State of the Hobby
CoinZip
Posts: 3,253 ✭✭✭
Over the years we have seen post after post suggesting the "Hobby of Kings" is doomed to suffer the same fate as Stamps, Sports Cards, and many other collecting areas.
I would venture to say most of the posts base their claim on the belief that the hobby is made up of mostly males that are over 65.
Interestingly when I view our website traffic, one sector "New Sessions" does not support the theory. I first noticed this while sampling a small time segment of the last 30 days, then quickly changed the date range to the last year, then two years. The results change very little expanding out the date range. The other statistic that really surprised me is that over 23% of the visitors are female, I was expecting this to be less than 5%.
What does it all mean? In my humble opinion, we (the numismatic community) are reaching the younger collectors. We are heading in the right direction to maintain and even grow the hobby. I would love to see this same report for PCGS, Heritage, or any of the larger traffic sites to see if its similar.
I would venture to say most of the posts base their claim on the belief that the hobby is made up of mostly males that are over 65.
Interestingly when I view our website traffic, one sector "New Sessions" does not support the theory. I first noticed this while sampling a small time segment of the last 30 days, then quickly changed the date range to the last year, then two years. The results change very little expanding out the date range. The other statistic that really surprised me is that over 23% of the visitors are female, I was expecting this to be less than 5%.
What does it all mean? In my humble opinion, we (the numismatic community) are reaching the younger collectors. We are heading in the right direction to maintain and even grow the hobby. I would love to see this same report for PCGS, Heritage, or any of the larger traffic sites to see if its similar.
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yes I have dealt with such people which makes me understand these people are not seeing the whole world they see and hear what they want to as long as it fits their idea of the world
graded silver coins (NEED TO SELL ASAP)
link below
https://photos.app.goo.gl/7bPCP787VCZCCKb67
State quarters ..................
In my humble opinion circulated State Quarters can be a great way to introduce young collectors to the hobby.
Coin Club Benefit auctions ..... View the Lots
At the end, he said, "After your dissertation on contractors I almost walked out , but decided to hear you out ". I was lambasting some contractors in my rant. Not knowing he was a retired contractor. Ooooops
He left and said, "I'm coming back to see you. You're an interesting character just like me ". Funny, I feel old at 61, but this guy had more piss and vinegar in him than most guys in their 20's.
I know of a 6 year old girl somewhere in New Jersey who's going to be filling up Whitman folders thanks to Grandpa yesterday. That future looks bright, no matter how blighted or slighted people's opinions are.
When I was young, everyone in the hobby was old. Now, I'm on the older end of the spectrum and everyone in the hobby is still old. Where were all of you when I was young? That said, it doesn't seem to me that many young people are collecting. Too many other things to occupy their time and attention in this digital age. Plus, most people don't carry change anymore.
We are here. Some lurking, others are active posters with great information.
Choice Numismatics www.ChoiceCoin.com
CN eBay
All of my collection is in a safe deposit box!
When I was young, everyone in the hobby was old. Now, I'm on the older end of the spectrum and everyone in the hobby is still old. Where were all of you when I was young? That said, it doesn't seem to me that many young people are collecting. Too many other things to occupy their time and attention in this digital age. Plus, most people don't carry change anymore.
We are here. Some lurking, others are active posters with great information.
I mirror what Kevin says, though state quarters would never have gotten me interested in coins.
Andrew Blinkiewicz-Heritage
"Jesus died for you and for me, Thank you,Jesus"!!!
--- If it should happen I die and leave this world and you want to remember me. Please only remember my opening Sig Line.My question is: How does Google know the sex of the visitors to your web site?
I won't claim to know what Google actually does, but I imagine that if you're signed into your google account, it uses that information. Otherwise, it will estimate based off of your searches, how long you spend on a webpage, transactions (text or monetary) etc.
State, there were many, many young people...most of the older individuals were seated behind
the tables (not all, but most). There were always females looking at coins as well. The hobby is
alive and well... Cheers, RickO
I also see younger people. But what I do not see is much diversity in race. I think any picture taken at a coin show will be at least 99% white. This point disturbs me, in large part because I think coin collecting is so much fun, I wish every race would be engaged in having this fun.
I think the issue isn't age it is habit. A recent study showed that the largest barriers for millennial to eat Cereal was that 1) the time it takes/ it's not portable and 2) the clean up of the dishes afterwards.
I can see coin collecting living on through further generations but it will change as we see it changing in ways in which we even see today. Less set building, more type collecting, more eye appeal less mass, instant gratification less perseverance.
