Collecting coins for the kids...

[CaptCaveMan]

A newbie collector/stacker here - as the post suggests I'm planning to build a small collection of coins 1) as 21st birthday presents but also to build up small stacks to pass on.

Before joining TSF I purchased their 1oz Silver Britannia birth-year coins off of eBay so I'm certain I've paid a small premium already... my aim is to put aside ~£100 per month for Britanna's but possibly also a Sovereign every now and then so not everything is in one PM.  As based in the UK these appear to be the obvious choice for gift's/inheritance.

I'm not spending huge amounts but obviously this will grow over time, the aim is not for retirement but something to assist when they need it for life's big adventure and I know I'll find stacking easier and more fun over stocks or savings.

A thought though... do I try and create a collection over the years which is more expensive (I'm a sucker for collections) or do I just save and buy a stack every few months, say a tube of Britannias here and a Sovereign or two there?

Interested in opinions from those who've already made the decision...

[Stacklem]

Personally, like you mentioned I'd just just put money to one side and then when the times right buy a tube of the latest year silver Brits and then you'd save money on quantity breaks and they will also be slightly cheaper than buying a specific date. If its an investment for your kids I would say its about getting the most out of your money and then they will have a nice surprise when they find out what the value is. It really depends if you want a collection of dates/designs or strictly the best value for future selling in which you'd have more items for your money.

Callum

[Pete]

Buy what you can afford but only when you feel the price is right.
Silver is jumping around a bit right now and will obviously impact the price of a tube of silver coins, maybe less so the individual private sale or eBay.
Good deals on gold sovereigns are challenging because the usual suppliers are either out of stock or chancing their arm on adding big premiums.
This site is a good place to buy from so list your requirements for fellow members to respond.
Always helps if you state a budget price after researching the field rather than asking for offers.

[ZigZag]

23 hours ago, CaptCaveMan said:

A newbie collector/stacker here - as the post suggests I'm planning to build a small collection of coins 1) as 21st birthday presents but also to build up small stacks to pass on.

Before joining TSF I purchased their 1oz Silver Britannia birth-year coins off of eBay so I'm certain I've paid a small premium already... my aim is to put aside ~£100 per month for Britanna's but possibly also a Sovereign every now and then so not everything is in one PM.  As based in the UK these appear to be the obvious choice for gift's/inheritance.

I'm not spending huge amounts but obviously this will grow over time, the aim is not for retirement but something to assist when they need it for life's big adventure and I know I'll find stacking easier and more fun over stocks or savings.

A thought though... do I try and create a collection over the years which is more expensive (I'm a sucker for collections) or do I just save and buy a stack every few months, say a tube of Britannias here and a Sovereign or two there?

Interested in opinions from those who've already made the decision...

Well I joined just under a year ago with the intention of finishing my kids somewhat messy, inherited stacks. Think I finished a 1 oz Brit date run first, that’s the easiest if U.K based, then Koala’s, then Kook’s and finally a couple of lunar series. I’m a bit once I’ve started, can’t stop! So went a bit gung-ho and possibly paid over the odds at times; really though it doesn’t matter, as hopefully they will not be sold for a long time. Shifted some I deemed surplus though to part fund it and now I’ve switched to a gold 1/10’s varied collection and sovereign date run, that I’m just a couple short.

The idea behind the latter collections is whet their appetite and let them decide what they want to collect in future, when they get them out of safe storage at some point. Given multiple lockdowns and winter, it’s allowed me to throw some time at it fairly quickly. I’m also building a small general stack for me/them to trade. Must admit it’s quite fun when there’s nothing much else to do and I see it as inheritance planning anyway. My logic on date runs, is they will probably want to keep them going or be less likely to sell, my logic on stacking is give them enough to teach them further about asset diversification and a security blanket for emergency funds.

There’s some highly reliable sellers on here and I found a few good dealers from this site too. My knowledge has gained a little and I’m plucking up courage to add to proof sovereigns, but in truth that will be more a little side hobby for me, than passing onto the kids.

Good luck with your choices.

[HerefordBullyun]

My son whose 11 now I've given him over 26oz already, I would wager that hes one of the only kids whose got that much in his city. He already knows the difference between honest money and fiat currency, he knows that paper money is worthless. I just give him random silver that I pick up. Lets be honest silver is silver, to me so it still has intrinsic value. I wil hold some CGT free stuff for him when I die, but I am happy just to give him a little but here and there now.  Whatever you pick up - Its still a stack and a saving for your kids, for which they will be greatful. They may not have the numastatic interest or understand like you, and could sell it beyond its real worth, so I just keep it simple. I have to be mindful as my son is autistic.

