Your Top 10 coin collecting goals for 2025

[Croatian Coin Collector]

Since this forum is now full of Top 10 threads, it has occurred to me to open one of my own, but not about the coins I have acquired in 2024, rather the coins I and the other forum members plan to acquire in 2025, so here are my Top 10 coin collecting goals for 2025:

1) Acquire a Kushan Gold coin of Vima Kadphises, and thus complete my Kushan coin collection.

2) Acquire a Mughal Square Gold Mohur of Akbar, and thus complete my Mughal coin collection.

3) Acquire Gupta Gold Dinars of Chandragupta I, Samudragupta, Chandragupta II (if I don't manage to acquire the one I am bidding on now) and Skandagupta, and thus complete my Gupta coin collection.

4) Acquire Roman Empire Gold coins of Antoninus Pius, Diocletian (preferably from the Siscia mint) and Julian the Apostate.

5) Acquire Roman Empire Gold coins from the Siscia and Sirmium mints.

6) Acquire a Roman Republic Gold coin.

7) Acquire a Zand Gold Mohur of Karim Khan Zand (preferably from the Shiraz mint).

8) Acquire a Syracusian Gold Dekadrachm of Hieron II.

9) Acquire a Carthaginian Gold coin.

10) Acquire a Croatian Gold coin (I find it ridiculous that I have Gold coins from places such as Indonesia and Peru, but not one from my own homeland!).

 

Those are my Top 10 coin collecting goals for 2025, so what are yours?

Edited December 9, 2024 by Croatian Coin Collector

[panzerman]

Back on New Years Eve, I made a list of want to add in 24. Well buying a 58 vette threw a monkey wrench into my coin ambitions.

But I did pickup 3 Aurei/ so fullfilled one goal at least.

For 2025 I probably will end up same/ since I end up with most additions on "impulse' "eye appeal"

Two coins I really desire...

Bulgarian AV 4 Dukaten Ferdinand I and Boris III MS and "no holes"

also 1491 Nordlingen Goldgulden Friedrich III HRE

and Messina AV Pierreale d'ro ND Pedro III and Contanza This one I will 100% add.

[Furryfrog02]

Honestly, I only have one collecting goal for 2025: To be able to start collecting again. 

[JayAg47]

While I have a list of coin types I want to add, I don’t focus on specific coins, which can make the process a hassle and much less enjoyable. Every purchase I’ve made this year has gone something like this: I see a coin type I’ve been wanting, check if I have the budget, and if I do, I buy it.

To answer your question, I'm happy to report that I've added all the "must-have" coins to my collection this year, especially the Raja Raja Chola gold Kahavanu for my Chola category, an Aureus, a Caesar portrait denarius, and a Hippopotamus issue for my Roman category, and an Aegina turtle for my Greek collection. All of these have been on my wish list for years! Moving forward, any new acquisitions will depend on whether the coin truly appeals to me and if it's offered at the right price. I considered pursuing a 12 Caesars set, but it didn't really interest me. In fact, I had the chance to buy an Otho denarius twice and a Galba once over the past few months, but I didn't want to buy just for the sake of adding them. There are still some lower-priority coins I'd like to add, such as a Caracalla with an angry bust, a Titus as Augustus denarius, a nice Hadrian denarius, a solid Tribute penny (I only have a fouree), and, last but not least, a side-facing solidus, regardless of the emperor.

Edited December 8, 2024 by JayAg47

[-monolith-]

Books, books and more books. I've only purchased a few in 2024 so I'm going to concentrate on expanding my library in 2025.

[kirispupis]

I'm actually relatively religious on New Year's Resolutions, and I made the following resolutions last year.

1. Make further progress on my current collections. The 5 remaining (of a 119 total) people on my list will be tough, but I'd love to acquire one of them. Of the 51 cities remaining, I'd like to add at least 16. They're much tougher to acquire now. I've also started to  I've recently started two smaller collections that I haven't announced yet. For one, I have 4 of 9 targets, and I believe acquiring 4 more should be doable. For the other, I have 4 out of 36 and I'd like to add 10 more.
2. Buy fewer coins. I simply added too many this year. As my targets have become tougher, I've been participating in fewer auctions. I need to continue that because the rate is not maintainable.
3. Redo my photography technique again. I know what I need to do and have an idea how to build it out of Legos. Unfortunately my wife sold all my Legos, so I need to buy some.
4. Complete by AncientCoinStories web site. I have no excuses now since a lot of the work is done. I expect to spend a lot of time authoring material.
5. Read the full Plutarch and Josephus. I have both, but I just need to sit down and read them. They're the last major ancient works covering this time that I haven't read. 
6. Complete the draft for "All the Wonderful People" and one other book. Again, this should be an easy one since I've already started.

