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In case you are wonder how far a PHD in numismatics can take you...
WaterSport
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Proud recipient of the coveted PCGS Forum "You Suck" Award Thursday July 19, 2007 11:33 PM and December 30th, 2011 at 8:50 PM.
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Every school In that system gets a coin club!
Don Kagin reportedly earned the first PhD in Numismatics and has had a successful career.
Kagin received his degree from the Union Institute & University (more here).
I'm curious where Sisk received his PhD in Numismatic Studies.
Here's info from Thomas Sisk's LinkedIn page which he indicates his PhD and that he's also "recognized regionally as a currency appraiser". Is he a member of any organization like the ANA or PNG?
Here's more information saying that he's a "certified appraiser". Is it know what appraiser certification he has?
https://www.enewscourier.com/news/local_news/schools-chief-is-ecstatic-over-job/article_a11b0a62-5fb2-56df-bcdf-8b5177a88f06.html
Don Kagin's book "Private Gold Coins and Patterns of the United States" is the standard reference book for territorial and privately issued US gold coins and was based on his PhD thesis. If you ever read this scholarly work you wouldn't doubt that he earned his PhD.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
ecstatic-over-job/article_a11b0a62-5fb2-56df-bcdf-8b5177a88f06.html
"Certified appraiser" is usually a state license that mostly requires you to take a test on the legal aspects of it.
Thomas Sisk's PhD in Numismatic Studies is from Ashwood University:
https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/bristol-tenn-director-of-schools-addresses-questions-surrounding-his-doctorate-title/
Anyone know Colonel Hudson McDonald or Rod Stevens?
https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/bristol-tenn-city-schools-director-to-give-a-statement-regarding-doctorate-title-at-meeting/
I find the thread title to be off target. This seems to be about possible misrepresentation of an academic credential.
Taking over the family business didn't hurt either.
RMR: 'Wer, wenn ich schriee, hörte mich denn aus der Engel Ordnungen?'
CJ: 'No one!' [Ain't no angels in the coin biz]
I think Kagin would receive less questions on his degree if he listed the institution in his bio, like he does with his Bachelor's degree. It's strange to list a university name for a Bachelor's and then leave it out for the PhD, which is arguably the more important degree. Union Institute & University seems like a reputable institution so I'm not sure why he doesn't list it.
Lots of folks cook up a phony background to get ahead in life. Some are phoney Indians, phoney minorities, phoney military veterans, etc. The majority these individuals who have been "outed" have one thing in common besides their dishonesty....
Hint: it is not coin collecting. ROTF throwing up!
A Ph.D. in numismatics is as valued in the real world as a Ph.D. of Cashier Studies. The article highlights that nicely. He shouldn't be surprised that it raised eyebrows especially when he put himself in the public eye as a superintendent of a public school system.
One could say the same thing about our current president and maybe even JFK?and others. But since many a family business has not prospered under the second generation’s tutelage so credit goes to those who succeed .
The school system is continuing its investigation. Ashwood University is an
on-line program based in Pakistan.
"As reported in the previous story below, in a phone interview with News Channel 11, Sisk said that he obtained a Doctorate of Numismatics from Ashwood University- an online degree program based out of Pakistan. Numismatics is the study of coins and other forms of currency. "
This quote is from WJHL.com .
I think the trend has spread to my school as well. I have started a coins and collectibles club at my high school 👍
Doctor Walter Breen.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashwood_University
I think your seeing a casual relationship that isn't there.
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars
Assume your meant causal?
LS spelling and grammar rules....
RMR: 'Wer, wenn ich schriee, hörte mich denn aus der Engel Ordnungen?'
CJ: 'No one!' [Ain't no angels in the coin biz]
for the title of the thread:
if we are going to be talking about proof by example logical fallacies-> then, you can become a King, even if you start as a slave [with zero education].
Minor Variety Trade dollar's with chop marks set:
More Than It's Chopped Up To Be
for the content of the thread:
Ashwood University is a diploma mill.
He's in trouble. There are plenty of examples of people getting in serious trouble for degree related fraud.
