Serial Collecting as Leisure, and Coin Collecting in Particular

摘要

The collecting of things for pleasure is an almost universal humanexperience. Psychological studies tell us that it is deeply connected tothe development of the self and of relations with the world and otherpeople. This article explores collecting as serious leisure, reviewsexplanations of collecting behavior, and focuses on coin collectorsas one example. The types and organization of numismatic literatureare explored. A participant observation study of coin collectors inboth face-to-face and electronic meeting places finds that they aremotivated by the potential for self-development, social interactionswith other collectors, and financial gains, and at times by compulsivecollecting.