Newbie alert!

Hello to all fellow enthusiasts /collectors. I should've atleast  had the decency to stop in here for atleast a moment and introduce myself as I've been a member since the end of last year. Finally, I'm doing it.
I'm from New Zealand and been on this planet for almost 45 years. Old bugger in young speak terms. About three years ago I decided to start collecting banknotes and 2 years ago it turned to coins. I really don't  specialized in anything at the moment but the coins that have a little history, seems to be doing it for me   at present. I've been active in the last 9 months and it's almost addiction as it seems to occupy most of my time and I have to say...I'm loving it! I'm no spring chicken and I have never really collected anything before but the months I've spent trawling through this forum and others and learning to identify and research coins has truely become a passion.
I know that some of you have been collecting for years so I assume you share the same passion or once did.
What about other newbies out there? I'd be interested to hear your stories.
Cheers!

Welcome to the forum  lysdexic1, I have been at it about 9 months myself and share similar symptoms of addiction! . You'll find collectors here, with a variety of areas of interest, people who are always willing to help out.

Welcome,
I will be looking at my first year as an official collector. Since then, my collection world has gone from marbles, pins, etc...to all about the coins.
I am now completely obsessed with coins and like many others addicted. I now enjoy snapping up deals here and there and sometimes overpay just to get my hands on some coins.
I love collecting coins and being part of the Numista community.

Welcome! It's nice to find someone else who understands the laws of Cricket. Don't let my current location fool you, I'm descended from 5,000 years worth of Anglo Saxon nobility.

It's is wonderful to have younger collectors to keep the hobby going, but I suspect most of us are .. um .. older.  I went to a big coin show yesterday, and the vast majority of the dealers and customers were older guys.  So 45 really isn't old as coin collecting goes. I know that in younger years, wine, cars, women (not necessarily in that order) were my primary focus.    Coin collecting wasn't even on the radar.  Welcome.

There are a few youngsters on here though, I like to count myself (20) as one of them, is that allowed? :P

We've got at least three or four 13 to 16 year olds that I know of. So worry not, the next generation of collectors is coming through ;)

lysdexic 1 to numista  

Quote: james wolfe lysdexic 1 to numista  

you like the Kiwi?
One of my favorite coins.

i like eating kiwis  

I just turned 31 so I guess I am in the young crowd. I would like one of those Kiwis.

  Lysdexics of the world Untie!

My Zealand collection. I only have a few coins but I really like them!

Wow what a great response. I was only expecting a couple of replies but thank you ALL for your great input.  Pnightingale, I use to be an avid cricket follower but for some reason, our national team don't quite share the same sentiments ; )  James I think you'd find our clothing the hardest part to chew through but were quite a sweet bunch under it all. Love it!  Redsmith studios.
I will be open to swaps as soon as I finish listing the rest of my coins. I  have some NZ predecimal silver and others. The rest are repeats of what I have in my collection and a little more just like what most of you have to offer I'd imagine.
Thank you for making me feel part of the family as it were and you'll find, I'd be interacting more through these boards.

Regards
Lysdexic1

Quote: Chasinva69It's is wonderful to have younger collectors to keep the hobby going, but I suspect most of us are .. um .. older.  I went to a big coin show yesterday, and the vast majority of the dealers and customers were older guys.  So 45 really isn't old as coin collecting goes. I know that in younger years, wine, cars, women (not necessarily in that order) were my primary focus.    Coin collecting wasn't even on the radar.  Welcome.

im 26 i thought id be the youngest on numista? this is definitely not a young mans hobby, i went to a coin fair a month or so ago and got many looks confused at why i was there

Quote: zeekedeek

Quote: Chasinva69It's is wonderful to have younger collectors to keep the hobby going, but I suspect most of us are .. um .. older.  I went to a big coin show yesterday, and the vast majority of the dealers and customers were older guys.  So 45 really isn't old as coin collecting goes. I know that in younger years, wine, cars, women (not necessarily in that order) were my primary focus.    Coin collecting wasn't even on the radar.  Welcome.

im 26 i thought id be the youngest on numista? this is definitely not a young mans hobby, i went to a coin fair a month or so ago and got many looks confused at why i was there

There are teenagers on Numista.

Hello,

I am proof that there are teenagers on numista, as I am one. I am 18.

Regards

I think there are a lot of younger kids on the website. I'm 17 and spending 50% of my minimum wage on coins. Whether it's sorting through boxes of pennies, coin shop auctions, or going to fleamarkets. Maybe I'll help make the price of all the older fellows coins go up? :D

Older and younger, you are all welcome on Numista!

