Do coin magazines try to supress the knowledge of collectors??

SeatedLibertyKeys

I recently bought a Coins magazine for the first time in years.

Upon reading the entire magazine, I don't think I expanded my knowledge in numismatics one bit.

Sure there were some interesting stories, but as for the coins themselves, I learned nothing. They just touched the very basics of the topic, and didn't expand on anything.

The article on the amount of copper in US coins is absolutely worthly, and not of value to anyone.

I was very disappointed in every way.

airplanenut

I think the magazines aim for simple articles, not really in-depth research. That said, I also rarely read magazines because so little is worth reading. Even Numismatist seems to have been dumbed down over the last few years...

LanLord

That's a sad commentary

AU58WALKERS

I think the magazine's aim is to sell advertisment

Bochiman

"COINS" magazine....

"Try to suppress?", no.
Try to appeal to the lowest common knowledge of the collector base, imho, yes.

They are written for the beginner or those who just want a general read.

Other magazines may be more suitable for you (CoinWorld for instance). Though I won't say it teaches you everything, some of the articles get a little more in-depth.

dogwood

The monthly's are usually bent toward the entry level or returning hobbyist. Numismatic News and Coin World are more timely and market oriented. I agree, haven't bought a Coins in ages. But if someone is browsing at Borders and picks it up because of a great cover photo, it serves numismatics in a big way.

curly

Brothers....wanna read a good book? Find "Abe Kosoff Remembers". It's a series of short commentaries of his life in the coin business. A very good book.

Mowgli

<< <i>I recently bought a Coins magazine for the first time in years.

Upon reading the entire magazine, I don't think I expanded my knowledge in numismatics one bit.

<< <i>

This is because you have outgrown the kind of knowledge that is available in magazines. When I went to my first several technical symposiums (physics) I was in awe of the "knowledge" that I gained there. But eventually my own knowledge caught up and passed what I was being offered such that I could actually tell when someone's findings were wrong and why they were wrong. I expect that people who become knowledgable from books, in depth articles, their own study and from discussions with experts will always find magazine articles lacking. BTW - I'm pretty sure that I am not the only collector who got to a stage where magazines ceased to be a source for educating ourselves about numismatics. I'm not saying that there cannot be useful information in these articles but usually it is insufficient for anyone remotely involved in a particular series of coins.

RWB

There used to be several hobby publications that catered more toward the medium and advanced collectors – Coin Collector Journal, Numismatic Scrapbook, etc. But they have all gone the way of the passenger pigeon. Both the ANA and ANS are trying to revive more advanced monthly or quarterly publications. The difficulty is attracting sufficient advertisers and readers to make the thing pay for itself. Specialists in seated coins, or Lincoln cents or silver dollar varieties have specialized publications as well as dynamic web sites – all of these cull material from would-be advanced collector publications.

NN and CW try to be timely as well as presenting some basic articles and more advanced ones, too. CW’s move to a full color, more magazine-like format may be part of a strategy to capture the advanced collector/newsstand buyer.

jhusman

I only buy "Coins" for the ads, to be frank. I enjoy reading them, but you are right - I don't think that the articles are any great shakes in terms of knowledge.

Shamika

You can learn more in one hour reading these boards than you can reading 6 months worth of Coins magazine.

GoldenEyeNumismatics

Coins Magazine is not very good when it comes to raw info

The articles in Num News and Coinworld are better. The Numismatist is great too

Barndog

a simple article in "CoinAge" magazine got me to try collecting bust half dimes

RareBronzeCollector

<< <i>You can learn more in one hour reading these boards than you can reading 6 months worth of Coins magazine. >>









You can say that again.....

FLBuffaloHunter

I think the weekly publications like Coin World and Numismatic News do a good job at informing collectors of the latest Numismatic happenings. They also do have some interesting historical articles and in that context I feel are worth reading for the information they provide, not as a basis for absolute knowledge of Numismatics.

cladking

I think all the magazines and virtually all of the authors do an excellent job
of educating collectors. The sole exception is that they have contributed to
the swings in the markets and the manias by doing a lot of additional stories
on whatever is hot. This also tends to encourage the advertisers who want
to be front and center when these stories are done. To some extent they are
just responding to the demand of the readers but it can exceed this and be-
come more a cause than an effect.

Not all the papers are created equal and some cater much more to beginners
or advanced collectors. CoinAge does a superb job of interesting just about
everyone and Coin World is the heart of the market. Numismatic News is the
best for arcane knowledge of the overall market and coins. Coins is really more
for those interested primarily in prices. They do some great stories from time to
time though.

Perhaps the finest for newbies is the "Beginners' Workshop" in Coin World. They
have covered about the entire hobby over the last several years. It even has
something for more advanced collectors many times.

Michigan

The narrow focus on US coins with "Coinage" and "Coins" means that after awhile you have heard it all before. I don't need to read yet
another article on the 1913 liberty head nickel, 1955 doubled die cent etc. I know that for newbies it is interesting but after
many years quite frankly those kind of articles are boring.

Longacre

<< <i>Brothers....wanna read a good book? Find "Abe Kosoff Remembers". It's a series of short commentaries of his life in the coin business. A very good book. >>




I totally agree. It's a great book.

Mercury10c

Absolutely!!
Example: Have you ever seen an article on grading? I've been reading NN, CW, Coins, and Coin Age
for years. Not one of these publications has ever published an article on grading. Amazing, considering grading is one of the most important,
controversial, and least understood aspects of collecting.

PerryHall

<< <i>Absolutely!!
Example: Have you ever seen an article on grading? I've been reading NN, CW, Coins, and Coin Age
for years. Not one of these publications has ever published an article on grading. Amazing, considering grading is one of the most important,
controversial, and least understood aspects of collecting. >>



Coin Values magazine has an in depth article on grading a particular coin series in every issue.

Michigan

<< <i>

<< <i>Brothers....wanna read a good book? Find "Abe Kosoff Remembers". It's a series of short commentaries of his life in the coin business. A very good book. >>




I totally agree. It's a great book. >>




The section on the King Farouk auction is amazing, so many things going on behind the scenes before and during
the sale.

IGWT

I enjoyed and learned from the pieces written by Denga (about changes at the Mint in 1837) and by CaptHenway (about Hard Times Tokens) published in the October issue of COINage. In fact, after picking a copy up at the newstand, I decided to subscribe.