Worthy of its own thread. Blind coin collector. Inspiring!
topstuf
Posts: 14,803 ✭✭✭✭✭
From another thread
I am completely blind and I've been collecting for about 35 years now. I currently have over 5000 cataloged coins. Of course, I build and enjoy my collection differently than those who can see it. I can recognize about 500 coins by touch, but it is correct that variation and dates don't mean much to me. I have heard that some blind people can read dates by touch, I tried, and I cannot.
Slabbed coins are completely out for me, it just doesn't make much sense. I mostly have circulation coins, I don't buy anything that you touch and it immediately loses its value, I enjoy holding a coin in my hand but that leaves fingerprints.
It is correct, not too many dealers allow me to touch the coins, but that's part of the package, I would not ask to hold an expensive coin. But there are still many coins one can touch, and I have to say most coin dealers are very kind to find those for me. An example would be an ancient coin which was dug out from the ground. It doesn't hurt anybody if I touch it. The most expensive coin I handled was a Roman bronze coin at the ANS museum which costs about $40.000
If you will allow me the shameless promotion, I have been writing a blog about my experiences of being a blind coin collector, which you may find interesting:
https://BlindCoinCollector.com
Start on the "about me" page.
Member here: #tbabinszki
Be sure to read his blog.
Comments
I happily got to meet Tom at his presentation at the ANA show in Rosemont in 2015.
Pacific Northwest Numismatic Association
...and I believe he was the gentleman at that show
who asked, (and I gladly gave) if he could feel an
off center cent (maybe a 5C?) at our table. Cool!
for PCGS. A 49+-Year PNG Member...A full numismatist since 1972, retired in 2022
Adding thread from @nencoin about Braille Redbook.
https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/1003134/nine-pound-redbook
Adding @topstuf’s other thread.
https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/938282/can-or-do-any-blind-people-collect-coins
An exceptional post; thanks very much. Makes us realize how fortunate we are.
Wow. Pretty cool. Harlan Berk showed me around some of his ancients in his office once. He told me to pick them up (carefully!) and enjoy them. A couple of them were probably 6-figure coins. I have to admit it was a bit nerve-wracking to do so, even with these surgeon hands. There's something fun about being able to heft them and at least feel the edges. I'm sure this collector enjoys his coins a bit differently than we do, but probably just as much at the end of the day.
Yes, I remember, are you going this year? I have another presentation in mind.
Yes, those are the great moments in life. It is always wonderful when there is somethng we are able to touch without damaging it. This is why I ask museums for a hands-on tour, for my kids it is all about looking it up online. For me it is finding a place where I can experience something and trying to remember it for life, and taking as many notes as possible to help my memory over the years. So, thank you, it didn't go unnoticed:-)
Though not a coin, one of the most expensive things I ever held was the 28 pound gold bar at the Ottawa Mint. It was interesting to feel that such a "small" bar can be so heavy.
that's a good read, I like
When I worked in a coin gallery in a DC hotel, the boss had a wealthy blind client. The man collected ancients because of their relief and the fact that they are constantly handled. The man and his female caretaker would visit and he would "examine" the coins for style by touch and then we would describe their color. I've written about one of our sighted customers before. he would pick up an ancient coin to examine for possible purchase and then return each coin back to the tray with its less attractive side up!
I had to rearrange everything after he left.
This has got to be one of the most interesting threads I’ve ever read here. My hats off to you sir.
👌🏻👍🏻
Very inspiring. We had a gentleman years ago who was blind. Some how he enjoyed coins. Its amazing!
A handful of junk silver coins feels good, so do a couple of cull Morgans.
There is a man in my town who is an avid coin collector and humble dealer at shows. I met him at our coin club years ago when it was active. He basically chaperoned my first year at FUN years ago helping me figure out lodging ideas to how to strategize seeing all the tables in a few days.....
Anyway, he told me a few years ago he survived a stroke and his brain swelling had strangled and pinched off his optic nerves and he’s permanently lost a huge part if his eyesight, like 90%. I didn’t know this could even happen, nevertheless, he continues to collect. He told me his son hooked up a big screen TV as his computer monitor and his wife, who knows coins, will describe the surfaces to him. He collects on and continues to trade. Last year or so I saw him at a local show working his booth and he was happy as ever talking coins and was totally capable of buying and selling. His wife was a big help and I bought a nice raw conder token from them that day.
The other day I spoke to his neighbor and he said he has a walking path marked with orange on the fence posts as he can see that color the best. I totally admire these kinda people and they are my heros.
I didn't know that Legend sold raw coins. Otherwise your post conjures up an image of someone feeling around a box of PCGS slabs for CAC stickers. I've always thought that a lot of non-visually impaired collectors only pay attention to the slab and sticker anyway, so it probably isn't that different from what many non-disabled collectors do now a days.
Very inspiring!
I attended a "paper" show some time back and met a blind postcard collector. He enjoyed having the cards described to him. His interest was in towns and cities he was familiar with. People are more resilient than most of us can fathom.
I did go to his website... very interesting... Cheers, RickO