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Are there many women who collect coins?
PillarDollarCollector
Posts: 4,794 ✭✭✭✭✭
My guess is no and probably a ratio of 1000 to 1 versus men. Do men collect more because we are natural hunters?
Coin collecting interests: Latin America
Sports: NFL & NHL
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What is your experience say at large coin shows?
Coin collecting interests: Latin America
Sports: NFL & NHL
Do any of you collect with your girlfriend/wife?
Coin collecting interests: Latin America
Sports: NFL & NHL
We have an active and very knowledgeable collector with the "other half" on one of our Canadian sites. Kudos to her!
Plenty of women at shows
Lotsa them !
I give away money. I collect money.
I don’t love money . I do love the Lord God.
You would be surprised, one of my best coins in my collection that I bought last year, was sold to the shop I work at by a man, who is a widower, his wife was the collector!
These were her coins and when she passed away he sold them to the shop.
I bought this from the shop the day it came in, probably 3 hours after it came in. One of my scarcest coins.
My YouTube Channel
And, funny thing, last week I bought a couple of coins, the Half dime had just come back from PCGS, it was raw and from the estate of another older woman who was a very dedicated collector! It was one of the better coins in that estate.
This Collection was huge! It was like eight or 10 full boxes of coins, it covered the entire floor of the office when they first came in, it took a day or two to go through everything and make an offer!
So yes, I think there’s a lot more women collecting that many would think.
My YouTube Channel
Mrs Norweb was probably the greatest female numismatist of all time and certainly up there as one of the greatest numismatists of all time.
Don't forget about Ingrid Smith who owned and operated the largest coin show with Torex in Toronto in Canada for many many years. Her collection , as well, was hugely popular with top-shelf collectors. Her passing a few years ago affected most of us here North of the border, as well as world-wide.
Out roughly 17k accounts reached on FB in the last 90 days the gender split percentage was 98.2 to 1.8
8 Reales Madness Collection
I know it does change, depending on which part of the world we're from. In North America, eastern Australia, Japan and South Africa, it's very highly male dominated, and hasn't really changed all that much in recent decades. In my coin club in eastern Australia, for example, the female membership is historically around 5% (since its founding in 1986, that's 12 women out of 240 current and former members). This doesn't count women who are spouses of "family memberships". For the other three coin clubs I'm a member of, this seems about right too, though I don't have access to historical records for those.
In Western Australia, New Zealand and Britain, on the other hand, I've heard that female representation is much higher. Not 50-50, but a lot closer to that than the rest of us; maybe 30-70 or thereabouts. I do not know if there are "pockets" within North America where female participation is higher than average, but I've never heard of any.
It's entirely possible that coin collecting is far more popular with women than it "seems to be", simply because the female coin collectors tend to do so in secret and silence, so they're "invisible" to the gender-counters. The Internet certainly makes it much easier to be a "secret coin collector" than pre-Internet generations found.
I've heard all sorts of theories to try to explain why this gender imbalance exists, including things like "men are instinctively better at hunting and pursuing targets", or "men are better at arguing, haggling and negotiating over prices", or some such. The problem with all such simplistic assumptions is that you don't actually need to be good at, or even interested in, "pursuing targets" to be a coin collector. And there are other traits that are important to coin collecting, such as "being good at organizing things" and "liking things that are bright, shiny and expensive", that are stereotypically "female traits", and those don't seem to be a factor.
But the simple truth is, coin collecting is male-dominated because it historically was male-dominated in centuries past (by rich aristocrats and upper-class people) and unlike many other aspects of modern society, nobody has ever really prioritized trying to change that.
To me, the core of the problem is, when a hobby is or becomes this disproportionately male, the gender imbalance tends to becomes self-reinforcing. Suppose a young family walks up to a coin dealer at a coin show. Who is the dealer going to assume is "the coin collector in the house"? They will assume it's the husband, unless there's some obvious clue being emitted otherwise by the family (like maybe she's the one wearing coin club badges or an "I love coins" T-shirt), because 95% of the time, that guess is going to be correct. And if women get habitually ignored at coin shows, coin clubs, etc, are they going to feel encouraged to come back again? Or are they likely to consider finding a different hobby where their presence and input is more appreciated?
Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius, "Meditations"
Apparently I have been awarded one DPOTD.
Cute ones I hope!
Dimes: 54S, 53P, 50P, 49S, 45D+S, 44S, 43D, 41S, 40D+S, 39D+S, 38D+S, 37D+S, 36S, 35D+S, all 16-34's
Quarters: 52S, 47S, 46S, 40S, 39S, 38S, 37D+S, 36D+S, 35D, 34D, 32D+S
74 Topps: 37,38,46,47,48,138,151,193,210,214,223,241,256,264,268,277,289,316,435,552,570,577,592,602,610,654,655
1997 Finest silver: 115, 135, 139, 145, 310
1995 Ultra Gold Medallion Sets: Golden Prospects, HR Kings, On-Base Leaders, Power Plus, RBI Kings, Rising Stars
see now this is a big part of why we don't have women at shows
Based on attendance in coin clubs I've been in, it's probably ~90-95% male.
