How much of your collection is cherrypicked?

[Gabe]

I was wondering how much of your guys collection is made up coins you have cherrypicked at shows, from circulation, or uncirculated rolls? Of course, the opposite of this would be to buy every coin variety (already identified) for your collection, but there is no fun at that.

For me... all of my early RPM's and doubled dies are cherrypicked from shows, and so are all of my of modern doubled dies. I have bought most RPMS from the 50's and 60's for my collection, since finding all of them in rolls would take me years.

What about the rest of you?

[eagames]

Maybe half and half. Sometimes you see a bargain or a nice one that you are not finding yourself so buy it.

I have found some good stuff in change but many finds were in rolls or boxes that I pick up with the intent to search so I can't say I found them in change. I've also picked many at shows or shops but nowdays it seems they have less singles to look through.

[Bob P]

I would say that almost 95% of my collection has been cherrypicked. I started putting things away in the late 60s, but it wasn't until about 10 years ago until I finally organized them into the collection I have now. I don't go to many shows, or coin shops, and until recently haven't traded for much. The fun is still in the search.

[rollmeupabe]

100% cherrypicked by searching collections bought through Ebay or newpaper ads. I love the thrill of finding an RPM or DDO. My only problem is the limited amount of time to keep my searching process efficient and effective.

[JRocco]

Hey Gabe,
Most, as in 99%, of my Lincoln varieties are finds. I may have purchased 10 coins...all from Chuck...with the rest being picks. I started putting Lincoln's aside as a kid and went out of my way to pull every wheat from circ I could. I purchased a few hundred OBR of cents back in the 80's and have opened some to find some great MS varieties, but the rest are saved.

Now my other varieties..another story altogether.

[Dick]

dI have cherry-picked zero from any source, unless you would qualify my successful grab of the ones Cathy had for the "first S&H" payment received! I never had enough knowledge before, to do anything of that nature. Yes, I have bough thousands of wheats, in lots, or collections, but the majority were, (are), culls. I wanted the wheats, to see what I COULD find, and along with the wheats, came a "type set" of coins, which included proof sets. mint sets, ASE's, Morgans, IHC, you name it. That is where my "collection" came from. I began amassing a lot of the different denominations, and even tried to make a date set, in some of them. That goal is far from being met. As you know, a date set can be a major chore, even with lots of money at hand. Then came Coppercoins.com! Since then, I have discovered a lot of varieties, confirmed by the site photos, and It has made my day!
Dick

[Earwig]

Ive cherrypicked a few essp the pre 43 wheats but most of my collection came from rolls and bags ive aquired over the past 12 years. Also ive bought a few from ebay and had a few trades.

Eric

[hasfam]

Cherrypicked them all. Like Bob, I love the hunt. That's why I'm glad I'm not rich. I might be tempted to buy all of the varieties I want and deprive myself the fun and thrill of the search.
Rock

[Dick]

Rock, you seem to be a man after my own heart!
Anyone can "buy" them, but then where is the "thrill of the hunt"?
Dick

[coop]

I buy some of my RPMs/DD's as some coins never get around to be cherry picked. When bags are sent to some areas they may have plenty of a certain variety, but they may be picked clean in that area and the only way you can get one is to buy/sell/trade with other collectors to get one. So I was buying. Now I'm back to searching as money is a little short on me now. But good/bad times to be my way of collecting. Now I'm on the trading end. It happens...

[Dick]

Coop, I didn't say anything about "trading" Yes, If I have something that can be traded, yes 24/7. Except for having received an inheiritance, which went to buy a used car, a used home, and some even went to play the "used' machines in a casino, I, too live on a "short budget". Mine is slowly increasing, while the expenses are rapidly increasing, as well, and one of these days, something has to rip! Sure hope it isnn't my budget! Your pkg should be arriving any day, now, so enjoy. I enjoyed being able to send it. Take care, and don't do anything I wouldn't do, at least when someone was watching!
Dick

[Dick]

Bob, while re-reading this thread, I got to thinking, (I do that at times), and recall you saying that "about 10 yeras ago, you began organizing your coins into what is now your collection". I wonder if it isn't time I did the same? Then I looked at all those boxes of cents, and wonder, "will I live long enough to do it"? These things sure have a way of "piling up" on you! I didn't realize I had so many!!! Not that they are all accurately identified, but a good part of them are, "cuz, I looked at the photos on the site, so there" Now comes the enevitable: WHERE DO I START??? If you could see my desk.....! Maybe it is better you can't GAD!
BTW, Bob, the pkg didn't make it to the P.O. yesterday, so it will be on its' way, tomorrow. Enjoy what is left of the weekend, I am!
Dick

[Bob P]

Dick,
It was with great reservation that I finally started organizing my collection about 10 years ago. I felt the same way you do...like where do I start? I dedicated a little time each day to do something with it, whether it was separating the coins by date or whatever. It is still a work in progress, but it is organized. It was the only way I could tell pretty quickly what I had and didn't have. AT this point, it is pretty much maintenance, but you have to get by the initial stages of organization first.

[Dick]

Bob, I know what you mean. I have box, after box of rolls that haven't been given more than a cursury look, and all of the boxes are marked, and I have an index as to what is in which box. That is in the roll category. The flips are in boxes of about 150/box, and they are identified by date, and nomenclature, but there are many that are marked ???, mostly from the standpoint of which die. Then there are the dents, clashes, cracks, RPM's, and on, and on. I do have the cents separate from the rest of the coins. Proof sets are together, mint sets, ditto. Loose proof, and Mint wrapped coins are in flips, and all are in a separate box , and marked pr/mt. The IKE dollar sized are in the same boxes, smaller dollars, the same. Halves in another box, and so it goes. Many albums, and folders. Then there is the big box I posted a photo of after I joined the forum, that holds about 1000 flips! Most of it is full of quarters, both P/D pairs, and by date. I made a rack to hold the state quarter series, (to date, 45 tubes). That will give me a roll for each date, and state. When the last 5 states are released, that will add 5 more rolls, and fill the quarters box. Right now, on my desk are 1000 half dollars, at least two boxes of cents, make that three! My goal is to have a box of rolls with each date, and mint present. I realize that there will be short sets, but I can always fill the empty spots with proof, where feasable. I better get at it, soon! Have a good night's sleep, and a very good work week, coming.
Dick

[carlb]

Until lately none. However, I started collecting coins in 1943. My first coins were the 43 Lincoln Cent and that is the coin that made me start collecting. My Dad gave me lots of them back then and I put them all away. I still have about 30 rolls in almost Unc to High MS grades. As I accumulated more and more coins I slowly filled Whitman Albums with very high grade coins but back then, real easy to find in change. By about 10 or so years ago I had accuulated 96 Whitman Albums of coins and all from change. Ten are Lincoln Cents and all complete. You have to remember way back then no one really collected coins so there were lots available to pick from. Not even a book on values until the Red Book. I still remember all the Indian Cents in change then. Then I started to go to coin shows and purchasing even higher grades for all sets #1 to make them all MS. To bad I can't go back and save even more.