Actually, we were wondering about collecting in general.

We were talking one day about what people in the office collect, how they got started collecting, what will they do with their collection in the future, etc.

Some of us are accumulators. I fall into this category. A few first-edition novels here, some concert ticket stubs and other souvenirs there. I even have a few elongated cents from museums and amusement parks.

Others inherited partial collections of Morgan and Peace dollars, and that’s where their collecting stops.

And one person became interested in coins as an easy way to make money as a kid.

Then we got “scientific.” Is there a “collecting” gene? Are some people born to collect, while others simply, ahem, accumulate, or go 180 degrees the other way and “declutter,” for lack of a better word?

Michael Shutty Jr., Ph.D., author of One Coin Is Never Enough, in fact says that he is a collector by genetics. His book approaches numismatics differently by putting the collector first. The stories, the human aspects come before the coins.

That’s what we’re interested in.

What kind of coin collector are you? Do you collect anything else? How did you get started? And, in all seriousness, how does collecting make you feel? Does it give you a rush of pleasure, or does too much of anything stress you out?

Let’s talk about this. Comment on or share this post, or email mgibbel@jmillermedia.com.

You can collect by type or specialty, topic or composition. There is no right or wrong way. (I suggest that you collect what you like, in the highest quality you can afford. That way, if you are ever forced to sell your collection, you’ll get a decent return on it. Let’s hope that never happens, though, and that’s just one accumulator’s opinion.)

One expert has given his opinion here. He makes some good points, so check it out.

The fact that we’ve seen so many quarter-related headlines begged the question in-house: Are you or someone you know collecting the America the Beautiful quarters?

And, just for kicks, we took it outside to our Facebook audience. If you haven’t “Liked” us yet, do it now to answer the poll.

The answers may surprise us.

Have you seen this coin? A lot of kids probably haven't.

Why don’t more kids collect coins?

I’m asked that question at least twice a day. And at least twice a day, I’m able to give a different reason. 

Video games. Expense. Aesthetics. Availability. 

I can even break it down into subcategories: Kinect for Xbox 360. A quarter costs $5. And so on. 

One columnist recently wrote that he believes kids these days don’t collect coins because they don’t come into contact with them in their daily lives. 

There’s more to it, but I’d have to agree. They buy things with debit or credit cards. Kids don’t have paper routes and they don’t mow lawns or babysit anymore, so they’re not getting paid in cash. When and if they see a cent, it’s in the “Take a penny, leave a penny,” dish at the local convenience store. 

Which brings me to my point—almost. 

Why CAN’T kids come into contact with coins every day? If they’re not seeing or using them in transactions, shouldn’t we adults—as parents, grandparents, friends, or mentors—expose them to coins? 

As a child, I was exposed to a variety of hobbies. I showed interest in gymnastics and diving, dinosaurs, art of all media and collecting records. Yes, vinyl. 

My parents did everything they could to foster my interests, and then some. I have memories of going to car shows with my dad and watching my mom take tennis lessons. Neither activity thrilled me, but I was aware they were out there should I change my mind. 

My 4-year-old is curious about EVERYTHING, and I feed the beast daily. Soccer, cooking, earthworms, ballet. You name it. If she wants to try it, I let her. 

I was never exposed to coin collecting inside the home and I never gave it much thought later on. I would find Canadian dimes or cents mixed in with my change I received at McDonald’s and set them aside, or I would count my parents’ loose change. But I was more interested in listening to a Bay City Rollers album before gymnastics practice.

Would I be a collector if someone had sat down with me and helped me learn more about the coins? Hard to say. 

Now my daughter has taken to accumulating coins. If they’re lying around, she squirrels them away and eventually goes through them. She does this because she knows coins are money, and [her] money can buy the latest “Tangled” toys. On the few occasions when I have sat down and told her about the California quarter, for instance, she asks, “What can I buy with it?”—and I take a deep breath and remind myself that she is 4. 

Will she ever be a coin collector? Hard to say. 

But at least she’s being exposed to it at home. I’m not sure that many kids are these days.

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] Sales of the 2011 United States Mint Uncirculated Coin Set will begin on February 8 at noon Eastern Time (ET).  This year’s set contains two folders of 14 coins each-one each from the United States Mint facilities at Denver and Philadelphia-for a total of 28 coins.  Each includes uncirculated versions of the following 2011 coins:

* Five coins from the America the Beautiful Quarters®  Program, honoring Gettysburg National Military Park (Pennsylvania), Glacier National Park (Montana), Olympic National Park (Washington), Vicksburg National Military Park (Mississippi) and Chickasaw National Recreation Area (Oklahoma)  
* Four Presidential $1 Coins, honoring Presidents Andrew Johnson, Ulysses S. Grant, Rutherford B. Hayes and James Garfield
* One Native American $1 Coin with a reverse design emblematic of the peace alliance created by the 1621 Wampanoag Treaty
* One Lincoln one-cent coin
* One Jefferson 5-cent coin
* One Roosevelt dime coin
* One Kennedy half-dollar coin

United States Mint uncirculated coins are struck on special presses using greater force than circulating coins, producing a sharp, intricately detailed image, and feature a brilliant finish.  

