Would this forum make you want to collect coins?
topstuf
Posts: 14,803 ✭✭✭✭✭
Musing over the weekend.
We lament the loss of younger people coming into the hobby.
Thinking more on it, I got to wondering how our topics would excite non collectors. We drone on endlessly about differences in grading. Lots and lots of posts about counterfeits.
When I started collecting coins, I had seen .... SOME.... older coins in circulation.
However in addition to that, I got an osmosis type of interest in history. Even TV had references to such historic figures as Davy Crockett and all the western gunslingers.
In school we had textbooks in very early grades with stories of pioneer life and adventure.
I don't even know if they still print schoolbooks.
But....back to topic.
I was thinking of this forum and how FRESH eyes would see it.
We get spurious error posts constantly. I was thinking of having separate categories for errors and fakes.
However, how would the more experienced collectors take that? Grading is important if you're already into coin collecting.
Anyone have any ideas how the forum could be more interesting to brand spanking new collectors?
Comments
I would say some are driven by history while most others are driven by treasure as in my case. So, posting more articles about both. I couldn't find the one I read a few years back about a kid who found $632,000 worth of old coins with a metal detector but, here is another instance.
https://www.delmarvanow.com/story/news/local/delaware/2015/01/10/boy-finds-cache-greek-roman-coins/21562515/
Treasure is terrific for general interest.
From the moment I realized that the 1965 silver dime I had spent a few years earlier was a valuable error coin, I was hooked. Then anyone searching the internet will find Blue Ridge and Couch Collectibles which I watched quite a bit before finding this place. Sure, I'm still seeking the treasure but, have now grown an affinity for the hobby.
More presence on the internet.... such as Instagram.....There are thousands of young collectors online, buying and selling coins....Invisible to most dealers/collectors who are older.....The hobby is alive and well...just not in the traditional market. Cheers, RickO
This forum (well, Datkside primarily) didn't get me to start collecting, but it definitely helped me evolve my collection over the last decade into what it is today and kept me excited about numismatics and the many directions I can take in the future.
8 Reales Madness Collection
I think this forum has value for collectors at all levels, but I don't really see it as an ideal site for beginning collectors. It's more geared to the top 10% who collect slabbed coins and coins with significant numismatic value. Certainly I would also include those with a limited budget but deep interest and experience in the hobby. I'm not at the pointy top of the collecting pyramid where the whales live, but even so the value of my modest collection is probably in the top 10% of those who would call themselves coin collectors.
Don't forget the very large foundations of the pyramid. It's there, but it might be out of sight to the average poster here.
On the other hand, this forum exposed me to coins I never knew about and broadened my horizons beyond what I would have encountered from US Mint offerings and local flea markets.
I can see "broadened horizons" for almost all of us.
What ...started... you @BryceM ?
What was the spark that ignited your coin collecting?
Some observations that seem to put me off:
Too many snide comments about coins / collections / collectors who swim in the shallow end of the pool (AKA dreck collectors). If I'm young and starting out, I definitely won't have a few thousand to spend on a CAC, inner circle approved coin. Maybe we need a special Gold Club message board where the whales can show off their coins worth more than some houses without belittling the newbies.
Their is an incredible amount of knowledge on these boards that is without question the best on the internet. It's a shame that egos, know-it-all-ness and sniping make it painful to wade through many posts.
No.
Market doom and gloom, sticker and plastic obsessions, rampant over grading, and a hobby full of chicanery... What's to love?
This forum is the most educated in numismatics that I've seen online. I'd be interested in learning about others, if there are any.
There are a lot of people late into their collecting career that spend a lot of time laboring over market nuances, like CAC and things like that. We don't have a ton of discussion on some more common topics like moderns, and mint sets. As an early collector, I still enjoy and enjoyed reading some of the TPG discussions that I could necessarily appreciate yet.
Yes, we could always be better about promoting collecting as a passion and a hobby, and not some vehicle for investment and preservation of generational wealth.
