Do you collect coins as well as stamps - and if so - why?

[Machaggis52]

I collected high-grade world coins for a number of years, focusing on copper and silver that had vibrant colorful toning. I sold off most of my collection about 5 years ago when I decided to focus more exclusively on U.S. revenue stamps.

I kept my collection of U.S. half cents, 1857 large cents, and my British fractional farthings. I still collect the quarter-, third-, and half-farthings by date in high grade, although I'm not doing it as seriously any more.

A couple of favorites I still have:

I collect farthings, sporadically. Actually, thinking about it, I do most things sporadically. I concentrate on a collecting 'section', French Mariannes, farthings, the Annigoni collection, line engraved, blocks four line engraved, blocks four modern Germany, Germany - states, Reich, allied zones etc until I get fed up, then move to the next. It is Annigoni aerogrammes at the moment.

A half farthing, I have, I didn't realise that there were smaller fractions than that. Even a half is 1920 to the £. I'll have a look for the smaller fractions. My farthings are back to William III so far, I'm looking for Charles II, but farthings at a reasonable price and condition are hard to find.

Edited to add:

Just searched quarter farthing. Yikes these things cost serious money. The ones I've just been looking at are several hundreds of pounds, and not a patch on your one.

[FairyFoot]

My son has shown an interest in coins (as well as stamps) from before 2012. All those Olympic 50p coins but only want to collect the coins in circulation (don't want to pay more than 50p for a 50p coin still valid as legal tender). I bought Agatha Christie stamps from a post office last week and received a new 50p coin in my change - Rio Olympics.

[Hoover]

I began collecting stamps as a young lad with the odd coin picked up here and there. At the age of 12, I was given a nice Canadian stamp album owned my one of my parents best friends whose only child had died at the age of 9, 20 years earlier. This had been his collection.

My parents friend told me that someday, he and I would sell stamps together. That never happened, however I did take up collecting again with great enthusiasm after my parents passed on and left me a small inheritance and along with stamps from around the world, I also began to collect all kinds of silver coins, mainly Canadian, but world as well.

Have just moved into a new home, plan to retire soon and sort out two filing cabinets full of stamps and coins. It's a great pasttime and I enjoy learning about the history of the countries whose stamps and coins I've continued to collect.

I'm also active physically, so have no problem justifying my time sitting and sorting.

[MarvMalt]

Read my signature/motto.

Several items from my collections (specialize in Melbourne related items):

[Parisboy]

I'd love to collect coins as well as stamps and have gathered a few disparate examples over the years but I just can't afford both. It's a shame as coins are fascinating. Maybe one day...

Chris.

[asmodeus]

I collect coins when they cross my ways and the are not to expensive.
Sometimes I buy a 1oz Silver Bullion Coin when prices are low- crisis preventive





I like the Farthings

[sagi2917]

Well, I got a stamp album from dad and a box of coins from mom and hence landed into collecting both stamps and coins

Gradually added currency notes too to the set in the bid to collect one from each UN member till the target was achieved and therefore revised

[castores]

Someone earlier said "a collector is a collector", so true.

There are many reasons why I collect stamps and a number of those easily transfer to notes & coins (and many other collectables).

My reasons: all of the above posts.

Those Brazilian notes (apes) are just amazing, can you see them in the dark?

[quirky]

Castores, looks like the above $1 coin has the SPEW error on 2nd top Roos back ?.

[castores]

Castores, looks like the above $1 coin has the SPEW error on 2nd top Roos back ?.

Hi quirky (love the tag),

I had to look that up, I'm not aware of flaws on notes and coins. It is a 1984 $1 coin which is one of the years that flaw is on.

The only thing I can see is the third roos' tail which protrudes above the second roo. Is that what you are referring to?

[psestamp]

Since I exhibit the 1850-1859 issues I also have the coins from 1851 which is the year they went to 3 cents for the postage rate.

My exhibit has a 3 cent coin in it which was minted for the purpose of purchasing postage stamps. (Remember that in the USA we have WSP rules verses FIP rules - under FIP I would lose points for this).

[castores]

Since I exhibit the 1850-1859 issues I also have the coins from 1851 which is the year they went to 3 cents for the postage rate.

My exhibit has a 3 cent coin in it which was minted for the purpose of purchasing postage stamps. (Remember that in the USA we have WSP rules verses FIP rules - under FIP I would lose points for this).

How about a picture of the coin?

[Princestamps]

Since that last post 7 years, I have gone deeper back into coins and probably do them more than stamps now. I am on 2 coin forum boards and are doing well there.