Minor Variety Trade dollar's with chop marks set:
More Than It's Chopped Up To Be
Yes, but apparently my phone didn't.
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars
It wasn't purely pedantic on my part. His sentence, as written, isn't nonsensical. I wanted to make sure he meant what I was inferring he meant. If I'd wanted to be pedantic, I could have corrected your to you're.
Thanks for sharing that.
Apart from his PhD in Numismatics, it is also my understanding that Don Kagin was one of the first students at Northwestern University to graduate with a double major.
If I recall correctly from what he said at our Northwestern Class of ‘72 Reunion the two undergraduate majors were history and numismatics.
All the way to the top.
Elections are easier with money to be sure, but there is still work and strategy that is independent of money. Trump and JFK didn't inherit the presidency.
Studying numismatics for your PhD is not rare. Neither is lying about or artificially inflating the value of one's academic qualifications, apparently.
LIBERTY SEATED DIMES WITH MAJOR VARIETIES CIRCULATION STRIKES (1837-1891) digital album
There are many people who have written PhD dissertations in the field of numismatics. Here is a list of 46 in the last 10 years, and these are just the ones that contain the word "numismatic" or "coinage" in the title.
LIBERTY SEATED DIMES WITH MAJOR VARIETIES CIRCULATION STRIKES (1837-1891) digital album
You forgot to post your list, but I would guess that there are many more people who have produced bodies of work that are at least equivalent to a numismatic PhD dissertation.
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars
Jonson, Trent M. H. A numismatic history of the early Islamic precious metal coinage of North Africa and the Iberian Peninsula. Degree: PhD, 2014, University of Oxford
Talbot, John Andrew. What is Icenian coinage?. Degree: PhD, 2015, University of Oxford
Mairat, Jerome. The coinage of the Gallic Empire. Degree: PhD, 2014, University of Oxford
Vrij, Maria Chantal. The numismatic iconography of the period of iconomachy (610-867). Degree: PhD, 2018, University of Birmingham
Bennett, Robert George. Local elites and local coinage : elite self-representation on the provincial coinage of Asia 31 BC- AD 275. Degree: PhD, 2011, University of Oxford
Gyori, Victoria. From republic to principate : change and continuity in Roman coinage. Degree: PhD, 2013, King's College London (University of London)
Hatz, Richard. Computational Studies of Dispersion Interactions in Coinage and Volatile Metal Clusters. Degree: Department of Chemistry, 2016, University of Helsinki
Piechaczek, Adam. Gas phase calorimetry and imaging spectroscopy of water and coinage metal clusters. Degree: 2014, Universität Freiburg
Kraft, Jesse C. The circulation of foreign coinage: an American response, ca. 1750-1857 . Degree: 2019, University of Delaware
Leins, Ian. Numismatic data reconsidered : coin distributions and interpretation in studies of late Iron Age Britain. Degree: PhD, 2012, University of Newcastle upon Tyne
Ashurov, Barakatullo. Tarsākyā: an analysis of Sogdian Christianity based on archaeological, numismatic, epigraphic and textual sources. Degree: PhD, 2013, SOAS, University of London
Walton, P. J. Rethinking Roman Britain : an applied numismatic analysis of the Roman coin data recorded by the Portable Antiquities Scheme. Degree: PhD, 2011, University College London (University of London)
Leins, Ian. Numismatic data reconsidered : coin distributions and interpretation in studies of late Iron Age Britain. Degree: PhD, 2012, University of Newcastle upon Tyne
Kosmidou, E. A methodological essay in numismatic iconography : arms and armour on Macedonian coinages (5th c. BC). Degree: PhD, 2013, University College London (University of London)
