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My new job has brought a new perspective on collecting coins.

SiriusBlackSiriusBlack Posts: 1,120 ✭✭✭✭✭
in U.S. Coin Forum

So I started working for Collectors Universe at the beginning of October. I’m one of the TrueView photographers..... There, got that out of the way. :o

I was warned in my first interview that I would see so many amazing coins that it might change my perspective on my own collection. It’s so true! I still love my coins and want to continue collecting but I have to admit my perspective is becoming skewed. For one thing, I shoot a lot of world coins. I’d never really paid any attention to them before but there some really cool designs that I think I’d like to own examples of.

I have to admit it’s hard to get excited about my little Fine Seated Quarter now that I’ve photographed some MS ones. Seeing so many coins has really helped me see and understand the concept of waiting for the right coin.

The chain cent is one of my favorite coins. I’d love to someday own one. A week or so ago as I was going about my day I pulled out the next coin to photograph and it was a chain cent. I had to stop for a minute and just look at it. I’d never seen one before, only in photos people post on here. That was a special moment. Today Phil walked over to my desk and handed me a flip to show me a coin he was going to photograph. An AU53 Chain Cent, part of the Hansen Collection.

Collector of randomness. Photographer at PCGS. Lover of Harry Potter.

Comments

  • bigjpstbigjpst Posts: 3,179 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Nice! Congrats on the new gig.

    JRobinsonRareCoins.com

    My Ebay Store

  • JimnightJimnight Posts: 10,846 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Congratulations... and enjoy!

  • HemisphericalHemispherical Posts: 9,370 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Congrats @SiriusBlack!

  • morgandollar1878morgandollar1878 Posts: 4,006 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Congrats on the new gig. I would love to have that job except for the fact that I don't like to be stuck in one place all day every day. Being able to see all the great coins that come through for trueviews would be pretty sweet.

    Instagram: nomad_numismatics
  • clarkbar04clarkbar04 Posts: 4,979 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Congrats!

    Now if you could finish imaging my regular submission that would be great. ;)

    I can’t imagine how humbling it is imaging all the coins that come through those doors.

    MS66 taste on an MS63 budget.
  • ParlousJoeParlousJoe Posts: 451 ✭✭✭

    Congrats on your new job SiriusBlack! I'm sure it is pretty cool to see a lot of coins that you are going to be seeing every day, again, congrats on a pretty cool gig!

  • privatecoinprivatecoin Posts: 3,643 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Certainly a dream come true career

    Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value. Zero. Voltaire. Ebay coinbowlllc

  • Collect4funCollect4fun Posts: 85 ✭✭✭

    What a
    Great opportunity! I’m a bit jealous

  • Dove73Dove73 Posts: 81 ✭✭

    Wow! What an awesome career! I bet time flys bye! It does for me now that Im at the coin shop. ( aka..not a big gig like yours ) But its so much fun ,so interesting. Knowledge is endless..I love coins , and absolutely love reseach and details..im in heaven! Congrats ! Let me know if you stumble upon a 1910 vdb...😂🤣

  • OldIndianNutKaseOldIndianNutKase Posts: 2,715 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I think it very special that one of our own esteemed forum members has landed in a very interesting Numismtic career. I hope that you can continue to share your excitement with us in the future.

    OINK

  • Dave99BDave99B Posts: 8,698 ✭✭✭✭✭

    That’s awesome. Good luck with the new position.

    I can’t even fathom the monsters that will pass through your hands. Very cool!

    Dave

    Always looking for original, better date VF20-VF35 Barber quarters and halves, and a quality beer.
  • SeattleSlammerSeattleSlammer Posts: 10,055 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Excellent new gig, congrats. ⭐️

  • divecchiadivecchia Posts: 6,688 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Congrats on your new job. It should be a blast seeing all those wonderful coins in person.

    Donato

    Hobbyist & Collector (not an investor).
    Donato's Complete US Type Set ---- Donato's Dansco 7070 Modified Type Set ---- Donato's Basic U.S. Coin Design Set

    Successful transactions: Shrub68 (Jim), MWallace (Mike)
  • SwampboySwampboy Posts: 13,111 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Awesome.
    When you love your work life can be so sweet.

    "Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working" Pablo Picasso

  • RockyMtnProspectorRockyMtnProspector Posts: 754 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Congrats! Hope to send some cool coins to PCGS soon, so hopefully you'll get to see/photograph those too.

    GSAs, OBW rolls, Seated, Walkers. Anything old and Colorado-focused, CO nationals.



    Gonna get me a $50 Octagonal someday. Some. Day.
  • ZoinsZoins Posts: 34,401 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November 15, 2019 1:13AM

    Congrats!

    Great to have you on the team and great to have you here. It's great to hear about about your experiences in the TrueView program. There sure are some wonderful coins that PCGS slabs and photos.

    Regarding waiting for the right coin, let us know when you pick up one. It would be great to see the evolution of your collection.

    Private Mint News | 2010 Lincoln Reverse Finalists
  • DavideoDavideo Posts: 1,363 ✭✭✭✭

    Can you share any details on your gear and setup?

