Is there a distinction between being a Coin Collector and a Numismatist?

braddick · April 7, 2014 12:41AM

How a Numismatist sees himself:

How the world views a Coin Collector:

Edited to add: visuals

crypto79 · April 7, 2014 12:51AM

I have always considered a Numismatist to have an intellectual curiosity to study and dive deeper into the field where as a collector can be doing it to fill slots, profit or simply hoarding.

ricko · April 7, 2014 12:55AM

A collector could simply be an accumulator of coins that attract their attention. A numismatist is one who studies coins and their history as well as collecting them, either in series, sets or randomly. The numismatist is likely able to speak authoritatively on some or several aspects of numismatics. Cheers, RickO

LindeDad · April 7, 2014 1:02AM

One buys all books on coins.
The other may only get books on what he gathers.

Use the term books but it should be reference material. Many sources are electronic now.

JohnHarper · April 7, 2014 1:08AM

A numismatist believes there is a difference.
A coin collector believes they mean the same thing.

MrHalfDime · April 7, 2014 1:11AM

"A numismatist believes there is a difference.
A coin collector believes they mean the same thing."

POTD! Great response.

MidLifeCrisis · April 7, 2014 1:18AM

<< "A numismatist believes there is a difference.
A coin collector believes they mean the same thing."

POTD! Great response. >>

My response was going to be "Sure there's a distinction - you're a coin collector and I'm a Numismatist."

But I like the response quoted above better.

ColonelJessup · April 7, 2014 1:20AM

<< "A numismatist believes there is a difference.
A coin collector believes they mean the same thing."

POTD! Great response. >>

+3

See cardinal's latest thread on :"Rarer than a Silver Libertas" for an example of a numismatist

tradedollarnut · April 7, 2014 1:30AM

While perhaps a difference has evolved in the hobby's collective mind, in the purest sense of the word, there is none:

nu·mis·ma·tist [noo-miz-muh-tist, -mis-, nyoo-] Show IPA
noun
1.
a specialist in numismatics.
2.
a person who collects numismatic items, especially coins.
Origin:
1790–1800; < Latin numismat- (stem of numisma ) coin + -ist

COALPORTER · April 7, 2014 1:59AM

<< One buys all books on coins.
The other may only get books on what he gathers.

Use the term books but it should be reference material. Many sources are electronic now. >>

I'd say, one writes the book and one, maybe at best, reads the book.

TommyType · April 7, 2014 2:07AM

Although you could make a distiction between the "Study of coinage, without necessarily acquiring", and the "Aquisition of coinage, without actually studying" as many have done here, I have a feeling that those two extremes are by far the minority. Most of us are a little bit of each.

A more useful distiction may be between those doing "Original research" and reporting vs. those who read and become familiar with existing research, books and documentation.

Safe to say there are a whole lot more who "study", and relatiely few who "research".

TwoSides2aCoin · April 7, 2014 2:13AM

I strive to be the latter. The former is a playground.
Broad knowledge for sheer enjoyment, while depth of knowledge is a serious distinction.

BryceM · April 7, 2014 2:35AM

When I talk to friends & family I talk about collecting coins.

When I talk to fellow collectors I talk about numismatics.

Outhaul · April 7, 2014 2:49AM

A collector has a bunch of coins and the numismatist has the reference material and knowledge to back them up.

Cheers,

Bob

Coinsponge · April 7, 2014 3:09AM

A numismatist puts grey poupon on his hamburger.

tradedollarnut · April 7, 2014 3:11AM

By definition, a coin collector IS a numismatist but a numismatist is not necessarily a coin collector.

braddick · April 7, 2014 3:17AM

<< A numismatist puts grey poupon on his hamburger. >>

And a Coin Collector wears that mustard on his tee-shirt.

braddick · April 7, 2014 3:21AM

A Numismatist always extends his pinkies whilst holding a coin.

A Coin Collector wears a pinkie ring.

kevinj · April 7, 2014 3:37AM

If a numismatist is some who is knowledgable on coins, is there a level of knowledge that separates a collector and a numismatist, as all collectors have some level of knowledge on their coins and it could be argued then that they are a numismatist, and I have seen coin books, which required or presented no level of knowledge that would not have already been had by anyone who collected the same series. I have also seen many collectors on here who had an obvious advanced level of knowledge on their subject matter. Who defines the level someone must obtain to be declared a numsmatist? Are there different levels of collectors, and different levels of being a numismatist? What is the highest level of each? When the basis and essence of our hobby is the sharing of knowledge and ideas, in theory, we are all numismatist. If a collector helps another collector, or a child to learn more about coins or collecting, are they not numismatist? It almost sounds like we have two distinct groups by some of the definitions. Where would the third party grading graders fall into. Some do not collect to avoid a conflict of interest. Are they a numismatist because they might have a expertise in a sub-category of being a numismatist? IMO, there might be a difference between a collector and investor in coins, but then again, either of them, might seek different levels of understanding of their coins and both be considered numismatist.