The 2011 United States Mint Uncirculated Coin Set is priced at $31.95.  Orders will be accepted at http://www.usmint.gov/catalog or at 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468).  Hearing- and speech-impaired customers may order by calling 1-888-321-MINT (6468).  All domestic orders will be assessed a shipping and handling fee of $4.95.

Customers may also order the 2012 United States Mint Uncirculated Coin Set and all future sets through the agency’s Online Subscription Program.  For more information about this convenient ordering method, visit http://www.usmint.gov/catalog. 

Note:  To ensure that all members of the public have fair and equal access to United States Mint products, orders placed prior to the official on-sale date and time of February 8, 2011, at noon ET shall not be deemed accepted by the United States Mint and will not be honored.  For more information, please review the United States Mint’s Frequently Asked Questions, Answer ID #175.

What do you do when a gold seller fails to deliver or the merchandise you received was not as described when you ordered it?  Who can you contact for help when you don’t receive payment for gold you’ve submitted to sell?

In two recent cases, “Howard” in Mississippi wired $20,000 several months ago to a California coin and bullion dealer to purchase gold coins, and “Richard” in Virginia sent $150,000 to the same dealer.  With the recent run-up in bullion prices they both would have made a nice profit, except they still have not received any gold from the dealer.  Howard laments, “All I’ve gotten is the run-around.”

“If you don’t know gold coins, you’d better know your gold coin dealer,” is the advice to collectors and investors from three nonprofit organizations: the American Numismatic Association (www.money.org), the Industry Council for Tangible Assets (www.ictaonline.org) and the Professional Numismatists Guild (www.pngdealers.com).        

“There are many reputable, professional numismatists in the United States,” the three organizations emphasize.  “Before you make a purchase or offer something for sale, do your homework and check the dealer’s credentials.  For example, contact the Better Business Bureau to check the company’s BBB rating or if the company is even accredited by the BBB.”

A listing of Better Business Bureau accredited and rated companies nationwide can be found online at www.bbb.org.

The dealer that received the combined $170,000 in unfulfilled purchase orders from “Howard” and “Richard” had an “F” rating from the BBB. 

Typically, dealers who are unresponsive to reasonable requests from customers seeking resolution of disputes are not involved in the mainstream of numismatics, but may advertise in prominent, mainstream news media. 

Based on the experiences of the ANA, ICTA and PNG, and in consultation with law enforcement agencies, the three organizations suggest that buyers or sellers of gold coins who encounter problems consider taking these actions:

• Make copies of all correspondence, receipts and transactions and if possible have copies of advertisements or the dates and times ads were broadcast. 
• Always contact the company directly to try to resolve the dispute.  Ask for the manager or company owner.
• Take thorough notes of your conversation(s). 

If the problem is still not resolved after a reasonable amount of time, contact the Customer Service and/or Advertising Departments of the news media organization(s) that published or broadcast the company’s advertisements and let them know about the problems.

The ANA, ICTA and PNG advise: “It’s your money, so do your homework before placing an order, and if there is a problem then don’t just sit back and wait.  Be persistent in your efforts to resolve the dispute. Follow up with the company you did business with and the agencies where you’ve filed a complaint.  You may also want to consult with an attorney.”

Depending on the specific circumstances of the situation, one or more of these agencies also may be able to assist in the resolution of the dispute.

Numismatic Consumer Alliance, Inc. (www.StopCoinFraud.org) helps consumers secure relief for allegedly fraudulent and illegal conduct within the coin industry. Address: P.O. Box 144, Bedminster, New Jersey 07921.  Phone: (908) 781-7947.

Numismatic Crime Information Center (www.NumismaticCrimes.org) can help with investigative resources, information and direction for customers, dealers and law enforcement agencies.  Address: P.O. Box 14080, Arlington, Texas 76094.  Phone: (817) 723-7231.

 Credit Card Companies if the purchase in dispute was made with a credit card within the past six months.  Call the Customer Service number on the credit card and inquire about doing a charge back for undelivered merchandise.

 Local Police Department or Sheriff’s Department, the local District Attorney or County Prosecutor and the State Attorney General in the city, county and/or state in which you live or in which the dealer has a place of business.  Contact the law enforcement agencies in the city, county or state where the transaction took place.  Phone numbers can be found in the Government pages of local phone books or online.  A convenient listing of contact information for every state attorney general can be found on the National Association of Attorneys General website, www.naag.org.

