How can we improve the coin industry?

JCB1983

I would really like to know. What problems do you see in our current environment? What could use more attention or some direction? Do you have any marketing ideas? How would you run the coin industry?

Thanks,
~Jason

LindeDad

Well I really think the industrial part is handled pretty well by the mint and Congress tells them how to do that.

But really would like to see a return of the use of onshore metals in the manufacture of the coins.

Baley

stop calling the hobby an "industry", for starters.

WTCG

<< <i>stop calling the hobby an "industry", for starters. >>



It's a hobby for most but an industry for many.

TwoSides2aCoin

Jason, it's a hobby.
Which industry around coins are you referring to ? We have publishing, grading, metals, art, science, law, and a few industries capitalizing/feeding off the hobby.

WTCG

Expand the hobby/ industry to appeal to a wider demographic range and embrace technology as an asset to the advancement of numismatics.

Zoins

1) Decrease fooling of collectors via doctoring
2) Decrease fooling of collectors via counterfeiting
3) Increase acceptance of collectors with a different focus

In addition to the above, I think websites showcasing the best of the best are a good idea to help get people interested. An example would be the recently shut down 100 Greatest MPLs. It would be good to have a version of that without copyright issues IMO.

COALPORTER

BY not calling it an "industry" !

morgansforever

I always look at the avatar and thought is was SkyMan, been used by him for years.
What Zoins said, that's a good start.

TomB

Participants should invest their resources into obtaining more knowledge and then should support those who treat people well when they deal with others.

joeykoins

Well,just as so many other " hobbies/pastimes " most have all turned into a industry or business. Such as Baseball, football,olympics,antiques,coins and etc... All for the good ole' American dollar! It's sad but true.

SanctionII

Three suggestions, the first of which is a no brainer; the second of which is desirable but problematic; and the third of which is said with "tounge in cheek" so as not to sound like an elitist

1. Educate, inform and enlighten those who participate in the hobby (knowledge is power and the best weapon against making bad decisions that can come back to haunt you). This can be done most efficiently by the internet (i.e. these forums, web sites on coins, books and articles on various hobby topics published online (or in paper), digital photography, CoinFacts, auction house records on closed auction prices, auction house listings of coins for sale, etc.);

2. As much as possible get rid of problem coins (counterfeit, unacceptably doctored) by rounding them up and melting them after beating them on concrete with a sledge hammer;

3. As much as possible get rid of dreck in order to force collectors to purchase quality coins at quality prices (of course for those who are not willing or able to collect anything other than dreck, set up a separate parallel hobby for dreck and dreck collectors so that those who collect and deal in quality coins do not have to interact with those that collect and deal in dreck).

JamesMurray

<< <i>stop calling the hobby an "industry", for starters. >>

Frankcoins

First, stop calling it an "industry." Even jewelers don't use such a soul-less term --- it's "the trade" -- even though it qualifies as an "industry" a lot more than numismatics.

Justacommeman

MJ

crazyhounddog

I think we need the good folks that manufacture coin albums to add more sulfur to preserve the cardboard like back in the good old days. This would help the HOBBY....