So, before I create resolutions for 2025, I need to review the 2024 ones.

1. I made decent progress here. These coins are obviously getting tougher, but I'm down to 2 remaining people and 38 cities. So, I did 3 people when I only expected 1, and I added 13 cities when I hoped for 16.
2. I added roughly 200 coins this year, and 300 in the year before, so - done.
3. I technically did improve my photography technique by simpler techniques of moving the light closer and better positioning the glass. I had hoped to create a new stage and I did design a new one with a parts list, but the budget just wasn't there.
4. I did complete my web site. Of course, I'm working on more improvements.
5. I completed both works, along with several others.
6. I got about halfway through "All the Wonderful People" and two other books, but was then pulled onto other projects and I feel they need some more work.

In my opinion, I didn't do so bad. Here are my resolutions for the next year.

1. Whittle down my targets some more. They're extremely difficult now, so I can't predict how many I'll manage, but I want at least one.
2. Reach 500 cities for my collection. I currently have 434 with 15 more on the way, so that means I need to add 51.
3. Buy fewer coins. This should be easier since my budget has been reduced.
4. Complete timelines and coin tagging on my web site.
5. Read at least 20 more ancient works.
6. Complete my drafts for "All the Wonderful People" and "There Must be Monsters" - both influenced by mythology/ancient Greek history.

[Sulla80]

 

I didn't set any goals in 2024 - other than "have fun".  I do generally respond well to peer pressure and inspired by this thread I will try to be more ambitious in 2025.  I can't see myself competing with the giants in the epic battle to corner the market on FDC ancient gold : @panzerman & @Croatian Coin Collector. No competition for @kirispupis in the best-selling book category, or Lego-photography - I expect that he will top these categories.  Although, I might try to stay in the game on websites.  I can see a path to finishing one sub-collection - I like @JayAg47's approach - which clearly outlines the list of coins that we should avoid at auctions to be supportive: a Caracalla with attitude, Titus as Augustus, a nice Hadrian, a Tribute penny, any side-facing solidus.

So here we go: 2025 Collecting Goals

• Share the joy of my library with family and friends.
• Share the experience of my collection with family and friends.
• Strategically sell a significant portion of my coin collection.
• Reinvest the proceeds to acquire Roman Republican denarii that I have considered "beyond reach"
• Continue learning about ancient people, ancient coins, science and history with the help of NF contributors

P.S. - for those in a supportive mood: please steer clear of Sulla, Mithridates, and anything from the 1st century BC. Trust me, they're objectively boring and easier to collect if I am the only one bidding.

[panzerman]

23 minutes ago, Sulla80 said:

 

I didn't set any goals in 2024 - other than "have fun".  I do generally respond well to peer pressure and inspired by this thread I will try to be more ambitious in 2025.  I can't see myself competing with the giants in the epic battle to corner the market on FDC ancient gold : @panzerman & @Croatian Coin Collector. No competition for @kirispupis in the best-selling book category, or Lego-photography - I expect that he will top these categories.  Although, I might try to stay in the game on websites.  I can see a path to finishing one sub-collection - I like @JayAg47's approach - which clearly outlines the list of coins that we should avoid at auctions to be supportive: a Caracalla with attitude, Titus as Augustus, a nice Hadrian, a Tribute penny, any side-facing solidus.

So here we go: 2025 Collecting Goals

• Share the joy of my library with family and friends.
• Share the experience of my collection with family and friends.
• Strategically sell a significant portion of my coin collection.
• Reinvest the proceeds to acquire Roman Republican denarii that I have considered "beyond reach"
• Continue learning about ancient people, ancient coins, science and history with the help of NF contributors

P.S. - for those in a supportive mood: please steer clear of Sulla, Mithridates, and anything from the 1st century BC. Trust me, they're objectively boring and easier to collect if I am the only one bidding.

Actually/ the ONLY reason to have this delightfull pastime is for the sheer pleasure the hobby brings to us all! It should NEVER be for speculation/ investment potential.