Outhaul · April 7, 2014 4:20AM

Kevin,

Why do you have to complicate things? Don't you know that the world is black or white?

chumley · April 7, 2014 4:24AM

I wanted to be a numismaticist but I couldnt spell it so I became a collector

kevinj · April 7, 2014 4:57AM

<< Kevin,
Why do you have to complicate things? Don't you know that the world is black or white?

>>

LOL, because I am pulling my hair out now with "numismatists" discussing the 4/3 and am going nuts. LOL

ColonelJessup · April 7, 2014 5:17AM

<< Kevin,

Why do you have to complicate things? Don't you know that the world is black or white?

>>

Once again all trolls and scolds and trolls are applauding. The Manichean world view further unfurls itself as being so laden with well-ripened low-hanging fruit with potential for raucous pseudo-intellectual Wikipedia-quoting satire. As just previously exemplified. . .

At least I hope so.

Or are we discussing how many angels get stabbed trying to dance around the head of that pin? . . .

What was the topic? . . .

johnny9434 · April 7, 2014 5:19AM

Numismatist - that depends on how astute they are.
Coin collector - depends on how far along they are in collecting.
Just my opinion.

mr1931S · April 7, 2014 6:35AM

While perhaps a difference has evolved in the hobby's collective mind, in the purest sense of the word, there is none.

The purest sense(s) about a word is/are the nuance(s).The hobby's collective mind is to be trusted to make the true distinction between "coin collector" and "numismatist." Having said that,the attitude,"I am a numismatist but prefer to be called a coin collector," is more prevalent than most people think.

The best advice I can give any numismatist,or coin collector, is "Trust the collective mind and go with the nuances."

sumnom · April 7, 2014 6:38AM

<< A numismatist believes there is a difference.
A coin collector believes they mean the same thing. >>

Beautiful.

SeattleSlammer · April 7, 2014 8:43AM

<< How a Numismatist sees himself:

How the world views a Coin Collector:

>>

Awesome.

Coinsponge · April 7, 2014 8:53AM

That second guy (the coin collector) looks vaguely familiar to me.

Nap · April 7, 2014 9:04AM

I am a coin collector. My goal is not to advance our understanding of particular coins, or of money exchange in general. Rather my goal is to build up a coin collection. I hope to learn much, and you never know, maybe will discover something along the way, but unfortunately I lack the time for serious study of coins.

I admire those that can dedicate large portions of their time to that end, and hold these numismatists in special esteem.

WaterSport · April 7, 2014 12:32PM

My definition is a collector is a collector - may know thing or 2 about the series, while the unpronounceable person, is a specialist in one or more series.

WS

jedm · April 7, 2014 12:33PM

I am a coin collector. I come here to hang with some of the numismatists and see what they are into.

dpoole · April 7, 2014 12:45PM

Numismatists think they know what they're doing. Coin Collectors know they don't.

DaveG · April 7, 2014 12:47PM

"A numismatist believes there is a difference.
A coin collector believes they mean the same thing."

POTD! Great response.

TommyType · April 7, 2014 1:09PM

I think I figured it out!

You might answer the question, "What do you do for a living?", with "I'm a numismatist."

You would look like an idiot if you answered, "I'm a coin collector".

On the other hand, "Do you have any hobbies?", can be answered with, "I'm a coin collector."

You would sound pompous if you answered, "I'm a numismatist."

You can be an "amateur numismatist", but you can't be an "amateur coin collector".

One is a vocation....the other is an avocation.

(That's my answer, and I'm sticking to it).

Justacommeman · April 7, 2014 1:50PM

1)Coin collector is easier for me to say.

2) Whatever I do say numismatist to my friends/family I also get hit with what is that? I then say coin collector

coin collector works fine for me

MJ

magikbilly · April 7, 2014 1:58PM

<< That second guy (the coin collector) looks vaguely familiar to me.

>>

Yeah? Me too. That was my icon years ago. "Case closed on "proof" 1895 Morgan""

Eric

AUandAG · April 7, 2014 2:06PM

I've known several collectors that did not even own a Red Book. Nada when it came to published numismatic
materials. I would say there is a big difference.

bob

magikbilly · April 7, 2014 2:10PM

Perhaps some distinction would be observable if one removed the collector/numismatist from this equation and looked at the the coins they have. Perhaps not.

Eric

Pokermandude · April 7, 2014 2:16PM

I'd consider myself a coin collector, but not a numismatist. While I appreciate nice coins, I spend FAR more time accumulating and hoarding them as opposed to studying them (reading the history behind them, understanding varieties, etc).

Coinosaurus · April 7, 2014 2:22PM

Ehhh. Numismatist is just a fancy word to make us look more astute than we really are. I think a lot of words are like that. We throw around terms like "exergue" and "scissel" that do little more than remind everyone else how much we know and they don't. It's not like the concepts behind these words are rocket science.