When is the last time that you met another coin collector?

Mizzou

I'm not talking about the obvious such as coin shows, I mean out in the general public or at your place of employment. In casual conversation if I ask someone about their hobbies I get answers like, girls - fishing - spear fishing - hunting(In South Florida?) - bikes - guns - drinking but would you believe I have never met another coin collector? Are people ashamed to admit that they collect coins or maybe they're afraid that you might rob them, or another possibility, there aren't that many coin collectors in comparison to the masses of people.

TURBO

Got a co-worker that collects. So, good for me.

cmerlo1

I haven't met a lot of other coin collectors outside shows, the B&M, and the coin club. I have met lots of coin owners, though, at work and in social circles, and the first question is always "could you look at them and see if I have anything valuable?". I always say yes, if its someone I know or my friends know and can vouch for.

Unknown

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Spooly

I don't tell anybody I collect coins. Well except for you guys!

TwoSides2aCoin

I was at lunch with Bajjerfan a couple years ago. We were talking coins and mentioned "luster". The waitress overheard us and kept winking at me. It was frightening. Since then, this is my hiding place.

bidask

<< <i>I'm not talking about the obvious such as coin shows, I mean out in the general public or at your place of employment. In casual conversation if I ask someone about their hobbies I get answers like, girls - fishing - spear fishing - hunting(In South Florida?) - bikes - guns - drinking but would you believe I have never met another coin collector? Are people ashamed to admit that they collect coins or maybe they're afraid that you might rob them, or another possibility, there aren't that many coin collectors in comparison to the masses of people. >>

Are you at mizzou in columbia missouri young man? When I was in college a couple girls stopped dating me cause I told them I collect coins as a hobby. My wife is real happy about that today.

DIMEMAN

I never tell anybody......I don't really want the general public knowing anything about my collecting.

Coinosaurus

Yup. Mum's the word.

crypto79

I have a couple of holed seated quarters on my key ring and every once in a while a person will notice but 9 times out of 9 it is a silver/gold bug or a hoarder. I don't think I have met a true student of the hobby without this board's/ my local B&Ms help since I was a kid when a few adults took the time to mentor me.

crypto79

<< <i>Yup. Mum's the word. >>



Really Mr Treasure, I think the secret is out somewhat.

Jinx86

Odd fellow at the gas station I frequent loves to show me what people have brought in and have paid with. He gets to buy the oddities from the till at face so I told him keep it and up and sooner or later he may have a nice payout.

RollSearcher

I just met someone on Saturday at my bank - as I was walking in he was walking out with a box of halves. I asked if he collected and if he had any luck searching. At first I don't think he wanted to say anything, but when I told him i did the same he opened up and we talked coins for a few minutes.

LindeDad

If by chance I let it slip out that I have the addiction I make sure not to reveal any personal info.

Bochiman

3 weeks ago.
Co-worker and I were chatting as I was switching groups.
Found out he deems himself a collector as well (mainly SAEs, which is one of the first items I (re)started with 10 years ago.

Bochiman

<< <i>I never tell anybody......I don't really want the general public knowing anything about my collecting. >>



Where I work, people have much more expensive items they have to worry about and coins wouldn't be something they would broadcast around as a conversation piece just because they would find them boring.
They have other things that they would talk about that would make them more of a target

Poppee

The guy behind the counter at the hot dog joint I frequent is a collector and the hot dogs are good too!

WTCG

For a variety of reasons including prejudgment and security, coin collectors tend to be apprehensive about publicly discussing their hobby with strangers and casual acquaintances. That is particularly true with adult collectors more so than children. Right or wrong to much of the public, coin collecting doesn't go further than "I found an old penny in the drawer and I'll save it for my collecting album". Some people think I make a living selling Susan B.'s in 2x2's to Cub Scout kids.

In some circles there's more of a social stigma to admit that you're a coin collector than telling people you're a connoisseur of bondage porn. However that's another topic for another thread.

The best place to meet other coin collectors is at the local coin club or at an exhibit that features numismatic material. Hey, if there is an organization devoted to collecting bottle caps then that must mean coin collectors are out there.

RedTiger

Keep in mind that there by some estimates, there are only 100,000 active coin collectors interested in numismatic coins. I am eliminating the large group that primarily stacks for bullion value, and those that never pay more than face value for a coin and may have a hoard of state quarters. Figure a round number U.S. population of 300,000,000 and that translates into odds of 1 in 3000, not very good odds. Then factor in those that will never mention the hobby, or tend to be anti-social grumps that don't talk much in general and it is more like 1 in 10000, if picking people out at random. Slim odds.

What tends to modestly increase the odds are that it is mostly white males of a certain age and above average incomes that tend to be coin collectors. Those in that group tend to meet other white males in their income group.

PerryHall

<< <i>In some circles there's more of a social stigma to admit that you're a coin collector than telling people you're a connoisseur of bondage porn. >>



You need to start traveling in different circles.

nibanny

Last year when my dad came to the US visiting us.
Before then I just met a guy from Chicago who happened to be in my town and had to pick up a coin I sold him on eBay! That was a surprise.

