Would you take a bullet for this hobby?

braddick

Would you be willing to give up your full time career to become a Numismatist even if the best you'll do is generate an income of about $50,000- $75,000 a year? Of course you're loving your life.
Dealing in coins, writing articles for publication, traveling to shows and coin related gatherings.
Coins, coins, coins. You now work ten to 12 hours days dealing stricting with them.

Would you do it?

jtryka

Maybe, during retirement, but not now. It would be too big of a pay cut. Besides, I would be angst-ridden by all the stuff I could look at but not own!

PS-I would not be willing to be shot for this hobby either.

g097103

Is it a silver bullet or a modern clad?

Scott M

UncleJoe

No. Everything in moderation.

Joe.

BlueCole

Yep, if i could talk the wife into it. And explain it to my daughter. \

B.

Bear

If you take a silver bullet, would the Lone Ranger have to be involved?
What about Tonto?

tjkillian

Like jtryka said, too big a pay cut, and because of that I could not afford to collect coins. I'm sure everyone has that option now as we live in a free country. I enjoy coins, just not full time for the rest of my life. Maybe in retirement...

Tom

rkfish

Yes.....except I'm 3 years and some change to retirement. Got to make that first and then "without a doubt!"

Clankeye

Even if it only meant pulling in $50,000-$70,000 a year? Braddick, let me tell you about being a working musician someday.

TONEDDOLLARS

nope I love what I do. I love coins too but not enough to give up what I do

braddick

<< <i>Even if it only meant pulling in $50,000-$70,000 a year? Braddick, let me tell you about being a working musician someday. >>



What do you call a Musician without a girlfriend?

-Homeless.

kranky

Remember to adjust the income for your region. Braddick's in California.

Clankeye

Yes, Braddick. I have lived--- I mean, heard that one.

goose3

Heck yeah!

what about you Pat?

Mikey

Never, because it would mean parting with them, and I love them too much to let them go.

BNE

I would be afraid that something I love would begin to feel more like a job.

Also, I am not sure I have the skills to run my own business. Worrying about turnover, profit margins, unhappy or unpleasant customers -- that would be a bummer. I do not envy dealers that.

littlewicher

Not enough money.

windwhispersintrees

Without a second thought. $50-70K would be a substantial pay INCREASE.
Why shouldn't your career be something you love?

LanLord

I don't think I would. For me coins are my source of relaxation and enjoyment. If I did it as a career it would change the entire scope and probably take a lot of the enjoyment out of it.

TRADERBOBZ

its a question you must ask yourself ???
i think not for me.

IndianHeadMan

I would do it because that's upper management pay here in KS

kieferscoins

Open forum discussing this thread.

Cameron Kiefer

ccrdragon

No. Too much of a pay cut and I like collecting coins for fun. Doing it full time would make it too
much like a job and I would begin to dread it

Besides, I already work 10-12 hours a day (average) at my current job!

Bustman

<< <i>No. Too much of a pay cut and I like collecting coins for fun. Doing it full time would make it too
much like a job and I would begin to dread it
I have to agree. I am a magazine photographer by trade. Everyone that I talk to about it thinks I have the greatest job ( it can be at times).......... but I enjoyed it more when it was just a hobby!

stujoe

Ha! Of course, I would like to double or triple my income and become a paid numismatist! However, Uncle Sam is going to have me for another 6 years or so.

Seriously, I am not sure if I would want the dealer side anyway. Maybe as a vest pocket dealer or do a few shows here and there but the grind of having a shop and dealing with all that comes with it sounds like a drag.

Writing (if I was good at it), researching, going to shows and other things and getting paid for it would be fun.

leothelyon

Two, three years back, while at a big midwest coin show, I remember over hearing a few dealers passing the word that some other dealer, 3 rows over, had just been taken for a couple of grand for buying some
counterfiet medals or tokens. It reminded me of a bunch of preying pack-rats. I would be too paranoid to buy or sell unless I really knew my stuff. Every once and awhile some buyer would come by and ask a price on something. But as soon as his face lights up from knowing the price, I would know that somehow I would be getting ripped off because there's always someone out there that knows the game alittle more then I would. That would be too frusterating and humiliating, I wouldn't be able to handle it.
Imagine someone buying all your coins in the first hour of a weekend long show only to find out in a short
while later this buyer is now selling your coins at his table 20 to 35% above what he paid you. That's what I always notice, dealers buying from other dealers, including the newbies. Like I said, one better know the ropes or you might find someone yanking on your brain, taking you for a scam. I guess you'd also need to know the bourse talk as well..........no, I couldn't do it. The next question I would have is how would you get a bourse table ahead of a veteran dealer. I imagine there is a VIP list who get first dibs but then if there are a few extra tables but 10x the dealers who want them. Is there a lottery or is it first come first serve or do the early bird gets the worm or possibly reservations have been placed.

Leo

barrytrot

I don't know if people like me who aren't even "good" at coin collecting would benefit the hobby by going full time.

I mean, for the life of me I still can't pick a MS60 out from a pile of MS63's.

So, I think I'll do the right thing for the hobby and keep my day job

Tonekiller

Did it about a year ago. Been the best change in my business life I have ever made. Meeting people and engaging in the “hunt” for coins has been an experience. Watching you folk’s fight out issues on the boards has been educational and entertaining. Even pick up an old mentor type friendship.

TBT

Coin Finder

I would do it in a heartbeat if I was single, heck I would do it for $35,000 a year!!


Tbig

kingmatt

50 to 70k would be a raise I could live with. Especially with a 4 and 7 year old to deal with .....

khayse

Driving around the country, seeing old friends, swapping stories, buying and selling
coins. Yep, sounds just what I would like out of retirement.

-KHayse

griffin6

Just what I'm doing... and I'm loving it. I live in the most gorgeous place in the world, travel all around the country, spend beaucoup time in coin shops and shows, and come home to paradise in between adventures. The money will be there eventually, but I'll tell you right upfront that there're a lot more important things than money!

cladking

I'd do it for a lot less- - on my terms.

RLinn

For a collector only, it seems a little like marrying your mistress. Everything changes and the thrill may leave too.

coynclecter

It would be tuff doing what you enjoy for 3-4 times the annual income of a family of four. Actually it would be a pay cut for me but I think I'd like it.