Latin American Collection
I've also sent and given my only Nephew plenty of coins including a gold AGE of his birth year.
BUT, I just don't get the part of trying to push people into the hobby or worry about it or be concerned about it. This type of thing reminds me of people trying to get someone into religion since they find it comforting.
Heck, as someone just mentioned a bowl of cereal is too much for young adults these days. Notice I didn't call them kids like they do these days. Oh, at one of the prestige universities they complain that there is too much school work and homework. It cuts into their protesting time.
Notice no concern for them to go to........ work.
Ricko (et. al.)
I also see younger people. But what I do not see is much diversity in race. I think any picture taken at a coin show will be at least 99% white. This point disturbs me, in large part because I think coin collecting is so much fun, I wish every race would be engaged in having this fun.
This. And to take it further, your show attendee is white, male, old(er), much more likely to have a BA/BS or higher, much more likely to be a professional (lawyer, doctor, engineer) or person who started his own successful business. This is a pretty small slice of the population and, in terms of race, one that is only going to get smaller.
I wish an organization would interview women and minorities and younger folks who come to shows and find out how they became interested in coins and see if there were common experiences that could be leveraged to bring a broader spectrum of the population into the hobby.
For the life of me I cannot get my son interested in my collections. He has the gene, and collects some things appropriate to his age, but could care less about my stamps, postal history or coins.
Having said that, I've got two kids who are surprisingly enthused about it. They are ten and twelve, and two of their favorite things to do on a weekend are to go hiking or to go to a coin show.
I have a nephew who was somewhat interested before he hit high school. He built a nice little 20th century type set, and I guess time will tell whether he comes back around to it as a re-interested adult later on. He's got the wonky OCD engineer-ish thing going -- certainly has the head for details and information that this hobby takes -- and there is every reason to suppose he's headed for a life with some disposable income.
Meanwhile, I hope everybody who describes 'kids today' as lazy, lacking in attention span, and so on is doing their bit to help at least one young person learn how to pay attention to something -- coins or whatever else you know and love -- and work hard at it. We're all in this together.
I know you can't be pointing this at me because I didn't call them "Kids."
There will always be a healthy coin demographic IMHO. I know plenty of YNs and some women, too, who will only continue to make a more significant impact on the hobby as they age.
The 'doom and gloom crew' were here fifty years ago......they weren't correct then and they aren't correct today. My 2 cents....
Sometimes, it’s better to be LUCKY than good. 🍀 🍺👍
My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947):
https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/16292/
Without going back to reread the thread, I think yours was the comment about "millenials" -- I guess that's, what, adults in their 20's and 30's now? I suppose anybody who wants to muckle onto a younger grown-up and try to raise them up right is welcome to try that too. LOL.
My point is more general, really, and it's not directed at anybody in particular. We can all do something to cultivate the kinds of people we want around ourselves, in the hobby and everywhere else.
I raised my kids (now they are young adults) thank you very much. Don't need to raise any more. Especially when they belong to someone else.
That being said, any coin dealer/collector that carries that attitude of "what are these kids doing on my lawn", "social media is a fad, a government spying tool and is only for losers", "young people ain't what they used to be, nothing but slackers", or just refuse to acknowledge the digital age is not doing anyone any favors or making the hobby more inviting.
10-4,
My Instagram picturesErik
My registry sets
do we all not know how to make a point?
graded silver coins (NEED TO SELL ASAP)
link below
https://photos.app.goo.gl/7bPCP787VCZCCKb67
I just don't feel it matters one bit what race or gender collects coins. That's my worthless opinion and please don't try changing it. Heh
My question is: How does Google know the sex of the visitors to your web site?
Just like the boy who saw his mom's driver's license and said,
"Mom, I know why you and dad got a divorce . I read it on your driver's license".
Mom : "What ? "
Son: "It says you got an F in sex "
I looked at your sign-up page and it asks name, address, e-mail address but I see no questions on age or sex,
Just wondering,,,,,
So it comes from Google,,,,, can anyone who has a website access this info from Google?
I believe that the digital age has really helped the hobby, immensely, by making it much easier to buy and sell, as well as showcase one's collection.
Sometimes, it’s better to be LUCKY than good. 🍀 🍺👍
My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947):
https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/16292/
I do see more non-white faces at the show than before, especially Asians and Latinos. I see a handful of black people at shows, which ten years ago, was not the case.
"Seu cabra da peste,
"Sou Mangueira......."
I just don't feel it matters one bit what race or gender collects coins. That's my worthless opinion and please don't try changing it. Heh
It appears there are a lot more blacks and minorities in the hobby than ever.
