If I get a scholarship, what classes should I take???

airplanenut

I need input, people! I was told I have a very good chance of a scholarship this summer, so... what class should I take?

I have widdled it down to three choices and really need your opinions with reasons:

All classes and descriptions- I want to go for the first week...

My choices:

Grading US Coins- It is obvious that one needs to know how to do this to be a success in the coin world- but I don't sell a lot right now and I rarely let coins go... if I do, they are probably in plastic...

Numimsmatics of the Revolutionary Period- You all know how intrigued I am with coins from the 1700s- I can't afford the US coins, but I do my best to get coins from that era from other countries such as France and Britain. These coins are the link to a whole new world for me.

Collecting US Type Coins- I love old stuff, as I said above, but I really can't afford much, if any. I would think this would give me a chance to hold some high quality pieces that I would never be close to except maybe at a coin show. Again, this would include the intrigue of early copper, the beauty of high-grade gold, and everything in between.

I am also considering Early US Copper as an evening course, but that wouldn't be decided for a while.

With what you know about me, I would love to hear your suggestions/thoughts/questions. Thanks for your time and help!

Jeremy

NBSQLGeek

Bartending 101, when in school learn to drink.

Sorry was wanting so bad to mention booze.

I would like to learn about coin grading.

airplanenut

Who voted where they weren't supposed to???

jtryka

Given your interest in history, I would think the revolutionary era class would be fun for you.

dpoole

APN,

If this is your first shot, I'd definitely start off with the grading class. That sets you up to assess for quality/authenticity in coins of all eras, I understand. Good basic stuff.

You're young. Go for the specialized stuff next time around!

nwcs

I think grading is always the foundation. Applies to everything.

GP

I would say take the grading class, since it will give you the most usuable knowledge for your collecting. But, Numimsmatics of the Revolutionary Period sounds like a really cool class!!

kranky

You can't go wrong no matter which you choose. But I have to agree with the comments that a grading class has wide-ranging value. The grading class won't make you an expert grader in one week, but it will teach you how to grade. Even if you think you know a lot now, you will learn a lot.

But the other two classes sound really good also!

ccr

Interesting choices. The historical perspective, at least in my eyes and I`m sure in may others, is very important. On the pratical side I agree with what everyone has said so far and suggest that you go for the grading. It`s a solid foundation that you could build from.

Johnscoin

As a history buff and five year veteran of the ANA Summer Seminars I feel divided here...
However, I would recommend the grading course for your first visit. It is a great class, you see lots of cool coins and have great professors. However, the Revolutionary War class has awesome instructors as well. (Is John Kraljevich doing it with a co-worker?)
Either way you can't go wrong, but if you want to become a better collector and appraiser of value, go with grading.
Just my thoughts

danglen

This will be my third summer at the ANA Summer Camp, and I would highly recommend the Grading course. Besides the knowledge you will recieve, it is a pre-requisite course for the Advanced Grading class where you get to handle a lot of the really neat coins. I had such a good time in Advanced Grading last summer that I'm taking it again this year.

airplanenut

So I'll see ya there, Dan?

kieferscoins

Grading class. Take the revolutionary class as an alt if the grading one is full.

Cameron Kiefer

paigowjohnny

Grading, young Jeremy. Some day, you and Young Kiefer will want to step out into the beautiful but trecherous world of raw coins...and we wouldn't want you to make the mistakes I and many others have made....

KlectorKid

How do u get a scolarship? I'm goin to try and get into grading

Johnscoin

To get a scholarship...
Go to ANA Webpage and click on Education Programs. About halfway down the page is a form for YN Scholarships. It's a fun application...(not really). But fill it out and mail it to the address... Include everything that you can. There are also other scholarships given out by coin clubs and organizations, so check with them as well...
Goodluck!
John

kieferscoins

One thing John left out was that you have to be an ANA member/Junior member. The junior member dues are something like $15.00 which is really cheap. Are you an ANA Member kollectorkid?

Cameron Kiefer

KlectorKid

Will be... what does being a member do? besides costing u 100 $'s less for the housing/tuition.

kieferscoins

You get the monthly magazine ("The Numismatist") and can borrow books from the ANA library through the mail (ask airplanenut- he loves doing this). You can take part in YN activities and get auction money for doing coin activities which you can then bid on at the YN auction held at the summer convention (or through the mail). There are many other benefits also.

Cameron Kiefer

Outhaul

You could alway join my old fraternity...Tappa Kegga Brew

Coin Grading

Cheers,

Bob

kieferscoins

Hey Outhaul:

Don't corrupt my YN's. They are going to be Good Guys.

Cameron Kiefer

KlectorKid

It's To Late

Johnscoin

Yes, I did leave that out... Though some would argue against me, the membership is well worth it, if not just for the magazine for a junior member. The books are neat and it looks good on an application for school or anything else.
It also allows you to apply for the scholarship which is attainable.

Android

Jeremy,

I think the grading class would have an added value as something to become expert in if you become a professional numismatist.

Andy

airplanenut

<< <i>You get the monthly magazine ("The Numismatist") and can borrow books from the ANA library through the mail (ask airplanenut- he loves doing this) >>


Only 24 pounds! And I paid less than $9.99 a pound (but they were searched )

With the YN bucks... they have some really nice stuff that you can buy... if all goes well, I will net a few hundred on my multi-part paper

Jeremy

PS- thanks for the input so far!

kieferscoins

One more thing Jeremy:

Gail does like to see first year YN's take educational classes instead of the grading class. She thinks it is best since they do not get caught up in grading when they should enjoy the coins for their history. I am not saying she won't put you in the grading class, but she may have to limit the amount of YN's.

