What is a "professional"

Android

Main Entry: 1pro·fes·sion·al
Pronunciation: pr&-'fesh-n&l, -'fe-sh&-n&l
Here is Merriam Websters definition:

Function: adjective
Date: circa 1748
1 a : of, relating to, or characteristic of a profession b : engaged in one of the learned professions c (1) : characterized by or conforming to the technical or ethical standards of a profession (2) : exhibiting a courteous, conscientious, and generally businesslike manner in the workplace
2 a : participating for gain or livelihood in an activity or field of endeavor often engaged in by amateurs <a professional golfer> b : having a particular profession as a permanent career <a professional soldier> c : engaged in by persons receiving financial return <professional football>
3 : following a line of conduct as though it were a profession <a professional patriot>
- pro·fes·sion·al·ly adverb

What are your opinions on how this applies to the coin industry?

Andy

sinin1

Someone who trys to make their living from doing something?

coindaughter

All of the above?

gsaguy

I like the word 'expert' better.

That's the guy that learns more and more about less and less until he knows everything about nothing.

GSAGUY

nwcs

A professional is someone who is paid for their knowledge/skill.

MadMarty

Like Frank the Pug, when it comes to fishing he's the best. He and expert at putting the worm on the hook. I guess you can call him a master baiter!

lordmarcovan

We had this same discussion on the eBay coin forum a while back. I used to use "Professional Numismatist" as a by-line, though I am only a small, part-time dealer. In my case, the "professional" was meant to be a statement about attitude, experience, and knowledge, not about how much time I spent at it or how much money I made.

I think any of the definitions you posted above would work. After puzzling for a year or two on a more appropriate, yet professional-sounding title, I went to the rather unwieldy "Collector and Small Dealer of World Coins since 1976", but now I simply put "World Numismatist" on the back of my flip inserts.

Gilbert

I don't think you can escape the inference of "conduct" being the main determinant of being or not being professional, regardless of which definition you choose.