-8819-4801. Demetrius I of Bactria: An Analysis of Hellenistic Royal Power through Numismatic Evidence. Degree: PhD, History, 2016, University of Houston
Jansari, S. S. From Megasthenes to Sophytes : a re-examination of literary and numismatic sources for Seleucid-Mauryan relations in British and Indian scholarship. Degree: PhD, 2016, University College London (University of London)
Nurpetlian, Jack A. Coinage in late Hellenistic and Roman Syria : the Orontes Valley (1st century BC-3rd century AD). Degree: PhD, 2013, University of Warwick
Glenn, Simon. Royal coinage in Hellenistic Bactria : a die study of coins from Euthydemus I to Antimachus I. Degree: PhD, 2015, University of Oxford
Fanello, Marta. Later Iron Age coinage in Britain : reconstructing insular social structures and systems of value. Degree: PhD, 2016, University of Leicester
Woods, Andrew Richard. Economy and authority : a study of the coinage of Hiberno-Scandinavian Dublin and Ireland. Degree: PhD, 2014, University of Cambridge
Woods, Andrew Richard. Economy and authority: a study of the coinage of Hiberno-Scandinavian Dublin and Ireland. Degree: PhD, 2014, University of Cambridge
Ilyas, Nahid. From Growth to Electronic Structure of Dipolar Organic Semiconductors on Coinage Metal Surfaces . Degree: 2014, University of Arizona
Abramson, Tony. "Where there's muck there's brass!" : coinage in the Northumbrian landscape and economy, c.575-c.867. Degree: PhD, 2016, University of York
Fanello, Marta. Later Iron Age coinage in Britain : reconstructing insular social structures and systems of value. Degree: PhD, 2016, University of Leicester
Paunov, Evgeni. From Koine to Romanitas : the numismatic evidence for Roman expansion and settlement in Bulgaria in antiquity (Moesia and Thrace, ca. 146 BC - AD 98/117). Degree: PhD, 2013, Cardiff University
Wojan, Franck. Les Eléens (IVe siècle a.C.-IIIe siècle p.C.) : Recherche de numismatique et d'histoire : The Eleans (4th century BC-AD 3rd century AC) : Research on Numismatic and History. Degree: Docteur es, Histoire ancienne. Histoire grecque, 2011, Université François-Rabelais de Tours
Babo, Jean-Marie. Syntheses and crystal structures of quaternary chalcogenides containing rare earth and coinage metals : with an appendix on alkali metal thiotellurates. Degree: PhD, Fakultät Chemie, 2010, University of Stuttgart
Babo, Jean-Marie. Syntheses and crystal structures of quaternary chalcogenides containing rare earth and coinage metals : with an appendix on alkali metal thiotellurates . Degree: 2010, University of Stuttgart
Gibard, Clémentine. Synthèse, fonctionnalisation et applications de métallo-NHC du groupe 11 : Synthesis, functionalisation and applications of coinage metals N-Heterocyclic carbenes. Degree: Docteur es, Chimie, 2014, Université Blaise-Pascale, Clermont-Ferrand II
Houwaart, Torsten. Cobalt porphyrins on coinage metal surfaces - adsorption and template properties : Porphyrine de cobalt dans surfaces métalliques - propriété d’adsorption et de template. Degree: Docteur es, Chimie, 2014, Lyon, École normale supérieure
Guggolz, Lukas Marius. Quantumchemical investigations on stabilities and reactivities of binary Zintl anions and intermetalloid clusters and on organically functionalized coinage metal chalcogenide clusters. Degree: PhD, Fachbereich Chemie, 2019, Philipps-Universität Marburg
Bocciarelli, Dorian. Le principat de Galba : étude historique et numismatique : The principate of Galba : a study of his reign and its coinage. Degree: Docteur es, Histoire ancienne, 2016, Paris, EPHE
Weske, Sebastian. From Copper to Gold: Identification and Characterization of Coinage-Metal Ate Complexes by ESI Mass Spectrometry and Gas-Phase Fragmentation Experiments. Degree: PhD, Chemie, 2019, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen
Veselska, Oleksandra. Études Structurales et Photophysiques de Polymères de Coordination de Thiolates de Métaux Monétaires : Structural and photophysical studies of coordination polymers of coinage metals thiolates. Degree: Docteur es, Chimie, 2019, Lyon