[ewomack]

My coin goals typically have a negative aspect to them (i.e., what not to do), but I do this to keep myself from overdoing it. I've fallen into that trap in the past and I don't particularly enjoy it. Some of these "goals" may seem rather party-pooperish concerning the hobby, but they help to stabilize eruptions of the urge to acquire recklessly.

1. Avoid auctions - the urge to overspend often becomes insurmountable in those last few moments as the clock ticks down
2. Don't buy impulsively unless it's a "sure thing" (addendum: "sure things" rarely occur) - this relates to #1 as well - I want to think about what I buy
3. Don't buy for other collectors; buy what I want; don't buy to impress, buy to enjoy; the hobby shouldn't be a competition, it should be a community
4. Keep to my spending guidelines - I have some exceptions, and I've used them in the past year, but overall I've stuck to my relatively modest budget
5. Read more - I have a number of coin books that sit on my shelf unread - I need to read them, which will likely help frame my purchasing interests
6. Keep posting coins, questions, and opinions online - this forum has become my online coin home base, though I don't post an incredible amount
7. Lean towards more expensive coins with eye appeal rather than many cheaper examples to fill holes - this is my personal preference - I like the aesthetic of a nice coin
8. Try to attend local ancient coin club meetings - I've meant to do this for years, but I haven't - they happen late on weeknights, so often I just don't feel like it
9. Look at my actual, physical coins more often - typically I buy a coin, photograph it, put it away and then look at the photograph far more than the coin - it's a little strange
10. I'll steal this one from above: "have fun" - I think this is a very important goal. Competing, overspending, or arguing makes the hobby less fun. Feeling impulsive about buying coins, as though acquisition has become a drug, is no fun. Being jealous of others who may have more disposable income and time to acquire more impressive pieces is no fun and it can make the hobby seem almost futile to those seeking more of a "middle road."

[Nerosmyfavorite68]

Goals 1993-2025; buy what pleases me and what I can afford.

I've become better in recent years about generally avoiding decrepit coins, when possible.

Edit: Well, I'd like to find a decent example of the Syrian Nero/Divus Claudius tetradrachm.  I have a decrepit example, but the nice one which I gave as a Christmas gift last year really made me want one.

Edited December 9, 2024 by Nerosmyfavorite68

[John Conduitt]

20 hours ago, JayAg47 said:

While I have a list of coin types I want to add, I don’t focus on specific coins, which can make the process a hassle and much less enjoyable. Every purchase I’ve made this year has gone something like this: I see a coin type I’ve been wanting, check if I have the budget, and if I do, I buy it.

Yes this is how it has to be for me. I have a collection, so there are gaps. I can’t afford to fill them all at once and even if I could, I couldn’t buy them immediately as they aren’t available. I have no idea which coins will come available and in what order. Maybe upgrades will appear. What is certain is that as time goes on, the gaps and upgrades are more expensive, so I have to be better at deciding which are the right coins at the right time, and which to leave.

[CPK]

3 hours ago, Nerosmyfavorite68 said:

Goals 1993-2025; buy what pleases me and what I can afford.

I've become better in recent years about generally avoiding decrepit coins, when possible.

This is where I am at, too. I don't really have any specific goals, except to have fun with the hobby!

[Qcumbor]

I don't have specific goals either. I try to keep some money readily available, should something I need* pop up. Basically I follow my nose 🙂 

Q

* : most often the "need" was unknown to me five minutes before 😄 

Edited December 8, 2024 by Qcumbor

[Cordoba]

tentatively, limit myself to 3 major purchases. i've restricted myself to baktrian coins, which helps me follow this restriction.

main thing i'm after is an agathokles tetradrachm, since I lack a tetradrachm with a portrait of his

[El Cazador]

2 hours ago, Cordoba said:

tentatively, limit myself to 3 major purchases. i've restricted myself to baktrian coins, which helps me follow this restriction.

main thing i'm after is an agathokles tetradrachm, since I lack a tetradrachm with a portrait of his

Same here, targeting Baktrians in 2025

[CassiusMarcus]

Not sure if I could cook up 10 goals but 

1. Add a Syracuse Dekadrachm
2. Begin a 12 Caesars in Gold Set (probably take years to accomplish though but I'd like to start in 2025)
3. Finish my Seleucid Set - Seleukos I Nikator to Demetrios Soter. All in Tetradrachm denom
4. Acquire a Philip V Tetradrachm, Athena Reverse
5. Acquire a Demetrios Poliorketes Poseidon Tetradrachm with the boat
6. A Ptolemaic Oktadrachm  

Maybe some other ones but I'd have to think.. these are probably my top ones though 

[Spargrodan]

Not 10 goals but...