IG: DeCourcyCoinsEbay: neilrobertson
"Numismatic categorizations, if left unconstrained, will increase spontaneously over time." -me
Yes women and young people are unlikely to feel comfortable at coin shows and clubs full of old men. With the internet, they don't need to go. But that's a good thing, as they can participate without shows and clubs.
My sentiments as well, but although anecdotes of a woman here or there arise, in my experience there are precious few overall in comparison to older men who seem to make up the bulk of the collecting demographic.
Well, just Love coins, period.
My grandmother Elsie (1896-1978) lived in Chicago and was a coin collector from the late 1940's to the early 1960's.
She had US coin albums for US cents, nickels, and dimes. She acquired coins from circulation but occasionally bought coin rolls to search.
She managed to find some rare US coins including a 1909-S VDB cent, a 3-legged Buffalo nickel, and a 1916-D dime. She also managed to save some Indian Head cents including a 1908-S.
United States Indian Head Cent 1908-S
She lost interest in coins in the late 1950's to concentrate on oil painting and genealogy.
At some time in the 1960's she accumulated a bunch of silver half-dollars and quarters which my mother found in the 1990's on the top back shelf of a closet.
Elsie may have gotten me started with coins by giving me some European coins she brought back from a trip.
The Mysterious Egyptian Magic Coin
Coins in Movies
Coins on Television
@WillieBoyd2 > Wow, what a great story Sir.
I btw got the interest from my Mom, she inherited some old coins, and gave to me some, that I no longer have, but I think that was the start... back on 1972.
Also, I have been on some small coin expos so far on three recently (there will be another one next Sep. 11th), and I can say it is 50-50, and in general younger collectors. my 2cts.
Hopefully @Stork will comment.
Some of the comments on this thread have really been what have led me to sign up. Although some have commented on the sexism and misogyny, it is way too pervasive to let it go with just those. I am adding something that I posted on another forum about this thread before I could post here.
Fellows -there are just going to be far more of you than there are of women at shows, meetings, or even online (likely for a long time)! So, if you are with a woman - or even just within ear shot - and some cringe worthy comment is directed at a woman, please stand up and inform the person making it that it is not okay. You don't have to turn into a knight in shining armor, break out the boxing gloves, or anything grand, but make it crystal clear that it is just not appropriate. I get it that you might never do it yourself, but if you don't stand up, silence is taken as permission, and a giggle will solidify that its a good thing to do. If you are someone well respected, you are even more likely to make the dinosaurs extinct more quickly and provide a welcoming environment for many more, by just providing a few words. Of course you don't have to associate with anyone you don't want to, but why not include them in lunches, drinks, and discussions, and be sure to make sure they are both safe and welcomed! The same is true around LGBTQ++ peoples that attend events - shut down negative comments and inappropriate stares. If you want things to grow, you need to be inclusive, and not let people feel belittled, or like they are not possibly as informed or interested. Some, however, will not be informed, and that isn't a good reason to take advantage of them either! There are also a lot of unacceptable comments on that other forum about what women collect, or related to their relationship with money, that are actually demeaning given the question posted. It's bad enough if it is someone you don't know, but please don't be that guy to the women in your life! If your first thought is, "But that is funny, can't you take a joke?", the answer is, "I totally appreciate humour, but that isn't funny." And the same is probably true for women that were interested that came and went, or started collecting under ground so they didn't have to listen to it, or feel devalued. Yes, there are some women that are going to command respect and you might even admire them already - and there are a couple comments on some of them in the thread. Those are the tornados that probably fought a lot of those battles themselves and were not going to let a few opinions (or nasty names) get in their way and/or did have a few knights in rusty armor that didn't let a dinosaur get to them. Most are not going to be like that. Some of you are already super generous with this kind of thing... just hoping it can be widespread!
There is a fear factor - having a hobby with items of value might make women less likely to shout about their knowledge, and definitely not talk much about their collection, especially if they are single or live alone. Women and men have also have a very different history with money in general, but also buying, selling, and even having flexible and disposable income. Consider that it is actually relatively recently that women could have bank accounts on their own, or their own credit cards. Unless they were well off to have disposable income and power, or a very agreeable husband, women would have difficulty buying things of value. Quite likely that many women have inherited their initial collection or shop with spouses/friends, but I suspect that has changed over time, but if you want real change, events and the hobby have to be welcoming.
jumping off my soap box for the moment
I agree that this hobby is not super welcoming to women once they show an interest.
