Advanced collecting advice...

[Sylvester 15]

Chris i am in a dilemma here...

Well i'm thinking of reducing the focus on the Sixpence set further, (for now at least) to just collecting the Charles II-William and Mary in as higher condition as i can, doesn't mean i won't get the later ones, but i'll not go out of my way to find them.

But i'll snap up any of the rarer stuff as i come across it. And i'll definately not say no to other sixpences like the one currently residing with your good self.

By doing this i can focus on all the minor varities of this rather small series 1674-1694. (Alright 24 coins). But i have three of them already. One the 1693 is a stand in, the 1674 is definately staying in the collection, but the other C2 one is borderline, it may stay, it may go. However i might not see another one for some time...

Now i think that would be more manageable that all of them to 1787! But as time goes on and i finish off that set i can pick up the rest where i left off.

Now this is where i need your advice...

Regarding Gothic Florins.

Which is the best approach do you think cos i've got three methods but i'm not sure which i'd like to try.

Firstly the good old collect by date approach.

Secondly the collect by date and die number approach,

Thirdly collect by die number only, i.e try to pull together a set of die numbers from 1-261. Regardless of the date. (Bearing in mind there are some gaps in the die numbers so it won't necessarily be 261 coins.)

Which of those approaches do you think is best?

Might be better on the other hand to pull a collection together of 1864-1878, with as many of the minor varieties and what not as possible, but not all the die numbers.

Whatever it is i want them all in AEF or better.

Might grudgingly settle for a GVF if no AEF-UNC are available.

The sixpences will still be the key focus of my collection though, regardless.

Some advice would be nice here...please...

[Sylvester 15]

Might be better on the other hand to pull a collection together of 1864-1878, with as many of the minor varieties and what not as possible, but not all the die numbers.

Of course i could also collect all of the reported die numbers for 1864 Florins.

Which could then lead to the embarrasment of...

As the question goes, 'so what do you collect?'

"1864 Florins...in fact i'm specialised in the area, but i couldn't tell you a thing about an 1865 one..."

[Chris Perkins 228]

Well I think you have to start with Gothic florins by date, because it would be so difficult to get all the die numbers, considering some sellers (on ebay for eg) may not know they are there, and you'd have to ask, or take a chance.

In fact it will be hard enough to collect by date in GVF minimum! It'll cost you a lot of money whichever!

I think collecting all the 1864 die numbers would be another huge task that could take you a lifetime.

Start doing it by date, test the availability and in the future perhaps acquire them by die number....Or not.

Chris

[Sylvester 15]

In fact it will be hard enough to collect by date in GVF minimum! It'll cost you a lot of money whichever!

I think collecting all the 1864 die numbers would be another huge task that could take you a lifetime.

Start doing it by date, test the availability and in the future perhaps acquire them by die number....Or not.

Chris

Everything you said does make complete sense...

(and you felt this coming along) BUT...

I agree that collecting all the die numbers would be near impossible, so i had that as the last option on the list, (as much as i'd like to try it), but collecting by date would prove to be far too many coins for my budget of AEF+, So i was seriously considering collecting only those coins that had a die number. That eliminates alot of coins to start with. And i'll even knock 1879 off the list because at £200+ in VF...well.

The reason why i said 1864 Florins as an example of collecting by die number is because only 26 numbers are known to exist.

However 1868 has a total of 14 known die numbers to get, beaten by 1867 with only 9, but the latter is far more expensive.

I think the best method of approach would be to collect the major varities from 1864-1878, then branch out into getting the '68s by die number.

Or try to aquire an example of die numbers 1-20 regardless of the date.

I really want something with a die number focus though, since the sixpences are all being collected by date. I feel i have to try something different and i'm not particularly bothered how long it takes.

I want it to be a truly absorbing collection, a specialist field etc.

[Chris Perkins 228]

Yes maybe you could start with all the major varieties. I didn't realise there were only 26 1864 die numbers. In that case yes, why not try to get every 1864 die number, and if that proved impossible move onto 1868 die numbers. (or start with 1868 die numbers)

I think you know what you want to do already... you want to collect everything you have mentioned and like many collectors have trouble focusing.

Whatever you decide to concentrate on you know that if something interesting comes along, you'll take it too!

Chris

[Sylvester 15]

I think you know what you want to do already... you want to collect everything you have mentioned and like many collectors have trouble focusing.

Whatever you decide to concentrate on you know that if something interesting comes along, you'll take it too!

Chris

See Chris my biggest problem is i just can't seem to focus myself. But i am trying very very hard.

But if something really interesting comes along as you said i'd take it regardless of whether it was my field or not!

[Chris Perkins 228]

I think that's a problem many collectors have, I mean how could you turn down an EF Edward VII florin, even if you are not collecting them, and if it was for a good price?

Not a problem if you had limitless funds, but I suspect you don't!

Maybe you should designate a monthly budget and promise yourself that at least 80% of it will go on the coins you specialise in, and not a % more.

Chris

[Sylvester 15]

I think that's a problem many collectors have, I mean how could you turn down an EF Edward VII florin, even if you are not collecting them, and if it was for a good price?

Not a problem if you had limitless funds, but I suspect you don't!

Maybe you should designate a monthly budget and promise yourself that at least 80% of it will go on the coins you specialise in, and not a % more.

Chris

I do that already Chris.

I'm going coining (like shopping but better!) sometime next week hopefully, or maybe the monday after (as soon as i get some cash), and i've already decided what i'm getting, hopefully he'll still have the coins, that's why i've got to be quick!

Plus i've got those from you too.

I think i've already spend 80% of my money before i've got it!

Come on what are student loans for?

I've just got to stop myself buying that St Gaudens or that king stephen penny. (I have a terrible feeling i'll come out with that penny instead of the sixpences!) But under the circumstances that might be a good idea...