IG: DeCourcyCoinsEbay: neilrobertson
"Numismatic categorizations, if left unconstrained, will increase spontaneously over time." -me
Well, reduced prices make it easier to collect, and if one can ignore stickers, plastic, grading, chicanery...there are coins to love.
In my "Great Worn Coins" thread I wrote "coin collecting should be enjoyed be all" in part because the forum is going more elitist, and many of those in the middle have left.
Just reading this, I want to buy a new morgan.
Focus the hobby on the right media and it will thrive. Instagram is a great universe in itself along with getting more content on YouTube. Forums and newsletters are looked upon as old outlets.
The New Ultimate Custom Dansco US Type Set Album.
It further occurs to me, that if an individual were not interested in coins, they would have little motivation to look at this forum... except when they find parking lot coins...
Cheers, RickO
....> @Nysoto said:
Boy, did you say a mouthful.
Well, it's the top listing in a Google search of "Coin forums."
I'd guess anyone even remotely thinking of coins would look it up like that.
Hearing more and more about Instagram.
Me, I'm scared of it. Don't trust social media all that much.
Am I wrong? Is Instagram easy and do they have control settings?
In the hobby of Kings, a few of us paupers are here for entertainment purposes.
Can you post a YouTube of your dancing?
To answer the question, “ Bookmark
Would this forum make you want to collect coins?”
I don’t know.
Iwas interested in coins before I actively engaged into this forum. Previously, used the forum’s search function for research and read a lot.
@topstuf
I was collecting a bit here and there in my early teens - mostly modern US Mint stuff. I then disappeared into several decades of education and work. Eventually I got to a place where I had a bit of time and money and looked into silver. That led to a few handfuls of junk on eBay and a growing realization that it wasn't quality stuff.
I came to the Internet forum world as a member, then moderator, then administrator of an unrelated hobby forum..... So naturally when I got more interested in getting educated I found this place. That ignited an interest in historical coins and one thing led to another. Before long I was attending shows and snagging some pretty fun coins.
I've been around enough "coin people" to know a curmudgeon when I see one. Let's face it. This hobby doesn't attract entirely normal people. Introverts and antisocial types are pretty common. Unfortunately it also attracts a good number of crooks and shady characters. It takes a certain amount of resilience and toughness to hang around this forum very long. If you're easily offended or frequently take offense this probably isn't the place for you. If you can manage it, you will learn from some incredibly smart and experienced people. The vast majority of those who post here are thoughtful and encouraging.
As for the forum becoming elitist, I dunno. I don't see it. (Maybe you're talking about folks like me?) There's always been a huge amount of turnover here. It's part of the hobby.
I don't see as many set-building, goal-achieving posts as I once did. There don't seem to be as many people "having fun" with their coins. That's regrettable, but the current coin market is dragging down people's enthusiasm. The threads often get pretty deep into the nuances of grading and the market -- certainly these things aren't the soul of collecting.
There's a lot of competition if you want to capture the interest of young people today. Keep in mind that the majority of young people today don't go to the library or read books, they have the information highway on their phone. They can find virtually anything of interest in a few seconds versus a few hours.
So all you have to do now is figure out what would make someone want to search for coins instead of online gaming, sports, concerts, dating sites...it goes on and on. My guess would be discussing long term profit potential from coins that the average 20 - 30 year old can afford.
Sometimes I think that animals are smarter than humans, animals would never allow the dumbest one to lead the pack
Toppy, look at my Instagram page, I am going all in.
There some exceptional coins on Instagram and a lot of junk just like everywhere.
Follow the best of what you collect.
It is very easy to use.
They do have control settings.
I don't know what's so scary about it. You sign up with pretty much the same info you do to register on this forum. Easy.
This hobby is 100% visual. Instagram is exactly that. Just search coins on it and you'll instantly feel like Neo booting into the Matrix for the first time. So many connections can be made and the right hash tags alone can create more likes, comments, awareness, and conversations to your content.
