ANA Summer Seminar-What course should I take?

NumisOxide

I'm getting ready to register for Summer Seminar for my first time but I'm undecided on which course to take. I'm interested in the U.S coin grading Courses Part 1 or Part 2. I guess I wouldn't qualify for part2 because it says Prerequisite:
Successful completion of “Grading
United States Coins, Part 1”. I just hope its not a basic course that is going to teach me things I already know but I'd probably be suprised at things I didn't know! The other course I'm interested in is the Detection of Counterfeit and Altered Coins course. I really feel this is my weak area, I know a little bit. I feel fairly confident in grading most U.S. coins but I do know that I lack experience in grading gold coins and early copper. Plus, I could only stay one week due to finacial restraints but better than nothing! I'm going to stay in the Residential Hall College dorms. Also, never been to Colorado or that far west so looking forward to it.

Any advice or just past experiences people have had would be nice to hear. Thanks.

Dentuck

Kove

If you're at Summer Seminar the first week, I highly recommend taking the Coin Grading 1 class taught by Don Bonser, Jim Stoutjesdyk, and Matt Kleinsteuber. Don't be fooled by any "basic grading" stigma, this is an excellent course with three phenomenal graders. You will learn a ton from these guys. You'll learn much more than by thinking you can jump straight to Class II.

If you're there the second week, take the Counterfeit Detection class with JP Martin and Bob Campbell. Excellent instructors, and one of my favorite classes.

You'll need to plan on going back, as all three grading courses and the counterfeit detection course are invaluable in this hobby. You're doing yourself a huge favor by attending.

NumisOxide

So its either grading 1 or the counterfeit course. Hmmm...

ColonelJessup

I teach Intro to US aka Grading 101 but I'm not sure which week. Can't go wrong with Don, Matt and Stouch.

I sat in on one of their classes for a few minutes a couple of times. My impression was that they teach more theory at the outset of the class. Their approach is more cerebral than ours. Based upon your confidence in your prior knowledge, they sound better suited to your needs. Make sure you contact Susan McMillan (ANA Education director) and make a specific request for Don's class.

Rod Gillis, Brian Fanton and I (Mike Ellis with them the other week) push more coins in front of students earlier and try to evoke intuitive responses that we then build upon with more focused formal instruction.

You are going to have an effin' ball

MrEureka

I'm taking the "Light from Many Lamps" course, which sounds like it will be a lot of fun.

As for the grading classes, I'll defer to CJ's opinion as to which class is best for any particular student. However, I should say that the ANA will let you skip the beginner classes if you're clearly ready for the advanced class.

BTW, you can load the PDF course catalog here.

TAMU15

My biggest piece of advice about going to the summer seminar (or any large national numismatic event) is to meet AS MANY people as you can. You really can learn as much outside the classroom as you can inside. Connections I made at the SS have helped me learn more about coin and the coin business than I could have ever imagined. You can't go wrong with either classes but I can say for certainty that you will have a blast with Stouch and Bonser.

B

PonyExpress8

The grading courses build upon each other. Grading 1 is part grading, part the minting process. A good sound basis. You will see coins in all the grading classes and your skills will improve. The counterfeit detection course is also a must have. So the core would be those 4. Then from there you can branch out to some favorite series you might have an interest in or any of the other classes offered.

B is right, the experience of meeting other dealers, collectors, the book writers etc is invaluable. You will make life long friends and enjoy the experience.

This will be my fifth year and second teaching. It's an experience I always look forward too after I recover a bit from the last one. I hope to keep on going each year because of the people and the constant learning I add to my experiences. One of the best things the ANA does each year and to see 40-50 kids there each week makes me smile. Seeing these YN's with the same love and passion I have always had for coins is awesome!

ColonelJessup

Excellent info in Andy's PDF link. Evidently I am teaching Week #2. For those who see my picture in the catalogue, I can only say I am better looking in my driver's license photo

NumisOxide

I'm really looking forward to it!