Olivier, Julien. Archè et Chrèmata en Égypte au IIe siècle avant J.-C. (204 –81 av. J.-C.) : Étude de numismatique et d’histoire : Archè and Chrèmata in Egypt in the Second Century B.C. (204 –81 B.C.) : A Numismatic and Historical Study. Degree: Docteur es, Histoire, 2012, Université d'Orléans
Almhana, Aède. La monnaie Romaine du Nord de la Syrie : Hiérapolis, Cyrrhus, Béroia 98-249 ap. J.-C. : Coinage Roman in the north of Syria : Hierapolis, Cyrrhus, Beroea 98-249 ap. J.-C. Degree: Docteur es, Histoire ancienne, 2015, Université d'Artois
Dombray, Thomas. Catalyse par les métaux de la monnaie : applications à la synthèse de molécules d'intérêt biologique : Coinage metal catalysis : application to the synthesis of biological interest molecules. Degree: Docteur es, Chimie, 2012, Université de Strasbourg
Amjad, Amjad Farooq. X-ray DiffractionStudies of Substituted Thiourea Complexes of Coinage Metals. Degree: 2012, University of Manchester
Sillon, Charlotte. L'or monnayé dans le Nord de la Gaule : recherches sur les monnaies d'or frappées dans le Nord de la Gaule entre le IIIe et 1er siècle avant notre ère : Gold Coinage in Northern Gaul : research on the production of gold coins in Northern Gaul, 3rd-1st centuries BC. Degree: Docteur es, Histoire, 2014, Université d'Orléans
Meta, Albana. Recherche sur l’histoire monétaire de Dyrrachion : le monnayage en argent (milieu du IVème siècle – milieu du Ier siècle avant J.-C.) : Research on the monetary history of Dyrrhachium : the silver coinage (middle of the 4th century B.C. – middle of the 1st century B.C.). Degree: Docteur es, Histoire ancienne, 2013, Université Paris-Sorbonne – Paris IV
Adra, Kaïs. Le monnayage de Laodicée-sur-mer dans l'Antiquité (IIIe siècle av. J.-C. — IIIe siècle ap. J.-C.) : étude historique et monétaire : The coinage of Laodicea ad mare (3rd century BC. - 3rd century AD.) : study historical and monetary. Degree: Docteur es, Histoire et civilisation de l’Antiquité, 2011, Université Paris-Sorbonne – Paris IV
Batiste, Laurent Marie Jérôme. Density functional theory and mass-spectrometric study of the retrocyclopropanation reaction by organogold(I) complexes and other coinage metal complexes. Degree: 2013, ETH Zürich
Saxby, Michael Stephen. Remilitarising the Byzantine Imperial image : a study of numismatic evidence and other visual media, 1042-1453. Degree: PhD, 2018, University of Birmingham
Chang, Xiaoyong. Homoleptic coinage metal alkynyl complexes and organoplatinum(II) complexes with polyaromatic C-donor ligands : structures, long-lived emissive excited states and material applications. Degree: PhD, 2015, University of Hong Kong
Chang, Xiaoyong. Homoleptic coinage metal alkynyl complexes and organoplatinum(II) complexes with polyaromatic C-donor ligands : structures, long-lived emissive excited states and material applications. Degree: PhD, 2015, University of Hong Kong
Paunov, Evgeni. From Koine to Romanitas: The numismatic evidence for Roman expansion and settlement in Bulgaria in antiquity (Moesia and Thrace, ca. 146 BC – ad 98/117). Degree: PhD, 2013, Cardiff University
LIBERTY SEATED DIMES WITH MAJOR VARIETIES CIRCULATION STRIKES (1837-1891) digital album
I have a Ph.D. in chemistry from a prominent academic institution, and have been a professional in both research universities (i.e., a professor) and the business world. I launched a new bioengineering business in 2017. The skills I learned while working towards my Ph.D. mostly involved learning to critically review scientific manuscripts and research proposals, and organizing information for public presentation at meetings. I largely acquired my writing skills while I was an undergraduate (I did a double honors major, resulting in a B. S. in chemistry and a B. A. in German), not during graduate study.
