The Thrill of the Chase

by Bill Snyder

When you start a collection, start a challenging one. Go for something you can't buy 'off the shelf'. A Clock* Set of Off-Center Canadian Elizabeth II dimes maybe. Or maybe one each full Brockage of every current Mexican denomination.

• Pick something that you already have a few of.
• Do a little research and find out, for example, how many Mexican denominations there are.
• Develop your 'Want' list and start looking.

Why a challenging collection? Well because, as the 'Want' list shrinks and specimens become harder to find, you will experience the thrill of the chase.

• As time goes by, you may even feel that the 10 centavo brockage (or the 5 or whatever) of your chosen series doesn't even exist. Then, suddenly, one appears on eBay or in a dealer's list or wherever. It is within your grasp, if you act swiftly and decisively.
• Some get away. (I think they call it 'The Agony of Defeat'). But when you win, when it is actually yours, there are almost nothing more satisfying!

This week I won one** of the coins that has been on my list for years. (I've a partial type set of mis-struck English coins). I couldn't be sure that there were any o/c off-center Half Crowns of James II. (Or any similar off-center Crowns, for that matter).

There may not be many people interested in such things as o/c Half Crowns. All the better for me. The next guy reading through the list may be looking for Shillings or something. (I recommend collecting things that are not popular at the moment. Get them while you can).

I'm one step nearer to completing my set! I know I'll never actually complete it but each coin brings me just a little closer.

* A Clock Set consists of 12 off center coins of the same type. One of these 12 has to be off center toward 1 o'clock; one off center towards two o'clock, etc. This is quite a challenge!

** The coin pictured is a 1686 Half Crown of King James II. He was the ill-fated monarch who was chased out of England to Ireland and later chased out of Ireland to France.

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