I'm going to attend the first week. I decided on the course: Grading United States
Coins, Part 1
3.Instructors: Don Bonser,
professional numismatist and
author of Grading Coins Today:
An ANA Correspondence Course;
Jim Stoutjesdyk, vice president,
numismatics, Heritage Rare
Coin Galleries; and Matthew
Kleinsteuber, professional numismatist,
Numismatic Financial

TPRC

I have taken the basic grading course once, with JP Martin and Jerry Bobbe, intermediate grading (or advanced grading) taught by Tom Delorey and Mary Sauvaign, and advanced grading several times taught by Bill Shamhart (NJCoincrank) and others. I've also taken counterfeit detection several times. Counterfeit detection is taught by JP Martin and Bob Campbell. I haven't taken a course taught by Don Bonser yet.

I needed the basic grading course when I took it, but if I took it now it would be a little slow. I am sure I would learn and re-learn a lot in that course, though. I remember really learning how to appreciate luster in the basic grading course, and the lack thereof. And how to grade gold. We spent a fair amount of time on theory and slides when I took it.

You get to see progressively more coins in intermediate and advanced grading which is fun, and a lot of coins that you might not otherwise see. You also learn to trust your gut, and then check for problems or detractions. The advanced grading class used to be set up like a grading room, where you were part of a grading team and you competed against other teams in the class, which was a blast. So, depending upon your level of expertise, the courses serve different purposes.

The counterfeit detection course is also fantastic. I learned in that class how to spot counterfeit gold and doctored coins of all types, and I learned in all classes never to trust a slab. Artificial toning is also discussed a lot and I remember a memorable telephone call with an anonymous "coin doctor" where we got to ask questions of the coin doctor, but not "who are you?" That was several years back.

I really think I would benefit from re-taking one or both of those courses every year and I cannot say enough positive things about them...all of them. And I am sure you will have a similar experience no matter what course you take.

PonyExpress8

John,
Good luck and I look forward to running across you at some point in week one.

Excellent info in Andy's PDF link. Evidently I am teaching Week #2. For those who see my picture in the catalogue, I can only say I am better looking in my driver's license photo

Rick I thought that's where they got the photo from!!

Kove

<< <i>I'm really looking forward to it!

I'm going to attend the first week. I decided on the course: Grading United States
Coins, Part 1
3.Instructors: Don Bonser,
professional numismatist and
author of Grading Coins Today:
An ANA Correspondence Course;
Jim Stoutjesdyk, vice president,
numismatics, Heritage Rare
Coin Galleries; and Matthew
Kleinsteuber, professional numismatist,
Numismatic Financial >>




That's a great choice. Every grading class is vastly different, based on the personalities and backgrounds of the instructors. I believe Don Bonser won third place in PCGS' World Series of Grading, dealer category. He is definitely world class.

They started out the class by saying that Don spends about $10,000/year on grading fees, Matt spends about $10,000/month, and Stouch spends about $10,000/week on grading fees. They make a fantastic combination.

valente151

I really enjoyed Grading Part 1 with Rick, Rod, and Brian my first year in 2011. You have to watch out for Rick though, because if you are too far off on a grade, you get chalk thrown at you lol

CoinCast

<< <i>If you're at Summer Seminar the first week, I highly recommend taking the Coin Grading 1 class taught by Don Bonser, Jim Stoutjesdyk, and Matt Kleinsteuber. Don't be fooled by any "basic grading" stigma, this is an excellent course with three phenomenal graders. You will learn a ton from these guys. You'll learn much more than by thinking you can jump straight to Class II.

If you're there the second week, take the Counterfeit Detection class with JP Martin and Bob Campbell. Excellent instructors, and one of my favorite classes.

You'll need to plan on going back, as all three grading courses and the counterfeit detection course are invaluable in this hobby. You're doing yourself a huge favor by attending. >>



I took this same set of courses last year and would highly recommend it. An amazing experience. This year I will be taking Grading 2 and need to decide on what to take week two.

MrEureka

You have to watch out for Rick though, because if you are too far off on a grade, you get chalk thrown at you lol

Bring a sack of rotten tomatoes to class with you. You'll be fine.

SullivanNumismatics

I'd recommend the class on errors and varieties taught by James Wiles. If you're new to errors or varieties, you'll learn a ton, and even if you have a decent knowledge of the subjects, you'll still learn things you didn't know. It's also a fun class to attend, and James is an excellent teacher.