Though my husband and I possess no numismatic genetic material, we gave birth to a young numismatist. For years he drove us nuts by checking everyone's pocket change at family parties, reading books of population charts, and clamoring to stop the car at every bank we drove by to get rolls of coins to search. When he was 12, we learned about coin clubs and an organization called the ANA. That summer he insisted on going to the Pittsburgh convention, several hours drive from our home. My husband relented and they went. My son loved the convention and and happened to win $2500 in the PCGS World Series of Coin Grading (yay PCGS), a complete shock to all of us. Also at the convention: other YN's, i.e., others...like...him. Ever since then, it's been full speed ahead. The next summer, he was encouraged to apply for a Summer Seminar scholarship by a local coin club member who has been running YN programs for decades. We would never have sent him without the scholarship. He was 13, and Colorado Springs is 2000 miles from our home. The ANA granted him a scholarship, he went, I went, and we both met a lot of the people at ANA headquarters as well as numismatists from across the country. It was a life changing experience for us both. Later that same summer he spent the $2500 prize money, which he had saved, on travel expenses for a trip with my husband to the ANA convention in San Francisco. He set up an exhibit there that he'd spent months working on. Since then, we have both returned to Summer Seminar twice more (he on YN scholarships, thank you ANA) and hope to be there this summer as well. In the meantime, my son is busy with numismatic pursuits that include giving talks, researching, writing, and preparing exhibits. During all of this time, the ANA has been wonderfully helpful to both of us on several levels. My son has a knack for this stuff and is looking at a career in numismatics; I don't have a real knack for it and I don't collect anything seriously (yet), but the ANA has been nice to me anyway! And that is the excellent thing about the ANA- they serve the random clueless people as well as the professionals, the state-quarter collecting kids, the YN moms, the college age semi-pro YN's, as well as adult collectors and dealers. And the excellent thing about the hobby is that it's all about learning and exploring new areas. The ANA provides the roadmap, the individual member can choose to gas up the car and go for a drive or not- it's up to each person to decide how involved they want to be.
So during the last four years, I've tried to learn about the vast hobby and business of coin collecting, which includes learning where to find the resources I need to educate myself numismatically. There is a lot to learn and I started at zero. This process has helped me to understand the educational options and programs available to adult learners and also YN's. I've had a unique window into the world of numismatics because of my son's involvement and also because I try to make the most of the time we are at coin shows, conventions, etc.. We've met wonderful friends in our travels and also at our local coin clubs. I've become involved locally with our coin clubs. I joke about it, but I'm probably the most numismatically aware member of the general public that there is. I'm on the forum everyday though I rarely post and prefer to keep a low profile. So now I will go back into the woodwork.
And I don't consider myself an ANA cheerleader, even though I have nothing but positive things to say about the organization and the people who work there. That's just how I see it!
<< <i>Laxmaster92, I'm not affiliated with the ANA.
Though my husband and I possess no numismatic genetic material, we gave birth to a young numismatist. For years he drove us nuts by checking everyone's pocket change at family parties, reading books of population charts, and clamoring to stop the car at every bank we drove by to get rolls of coins to search. When he was 12, we learned about coin clubs and an organization called the ANA. That summer he insisted on going to the Pittsburgh convention, several hours drive from our home. My husband relented and they went. My son loved the convention and and happened to win $2500 in the PCGS World Series of Coin Grading (yay PCGS), a complete shock to all of us. Also at the convention: other YN's, i.e., others...like...him. Ever since then, it's been full speed ahead. The next summer, he was encouraged to apply for a Summer Seminar scholarship by a local coin club member who has been running YN programs for decades. We would never have sent him without the scholarship. He was 13, and Colorado Springs is 2000 miles from our home. The ANA granted him a scholarship, he went, I went, and we both met a lot of the people at ANA headquarters as well as numismatists from across the country. It was a life changing experience for us both. Later that same summer he spent the $2500 prize money, which he had saved, on travel expenses for a trip with my husband to the ANA convention in San Francisco. He set up an exhibit there that he'd spent months working on. Since then, we have both returned to Summer Seminar twice more (he on YN scholarships, thank you ANA) and hope to be there this summer as well. In the meantime, my son is busy with numismatic pursuits that include giving talks, researching, writing, and preparing exhibits. During all of this time, the ANA has been wonderfully helpful to both of us on several levels. My son has a knack for this stuff and is looking at a career in numismatics; I don't have a real knack for it and I don't collect anything seriously (yet), but the ANA has been nice to me anyway! And that is the excellent thing about the ANA- they serve the random clueless people as well as the professionals, the state-quarter collecting kids, the YN moms, the college age semi-pro YN's, as well as adult collectors and dealers. And the excellent thing about the hobby is that it's all about learning and exploring new areas. The ANA provides the roadmap, the individual member can choose to gas up the car and go for a drive or not- it's up to each person to decide how involved they want to be.
