I have mentioned that I collect by type. Partly, because I cannot tell the date of a coin, so the same type of coin from 2002 and 2003 is the same when you touch it. In this post I would like to tell you why the date of a coin is still important.
When I get a new coin, I always add the date to my catalog. First of all, it is interesting to know. It is fun to associate a coin with a year, and imagine the era it is coming from.
The other interesting aspect is the mintage. Once I know when the coin was minted, I can look up how many of the same coins where minted in the same year, which is also part of my catalog. Mintage is certainly not a reason why I collect coins, but when I find a low mintage coin, I always hold on to it.
The other reason why I need the date is to create a more accurate entry in the catalog. It helps me to identify the KM number.
I also swap coins with others, so once I have a date available, I can provide a better description of what the other person is getting. I can’t imagine swapping without knowing the date. I already have a disadvantage that I don’t keep track of mint marks. It is not a problem in most countries, but in the United States for example, it may matter to my swapping partners.
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hi Tom,
mint marks are problems, even for seeing people:
India, Republic: It's not always very easy to distinguish between their ever changing mint marks, and even worse the different version of the Osaka statue of the lions.....
Germany through all times:
At least it's much easier tan India!!!!
Russia: To see the differerence between St. Petersbug and Moscow is already not easy, so to feel it, good luck.
France: in the 1800's France was a real mess with coin mints. Up to I don't how many, but I could check easily, and then intertwined with the mint masters!!! BB with an ANCHOR or a DOG????
British Empire: All those coins with a mint of AA, AB, AC or AD or maybe none? Of couse this is NOT for the UK, but for all their small subsidairies like Isle of Man, Gibraltar, Guernsey ?, Jersey ?, where you often as a person with a hawk-eye can't find those damned letters, so I would expect a blind person to find them...
Sometimes I think it might be easier for a blind individual to play golf at night, than finding a mint mark on a coin, but the coins might still be the way to go!
Mind you, I have seen a handicapped golf player with only his right leg (the left had been "deleted") winning compétitions with his handicap of 2,3!!! Most golf players don't manage less than 20, so.... everuthing is possible if you really go for it.
Take care, have courage and set your own course in life!
Thank you Ole, I always learn from you. For that matter, I tried golf once, but let's just say its not for me.
Interesting to read about the mint marks, I guess I never cared enough to read much about them. Even on coins where they are fully visible, I'm not able to even find it, let alone make any sense of it by touch.
However, it is an interesting topic that I have neglected so far, I will do my homework. I do have a mint column in my catalog, but it is not really used.