Best HB 

[CaptCaveMan]

16 hours ago, Pete said:

Buy what you can afford but only when you feel the price is right.
Silver is jumping around a bit right now and will obviously impact the price of a tube of silver coins, maybe less so the individual private sale or eBay.
Good deals on gold sovereigns are challenging because the usual suppliers are either out of stock or chancing their arm on adding big premiums.
This site is a good place to buy from so list your requirements for fellow members to respond.
Always helps if you state a budget price after researching the field rather than asking for offers.

Really appreciate all the advice @Pete, I've already started on an xlsx for the Britannia collection, gleaning through various site's to document prices, get a feel as well as finding the user guides here on TRF with example files to maintain records etc. all part of finding my feet...

Once more confident I'll be upgrading but in the meantime the aim is to keep researching whilst putting aside and getting the basics in order.

[CaptCaveMan]

14 hours ago, ZigZag said:

Well I joined just under a year ago with the intention of finishing my kids somewhat messy, inherited stacks. Think I finished a 1 oz Brit date run first, that’s the easiest if U.K based, then Koala’s, then Kook’s and finally a couple of lunar series. I’m a bit once I’ve started, can’t stop! So went a bit gung-ho and possibly paid over the odds at times; really though it doesn’t, as hopefully they will not be sold for a long time. Shifted some I deemed surplus though to part fund it and now I’ve switched to a gold 1/10’s varied collection and sovereign date run, that I’m just a couple short.

The idea behind the latter collections is whet their appetite and let them decide what they want to collect in future, when they get them out of safe storage at some point. Given multiple lockdowns and winter, it’s allowed me to throw some time at it fairly quickly. I’m also building a small general stack for me/them to trade. Must admit it’s quite fun when there’s nothing much else to do and I see it as inheritance planning anyway. My logic on date runs, is they will probably want to keep them going or be less likely to sell, my logic on stacking is give them enough to teach them further about asset diversification and a security blanket for emergency funds.

There’s some highly reliable sellers on here and I found a few good dealers from this site too. My knowledge has gained a little and I’m plucking up courage to add to proof sovereigns, but in truth that will be more a little side hobby for me, than passing onto the kids.

Good luck with your choices.

All sounds very familiar @ZigZag, I think I'll be sticking to 1 Oz Brits at this stage but yes, once you start collecting... had to finish off my run of original Star Wars figures back in the day, fortunately I've still got them all!  After a bit of research though I didn't know if to just have a birth-year Brit each and focus on stacking.  My thinking is that I'd be overpaying to back fill and build a collection buying only 1 coin here and there for specific years but also agree with your logic in that they may actually want to maintain a collection rather than sell...

[silenceissilver]

If you want to accumulate over a long period, I don't see the need to hold purchases back because of the current price because lows and highs will cancel each other out and it's very likely to get it wrong as often as you get it right, over a long period. Holding back makes much more sense if you buy a big amount at once and not on a regular basis.

I think starting with bullion is a good idea, you can always throw in the odd numismatic coin or go for numismatics only, later on. As @ZigZag has said your kids are more likely to keep numismatic coins but it's for life's adventures, you said, not meant as basis for their pension stack yet it would be nice, if they didn't spend it all at once and kept a considerable part long term. Thus starting with bullion and the maybe a bit more numismatics or even just variety of bullion, later on sounds like a good idea. You could also go for the different Sovereign heads, eventually.

 

 

[CaptCaveMan]

14 hours ago, HerefordBullyun said:

My son whose 11 now I've given him over 26oz already, I would wager that hes one of the only kids whose got that much in his city. He already knows the difference between honest money and fiat currency, he knows that paper money is worthless. I just give him random silver that I pick up. Lets be honest silver is silver, to me so it still has intrinsic value. I wil hold some CGT free stuff for him when I die, but I am happy just to give him a little but here and there now.  Whatever you pick up - Its still a stack and a saving for your kids, for which they will be greatful. They may not have the numastatic interest or understand like you, and could sell it beyond its real worth, so I just keep it simple. I have to be mindful as my son is autistic.

Best HB 

At 11, that's great!  I have two classed as disabled hence focusing on just 1 Oz Brits with one variation, year.

The only variation maybe Gold Sovereigns, never thought I could afford gold but actually, Sovereigns...