  • 1630Boston1630Boston Posts: 14,111 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Congrats on what must be an interesting job.

    Successful transactions with : MICHAELDIXON, Manorcourtman, Bochiman, bolivarshagnasty, AUandAG, onlyroosies, chumley, Weiss, jdimmick, BAJJERFAN, gene1978, TJM965, Smittys, GRANDAM, JTHawaii, mainejoe, softparade, derryb, Ricko

    Bad transactions with : nobody to date

  • DNADaveDNADave Posts: 7,306 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Interesting job!
    Did you get trained on handling coins? Additional to what you already know?
    Do they come to you raw, in a flip, on a tray?
    Are you in between the graders and the slabber to minimize handling?

  • ThreeCentSilverFLThreeCentSilverFL Posts: 1,696 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Very cool, congratulations! I think It would be very interested seeing the variety of coins that come across your desk.

  • rickoricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @SiriusBlack....Congratulations on your new position.....What a great job. I can certainly see how it would affect one's perspective regarding coin collecting. Best of luck...Cheers, RickO

  • 1Mike11Mike1 Posts: 4,427 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Sounds like you landed a fantastic job. It's a good thing you don't photograph super models and get a new perspective. ;)

    "May the silver waves that bear you heavenward be filled with love’s whisperings"

    "A dog breaks your heart only one time and that is when they pass on". Unknown
  • YorkshiremanYorkshireman Posts: 4,584 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Congratulations!
    Thanks for sharing your thoughts and experiences.

    Yorkshireman,Obsessed collector of round, metallic pieces of history.Hunting for Latin American colonial portraits plus cool US & British coins.
  • bolivarshagnastybolivarshagnasty Posts: 7,352 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Ditto to all that has been said. Good luck to you!

  • Insider2Insider2 Posts: 14,452 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Any tips about taking images? What kind of equipment do you use at work? Is any digital adjusting done after the image is made?

  • ctf_error_coinsctf_error_coins Posts: 15,433 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November 15, 2019 9:56AM

    Congrats ...

    ... don't get burnt out photographing coins as it is a tremendous amount of tedious work :o

    Questions? How many coins so you photograph each day? How many photographs do you take of each side of a coin?

  • dbldie55dbldie55 Posts: 7,742 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I keep doing my part to keep you busy.

    Collector and Researcher of Liberty Head Nickels. ANA LM-6053
  • Insider2Insider2 Posts: 14,452 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @Tomthecoinguy said:
    Very cool and thanks for sharing. Make sure the higher ups are aware of you posting and approve of it. I think you could be a great asset to the board by providing an insider look at what is going on, but we don't want you to get in trouble either. If done right, with Collectors Universe approval, your posting could be a win-win-win (You - Us - Collectors Universe).

    So far, I'll bet every question that has been asked is "Off-Limits." :( TPGS don't like anything to get out about coin volume, etc.

  • SiriusBlackSiriusBlack Posts: 1,120 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Thanks everyone for the well wishes!!!

    Yes @Insider2 I wouldn't say the questions are all off limits, simply that being new here I really don't know exactly what I should and shouldn't say about every detail so I'm going to error on the side of caution, hope everyone can understand that :)

    The least amount of coins I've shot in a day is a hand full, the most is around 500. Not that those numbers mean a lot since I'm still learning. A lot of it is really fascinating. How you can have two coins that are around the same condition, but different years. You'd assume they would photograph the same and yet the light hits each of them so differently.

    Collector of randomness. Photographer at PCGS. Lover of Harry Potter.

  • BroadstruckBroadstruck Posts: 30,497 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November 15, 2019 11:32AM

    Congrats! :)

    Today Phil walked over to my desk and handed me a flip to show me a coin he was going to photograph. An AU53 Chain Cent, part of the Hansen Collection.

    Tis a mere widget! >:)

    To Err Is Human.... To Collect Err's Is Just Too Much Darn Tootin Fun!
  • ctf_error_coinsctf_error_coins Posts: 15,433 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @SiriusBlack said:
    You'd assume they would photograph the same and yet the light hits each of them so differently.

    Can you change the lighting and or angle of each coin? Or is it one set-up for all coins?

  • PhilLynottPhilLynott Posts: 898 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Congrats!

    Hopefully you'll struggle with shooting a bent coin from a coin roll press soon that PCGS rightfully crosses over (wink)

  • ashelandasheland Posts: 23,755 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Congrats!!! Great job it sounds like, and an opportunity to see some true rarities first hand! :)

    My YouTube Channel

  • SkyManSkyMan Posts: 9,509 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Congratulations and have a fun time!

    Toned Franklins

    U.S. Type Set
  • OnastoneOnastone Posts: 4,151 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Excellent @SiriusBlack !!! That's wonderful news! Can you describe your work area at all? Air filters going? Gloves required? Hair net/hat? Bright lights? What camera/lens? :):)

  • SiriusBlackSiriusBlack Posts: 1,120 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I don't think I can get into that kind of detail, but I can confirm that Lady Liberty does not seem to be offended by my tattoos, if that helps! :#

    Collector of randomness. Photographer at PCGS. Lover of Harry Potter.

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