.com

torontokuba

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Posted: 27 Jun 2013, 21:42 #

I can tell you one thing, anyone born in an Olympic year, would be forced to add hoards of the boring and least valuable Olympic issues from around the world. If you add silver commemoratives, it becomes a tragedy and a bottomless pit.

manxcat12

Joined: 14 Jul 2012
Posts: 1004

Posted: 27 Jun 2013, 22:24 #

Yes, I think that demonstrates the entire problem - the inflexibility. Part of the fun of collecting is finding a nice coin here, a nice coin there, collecting as you please (my avatar coin and most of my romans were acquired on my last trip to Norfolk, couldn't resist), and occasionally coming across one of your really elusive wishes. If that's not how you collect, fine, but you're missing out most of the fun.

I wonder, by the way, what would be the cheapest year to make such a collection of - the equilibrium between the sought-after silver of the early 20th century and the piles of overproduced and costly paperweights?

Catalogue referee for British, English and Scottish coins.

Le référent pour des pièces britannique, anglais et écossais.

manxcat12

Joined: 14 Jul 2012
Posts: 1004

Posted: 27 Jun 2013, 22:27 #

Quote: SummerUKGlad that no one has to like my collection!

You do!

Catalogue referee for British, English and Scottish coins.

Le référent pour des pièces britannique, anglais et écossais.

neilithic

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Posted: 27 Jun 2013, 23:28 #

I think it appeals to me because I love the chase, trying to hunt down coins. To me that is the most enjoyable part of coin collecting. So even though the end collection might be full of "dull" coins, I would have had endless hours of fun compiling it. But like I said, it's not something I would be doing in a hurry since I've still got other projects I'm working on. But it might be a fun project for the future.

Mark240590

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Posted: 28 Jun 2013, 01:01 #

I can see where you're coming from Neil. I spend Hours every week trawling the interwebs looking for bargains !

neilithic

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Posted: 28 Jun 2013, 02:04 #

Me too. I can just picture the ire of the online sellers now as I look at copious amounts of bulk lots and ask on each one for them to list the 1978 coins from their lot.

Dr. Math

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Posted: 2 Jul 2013, 01:43 #

Getting an 1898 Russian 2 Kopeck coin yesterday made me think of starting a "100 years before my birth year" set.

Mark240590

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Posted: 2 Jul 2013, 01:45 #

Actually the above post made me think, I've been after a nice example for a while of a 1690 may gun money shilling, for start I'm an English catholic, and it was minted 300 years to the month I was born in !

neilithic

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Posted: 2 Jul 2013, 02:56 #

Perhaps a collection to show the progression of coins would be an idea. Collecting a coin from your birth year, 25 years before, 50 years before, 100 years before, 150 years before, 200 years before etc. As far back as you care to take it.

Koin72

Joined: 21 Apr 2011
Posts: 99

Posted: 2 Jul 2013, 17:21 #

I collect both my wife's and my own birth years. 1937 and 1939 United States and have mint sets of both.I collect as we go along and enjoy the history of the world and of the metals and minting of the coins.

Always remember, No matter where you go, there you are.

torontokuba

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Posted: 2 Jul 2013, 17:29 #

Quote: Koin72I collect both my wife's and my own birth years. 1937 and 1939 United States and have mint sets of both.I collect as we go along and enjoy the history of the world and of the metals and minting of the coins.

There were still some really nice quality coins being minted back then.

scorpion36

Joined: 22 Oct 2009
Posts: 220

Posted: 2 Jul 2013, 18:58 #

I do the same for my birthday, unfortunately 1936 !!!

torontokuba

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Posted: 3 Jul 2013, 01:24 #

Quote: Dr. MathGetting an 1898 Russian 2 Kopeck coin yesterday made me think of starting a "100 years before my birth year" set.

I did manage to start a similar set. The 5 kopecks has been with me forever. The others fell into place over the last decade or so. I believe there was no 1/4 kopeck for this year. Of course, to my surprise, the 50 kopecks and 1 rouble had to be rare.

As we speak, I am waiting for the 50 kopecks coin and will add a photo when it arrives.

The 1 rouble will have to wait for a really special occasion.

torontokuba

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Posted: 11 Jul 2013, 21:32 #

It may not be pretty, new or shiny, but it looks distinguished to me. Most importantly, it hasn't been cleaned down to one dull uniform shade or colour. It has seen a lot of circulation and matches the imperfections throughout the rest of this 1911 set...

The line from upper lip to ear, does resemble a die crack
or a cracked planchet. Any thoughts?

Brittania

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Posted: 11 Jul 2013, 22:08 #

Quote: torontokubaI can tell you one thing, anyone born in an Olympic year, would be forced to add hoards of the boring and least valuable Olympic issues from around the world. If you add silver commemoratives, it becomes a tragedy and a bottomless pit.

Ah... 1984

Bartweegie

Joined: 6 Apr 2012
Posts: 146

Posted: 13 Jul 2013, 17:50 #

Nope. Coinage of my year of birth is rather boring. No more gold and silver coins in circulation. If I were a richfilth, I'd consider having a collection of cars from my birth year, that's quite a different story :)

Grosz do grosza i będzie kokosza.

Mark240590

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Posted: 14 Jul 2013, 16:26 #

I've just won a BUnc UK set from 1990, it is canny boring but something that most coin collectors will understand I think ! I still want a proof set but I'm not that bothered I'll wait as pick one up for £2 or something