What do you think does the most CREDIT to coin collecting today?

nwcs

I know that positive threads usually receive 1/10th the posts of negative ones, but I like balance. We had a thread about what's wrong in the industry. So... what's right? What are the good things going on in the hobby?

Cameo CC

I think the many checks and balances that exist in the today's coin industry. Between the message board, the Internet, direct calling, coin shows, and print media, one can get the best advise and information neccessary to make a good decision.

Todd

SethChandler

State Quarter program.....entire new collectors have entered the market. Plus, I really like the coins, having never liked what the mint has put out the last 20 yrs.

SethChandler

Lets get Dave Bowers back in, so he can start pumping out 2 books a year and have great auctions.

Dog97

To me it's the internet because we can share info with other dealers & collectors instantly.
Specfically as a collector I can avoid the hassel of getting coins on approval from dealers beccause I can a get a pict in about 2 seconds and cut out saving the dealer having to mail you the coins and then having to mail them back and wasting everybody's time for 3 weeks.
Specfically as a seller I can avoid the greedy dealer and sell directly to a collector and put more $$ in my pocket.

jeffnpcb

I agree that the State Quarter program has done alot and infected alot of collectors. I'm wondering that after 2008 if they are going to re-design the quarter? Next step would be to revamp the whole line of coinage and open more markets.

keets

new collectors who don't jump in with both feet, but approach the hobby slowly, learning and building a collection over a period of time instead of quickly. i think there are more of them than we all realize.

there seems to be a general misconception that this forum is very representative of the hobby when my experience is that we are a very small percentage of collectors. from talking to local club members, people at shows and others i see at the local shop, it seems clear that probably 2-3% have heard of this forum or the registry, and fewer still are involved in certified coins. raw coins still rule the day as a whole.

al h.

dorkkarl

easy: knowledge. & people who can think know how to use knowledge to its best advantage.

(btw, i don't claim this pertains to me )

K S

nwcs

For me, it is the ability to share experiences and information. If I had not found this board, I likely would never have got back into the hobby. I also think the dealers who take an active role in educating people and sharing their experiences are doing well for this hobby. I've learned a lot by just listening to the straight-up opinions of Mark and Laura.

NoviceKris

Simply put.. The Internet.. Like Oz, the Great and Terrible.. The Internet has changed the hobby incredibly allowing the rich exchange of ideas, opinions, education and commerce. It has changed the mostly solitairy hobby, with the lone collector pouring over his books and collection, to a much more social and interactive hobby where a lone collector almost anywhere in the world can freely converse with others that share his interests. We can share stunning digital photographs of our coins and the coins we wish were ours almost instanteously. We can debate, argue, assasinate and glorify other collectors, dealers, sellers, scammers, experts, slabbers and wannabes whilst sitting in the warm comfort of our homes. We can learn and photographically examine literally millions of coins we might never get a chance to ever see in person. We buy, sell, trade and gift others with every manner of coin that catches our interest with the click of a mouse and use of internet banks and plastic money. The internet is that fabled bridge between us all with the same obsession, or near obsession. It value in the growth and unification of the hobby and hobbyists cannot be understated. But with any bridge, it not only unites, but also houses trolls underneath in the shadows. So along with the hugely increased market of ideas, opinions, facts, figures and product comes the huge increase in the slippery ones ready to prey on the unsuspecting, overly trusting or unweary. Thats what makes this forum special in its abilities to lift up and educate, to make the best of what the technology affords us. We can use these tools to protect those that would be targeted by the devious that exist in any open market but without giving into the temptation to play 'masked avenger of numismatics'. A fine line? You bet! The world is always being made over anew with technology and we must all stay watchful. Technology always seems two steps ahead of us when it comes to ethics, situational or otherwise. So yes, the internet is the Great and Terrible when it comes to Numismatics but those here for the love of the hobby cannot be deterred.

JMHO, verbose as it is.

Kris

kieferscoins

YN programs. The ANA has really done a great job in the last few years promoting numismatics to the youth. The Boy scout merit badge has been updated and now includes the State quarter series and at each convention 100's of boy and girl scouts attend. More and more shows, I see families with young kids filling out their albums. This is great and keeps the hobby fun. Everyones postive attitude here on the forum towards the few YN posters have been positive.

Cameron Kiefer

paigowjohnny

Cameron...I just wish there was more we could do in the YN arena. I think you're one of the rare ones who has stuck with it to a more "mature"age. I think there's a lot of folks like me who filled their penny boards as kids...but then "youthful" priorities like getting into college or finding a job, starting a life...too many of us drift away...next thing you know we're 40+ years old and starting over again.

I hope we can find a way to promote collecting to the 18-35 demographic.

Gilbert

The internet; namely forums like this one, which of course includes the participants.

New and republished books with todays imaging technology, including diagrams, color photos and specific PUPs.

Direct interface with dealers AND grading service personnel.

Exposure.

kieferscoins

<< <i>Cameron...I just wish there was more we could do in the YN arena. I think you're one of the rare ones who has stuck with it to a more "mature"age. I think there's a lot of folks like me who filled their penny boards as kids...but then "youthful" priorities like getting into college or finding a job, starting a life...too many of us drift away...next thing you know we're 40+ years old and starting over again. >>



I agree. Many of my friends across the U.S. have dropped out as interests changed. They were even the really involved YN's! It may be a natural progression, that is hard to stop. Most older YN's have things to spend their money on like cars and college. They are past the free coin handout stage. I don't have many more ideas except that you are with it or not. Only if more of them stuck with it.

Cameron Kiefer

fcloud

The state quarters have done a great job introducing new collectors to the hobby, and there are many great, knowledgeable, honest dealers to keep the new collectors. Lets just hope the new collectors have experiences with these dealers.

airplanenut

Cameron,

Maybe the answer could lie in education? Suppose I can't afford to buy coins when I am in college? I will try to still walk a local bourse... or maybe find summer programs and other YN things where just my presence, and maybe my voice, will help someone else get to my boat in a few years...

I hope to stay with the hobby... and I must say, these boards will make it hard to leave

Jeremy

kieferscoins

Your right Jeremy.

Staying busy in coins even if you aren't buying coins is great and will help keep you involved in numismatics.

Cameron Kiefer

nwcs

In my between collecting years (16-28), I did get a thing now and then when the mint did something interesting. I bought the 1992 silver proof sets when they came out and the 1996 mint sets with the W dime (have two nice ones) and while I was at it I got the proof sets. I also got reinterested by the State quarters and having a job that paid good money. Got my first MS-65 morgan then. An 1898-O. One of those "I always wanted one of these." Followed by a 1924 Saint.

I think one idea to keeping people interested is to show them they can still participate now and then. Show them a cheap opportunity and then remind them of what they can have after they get a real job after school. And boards like this do a lot of good. It was mainly reading this board that got me to commit back to the hobby.

Neil

dorkkarl

i submit to you that several of the responses are versions of "knowledge".

K S

nwcs

Perhaps all of them are a variation of knowledge and comaraderie. And perhaps the bad part of the hobby is simply exploitation and avarice.

Veep

As much as we complain about them, grading services have reduced some of the danger of this hobby.

CLASSICS

sharing ones knowledge of what they have learned. be it from writing a book, answering questions honestly, taking the time to point one in the right direction when you know they are making a mistake. always be honest in you dealings, and always enjoy what you have...........i complained because i had no shoes.........until i saw a man that had no feet........author unknown.........