There are also more women but what this hobby really needs is a LOT more women.
I don't think the things we're saying are in any way opposed, and I'm sorry if anything I wrote sent any other message than that.
Notice I didn't call them kids like they do these days. Oh, at one of the prestige universities they complain that there is too much school work and homework. It cuts into their protesting time.
Notice no concern for them to go to........ work.
If you are over 50, everybody under 30 is a kid.
If you are under 30, everybody over 50 is old.
I do not believe that the website analytics make a convincing argument that younger people are engaged in the hobby. They might be, but web traffic on CoinZip is too weak an indicator, IMO.
RMR: 'Wer, wenn ich schriee, hörte mich denn aus der Engel Ordnungen?'
CJ: 'No one!' [Ain't no angels in the coin biz]
Since I was a little boy I've heard the preachers of doom. Now, a half century later… I must have missed it.
They are alive & well, having migrated to the PM forum
I don't think the things we're saying are in any way opposed, and I'm sorry if anything I wrote sent any other message than that.
Thanks and no problems here. It's all good.
but web traffic on CoinZip is too weak an indicator, IMO.
That is exactly why I made the statement it would be interesting to compare the same reports on larger sites like PCGS & Heritage.
How do you get the info on age, sex etc?
I looked at your sign-up page and it asks name, address, e-mail address but I see no questions on age or sex,
Just wondering,,,,,
So it comes from Google,,,,, can anyone who has a website access this info from Google?
We do not collect the data, Google does.
Anyone who owns a website can sign up for and use google analytics.
There are several other traffic measuring companys, we prefer google.
If you do not want websites to collect data, I would suggest using a browser that has a feature called "Browse Incognito."
They will block most of the data collected, but not all.
Coin Club Benefit auctions ..... View the Lots
Coin's for sale/trade.
Tom Pilitowski
US Rare Coin Investments
800-624-1870
but web traffic on CoinZip is too weak an indicator, IMO.
That is exactly why I made the statement it would be interesting to compare the same reports on larger sites like PCGS & Heritage.
How do you get the info on age, sex etc?
I looked at your sign-up page and it asks name, address, e-mail address but I see no questions on age or sex,
Just wondering,,,,,
So it comes from Google,,,,, can anyone who has a website access this info from Google?
We do not collect the data, Google does.
Anyone who owns a website can sign up for and use google analytics.
There are several other traffic measuring companys, we prefer google.
If you do not want websites to collect data, I would suggest using a browser that has a feature called "Browse Incognito."
They will block most of the data collected, but not all.
I guess that I am too old,,,,, it always surprises me the amount of info anyone can get on anyone else.
Heck when I was in school if you wanted to find out something you had to look it up in a book,,,,,,, if you had one.
The battle scars of all the good times
I've experienced a far larger percentage of female collectors in exonumia then coins.
I've noticed this as well.
Really interesting. My daughter has been gravitating toward souvenir tokens, elongated cents, etc. commemorating culturally & historically interesting sites & events.
If you do not want websites to collect data, I would suggest using a browser that has a feature called "Browse Incognito."
They will block most of the data collected, but not all.
I delete most of my cookies. I have google so confused it doesn't know whether to sell me apples or canaries.
Today it was trying to sell me a Florida vacation and a mortgage.
Poor google. I might feel guilty but it no longer works as a search engine and I'm in the market for an Encyclopedia Britannica ('70). Mebbe I should just get a new computer and a better server.
I hate ads.
Really interesting. My daughter has been gravitating toward souvenir tokens, elongated cents, etc. commemorating culturally & historically interesting sites & events.
I've met a couple women who collect souvenir tokens. One of them got me hooked on the 28 mm good luck tokens. It's an interesting series.
State quarters ..................
In my humble opinion circulated State Quarters can be a great way to introduce young collectors to the hobby.
They can be. I've yet to see it personally. My wife collected state quarters for the first several years after they came out. She built a complete set. That led to buying $40 or so in "other"coins over the past 10 years....the finest being a VG-Fine Flying Eagle cent. She actively helped to build starter sets for 4 youngsters that she knew. All of them spent the sets by the time they hit their mid-teens. 2 nephews of ours were into coins in the 10-14 yrs old range. But by age 16-17 that was long gone. I don't know what happened to the coins and collectibles we donated to them. One of them now collects Air Jordans and sports cards doing frequent Ebay auctions. It's not easy to develop a YN. For myself, I was gang busters too from age 8 to around 14. But I also succumbed to sports and other activities before I got more interested in "studying" coins after high school.
Keep up the good work.