AMRC

My buddy meets them everywhere, church, airplanes through friends. Me? Almost never.

melvin289

The last coin collector I actually spoke to face to face was about 3 or 4 years ago. I don't know anyone personally that collects coins. All my coin collecting friends have gone to that "Great Bourse in The Sky." Therefore it makes it rather dull when you have no one to share and discuss your wins, losses, and new purchases with.

Ron

BaseballAbs

<< <i>I don't tell anybody I collect coins. Well except for you guys! >>



Me too.

bestclser1

Often!

Barberian

The last time I met a coin collector outside of the hobby was when someone tried to sneak in to a party and steal stuff. We chased the guy away and got him to drop what he took (camera). However, the owner's girlfriend started talking about how glad she was her boyfriends coin collection wasn't stolen to other people at the party. I pulled her aside and told her to never mention her boyfriend's coin collection. I then talked to the homeowner as well, including considering renting a SDB. It turned out he had a really nice collection of Barber and Mercury dimes. I later showed him my collections of half dollars.

PerryHall

<< <i>

<< <i>I don't tell anybody I collect coins. Well except for you guys! >>



Me too. >>



Smart move.

StubbyMcNumbthumbs

<< <i>I never tell anybody......I don't really want the general public knowing anything about my collecting. >>

grip

<< <i>

<< <i>I never tell anybody......I don't really want the general public knowing anything about my collecting. >>



>>


1+

swhuck

When I first moved to Texas in 2000 for a previous job, about the first thing I did was buy a 15 game season ticket pack for the Rangers. One of the couples who sat near me that year kept getting season tickets a few seats away from me every year, so one year they decided to make sure that they and I sat together for the season. When I gave them my business card (now with Heritage), it turned out that he had long been a collector, and we had a whole lot more to talk about.

They don't have season tickets to the Rangers any more, but I pointed them at the local coin clubs and I always sit with them there when I can. And I think their grandson will be working here in about 10-15 years.

ProofArtworkonCircs

In the sense that trhe question was asked, I can not remember the last time I met a coin collector.

There is a waitress at my favorite restaurant that collects. This is in Massachusetts. When the Sacs first came out a Westener came in with a bunch of Sacs and really thought he had a novelty there. Was he surprised when the first thing the waitress did was to check the edge and get all excited because it was a D mint. She tried to swap for all he had. she saved one for me.

kiyote

Struck up a conversation with someone at work.. who owns a double 1915 Panama Pacfic set in the original holder.

johnny9434

met a kid at the lunch counter who was checking out the pennies in the leave a cent take a cent tray. we been friends ever since and talk when we can. its all good

sumnom

2003. That was the first and so far last time.

BryceM

Meet a true collector? Never, except via Internet and at shows.

morgandollar1878

I have one very good friend that also collects. There are also a select few friends that know I collect, but they do not. I generally do not talk about it much other than here and that is not a whole lot either. I read, learn and enjoy here more than anything.

tightbudget

It's been a while since I haven't been to any shows recently

devious

I met the last coin collector as I walked into my local barber shop. He had a sign that said "buying silver coins" and I noticed all of his numismatic literature (mostly catalogs and some CW magazines), and we got talking. I've ended up selling him many beautiful coins that were slabbed for about 20-30% of price guide prices to help him out in his retirement. We've become such good friends despite our 30+ year age difference. I've relocated an hour north and occasionally, he stops by to drop off coins to have submitted to PCGS. The first time I met him was four years ago. He has become like mentor or second father to me. Great man! He has since appeared in CoinWorld and has went on beyond just a silver collector. I recently submitted a 1921 and 1921-d WLH for him that he picked up for about 70 dollars total. I believe both coins, although key dates, both have been cleaned. But I did tell him that it's good to have them two certified anyway just in case it comes time to sell for authenticity purposes.

Maybe again someday I will meet another... but probably will end up being a small town barber who buys silver.

Aaron

keyman64

Never...or at least not that I can remember...but I tend to keep my trap shut about the subject.

Nap

The best I've got so far is:

"Oh you collect coins? My brother collects them too. He's weird..."

So no friend coin collectors. But.... I have friends that collect old maps, comic books, baseball cards, board games, music, antique furniture, etc. So I often make friends with people with the same collector DNA mutation, but who find other silly trinkets to occupy their time and take from them their disposable income.

I also have no problem telling people that I collect coins, save for the "oh jeez you're such a nerd" look they give me. My more valuable coins are kept in a safe deposit box, and my TV and laptop are surely worth more than the coins I keep at home.

crypto79

<< <i>The best I've got so far is:

"Oh you collect coins? My brother collects them too. He's weird..."

So no friend coin collectors. But.... I have friends that collect old maps, comic books, baseball cards, board games, music, antique furniture, etc. So I often make friends with people with the same collector DNA mutation, but who find other silly trinkets to occupy their time and take from them their disposable income.

I also have no problem telling people that I collect coins, save for the "oh jeez you're such a nerd" look they give me. My more valuable coins are kept in a safe deposit box, and my TV and laptop are surely worth more than the coins I keep at home. >>



I agree with this although I don't know many true collectors of other stuff either. I enjoy sharing anything coins with who ever will listen and if they give me the " I am only concerned with the price vibe" I deflect and say that it is not like I collect gold coins

lcoopie

long time for me

Zoins

I've met a number of SHQ collectors.