What constitutes an "Advanced" collector?

DesertLizard

Earlier this week I had a dealer call me an "advanced" collector. I was amused because I have a below average to average level of knowledge about coins. I readily admit this because I don't devote a lot of time to the hobby. However, I was looking at a "big boy" box of slabs going for $4k+ each. The dealer was either trying to make me feel good or this is the buzz word for a big spender.

I thought how fortunate I am in having a big coin budget, but at the same time there are probably hundreds who would be more appreciative if they had the same resources. I wonder if they are ever called "advanced" collectors?

I have met some real knowledgeable collectors in recent years. People so well researched on numismatics that I know I will never even know half of what they have forgotten.

There is a big difference between someone who knows the "market"/spends big bucks and someone who knows coins. I hope collectors recognize that and not be wowed by the big spenders.

coppercoins

That's a good question. I'm really not sure there is a fine line between a "collector" and an "advanced collector." I do not believe the line is money, though. You are correct in your assessment that it has to have something to do with knowledge. My personal belief is that an "advanced" collector knows the basics of the minting process, knows how to tell cleaned coins from those that are not cleaned, knows how to grade coins, knows how to tell counterfeits from real coins, and all of these should be sharpened to a razor point in at least one series or denomination of their particular interest. An advanced collector should be able to answer all basic questions that novices would ask, and most of the intermediate questions regarding their specialty, and knows where to go for answers to advanced questions.

The size of their collection and value of their collection is not of the greatest importance in my opinion, what is more important is that a person have a well rounded library of reference material that at least surrounds what they collect, and knows how to use it. There are probably other fine points I am missing, but I think I've covered most of the bases.

michael

an advanced collector is someone who specializes in a certian type of coin or series and when he goes to the dealer with a coin to sell he knows exactly waht it is and waht it is worth and knows waht the dealer can sell it for and asks a price from a dealer that the dealer can buy it and make a decent/fair profit not a big profit but a profit nonetheless
and the deal is done in under one minute dealers love advanced collecros as they are the best and easiest to deal with

also on the buying end an advanced collector knows waht to pay for a coin exactly and looks at a coin and either buys or passes if too much and the advanced collector does not need his hand held to buy a coin nor does he need a money back guarantee he looks at the coin and asks the price and either buys or passes

now i suppose there are some variations on the above but to me this is the crux of waht an advanced collector is as per the obove in general

sincerely michael

SarasotaFrank

Having read and participated in this forum for a few months, I would say just about everybody here, except me!

A number of dealers have referred to me as a "serious" collector, which may signify passion for the hobby and willingness to put some resources behind it, however, when I read stories here about $10,000 Franklin Halves, and $96,000 gold coins and $5,000 Morgan dollars, I realize I may be serious (in my own mind), but advanced I ain't ever gonna be!

cladking

Other than the coins themselves the only currency in this hobby is knowledge. Certainly
knowledge is not critical to it's enjoyment but it is critical to advancement. This knowledge
is generally acquired right along with the coins if one understands the process and keeps
his eyes and mind open. Usually as one advances he will learn at least something about
all aspects of coins, but it is possible to be an advanced collector with knowledge limited in
scope but not depth.

sumnom

An advanced collector is one for whom there is no cure.

keets

...........and here i thought it was a collector who was over 65!!!!!!!

al h.

EVillageProwler

An advanced collector is one for whom there is no cure.

There seems to be no cure for my addiction. I guess I am ``advanced,'' but not necessarily in a good way.

EVP

ccr

Well this just my opinion of course. An average collector is concerned about accumulating coins and apprieciation of what they have ( If thats what they`re collecting ).

The Advanced is concerned with the details of coins and the nature of how they are minted. The Whats, Hows, Wheres and Whens of the area of their interest. Walter Breen, Dr Shelden, and Q David Bowers are some of the more famous examples of the people I would consider as the advanced collector. It`s an all consuming passion for these people that they can`t walk away from. They are the hobbys` Historians; The " Walking Encyclopedias ".

It`s a pretty good question and will be interesting to hear what everyone has to say.

sumnom

People collect for different reasons. I find myself more and more interested in the history surrounding the coins. I am fascinated by the how the decisions were made to mint certain coins, how they were minted, how they were accepted/rejected, where they circulated, change sin composition and design, etc. When I acquire a coin, I see it the above mentioned contexts. As a result, I may not be so concerned with the things that many collectors are concerned with, like grade, errors, rarity. So, am I advanced? I don't know.

gmarguli

I think an "advanced collector" would be one that has dedicated himself to a specific area and speciality. He collects bust halves and knows about the die stages and varieties. Not the person who purchased proof sets, circulated Barbers, state quarters, and silver eagles. That's the run-of-the-mill collector.

It has nothing to do with money.

cladking

<< <i> Not the person who purchased proof sets, circulated Barbers, state quarters, and silver eagles. That's the run-of-the-mill collector. >>



These areas have sufficient depth to support an advanced collector.



It has nothing to do with money. >>





Quite true.

coppercoins

<< <i>These areas have sufficient depth to support an advanced collector. >>



I think he was talking about people who buy a lot of different things and never dive deeply into one thing. While it is true that a person can buy all sorts of different things, only the truly eccentric can have the time and funds to get enough grasp on ALL areas to beome advanced at any of it. That's why most of us pick something and specialize. Depth of knowledge in a specialization creates the advanced collector.

I am specialized in Lincoln cents to the point that I can look at many coins and tell you what die numbers I am looking at and cross reference quite a number of them in my head. I'm not extra smart, I spend just about every day immersed in it, studying it, making discoveries and documenting them. I spend hundreds of hours a year writing about them, photographing them, and publishing my work. I do not, however, own one single silver coin, and have a very limited assortment of proof sets, mint sets, and nickels. I also do not own a single gold coin. Only in copper, especially Lincoln cents, am I well versed. I cannot accurately grade many series, especially silver, but I do have a very basic understanding and general knowledge in all US coins. I own hundreds of different repunched and over mint marks in Lincoln cents, and I own hundreds of different Lincoln cent doubled dies. I have an extensive uncirculated roll collection in Lincoln cents, and thousands of duplicate die varieties as well.

I have never claimed to be an expert at anything, especially in coins. Every time I find out something new, I find that there are many other things I have yet to learn. I have learned a lot participating in this forum, as I am sure some people have learned from me. There are many people here who I would consider advanced in their areas, just as I am advanced in my area of choice.

To sum it up, I think anyone who has found their niche and expounded on it, learning all of its details, is an advanced collector. There are many of us in this forum, and I am glad to be able to come here and learn from the ones who took the time to gain their knowledge then come here and share it, and I am glad to be able to share mine alike. That is the "advanced collector".

Gemini

How do you know when you are an advanced collector?...

When you have to hire a librarian to arrange all your coin books using the Dewey decimal system...

Trime

An "advanced collector" is someone who knows more about the subject than you do.

Gilbert

To me, an advanced collector is one who buys the "right coins" for the "right price" at the "right time." This may or may not include the "specialist" who is considered an "advanced collector" within his/her specialty.

The person who attains or is in the process of attaining the general knowledge and history, is a "numismatist." One can be a numismatist without collecting.

These definitions are not all inclusive, but, I think you can get the "gist" of how I would distinguish an advanced collector from a collector.

GDJMSP

An advanced collector is one who knows enough to realize how much more he needs to learn.