Federal Bureau of Investigation or Secret Service depending on the dollar amount of the transaction and whether interstate commerce or counterfeit coins were involved in the transaction.  Phone numbers for the nearest FBI and Secret Service offices can be found in the Government pages of local telephone books.

United States Postal Service may be able to provide assistance if the transaction occurred using the U.S. Mail.  Go to your main post office and ask to talk with the local Postmaster or Postal Inspector.  

American Numismatic Association (www.money.org) if the dealers involved in the dispute are ANA members and the dispute involves alleged violation of the ANA Code of Ethics, the association offers complaint mediation services for a fee based on the dollar value of the transaction.  Address: 818 N. Cascade Ave., Colorado Springs, Colorado 80903.  Phone: (800) 367-9723.

Professional Numismatists Guild (www.PNGdealers.com) if the dealers in question are PNG members they must adhere to the Guild’s Code of Ethics, support the PNG Collector’s Bill of Rights and must agree to binding arbitration to resolve any disputes involving numismatic merchandise.  Address: 3950 Concordia Lane, Fallbrook, California 92028.  Phone: (760) 728-1300.

Federal Trade Commission Consumer Sentinel Network (www.FTC.gov); however, don’t expect an immediate response.  The FTC usually responds when a significant number of serious complaints accumulate against a company, but it is still good to alert the FTC about unresolved disputes so they can be added to the agency’s files. Information about filing a complaint can be found online at www.consumeraction.gov.  Phone: (877) 382-4357.

Additional consumer protection information from the American Numismatic Association about “How to Buy Gold & Silver” can be found online at http://www.money.org/Content/NavigationMenu/ExploretheWorldofMoney/BuyingGold/default.htm, and the Professional Numismatists Guild offers consumer education information about “Three Things Gold Buyers Must Know First” online at http://www.pngdealers.com/item.php?item_id=129&category_id=2.

COINage

So I did a little bit of research and found an article that directly answers the question much quicker than I can. Besides, I’m an accumulator, remember?

The anwers to all of your questions–to those two, at least–are here.

The products being made available in January will include the 2011 United States Mint Uncirculated Set; 2011 United States Mint Proof Set; and 2011 United States Mint Silver Proof Set.

“We’ve listened to our customers and their desire to have these annual sets earlier in the year,” said Ed Moy, Director of the United States Mint. “Making our annual core products available at one time, and early in the year, provides our customers the opportunity to purchase them for their collections and for gift-giving throughout the year. It’s also a demonstration of our commitment to them.”

The United States Mint also said that it will announce later this fall the schedule of all of its products that will be released in the first quarter of 2011.

It’s in the daily news. It’s discussed on talk shows and around the water cooler. There’s no escaping it, no matter what your opinion may be.

It’s even crept into the hobby, the one place in which you thought you could find just a few minutes of refuge from the outside world.

A recent article states that all persons who are in business, including corporations, and have bought or sold $600 worth of coins or bullion will have to file a 1099 form.

Read the entire story here.

The United States Mint today announced the America the Beautiful Quarters Bulk Purchase Program. The minimum purchase requirement under the program is one (1) bulk bag, which contains 200,000 coins with a total value of $50,000. A three percent processing fee of $1,500 per bulk bag will be applied to each order to offset the cost of the program. In addition to the processing fee, purchasers must arrange for pickup from either the United States Mint at Philadelphia or at Denver. A properly licensed commercial carrier is required to retrieve the coins. 

I can’t speak for everyone here, but my immediate reaction was, “Get out!” 

Well, I apologize. Apparently it’s not a joke. It’s a genuine program, and you can read all about it on the Mint’s Web site.

Here’s a portion of the Mint’s Q and A page regarding the program:

How do I pay for the coins?
The quarters may be paid for only by bank wire funds transfer.

Are there any special requirements for pickup?
A properly licensed commercial carrier is required to pick up coinage from the United States Mint. The company must arrange clearance from the United States Mint facility for the truck and driver prior to establishing a pickup date.

To be fair, the Mint is making an effort to circulate the new quarters.

According to the Mint’s Web site, “Recent economic conditions have led to an oversupply of prior year-dated quarters in the banking system. As a result, businesses relying solely on the banking system may be unable to obtain large quantities of America the Beautiful Quarters coins on a regular basis. This program provides an option to those interested in obtaining America the Beautiful Quarters in volume.”

Well, recent economic conditions have also forced small businesses to make some difficult choices. But asking them to pay $51,500 plus shipping for 200,000 modern quarters?

Get out!