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Has the PCGS US Coin Forum been a positive or negative influence on your coin collection or business
RYK
Posts: 35,789 ✭✭✭✭✭
For me, I would say that it is positive, but not 100% so.
The positives:
1. Excellent opportunity to view other coins and learn about all aspects of the hobby, the business, and the coin industrial complex.
2. Terrific for networking with other collectors and dealers, not to mention coin business bigwigs (like David Hall and Don Willis), political heavyweights (ANA governors), publishers (DenTuck), authors, and award-winners.
3. Desirable venue for buying and selling coins. Yes, there is an occasional transaction gone awry reported, but the track record here has to be at least the equal of anywhere. The self-policing is constant, and bad apples are picked out and tossed very quickly.
4. Many lasting friendships have started on this forum.
The negatives:
1. Well, there's lots of information presented, and most of it is accurate and believable--which means that some of it is not.
2. There is a tendency for some things to get hyped and over promoted, which can be the detriment to those that pile in to the flavor of the day.
3. There are occasional negative interactions between forum member--I know that I have had my share--and these can lead to hard feelings that last even after one walks away.
4. Over time, it has become tougher for newbies to break in.
Overall, I think that it was been a net positive for me and overwhelmingly so. That said, like just about everything, there are some drawbacks and pitfalls, too.
The positives:
1. Excellent opportunity to view other coins and learn about all aspects of the hobby, the business, and the coin industrial complex.
2. Terrific for networking with other collectors and dealers, not to mention coin business bigwigs (like David Hall and Don Willis), political heavyweights (ANA governors), publishers (DenTuck), authors, and award-winners.
3. Desirable venue for buying and selling coins. Yes, there is an occasional transaction gone awry reported, but the track record here has to be at least the equal of anywhere. The self-policing is constant, and bad apples are picked out and tossed very quickly.
4. Many lasting friendships have started on this forum.
The negatives:
1. Well, there's lots of information presented, and most of it is accurate and believable--which means that some of it is not.
2. There is a tendency for some things to get hyped and over promoted, which can be the detriment to those that pile in to the flavor of the day.
3. There are occasional negative interactions between forum member--I know that I have had my share--and these can lead to hard feelings that last even after one walks away.
4. Over time, it has become tougher for newbies to break in.
Overall, I think that it was been a net positive for me and overwhelmingly so. That said, like just about everything, there are some drawbacks and pitfalls, too.
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Comments
Good people too
Eric
Edit to add: "for my business" AND "for my collection"
Negatives too minor to list , so far.
I like how the "old guard" welcomes Newbies and offer advice and encouragement.
"If I say something in the woods and my wife isn't there to hear it.....am I still wrong?"
My Washington Quarter Registry set...in progress
who for the first time, could talk with others with the same interest.
But, for the last several years, it has had a 90% negative effect , at least for me. I seldom come here, but use the PM for most correspondence.
If information about US coins was the primary thrust, it might have a more positive influence.
However, Coin Facts has been brilliant, and I use that regularly.
Perhaps one inherent fault of the Forum is that it's an online platform. It's much easier for people to be snarky, rude, mean, negative, etc. online than in person. You can't have it all, I guess, but I'd agree with others who say that the Forum has a pretty positive effect on people.
Interests:
Pre-Jump Grade Project
Toned Commemoratives
Give Me Liberty or Give Me Debt
Some learning experiences (negatives) can be turned positive simply by leaning from them .......
<< <i>All positive , no negatives .....
Some learning experiences (negatives) can be turned positive simply by leaning from them ....... >>
Yes, learning from them - vantage!
Eric
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
Many thanks to all of you!
mbogoman
https://pcgs.com/setregistry/collectors-showcase/classic-issues-colonials-through-1964/zambezi-collection-trade-dollars/7345Asesabi Lutho
I'm a bit rough with some people and not intentionally. The truth is often more painful than a few white lies and I don't know how to tell the truth sometimes without hurting and I cannot always accept certain truths without being hurt. It's a pride/ego/love-hate/can't learn fast enough sort of thing. Knowledge is often a power that wields it's own ferocity. Ignorance often a shield that repels a barrage of insults.
The intent of this board is to inform, as well as, educate collectors and dealers of all levels. The freedom to express without attack by others should be paramount in fostering good feelings, correction yes, attack in doing so NO.
I have an opinion on something that is bound to set off a nerve. Do I dare reveal it ? Why not fear of being attacked. So, I continue to "lurk" and see what I can learn. As time as a way of bailing us out it also has a way of proving us right.
You know what I am going to make that topic on the subject I am afraid to broach this ought to be a doozy. Lest you hold back.
"Everything is on its way to somewhere. Everything." - George Malley, Phenomenon
http://www.americanlegacycoins.com
If I posed the same question ATS, the responses would be considerably more varied.
Looking for Top Pop Mercury Dime Varieties & High Grade Mercury Dime Toners.
PCGS Registries
Box of 20
SeaEagleCoins: 11/14/54-4/5/12. Miss you Larry!
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
This is my 100th post.
Coin's for sale/trade.
