"Michael E. Marotta" wrote in message
om...
From: oly2059 )
Subject: ANA raises dues
"They don't understand what makes us tick."
Bob Olson

I collect achievement. I do have some rocks and minerals and
meteorites. Most of what I own is an example of someone else's
intelligence and hard work. I have a lot books, a few objectively
"rare" perhaps, but all of them with content that affected my soul. I
have two complete sets of encyclopedias (Britannica and Colliers). I
have Alamancs from 1949 to present. Books like these I use for
references as a writer. Even if I did not write, however, I would
still own them for what they deliver to me: the highest levels of
human achievement.

As for the "collector ethic" I do not have it. The Almanacs from 1949
to present are not continuous and I see no reason why they need to be
-- and they come from different publishers. It is an assortment, not
a collection.

So, too with numismatics. The ancient Greek coins, the industrial era
stock certificates, the check written in pencil with the name of the
bank crossed out and another written in, they all represent virtues of
productivity, exchange of value for value, and successful
self-interest. Owning "one of each" never appealed to me.

In the book, _Fahrenheit 451_ Montag explains his passion for reading
by saying, "Inside each of them is a man. I want to know the man."
At the last MSNS convention in April, I bought two notes from the
Central Mine of Eagle Harbor. Last week, I finally started
researching the mine, the Upper Peninsula, and the history behind the
monetary artifacts. I undertand from John Stone that in addition to
my $5 and $10, there is also a rarer $15. It might be nice to own. I
have no objection to owning it. I also have little passion for
pursuing it to complete the set.

What makes you tick?

Michael
ANA R-162953
MSNS 7935


In coin collecting, there is no one thing that makes me tick but a multitude
of intertwined feelings, thoughts and motivations which are occasionally at odds
with each other
making "completion" something seldom seen in my collections.

I collect the modern US commemoratives because, I like the designs
(some are art), I like the subjects depicted (some represent history),
I like the challenge (over 140 different examples for a full set and not all cheap).

I collect Washington Quarters as a date/mintmark set. I collect them mostly
for nostalgia as I collected them 35 years ago when I was a young boy.
I collect Canadian cents because I had the opportunity
to do so quite accidentally. Only need a few to be finished from 1900-2004.

I collect Austrian coins medals and tokens because it is a road less traveled.
Not as much competition to drive the prices up as the US or UK or German
or Russian or Canadian material. I like the history many of them represent
and the beauty of many of them. Collecting Austrian in
Texas by definition has to be a challenge. I collect the modern tokens of Austria
because it is an exploration into the unknown. No published literature
to help so I must discover what I can through reason, inference, comparison, and
deduction. I get to "write the book" on them. :-)

The misc Roman coin I acquire because of the history they represent. I know of very
few
people other than collectors of ancients that can claim to have held in hand an
object over 2000
years old. Studying Roman history, I am amazed (shouldn't be) at how very much
like us they were.

Also playing a part is the "wow" factor; owning a coin that other collectors
would admire. And not to forget the satisfaction of owning something rare
and few others possess. I have to admit that I own very few of those type coins
if any.

So there you have it, Art and beauty, history, challenge, exploration and discovery,
rarity,
acceptance by peers, nostalgia and not mentioned is the potential monetary rewards.

Dale