[CaptCaveMan]

9 minutes ago, silenceissilver said:

If you want to accumulate over a long period, I don't see the need to hold purchases back because of the current price because lows and highs will cancel each other out and it's very likely to get it wrong as often as you get it right, over a long period. Holding back makes much more sense if you buy a big amount at once and not on a regular basis.

I think starting with bullion is a good idea, you can always throw in the odd numismatic coin or go for numismatics only, later on. As @ZigZag has said your kids are more likely to keep numismatic coins but it's for life's adventures, you said, not meant as basis for their pension stack yet it would be nice, if they didn't spend it all at once and kept a considerable part long term. Thus starting with bullion and the maybe a bit more numismatics or even just variety of bullion, later on sounds like a good idea. You could also go for the different Sovereign heads, eventually.

 

 

Holding back purchases would only be related to saving enough @silenceissilver i.e. a stack of x25 vs. 1 or 2 at a time, the merits are minimal but I'd should buy slightly lower.

Yes, I'm thinking more towards bullion rather than numismatic.  Overall I'm leaning towards a box of Silver each and perhaps a tube or two of Gold so not large amounts.  This would simply provide an extra reserve for each of them and I can also collect as and when something appeals...

[silenceissilver]

22 minutes ago, CaptCaveMan said:

Holding back purchases would only be related to saving enough @silenceissilver i.e. a stack of x25 vs. 1 or 2 at a time, the merits are minimal but I'd should buy slightly lower.

Yes, I'm thinking more towards bullion rather than numismatic.  Overall I'm leaning towards a box of Silver each and perhaps a tube or two of Gold so not large amounts.  This would simply provide an extra reserve for each of them and I can also collect as and when something appeals...

I see, that makes sense indeed unless you are one of those who can't save and thus started buying precious metals which enable saving for them. If you aren't one of them, I think it's a good idea to wait till you have a full tube.

[EddieC]

On 20/03/2021 at 14:48, CaptCaveMan said:

A newbie collector/stacker here - as the post suggests I'm planning to build a small collection of coins 1) as 21st birthday presents but also to build up small stacks to pass on.

Before joining TSF I purchased their 1oz Silver Britannia birth-year coins off of eBay so I'm certain I've paid a small premium already... my aim is to put aside ~£100 per month for Britanna's but possibly also a Sovereign every now and then so not everything is in one PM.  As based in the UK these appear to be the obvious choice for gift's/inheritance.

I'm not spending huge amounts but obviously this will grow over time, the aim is not for retirement but something to assist when they need it for life's big adventure and I know I'll find stacking easier and more fun over stocks or savings.

A thought though... do I try and create a collection over the years which is more expensive (I'm a sucker for collections) or do I just save and buy a stack every few months, say a tube of Britannias here and a Sovereign or two there?

Interested in opinions from those who've already made the decision...

I started out with the exact same thoughts. But now I’m mainly looking at Proofs and Series. Planned to add some gold this year too but for some bizarre reason have bought crypto instead?!

Go with what you like as in reality it’s for you now but then in the future.

[Ceaiu]

I'm also staking(?) for my daughter.

Initially I've planed to regulary buy PAMP gold and silver bars.

Not even two years into PM, and last month alone I've ordered silver coloured Kooks and Lunars, silver gilded Lunars, proof Lunars, and some exotic gold coins.

No point denying the fact that I'm a collector at heart.

So, I'm not even feeling guilty for the high premiums no more... she will still receive everything in 15 years or so, and I will enjoy collecting them in the meantime - win win situation.

[CaptCaveMan]

What am I, less than a month in? Now I'm up to 20oz of Brits 😲

I'm building a collection up for each of them over the years, I'll then simply start stacking whilst also buying the odd Sovereign.

I'm also looking to create a list of automatic updates for deals as well as searches on eBay etc.  If coins are under spot I'll place a few bids, even if I only win one every now and then, it's a small win and will chip away at the overall premium - makes the game of collecting/stacking more enjoyable.

Still need to invest in a few extras to check weights, size etc. but a good set of calipers and loupe will also fit in well with the odd watch purchase 🧐

I can't get serious for a couple of years yet due to other hobbies & related expenses but the plan will be to alternate between Brits and Sovs, It's interesting reading up re: as one form of wealth conservation as regular purchases soon add up.

In being late to the game I may miss out on any of the jumps being predicted in PMs but it may also work in my favor if prices settle down again towards pre 2020 levels which I suspect is more accurate in the shorter term.