Tom Pilitowski
US Rare Coin Investments
800-624-1870
... but more so in the past than now.
Too many good members have either passed away or been banned. Others have just burned out and don't post much anymore.
Lafayette Grading Set
As my father used to tell me, "Pay attention, you might learn something."
For me, the main negative is when people feel the need to bicker back and forth. Also, I wish Mark Feld still posted here, as well as some others.
"Look up, old boy, and see what you get." -William Bonney.
My Washington Type B/C Set
Thanks PCGS Collectors Universe message boards!
Pete
Louis Armstrong
It's hard to imagine how the hobby would be different to me without it. I've been hanging out here for a Long Time, and I've learned a lot that has influenced my collecting habits and the way I enjoy the hobby. This goes for other online fora as well. Sort of makes me wonder how coin collecting can not flourish in the future.
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars
My Collection of Old Holders
Never a slave to one plastic brand will I ever be.
<< <i>Several yrs ago before some knowledgeable members were "let go" and more posts were about education and coins I would have said 99% positive. However I find that the quality of posts have lessened and have been largly overrun by cheerleading and kool-aid/closed minded type of thinking, thus I would have to say that the percentage while still positive is less so today. >>
I've learned so much here about coins, photography and the business, it's been extremely helpful.
My first two submissions only had one "genuine" and one body bagged, out of around 50 or 60 coins. I would have suffered much greater casualities had it not been for the education and feedback offered right here on these very boards!
Not to mention the great base of knowledge I've drawn upon when making purchases for my collection. As a result, I have likely made fewer and hopefully, less expensive mistakes than I would have if I had never participitated in this Forum.
Happy, humble, honored and proud recipient of the “You Suck” award 10/22/2014
The knowledge you can pick up for your (for my) collection is tremendous (and it has led to more than a few friendships). I'd have overlooked MANY varieties, many undergraded items (just to name a few things), had I NOT picked up that knowledge, and I would have also overlooked obvious (to the trained eye) negatives to coins (damage and the ways some hide it, or the effect doctoring has, just to name a few)..things that would make some nervous about moving forward. Without this knowledge that is imparted by those who have it, I think those of us who haven't been involved in the hobby for years, would be skiddish about moving forward after making those mistakes (but, there are those who have more $$ than brains, and believe that a little info makes them more knowledgeable than they really are), but thanks to the info imparted here, those mistakes, for me, are much fewer and much farther between, gives you confidence, and shows that regardless of how long you've been in the hobby, everyone learns the hard way, but you have to WANT to learn, and be able to listen, IF you truly wish to learn how to be the best collector you can be (another time when humility isn't such a bad thing, especially true for those with more $$ than time or brains).
The generosity of those giving out that knowledge is CRUCIAL to ANY collection, and I, for one, am very grateful and thankful that they freely give it out. Most important thing I learned was not to rush anything, buy the BOOK before the coin, and to listen (though, that can be difficult, sometime, but that's due to MY ignorance). It's easier to spend TIME to learn how to build the best you can, regardless of budget, than to spend $$ first, and get much less than you bargained for. If you follow the advice of those that give it freely, you won't be spending as much on 'tuition'...the more time you spend learning from these people, the less $$ you spend on coins that you'd otherwise feel confident in buying, only to realize it's 'bath time'. Some of my corners have been rough, but due to the patience and generosity of the more knowledgeable members, it has made me feel better about myself as a collector, given me more confidence, made my collection a better one, and has shown me a little humility isn't such a bad thing. Sorry for the long post, but those that have given something they worked hard to attain, and to so easily give it out, to help others out, makes this place a blessing, as well as a necessity, if you want to be an intelligent collector. I'm glad I am not old enough to have started this hobby pre-internet, or I'd have made ALOT more mistakes than I have (probably enough to have made me walk away from it), so 'thank you' to those members who freely give that knowledge, and thanks to our hosts for giving us a place for them to share it!
My problem is with thread titles that do not indicate topics pertaining to modern series collecting. I have absolutely no interest in threads about collecting modern series, simply wastes my time.
I spend about two hours a day now on the CU forum. I used to spend much more time on this forum. Yes, it has changed.
AB
<< <i>...so 'thank you' to those members who freely give that knowledge, and thanks to our hosts for giving us a place for them to share it! >>
All well said. I was too brief in my answer and neglected to say "thank you" - and not nearly as eloquently as you did (so, I quoted you
Happy Labor day to all.
Eric
AB
My problem is with thread titles that do not indicate topics pertaining to modern series collecting. I have absolutely no interest in threads about collecting modern series, simply wastes my time.
I spend about two hours a day now on the CU forum. I used to spend much more time on this forum. Yes, it has changed.
Negatives - Many of the best numismatists no longer post, with less numismatic discussions. The board can be intimidating and is of little value to those who want to collect raw or lower value coins.
<< <i>Two new half dollar Overton varieties were discovered/attributed/authenticated with the help of this forum >>
Well, there was the 1806 O-129 discovery coin which came to light after I sold it off my Holey Coin Vest, to Cladiator.