How many coin collectors are there?

dan1ecu

What's the best way to gage the number of serious coin collectors?

Dan

nwcs

First question is how to define serious.

dan1ecu

Hi, NWCS --

Good point. That's a discussion in itself.

fcloud

I think to some extent everyone is a collector of some sort or the other. Think of the masses of people who don't really collect, yet they have a jar, or some special coins from their parents, etc. Serious collectors are probably a small percentage, and the number will grow with the introduction of state quarter program.

DaveG

Coin World says their circulation is about 80,000

Geoman

Good topic. Would "serious" collector be defined as one who spends a certain dollar amount? Or one that devotes a lot of time to it? For me, I consider myself a serious collector. Because I spend most of my free time studying coins, and not doing much else. Basically, I am hooked 24/7 on coins. But, due to my circumstatnces (ie: unemployed grad student) I do not have much $ to purchase coins with some of the "big boys" here on this forum. So becuase my budget for coins is say $100/month, am I not a serious collector? However, I spend several hours a day studying/researching, etc coins.

FC57Coins

I think anyone who appreciates coins, their history, how they're made and how they are significant, qualifies as a serious collector - you don't have to have megabucks to be a true collector at heart.

Frank

greghansen

I grew up in a town of 3,500 people. There were like 3 people half way interested and conversant in coins. I think the ratio of about 1 every 1,000 people is reasonable. In a country of 250,000,000 or so people that would give you about 250,000. These seems to square O.K. with coin worlds circulation of about one third that.

Julian

There are probably 250,000 somewhat serious collectors and 100+ million people that save coins in some regard. Now the trick is to show 1 or 2% of those the light.

cladking

<< <i>There are probably 250,000 somewhat serious collectors and 100+ million people that save coins in some regard. Now the trick is to show 1 or 2% of those the light. >>



For many years the problem was trying to get people looking at their coins and
interested in studying them in some form. Many will become hooked without much
encourgement, but many more will need an occasional boost from the outside or
to have some questions answered. Unfortunately the hobby was not really pre-
pared for this influx of newbies and many who ventured into coin shops were treated
somewhat brusquely by harried dealers. Dealers still seem to have little time for cus-
tomers who have only a few dollars to spend and nearly as many questions. The
nature of the business is such that this is to be expected, but we still need to find
a way to reach out to more of these people. Most stores now stock the blue folders
for the circulating coinage and dealers do seem to be trying to be a little more pat-
ient with the newbies, but more needs to be done. Some of the simplest advise like
a blurb in the folders suggesting collectors generally prefer a better specimen when
a choice is available would be good. Perhaps a free single page of FAQ could be print-
ed by a major organization and given away to those who purchase the latest state
quarter. Some addresses for coin clubs, and simple collecting advise might be helpful.
Also a few words about the history of coinage and collecting might be inspiring. We
should all make an effort to listen to their questions and statements and respond as
appropriate. To the degree possible we should try to keep it as upbeat and positive
as we can. There will be plenty of time to warn them of charlatans, bubbles, and doc-
toring before they start spending significant amount on coins. The embers sometimes
need to be stoked but warnings can act more as buckets of cold water.

The next generation of collectors is being made right now. While most depends on the
individuals who make up this group, we can dramatically influence it's size.






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