IG: DeCourcyCoinsEbay: neilrobertson
"Numismatic categorizations, if left unconstrained, will increase spontaneously over time." -me
Welcome to the forum, your comments are also very much welcome, thank you
@Stork is an awesome collector and person as one great example. At the various shows we all see female dealers/employees as well as the ANA YN programs.
I do hear that there are more women in the banknote collecting hobby, I wonder why.
As in business, I would welcome more diversity of collectors as it only expands perspectives and relationships, yet my guess is that currently there is a broader inclination to engage in the hobby by men. Hopefully this will change.
Taler Custom Set
Ancient Custom Set
Not much to say
(almost always a lie) . Are there many? Depends on how you define it, it absolutes vs. relative numbers--either way in the US it's a much lower number vs males. I'm sure someone has an actual demographic that extends past just coin shows, club attendance, and even online presence. Definitely not as many on the forums. I suspect there may be more than folks realize with some of the gender neutral avatars/names. Perhaps the ANA keeps a decent number.
It's funny, and not exclusive to coin collecting communities, but somehow the social interactions on a larger scale (oh say message boards) can become the domain of the loud and more hostile...newbies not treated respectfully and 'others' are given, if not outright hostility, then doses of condescension and misplaced commentary. In my newly minted Instagram presence I have a male sounding name and comparing the types of comments and interactions I get vs. another collector who is obviously female is quite different. Now, I'm talking acquaintance level interactions, not for those who actually know each other.
I happen to follow a few pages related to my car/car brand. The main or general page is mature and has taken on the 'bro' mentality (and yes females can act like a bro too), and in general can be a bit spicy. There is a much larger male population there and occasionally the question gets asked about how many female owners there are. It doesn't seem like a lot but it's not a fair representation and going by car registrations it's actually close to 50-50 (IIRC).
For the car I also belong to a local ownership group, a bigger group focused on one car type vs. the whole brand, and a female only group (okay there are more groups too). All can be worthwhile but the tone of the original page can be quite the turn off to some—the factor being the original has a lot more outright hostility if not backhanded smackdowns to anyone not part of the main demographic.
Other than that the biggest annoyance is usually-misplaced-condescension. Add in doses of an unwillingness to cut some grace to a newbie, or an ability to share information in a respectful fashion, and mix it up with flat out hostility for the sake of it. (And don't get me started on the ridiculous need to speak authoritatively with self confidence despite a lack of knowledge).
In any case, the loudness of the first/general page drowns out a lot of otherwise interested people, who then go off to talk amongst themselves (local pages, gender page, more specified pages) or wander off to go buy some other car. So the loudmouths on the ‘main’ page don’t even see who all the interested parties are, only the ones who act like/talk like them.
In the end though, most strong hobbies can benefit from being more inclusive/less exclusionary, or at the very least not present themselves as being only for 'some' people. Just as the one boy in my home ec class in junior high (which certainly dates me) should not have been given flack, nor should the two girls who took the auto shop class. Everyone should be able to cook a breakfast and change a tire. And people certainly should congregate with those of similar interests. Just don't define WHO should have those interests based on their own interpretation. And keep their lips buttoned over rudeness.
Not doing so risks becoming a self-perpetuating exclusiveness which can reach the point of strangling the new blood and growth (or even sustainment) so to speak. Keep it too closed to only one 'type' and you risk rot. Back in the day the military went through integration both by race and gender and while there are still pockets of nonsense, there is a greater strength in diversity. Keeping an environment which discourages diversity is not a path to strength.
So enough of my own soapbox. No, I don't think there are as many female collectors. Yes, I think many are either silent, not on social media, or are obscured under gender neutral online presences. Jerks will be jerks and will get avoided, so if there is a propensity for that, the whole hobby can suffer. That said, I don't see too much of it anymore and much less than in the beginning.
if I were a woman in this hobby, I'd carry around a loaded blunderbuss in my bag and the first time someone disrespected or mansplained me, I'd give them a belly full of broken glass and rocks
sure, I wouldn't last long, but it would send a powerful antique-y statement that would shut down a lot of smack talk on the bourse
Ah, you brought the blunderbuss into the topic! Love it.
@CanuckCoinGirl Welcome to the forums!
My YouTube Channel
My wife is into coins
PLENTY
I give away money. I collect money.
I don’t love money . I do love the Lord God.
I noticed several women, that I had not seen before at the ANA.
My Wife is into coins, antiques, and all things historic. She came with me to the Bay State show a few years ago, and yes: the dealers were all staring and chatting her up. But in a respectful way, no one was inappropriate at all and she made a couple new friends!
Answer to the OP: NO!
Sad to say, but there are very few. Some thankfully appear at shows but the demographics are just not there. What always kills me about these posts (which is a lot like the number of YN's and whether they are contracting in number) is the anecdotes that are trotted out. Absolutely there are some women but NOT many.
And many of us are thankful that there are some at least!
Well, just Love coins, period.