1. My primary goal is to be stricter with quality.
2. I’ve been rethinking my collection focus a lot this year, and for 2025, I’m still deciding, but I’m leaning towards an eclectic approach—collecting whatever catches my interest. Focusing on coins that are historically significant, connected to fascinating individuals or events, and offer an interesting numismatic perspective. I’ll continue to look for ancient coins, but I’m also open to exploring other areas.
3. I’m also considering selling some of the coins I acquired this year to fund new acquisitions.

[El Cazador]

1 hour ago, Spargrodan said:

Not 10 goals but...

1. My primary goal is to be stricter with quality.
2. I’ve been rethinking my collection focus a lot this year, and for 2025, I’m still deciding, but I’m leaning towards an eclectic approach—collecting whatever catches my interest. Focusing on coins that are historically significant, connected to fascinating individuals or events, and offer an interesting numismatic perspective. I’ll continue to look for ancient coins, but I’m also open to exploring other areas.
3. I’m also considering selling some of the coins I acquired this year to fund new acquisitions.

What are you planning on selling? @Spargrodan

[AncientCoinnoisseur]

• Stop buying coins, aside from 3-4 I need, but they appear quite often, so I’m not in a rush right now and they are fairly expensive (Lydian trite, Lysimachos, Owl). I might pick up a silphium if decently priced, but again, not in a rush.
• Catalogue what I have better, and find a storage option. Right now everything is still in the plastic flips, I might need to buy some PVC-free ones. 
• Make something creative with my coins / related to coins.
• Start my Instagram page.
• Complete my huge ‘guide’ of Athenian tetradrachms!

[Spargrodan]

14 hours ago, El Cazador said:

What are you planning on selling? @Spargrodan

I havent decided yet but thinking my 2 post Alexander-, Lysimachos- and a Ptolemy- tet.

Edited December 10, 2024 by Spargrodan

[ominus1]

...the year coming will be a reflection time for my collection of 20 years   i've bought enough coins for a while (not to mention 3 medals this year)... lets see how that goes....:D

[El Cazador]

4 hours ago, Spargrodan said:

I havent decided yet but thinking my 2 post Alexander-, Lysimachos- and a Ptolemy- tet.

I would be interested in seeing Lysimachos and Ptolemies, could you please DM?

[Finn235]

2025 will most likely be a slow year for me as I have some rather large home improvement purchases / projects looming and the budget will likely be minimal. I will probably continue my hunt for elusive Indo Sassanian coin types, and maybe keep an eye on large lots to pick through and flip.

I don't really have any reasonably attainable Roman collection goals except maybe Antinous and perhaps some upgrades. I've been feeling the itch to pick up a nice Eucratides I tet, but I want it to be a nice example, and I've been striking out on nice examples for 4 years running now so I'm not holding my breath.

My main goal is to get organized with my collection, design and create some flips for them, maybe get a new phone and re-image the whole thing (an admittedly Herculean task), and start getting portions of it posted here and/or on a website that I have yet to make.

[Ryro]

I've enjoyed reading all the different thought processes, collecting styles, and situations.

As for me...

[Roman Collector]

I don't have any specific goals beyond watch the fixed price lists and auctions for imperial issues of Faustina I and II that I don't already have in my collection. This is getting harder and harder, and I don't expect to acquire as many this year now that Curtis Clay has sold his Antonine coins. He had a very large selection of rarities, which are no longer on the market. I purchased most of them I needed for my collection, but I certainly couldn't afford them all. 

I also plan to update and revise several of my old Faustina Friday installments from Coin Talk at this forum, since Coin Talk seems to go down every few months and I don't trust them as an archive for my work. 

I hope to buy more Republican denarii this year. 

I imagine that at some point, I'll become frustrated with my lack of progress with my Faustina I and II specialized collection and I'll resume my Nerva denarius collection or my Trebonianus Gallus and Volusian collection or something. 

Edited December 11, 2024 by Roman Collector