So during the last four years, I've tried to learn about the vast hobby and business of coin collecting, which includes learning where to find the resources I need to educate myself numismatically. There is a lot to learn and I started at zero. This process has helped me to understand the educational options and programs available to adult learners and also YN's. I've had a unique window into the world of numismatics because of my son's involvement and also because I try to make the most of the time we are at coin shows, conventions, etc.. We've met wonderful friends in our travels and also at our local coin clubs. I've become involved locally with our coin clubs. I joke about it, but I'm probably the most numismatically aware member of the general public that there is. I'm on the forum everyday though I rarely post and prefer to keep a low profile. So now I will go back into the woodwork.
And I don't consider myself an ANA cheerleader, even though I have nothing but positive things to say about the organization and the people who work there. That's just how I see it! >>
Comments
You seem to know a ton about the ANA. How are you affiliated?
<< <i>Hi Sparkle,
You seem to know a ton about the ANA. How are you affiliated? >>
Lora is the unofficial ANA Education Cheerleader...
Lane
See http://www.doubledimes.com for a free online reference for US twenty-cent pieces
Though my husband and I possess no numismatic genetic material, we gave birth to a young numismatist. For years he drove us nuts by checking everyone's pocket change at family parties, reading books of population charts, and clamoring to stop the car at every bank we drove by to get rolls of coins to search. When he was 12, we learned about coin clubs and an organization called the ANA. That summer he insisted on going to the Pittsburgh convention, several hours drive from our home. My husband relented and they went. My son loved the convention and and happened to win $2500 in the PCGS World Series of Coin Grading (yay PCGS), a complete shock to all of us. Also at the convention: other YN's, i.e., others...like...him. Ever since then, it's been full speed ahead. The next summer, he was encouraged to apply for a Summer Seminar scholarship by a local coin club member who has been running YN programs for decades. We would never have sent him without the scholarship. He was 13, and Colorado Springs is 2000 miles from our home. The ANA granted him a scholarship, he went, I went, and we both met a lot of the people at ANA headquarters as well as numismatists from across the country. It was a life changing experience for us both. Later that same summer he spent the $2500 prize money, which he had saved, on travel expenses for a trip with my husband to the ANA convention in San Francisco. He set up an exhibit there that he'd spent months working on. Since then, we have both returned to Summer Seminar twice more (he on YN scholarships, thank you ANA) and hope to be there this summer as well. In the meantime, my son is busy with numismatic pursuits that include giving talks, researching, writing, and preparing exhibits. During all of this time, the ANA has been wonderfully helpful to both of us on several levels. My son has a knack for this stuff and is looking at a career in numismatics; I don't have a real knack for it and I don't collect anything seriously (yet), but the ANA has been nice to me anyway! And that is the excellent thing about the ANA- they serve the random clueless people as well as the professionals, the state-quarter collecting kids, the YN moms, the college age semi-pro YN's, as well as adult collectors and dealers. And the excellent thing about the hobby is that it's all about learning and exploring new areas. The ANA provides the roadmap, the individual member can choose to gas up the car and go for a drive or not- it's up to each person to decide how involved they want to be.