If a kid had any curiosity about coins or other collectables, finding it would be easy on Instagram. One picture is all it takes to be like "Holy shit, I never seen a coin like that. Who knew we produced cool stuff like this." Then he/ she would scroll endlessly and overtime head to these forums to gain more knowledge in the hobby.
Just my couple of cents on the matter as a 34 yr old.
The New Ultimate Custom Dansco US Type Set Album.
This forum is a great resource with lots of very smart people and people who have some truly knockout coins. However, the times are a'changing and there are other avenues to pique interest. Instagram has already been mentioned, but for me, the PCGS apps have really sparked my interest in building digital albums, which are a blast. I'm not chasing registry points at all, but would like to complete some sets over time.
The younger people are out there, but the mediums and styles of collecting are different. Talking down to them (dumping on their generation, conspiracy BS, passing cleaned as BU) won't get them in the door in this forum, coin clubs, shows or anywhere else.
10-4,
My Instagram picturesErik
My registry sets
To be honest - this not my favorite coin forum for a whole bunch of reasons. It was the coin forum I came to because 1) I started buying PCGS coins and 2) that led me to do the registry thing.
That in itself ( slab collecting and registry participant) makes this site not a good place to discover if your a novice or just starting out and collecting raw coins. There are several denomination speciality sites which are more informative for a new collector to find and begin the journey and education.
This site has many times over the years been - shall we say- not welcoming, helpful nor friendly for some who have found it and and asked a basic question or just tried to jump in. I know it was not for me when I first got here and I have several collector friends who do the registry thing And were active at one time but now prefer not to interact on thIs forum.
So back to your question - does this site want to make you collect coins. It helps me collect coins, it expands my knowledge, I get a lot from those that know. But the ratio of those who discover this site- and stay seems not to make others want to hang around and collect coins.
WS
This forum has driven me to drink more
m
Fellas, leave the tight pants to the ladies. If I can count the coins in your pockets you better use them to call a tailor. Stay thirsty my friends......
I know, stupid question here..................can you do instagram on a laptop ??
Successful transactions with : MICHAELDIXON, Manorcourtman, Bochiman, bolivarshagnasty, AUandAG, onlyroosies, chumley, Weiss, jdimmick, BAJJERFAN, gene1978, TJM965, Smittys, GRANDAM, JTHawaii, mainejoe, softparade, derryb
Bad transactions with : nobody to date
Yes it would.
But I would want go in my own direction compatible to my strategy and budget.
New collector in coin club working on a nice slabbed coin by country and target is gold and silver coins preferably w low pop. No more than 4 coins by country and must be no more than $400 each. She was real excited about a 2016 Women’s Right to vote commem Dollar PCGS 67 she got off eBay for $13.50
Her other target is PMG graded USA NBN VF or better and PMG World Currency ideally CU65-67.
She does not care about registry or CAC.
Yes you can! While on a PC, click on my sig line to view my Instagram profile. I've never tried to add pics from a desktop or PC though.
10-4,
My Instagram picturesErik
My registry sets
BryceM:
Or, I could be talking about myself, as I collect mostly 1794-1807 US - although many of my coins could be considered dreck from wannabe dealers
It is nice to have the best coins posted here. It is the loss of those who collect in the mid-range, the circulated sets, the researchers, who provided a lot of interest and fun here - which does benefit PCGS.
This says it for me:
You could probably do it while flying, lol.
I think this board is fine as is and I've learned a lot here in my 10+ years visiting. I don't think this board has to be all things for all people. I think CoinTalk is likely the right place for newish collectors and by going there at this stage of their learning curve will be more gratifying.
One could call this view elitist (and I don't consider my collection or numismatic knowledge to be elite), but I would rather see more threads that interest me rather than debating parking lot finds, harshly cleaned coins, or other types of arm wrestling with people who don't want to have the feedback. Nothing wrong with lurking either if one doesn't have much to say.