Success in the business world requires different skills, including marketing, financial management, and frequently a willingness to take risks that can negatively impact one's personal finances. The academic science community is notoriously risk-averse because failure can lead to a loss of funding for research; ditto for the two major federal funding agencies, NSF and NIH--they rarely fund proposed work that seems risky. Most academics have no meaningful professional experience outside the academic world, and have no real concept of marketing difficulties in various business endeavors. It is one thing to get someone to express a professed interest in your technology or widget, but far more difficult to get that person to actually buy it or invest in it.
So don't presume that a Ph.D. is in any meaningful way related to future or continued success as a businessman. A Ph.D. is a research degree, nothing more. It isn't even a convincing indicator of teaching or managerial skills.
RMR: 'Wer, wenn ich schriee, hörte mich denn aus der Engel Ordnungen?'
CJ: 'No one!' [Ain't no angels in the coin biz]
The PhD in question here is claimed by the leader of the Bristol, TN school system, not a businessman.
Don Kagin is a businessman, and referenced in some of the replies.
RMR: 'Wer, wenn ich schriee, hörte mich denn aus der Engel Ordnungen?'
CJ: 'No one!' [Ain't no angels in the coin biz]
Former... he resigned on 26Feb.
https://www.al.com/news/2020/02/former-alabama-school-superintendent-resigns-after-questions-about-his-online-pakistani-degree.html
ANA 50 year/Life Member (now "Emeritus")
@savitale - #20 and #21; #27 and #28; and #44 and #45 are duplicates,
Only a few identify the department or field, e.g. history of the degree/research
,
ANA 50 year/Life Member (now "Emeritus")
Furthermore, 12 (10 discounting duplicates) of the dissertations in that list reference coinage metals but actually have nothing to do with numismatics or coins per se--they report studies of chemical compounds or surface coatings.
RMR: 'Wer, wenn ich schriee, hörte mich denn aus der Engel Ordnungen?'
CJ: 'No one!' [Ain't no angels in the coin biz]
If anything that listing actually proves how rare a thesis related to Territorial or United States coinage is. I don’t see a single paper related to numismatics on this side of the pond in the above listing.
Sorry, forum software won't allo> @Sonorandesertrat said:
True, I didn't edit the list for duplicates or those which are not really numismatic. That was a bit sloppy. Still, 30-some PhD theses from a simple search on one database shows that numismatic PhDs are not very rare.
It's a bit off-topic from the OP, but it seems to come up every few months that Dr. So-and-so is the first/only person to have have a PhD in numismatics, or Mr. Jones has a Degree in Numismatics, and by implication they have achieved higher levels of numismatic scholarship than anyone else, ever. My point is that those kinds of statements are not correct. There have been many, many numismatic dissertations (c.f. list above for a small fraction).
LIBERTY SEATED DIMES WITH MAJOR VARIETIES CIRCULATION STRIKES (1837-1891) digital album
It appears that this database has more complete data from European Universities than US Universities, so that could go a long way toward explaining why there are few on US coins. Also, I think generally speaking there is a strong bias toward ancient and medieval coinage as being more "scholarly" than 19th century US coinage. This could be an opportunity for you to do your PhD on Territorial Gold!
LIBERTY SEATED DIMES WITH MAJOR VARIETIES CIRCULATION STRIKES (1837-1891) digital album
Well, it's certainly not a R8 or R9, just a R6.
And probably R4 with a more through search.
LIBERTY SEATED DIMES WITH MAJOR VARIETIES CIRCULATION STRIKES (1837-1891) digital album
A lot of the numismatic ones sound like History could be the official field of study. Which makes sense, numismatics is kind of a subset of that. And I am sure that coinage is useful in interpreting history, even for those who do not care so much about the coins themselves.
Yes, I agree, many of these are likely History PhDs. I'll bet most of the others are Classical Studies. Probably a spattering of other disciplines like Art History too.
LIBERTY SEATED DIMES WITH MAJOR VARIETIES CIRCULATION STRIKES (1837-1891) digital album