Conversations with collectors: why and how people collect coins

Behind every collection there is a person and a story. Some start with the coins from their grandfather’s pocket, others with the first commemorative coin bought at the BNB’s counter. We are launching a column in which we will tell the stories of Bulgarian collectors.

Why we are doing this column

1. To learn from each other. Other people’s experience saves mistakes and money.
2. To show the variety. There are collectors of series, of themes, of errors, of gold, of circulation coins.
3. To inspire beginners. Every experienced collector once started with their first coin.

The questions we ask

The beginning

1. What was your first coin and how did you get it?
2. When did you realise you had become a collector?

The collection

3. What do you collect – a period, a series, a theme?
4. What is your favourite coin and why?
5. Which coin are you still looking for?

Experience

6. What was your best purchase or find?
7. What was your biggest mistake?
8. Have you come across a counterfeit? How did you recognise it?

Advice

9. What would you say to someone who is just starting out?
10. How do you see the future of collecting Bulgarian coins after the introduction of the euro?

The typical paths into collecting

While we prepare the first conversations, here are the most common paths by which people come to coins:

The inherited box. Many collectors start with a box of coins from their parents or grandparents. The first question is “what is this worth?”, and then curiosity takes over. See Inherited collection and What old Bulgarian coins are worth.

The series. You buy one coin from a series, then a second – and suddenly you want them all. See What it costs to complete a whole series.

The theme. A lover of ships, sport or history collects all the coins on their theme. See Thematic collecting.

The investment. Some start with the idea of an investment and then fall in love with the history. See Is coin collecting a good investment?

The children. Parents who collect coins together with their children. See Collecting with children.

The end of the lev. With the introduction of the euro, many people set aside the last leva and stotinki “as a keepsake” – and that is how they started. See What to do with leftover leva and stotinki.

How to take part

Would you like to tell your story? Write to us with a few words about yourself and your collection. You can take part:

1. Under your name or anonymously – we respect your privacy.
2. With photos of your favourite coins – or without photos.
3. Without revealing the value of the collection – we will never ask what it is worth.

Security matters. We do not publish addresses, towns or details that could put a collector at risk. See Insuring a collection.

What comes next

We will publish the first conversations in this category. Follow the news and Opinions and analysis.

In the meantime, read The story of a coin – the first article in another new column, in which we tell the story of a single coin.