So during the last four years, I've tried to learn about the vast hobby and business of coin collecting, which includes learning where to find the resources I need to educate myself numismatically. There is a lot to learn and I started at zero. This process has helped me to understand the educational options and programs available to adult learners and also YN's. I've had a unique window into the world of numismatics because of my son's involvement and also because I try to make the most of the time we are at coin shows, conventions, etc.. We've met wonderful friends in our travels and also at our local coin clubs. I've become involved locally with our coin clubs. I joke about it, but I'm probably the most numismatically aware member of the general public that there is. I'm on the forum everyday though I rarely post and prefer to keep a low profile. So now I will go back into the woodwork.
And I don't consider myself an ANA cheerleader, even though I have nothing but positive things to say about the organization and the people who work there. That's just how I see it!
<< <i>Laxmaster92, I'm not affiliated with the ANA.
Though my husband and I possess no numismatic genetic material, we gave birth to a young numismatist. For years he drove us nuts by checking everyone's pocket change at family parties, reading books of population charts, and clamoring to stop the car at every bank we drove by to get rolls of coins to search. When he was 12, we learned about coin clubs and an organization called the ANA. That summer he insisted on going to the Pittsburgh convention, several hours drive from our home. My husband relented and they went. My son loved the convention and and happened to win $2500 in the PCGS World Series of Coin Grading (yay PCGS), a complete shock to all of us. Also at the convention: other YN's, i.e., others...like...him. Ever since then, it's been full speed ahead. The next summer, he was encouraged to apply for a Summer Seminar scholarship by a local coin club member who has been running YN programs for decades. We would never have sent him without the scholarship. He was 13, and Colorado Springs is 2000 miles from our home. The ANA granted him a scholarship, he went, I went, and we both met a lot of the people at ANA headquarters as well as numismatists from across the country. It was a life changing experience for us both. Later that same summer he spent the $2500 prize money, which he had saved, on travel expenses for a trip with my husband to the ANA convention in San Francisco. He set up an exhibit there that he'd spent months working on. Since then, we have both returned to Summer Seminar twice more (he on YN scholarships, thank you ANA) and hope to be there this summer as well. In the meantime, my son is busy with numismatic pursuits that include giving talks, researching, writing, and preparing exhibits. During all of this time, the ANA has been wonderfully helpful to both of us on several levels. My son has a knack for this stuff and is looking at a career in numismatics; I don't have a real knack for it and I don't collect anything seriously (yet), but the ANA has been nice to me anyway! And that is the excellent thing about the ANA- they serve the random clueless people as well as the professionals, the state-quarter collecting kids, the YN moms, the college age semi-pro YN's, as well as adult collectors and dealers. And the excellent thing about the hobby is that it's all about learning and exploring new areas. The ANA provides the roadmap, the individual member can choose to gas up the car and go for a drive or not- it's up to each person to decide how involved they want to be.
So during the last four years, I've tried to learn about the vast hobby and business of coin collecting, which includes learning where to find the resources I need to educate myself numismatically. There is a lot to learn and I started at zero. This process has helped me to understand the educational options and programs available to adult learners and also YN's. I've had a unique window into the world of numismatics because of my son's involvement and also because I try to make the most of the time we are at coin shows, conventions, etc.. We've met wonderful friends in our travels and also at our local coin clubs. I've become involved locally with our coin clubs. I joke about it, but I'm probably the most numismatically aware member of the general public that there is. I'm on the forum everyday though I rarely post and prefer to keep a low profile. So now I will go back into the woodwork.
And I don't consider myself an ANA cheerleader, even though I have nothing but positive things to say about the organization and the people who work there. That's just how I see it! >>
Good post!