Good Luck, and hopefully you will get the class you want.

Cameron Kiefer

airplanenut

Has anyone taken any of these classes? Most coins that I collect are circ, and I'm pretty good with them- I can't afford the MS, which is what the emphasize... all input is greatly appreciated

Jeremy

paigowjohnny

Some day you WILL be able to afford those MS coins....my circ grading as a teen ager has now resurrected itself in "bigger ticket" MS Morgans....

You can read all the history books you want about coins...but GRADING is the art and backbone of the hobby....

And if the ANA won't let you in the grading seminar because you're a YN...then they are doing you a disservice, and I'd walk away from it....JMHO

KlectorKid

How long does it take to get the e-mail that says your a member... im worried i put my e-mail in wrong or something!

Points dont seem to hard to earn i think i will have a few hundred when I send in the form

kieferscoins

<< <i>And if the ANA won't let you in the grading seminar because you're a YN...then they are doing you a disservice, and I'd walk away from it....JMHO >>



That is not true, and Don't walk away from it. I said sometimes they limit the number so there are not 20 YN's in one grading class. If you don't get it the first year, you will get it the second year (you can get a YN scholarship for ymultiple years - I have for the last 4). If one minor discouragement can make someone walk away from a hobby they enjoy, then they should not be doing it in the first place. JMHO.

Cameron Kiefer

paigowjohnny

Point taken, and a good answer. I guess my thought was that...if they turn you away just because you're a YN and try to put you in some class you might think is a yawner...then it's a disservice.

If, however, it's a quota issue...then I see the point.

kieferscoins

I am glad I explained it ok. The ANA would never try to do that and they try so hard to promote numismatics to the YN's. Gail Baker (the education director) does a great job for our hobby and she is often overlooked.

Cameron Kiefer

dddangerousdan

You gotta learn how to grade them even if you aren't selling. It's the buyer that has to know the right grade

DAN

KlectorKid

To buy raw u need to take the grading, and maybe the altered/counterfiet coin mini course... by the way is altered coin course about
re-engraved and other major alterations coins or less altered coins like cleaned?

kieferscoins

Everything. Cleaned, whizzed, re-engraved, cast counterfeits, die struck counterfeits, spark erosion, gold etc.

Cameron Kiefer

danglen

At the insistance of several students at last years Summer Camp, Gail Baker is offering an Advanced Grading class in the second week this year's session, with an emphasis on detecting problem coins. This will allow the student to badybag his/her own problem coins and save the agravation of getting them back in an official grading service bodybag (not to mention the economies involved in not submitting problem coins for grading). I took the course in Detecting Counterfeit and Altered US Coins last year and it already saved me big bucks on a 1893-S Morgan (added mintmark) and a 1931-S Lincoln Cent (same thing). In the case of the Morgan, I told the dealer his coin had an altered mint mark, he said he would have to have someone else take a "look" at it and get back with me. Never heard from him again . The 31-S was in a Whitman folder I was buying from a private party. The coin itself was cherry, but when I looked at the mint mark with my loupe, it was easy to see it was glued onto a 31-P cent. EDUCATION DOESN'T COST, IT PAYS!

airplanenut

<< <i>I am glad I explained it ok. The ANA would never try to do that and they try so hard to promote numismatics to the YN's. Gail Baker (the education director) does a great job for our hobby and she is often overlooked. Cameron Kiefer >>

I agree- Gail is one I would consider super-nice... she is just a great, friendly person. If it weren't for her and Jane (from the library) encouraging me to apply (as well as Cameron's plug for me ) I probably wouldn't have applied... but thanks to them...

Jeremy

PS- I wouldn't let someone who didn't allow me to take a grading course to be the end of my collecting... I am grateful for the chance to get this scholarship- getting into one of the three classes I have presented would just be the icing on the cake!

Mikey

You should definitely take latin.

paigowjohnny

airplanenut...I didn't mean to walk away from collecting....I meant the ANA. Now I can't throw any stones at the ANA because I'm not a member...never saw the cost benefit for me because I don't particularly like "The Numismatist"...which I can look at from my member coin clubs.

I wish you good luck...stay motivated...try hard to avoid collector burnout and slab obsession...and I still say go for the grading course. I have seen the ANA grading video...and that leads me to believe the grading course will teach you stuff that will pay big benefits for the rest of your collecting life....

airplanenut

The ANA has been so good to me... if it weren't for their help with my paper (getting sources) I wouldn't have had a shot at the scholarship- it seems that my chances now are quite high.

Jeremy

Bear

KlectorKid - Who in their right mind is going to believe

the opinion of a beaver. Now a bear is something else altogether.

airplanenut

<< <i>KlectorKid - Who in their right mind is going to believe the opinion of a beaver. Now a bear is something else altogether. >>

I think he's a hamster.
Although this isn't final, I have chosen the following for the listed reasons:
1- Grading US Coins... the ability to grade will be very beneficial to me for my life, and I am sure that many series' will be covered, thus I will be exposed to many of my favorite coins such as older coppers.

2- Coins of the Revolutionary Era- I love the Revolution and nothing will keep me from that- without tests and papers and notes and other school-related crap, this class seems like it will be great fun and highly educational- I will sit in my chair and pretend I am living 225 years in my past.

I would still like very much to hear any further opinions, follow-ups, or reactions to what I have just written. I hope that I can go in future years and I will attempt to take all classes- hopefully I will be an intern in a year or two, and of course, another scholarship would be nice

Jeremy, putting the finishing touches (my hometown airport) on my application