Have you ever known anyone who left another career to become a full-time coin dealer?

dan1ecu

I was thinking about coin dealers and how they came to be doing what they are doing for a living. Does anyone grow up wanting to be a coin dealer, or does the opportunity just present itself and they go for it? I can’t remember anyone in school saying that they wanted to be a numismatist when they grow up. I would think that many years of experience with coins, a good sense for business, and many connections are required to get a good start in the coin business. I would also think that it’s better to go into business with some partners to share the work. There are probably many, many part-time coin dealers out there, who have a regular day job and deal on the side for fun and/or extra income.

Do any of you coin dealers or part-time coin dealers want to share your stories of how you got where you are today?

Dan

JML

I have colleagues who were lawyers, businessmen, & physicians. I am sure there are quite a few other professional backgrounds.

kieferscoins

<< <i>Does anyone grow up wanting to be a coin dealer, or does the opportunity just present itself and they go for it? I can’t remember anyone in school saying that they wanted to be a numismatist when they grow up >>



That is mostly true, but there is a small batch of YN's that have that passion. They study for years during school and learn all about numismatics. Many of them go striaght into coins full time as a job (not their own coin business) when they are done with school.

Cameron Kiefer

mbbiker

I'm 18 and hoping in 5 or 6 years i can open my own coin shop.

paigowjohnny

I'm not a dealer, but one of my favorite dealers here in town had an early career like me...He was a 20+ year Navy officer, had command of a ship, retired as a Commander. Decided to turn his hobby into his second profession. He says it's very hard starting out....like building any business, plus the enormous outlay of capital initially to build a worthwhile inventory, etc. He deals out of a home office rather than working a shop.

I think it would be real hard to divorce the collecting passion from the necessity of having to deal for a living...

dwood

mbbiker...keep us posted. I'd buy from you

nwcs

No, but I would try to convince them not to unless they were really good at the game.

jadecoin

Howdy!

Dennis left a full-time job to do coins full-time, and I am planning to do so.

Sincerely,
jadecoin