Loading...
The question of why collectors sell awards comes up quite often, as it's commonly believed that a collector is someone who buys. However, selling is an integral part of this hobby. This question was raised by a collector from Israel who was curious about why items, including valuable ones, leave collections.
The question of why collectors sell awards comes up quite often, as it's commonly believed that a collector is someone who buys. However, selling is an integral part of this hobby. This question was raised by a collector from Israel who was curious about why items, including valuable ones, leave collections.
The interest was sparked by a story about a group of awards of a Hero of the Soviet Union, which first belonged to one collector, was then sold, and after some time, returned to him. This case illustrates that the motives for selling can be complex and varied, and are not always about a simple need for money.
| Seller Type | Primary Motivation for Selling |
| Collector | Improving and specializing the collection, life circumstances |
| Dealer | Profit generation, primary business activity |
| Investor | Securing profits, rebalancing assets (often hold duplicates) |
To understand the reasons for selling awards, it's important to distinguish who is selling them. There is no single answer to this question, as everyone has their own motivation. In the world of phaleristics, several key figures can be identified, each with their own goals.
For dealers, buying and selling is their main source of income. They acquire items with the intention of reselling them for a profit. In this case, selling is simply business, and everything is quite clear.
Collectors and investors have different motives, although their actions may seem similar. Their approaches to building and managing a collection differ significantly.
One of the main reasons collectors sell their awards is the desire to improve and strengthen their collection. This is a completely normal process, comparable to upgrading a home: a person sells an old apartment to buy a new, more spacious, and convenient one for a growing family.
The same applies to collecting. For example, the owner of a group of awards of a Hero of the Soviet Union might sell it to acquire a complete set, including the Gold Star and award documents. Another example: a collector sells an Order of Alexander Nevsky to buy the same one but with its document, which significantly increases the item's value.
Sometimes, when purchasing a whole group of awards, it contains duplicates of items already in the collection. Unlike an investor, who might keep dozens of identical items, a collector will most often sell the duplicate to use the proceeds to acquire something new for their collection.
Over time and with more experience, many collectors narrow their focus. While they might start by collecting everything—orders, medals, awards from different countries—they later aim to delve deeper into one specific, narrow theme.
For example, a collector might decide to focus exclusively on Orders of the Red Banner. In this case, all other items that do not fit the new collection profile, whether they are awards from the USSR or other countries, are put up for sale.
Such specialization allows for the creation of a more profound and valuable collection. Selling 'surplus' items becomes a logical step towards achieving this goal, and the proceeds are used to find and acquire items for the chosen theme.
A collection is also an asset that can be used when financial needs arise. Life situations vary, and sometimes selling a part of the collection becomes necessary to address important issues.
In such cases, the collection acts as a financial safety net. Selling one or more items can provide the necessary funds without resorting to loans.
Many collectors in their later years think about the fate of their collection. It often turns out that their children or grandchildren do not share this passion and do not plan to continue it. For the heirs, the collection holds no interest, and they would prefer to receive its monetary equivalent.
Understanding this, a collector may decide to sell the collection during their lifetime. This ensures that the valuable items will end up in the hands of other enthusiastic people who will appreciate them properly. In this way, the collector controls the process and avoids a situation where unique items are sold off after their passing without due care or understanding of their value.