As this is an Australian board, here is some of my Australian interests

1. Florins

1936 Florin g VF

1944 Florin UNC

7 Uncirculated or near UNC (1953 and 1956 Florins)

Also Kiwi coins and Halfcrowns/Florins are my obsession, but I collect modern too.

[Princestamps]

Some of those modern coloured $2 coins that are fuelling a huge investment bubble at the moment (I am dying to hear Glen wade in on these things if he hasn't already).

Australian $2 coins

2012 Red Poppy, a notorious $2 coin

2012 Remembrance

I am also proud of my British Half crown collection

1655 hc

cwealth hc

1656 Breeches Money "Commonwealth Halfcrown"

Basic UK HCTRYPES

.

Basic UK HCTYPES2

These two images show a basic run through of types of most British Halfcrowns between 1635 (Charles I) and 1970 QE2 proof. Most reigns and types are showing except James II, William and Mary and George I.

[Princestamps]

Key to images above.

Image One
First row - 1635/6 Charles I Tower Mint, 1656 Commonwealth, 1670 Charles II (First milled coins 1662 onwards), 1696 William III (Great recoinage instituted by Sir Isaac Newton)

Second row - 1709 Queen Anne, Post Union type, 1746 George II - Lima, 1816 George III Bull Head (First machine made coin and first halfcrown since 1751, 1823 George IV Type 2

Third Row - 1825 George IV final type, 1836 William IV, 1845 Victoria Early Head and Shield, 1887 Jubille Head Type

HC Heads 1

The back of those coins !

Second Image - Some nicer coins here

First Row - 1893 Victoria - Old Head, 1904 Edward VII Shield (Scarce), 1915 George V - Shield, 1921 - Debased silver.

Second Row - 1922 George V (This coin has gap between shield and crown, a design flaw corrected that year), 1927 Shield Modified effigy, 1931 Kruger Grey coinage of George V, 1940 George VI - Silver, 1948 - Cupronickel GVI

Bottom Row - 1950 KGVI without Ind Imp, 1953 QE2 - with "Omn", 1957 QE2 without "Omn", 1970 Proof and last ever halfcrown (Last circulating one was 1967).

HC Heads 2

NZ 1941

nz 1941b

Kiwi Halfcrowns I love too.

[John1952]

I think I am one of those people who has a "collecting gene".

Coins (postcards, autographs, phonecards) Irish and USA are secondary to Stamps. I don't think I am a hoarder because hoarders are a fire hazard.

My interest in Irish coins really dates from 2002 and the introduction of the Euro. So the coins I had in my pocket, pre-decimal and decimal instantly became more interesting. You never really miss an everyday object until it is gone.

I am currently trying to compose a post for my Blog on that transition process from disinterest to interest. Provisionally titled "From Money Box to Coin Album".

[nota bene]

In terms of collecting I do way more stamps than coins. (I have a few different FIP-qualified exhibits in Swedish stamps, postal history and also some postal stationary) I also have some more quirky areas like Danzig and Finland but those are not very structured or of very high quality.

For coins I collect Sweden in general for types, and some series by date. I am not trying to get it complete, but buying nice grades and rare items. I know world coins very well as I deal professionally in coins/stamps/paper money/bullion, but have so far not actually started collecting anything outside my home country area.

Initially I got into coins when I was 6 years old as I was really interested in history, and coins were relatively cheap and small old things that could be bought and stored quite easily. Stamps I got into a few years later.

[NikE]

Before stamps I used to collect coins, I still have them and occasionally I add to it if I find something cheap.

I mainly collect British India, Portuguese india and Portugal but like pre 1980s worldwide coins.

Many of our stamp exhibitions have coin sellers too, so somehow I find something interesting to buy

[TimurNN]

I have been collecting coins and banknotes since childhood. Interests are changing a little, at first I was interested in collecting banknotes of all issues of Russia and the USSR (these are incredibly different). At the same time, I was interested in collecting coins and banknotes from exotic countries - Africa, Asia, South America, Oceania. Gradually, several albums turned out, but not always complete ones. For example, not all denominations of Australia and only 2-3 commemorative coins.
Now I'm more focused on coins of the 19th century, looking for coins from 1920-1940s from the Baltic countries.

But my main interest is now, which led me to stamps - coins, stamps and banknotes - micronations, unrecognized states, quasi-states and fantastic countries. I'm interested in what stories are behind their appearance: a legal dispute, a desire to immerse yourself in a fairy tale or a joke.

A couple of weeks ago I won a set of stamps on Lundy Island in an auction, I'm waiting for a letter from Canada. And last week I bought the stamps Okussi-Ambeno, Kemp-Land and several other projects, and I am waiting for letters from Russia and Australia.