Quote: elvis123Hello,

I am proof that there are teenagers on numista, as I am one. I am 18.

Regards

wow you have alot of coins for 18, since you seem to collect them for all countries its gona be never ending.
i thought my addiction for british empire/commomwealth coins was gona be never ending!!!

I agree with  Zeekedeek. Elvis123, you have a more than reasonable size collection for a young buck. Congrats. The way you're going you should have the dashboard covered in no time.

Question to everyone. Do you find in your neck of the woods, coins sold at markets, coin shops and auctions too pricey? Here in NZ the markets and coin shops in my opinion are over priced. More than catalogue that is, but I suppose they have overheads to warrant those prices. Auctions seem to be the best place for me but I don't do ebay for obvious reasons. Our 2nd hand shops or pawnshops to some of you, ask for rediculous prices. I am referring to the less common stuff though
I've read some stories on here how some of you have pick up some great bargains.

I must admit I am now resigned to the fact of paying more for coins. I'm very nearly at the decision that if a coin is working out at £1 it is too much. If it is a special coin then ok. Prices are high, unreasonable, and extortionate. The melt market not helping factors. I still wish to get my hands on a juicy bulk lot: is easier typed than found without a £300 price tag.

auctions are good for the general coin collector and sometimes you get great deals but my passion for hammered coins means over paying on ebay or trying to go to good coin shops. i did get a half george V sovereign and some nepolean III gold coin for £164 at a auction which was a lucky spot

I've picked up a couple of bulk lots at auction and was very pleased with the lot considering I paid peanuts for them. However no real stand outs in terms of rarities or that dream find but, certainly enough to put a smile on my face. I think most of us collectors pay more than cat price for a decent coin or a rarer specimen, unless the intention is to onsell.

The NZ ebay equivalent "Trade me" is very good site for picking up some fantastic bargains but a lot of the bulk lots sellers claim their lots are unsorted or unchecked, which I steer clear of purely because of their buying history which generally indicates they're collectors. Probably getting rid of their duplicates. In all honesty...  what collector in their right mind would sell an unchecked lot???   I know I wouldn't!

Very nice "score" Zeekedeek.  

Quote: lysdexic1I've picked up a couple of bulk lots at auction and was very pleased with the lot considering I paid peanuts for them. However no real stand outs in terms of rarities or that dream find but, certainly enough to put a smile on my face. I think most of us collectors pay more than cat price for a decent coin or a rarer specimen, unless the intention is to onsell.

The NZ ebay equivalent "Trade me" is very good site for picking up some fantastic bargains but a lot of the bulk lots sellers claim their lots are unsorted or unchecked, which I steer clear of purely because of their buying history which generally indicates they're collectors. Probably getting rid of their duplicates. In all honesty...  what collector in their right mind would sell an unchecked lot???   I know I wouldn't!

Very nice "score" Zeekedeek.  

 thank you lydexci1  

I'm thirty mumble.  Let's see, 34 this year, you start to lose track after you're past 21.  I'm also from New Zealand and know the laws of cricket (I'm with you on that one Phil) I've only started collecting halfway through last year and I've managed to assemble a reasonable collection of 61 pre-decimal fijian coins and just over 80 silver coins.  It's quite an ecclectic collection but that's the way I like it.  It's amazing what you can pick up if you are willing to do a bit of research.  My favourite thing to do is to buy up a bulk lot, pick out what I want, split up the rest and resell.  It's a good way to go if, like me, you don't have much available funds.  Generally I get the coins for a dollar or two each once I've re-sold and sometimes even turned a small profit on some lots.

Have a look at my collection if you want a quick browse.

Quote: Chasinva69It's is wonderful to have younger collectors to keep the hobby going, but I suspect most of us are .. um .. older.  I went to a big coin show yesterday, and the vast majority of the dealers and customers were older guys.  So 45 really isn't old as coin collecting goes. I know that in younger years, wine, cars, women (not necessarily in that order) were my primary focus.    Coin collecting wasn't even on the radar.  Welcome.

   i do suspect that the numismatists are mostly oldies. i am talking about my experience in india, one of the most populous nations in the world. anybody below 25 who collects coins seriously is a real rarity. that makes me wonder if the hobby is dying off. what do you think?

I have this 1982 New Zealand 7-coin Mint Set

Quote: coinsoldierI have this 1982 New Zealand 7-coin Mint Set

 how much???

James, I am keeping this one because it was a gift from a friend who has passed.

Quote: coinsoldierJames, I am keeping this one because it was a gift from a friend who has passed.

thats cool