As for an area that we could improve upon as forum members, I would wish that we not take ourselves so seriously and not be so quick to take offense. Perhaps that is reflective of our outrage culture these days.
I would like to think so as there is a true wealth of good information on this forum, especially if you include the archived posts and threads.
When we respond to newer members, maybe we should have that exact question in mind.
Good topic. I’ve often thought that our obsession with grading and quality is bad for the hobby.
Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.
Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.
There was a great thread in 2016 about favorite purchases under $50. That was the thread that got me to join and post here. Now I wasn't a new collector at the time but I would imagine threads similar to that one would be well received by new collectors or collectors with limits on their coin collecting funds.
I think I'm going to go find that thread and bump it.
-Couldn't find it
Collector, occasional seller
I think it's a great and very diverse bunch of people here and the conversations are generally fascinating. There's a lot of negativity and this place is hard on newbies and the uneducated. But, yes, I'm pretty sure that I'd still be interested in collecting and could even become interested by reading the forum.
When I got more and more into collecting it became apparent that the different coin forums all had their unique nuances. Yes, this forum made me want to collect, and it still does.
This forum helps me keep my interest in coins. I think of this place as being like a large coin club.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
With this forum I have become a more astute, educated, selective, and thicker-skinned collector. There is way too much value here to discount it because your feelings have been hurt.
It is either through natural selection or toughening up that people stick it out here.
When you see a high post count beside a forum members name, you know they learned the easy and the hard way.
Respect to those that have remained.
is it going in the same direction as the "sport of kings?"
I always find these discussions about the forum itself interesting.
Even before I was into coins, I knew that online forums usually held a treasure trove of answers. So when I started my numismatic journey , if I had a question I would type it in to Google or whatever but also make sure to include the word "forum". It was through this process that I was familiarized with the nuances and subtle differences between all of the different coin forums.
CU stuck out to me as very unique amongst the crowd.
There are a lot of great numismatic minds at the other forums too. I am on CCF and can promise you that it is filled with many experts on various topics. I have fun there. But it is intentionally different. I respect and appreciate it for what it is. I also have one or two accounts elsewhere as well.
But when it gets down to the nitty gritty...
these boards are like an online numismatic think-tank. It is not replicated anywhere else and I am proud to be a small part of it.
I think this forum gears collectors towards coins that stand out hence the focus on grades, condition and great photos.
There are many other forums that don't necessarily have this focus so I assume people will end up where they are comfortable.
Nope. Young people would be turned off. All you all old people are a click, an old club. New ideas get blasted. People not indoctrinated in "old" ways get blasted.
It's not a fun place to be for us younger people. but some of us stay anyway to learn as much as we can.
Minor Variety Trade dollar's with chop marks set:
More Than It's Chopped Up To Be
I don’t think this forum would turn a non collector into a collector. I feel it’s geared more towards people who already have the bug and have begun to research their hobby. This forum has a boatload of knowledge and is a great asset to have while collecting.... but does it get new people to collect. I doubt it
What can be done to change that is the million dollar question. Not sure.... maybe promote the forum on various social media sites, Promote coin shows in surrounding town, PCGS could try to set up new clubs for elementary and middle schools which inevitably lead to some new interest in young kids heads. Maybe offer a mentor program with willing and able forum members and connect them with a newer member? I could be way off but that’s what I’m thinking....
@Zoins
I agree, and I don't see the problem with the focus on grading etc. After all that's what it boils down too and the industry commands it. If I just wanted to fill an album w/ circulated coins I wouldn't waste my time here. I'm sure there are plenty of other sites for the millennial circus rides who get butt hurt too easily. My take away: Just keep your hands inside the cage until you learn how to pet the sharks properly otherwise...
OO-rah!
@Justacommeman...."This forum has driven me to drink more." Yep... That is the good part... and why I am here every day....
Cheers, RickO
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