A great thing about collecting coins is that you can do whatever you want with your collection, spend as little or much as you want, and be whomever you want to be.
Still, there are some stereotypes that develop about coin collectors and there is some basis for such. Large or small shows typically have crowds which are overwhelmingly male, and the age-range at such shows is mosty the over 40 crowd. This is at least partly explained by the costs associated with attending larger shows which include transportation, hotel rooms, admission charges, and meals. Not that younger people can't and don't attend, but the costs are one factor involved.
Personality-wise I have seen nearly all types at coin shows and that's what makes life interesting. Some people are very pleasant to deal with and others can be a pain in the neck, but most are fine and enjoy the hobby. I do tend to be more introverted overall, but at coin shows I am very social. Circumstances dictate which mode I am in. As a pathologist I deal with very serious diseases and diagnoses and that affects how I act and behave at work. At play, it is a different story.
I do think a good number of coin collectors get an exposure in their youth and carry it forward to adulthood. That holds true for me, as well.
Everybody meet at Don Willis's house at 1:00pm Saturday.....
I used to be somebody, now I'm just a coin collector. Recipient of the coveted "You Suck" award, April 2009 for cherrypicking a 1833 CBHD LM-5, and April 2022 for a 1835 LM-12, and again in Aug 2012 for picking off a 1952 FS-902.
Funny, I don't feel like a loner. Then again, I'm no socialite. My wife's always bugging me to be more sociable, but I've got two things working against me: One, very few people really want to hear what "the science nerd" has to say, and two, "the science nerd" has very little patience for small talk.
I'm a college grad, but not a loner at all. When I was forced to retire from the school bidness, I went nuts at home by myself until I could find a part time job!
Same here I am like you!!! Although people like to learn more about social sciences I hate having to explain in detail for people (I have my masters in sociology and people ask me questions about say Russia's history or the middle East...but how can I explain those things in a simple matter when the real story is long and complicated)...just rather say hi and bye and throw a few things in here and there. Nobody almost cares to know the real real details so why waste my time. I am one that likes to study humans no really out there trying to talk to folks much...unless it's about my hobbies I prefer silence. I work for my self from home so I get to be in silence and just play my music and do my work in peace. I have a great love for animals so I have a pet and he to me is the best company I could ever ask for. I don't want kids or to be married I love the single life...been there done that to many times I have had enough and have hung up my hat on those 2 things.
Thanks, er... um... apologies. I knew there had to be at least a few others.
<< <i>so I get to be in silence and just play my music and do my work in peace >>
So, reading this, I first thought about a snarky response, like: how do you play music in silence? Now I realize that potentially you, like me, can use music in such a way that it quiets the voices inside your own head.
Silence is golden.
And whoever out there that thinks "brainy = happy" has got more to learn. In my experience, the surest way to happiness is through a rigorous program of lowering expectations.
One of the things I have noticed about coin collectors (BROAD GENERALIZATION HERE) is that they tend to be either white or asian-american. I live in the SF Bay Area and in the Area there is a large white population, a large hispanic population, a large asian-american population and a relatively small black population. Given that, the relative paucity of blacks at shows is not too surprising, but the relative lack of hispanics is surprising. How is it in other parts of the US with your demographics?
<< <i>One of the things I have noticed about coin collectors (BROAD GENERALIZATION HERE) is that they tend to be either white or asian-american. I live in the SF Bay Area and in the Area there is a large white population, a large hispanic population, a large asian-american population and a relatively small black population. Given that, the relative paucity of blacks at shows is not too surprising, but the relative lack of hispanics is surprising. How is it in other parts of the US with your demographics? >>
Considering the fairly high percentage of Asians in the Bay Area the number of Asians at coin shows is also relatively low. It is true that there are substantially more men than women, especially in Santa Clara county, but that shouldn't account for the fact that the ratio of men to women at a coin show is no lower than 60-1.
Follow me on Twitter @wtcgroup Authorized dealer for PCGS, PCGS Currency, NGC, NCS, PMG, CAC. Member of the PNG, ANA. Member dealer of CoinPlex and CCE/FACTS as "CH5"
<< <i>the ratio of men to women at a coin show is no lower than 60-1. >>
We might have stumbled on the problem, Wei... What percentage of time do men, who are involuntarily single, spend in environments where the male to female ratio is 60 to 1?
Ya just gotta get out more, son! And I don't mean to the Silver Dollar Show...
Considering the fairly high percentage of Asians in the Bay Area the number of Asians at coin shows is also relatively low. It is true that there are substantially more men than women, especially in Santa Clara county, but that shouldn't account for the fact that the ratio of men to women at a coin show is no lower than 60-1. >>
Really, i am always surprised by the amount of woman that ARE at coin shows! You should try a model train show sometime ! ?:
Comments
Still, there are some stereotypes that develop about coin collectors and there is some basis for such. Large or small shows typically have crowds which are overwhelmingly male, and the age-range at such shows is mosty the over 40 crowd. This is at least partly explained by the costs associated with attending larger shows which include transportation, hotel rooms, admission charges, and meals. Not that younger people can't and don't attend, but the costs are one factor involved.
Personality-wise I have seen nearly all types at coin shows and that's what makes life interesting. Some people are very pleasant to deal with and others can be a pain in the neck, but most are fine and enjoy the hobby. I do tend to be more introverted overall, but at coin shows I am very social. Circumstances dictate which mode I am in. As a pathologist I deal with very serious diseases and diagnoses and that affects how I act and behave at work. At play, it is a different story.
I do think a good number of coin collectors get an exposure in their youth and carry it forward to adulthood. That holds true for me, as well.
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution
<< <i>The topic makes me wonder if we're being profiled to find the next unabomber. >>
Everybody meet at Don Willis's house at 1:00pm Saturday.....
Recipient of the coveted "You Suck" award, April 2009 for cherrypicking a 1833 CBHD LM-5, and April 2022 for a 1835 LM-12, and again in Aug 2012 for picking off a 1952 FS-902.
Empty Nest Collection
<< <i>From what I've seen the average coin collector is better educated but more introverted than the average non-collector. >>
"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
Same here I am like you!!! Although people like to learn more about social sciences I hate having to explain in detail for people (I have my masters in sociology and people ask me questions about say Russia's history or the middle East...but how can I explain those things in a simple matter when the real story is long and complicated)...just rather say hi and bye and throw a few things in here and there. Nobody almost cares to know the real real details so why waste my time. I am one that likes to study humans no really out there trying to talk to folks much...unless it's about my hobbies I prefer silence. I work for my self from home so I get to be in silence and just play my music and do my work in peace. I have a great love for animals so I have a pet and he to me is the best company I could ever ask for. I don't want kids or to be married I love the single life...been there done that to many times I have had enough and have hung up my hat on those 2 things.
<< <i>renomedphys:
Same here I am like you!!! >>
Thanks, er... um... apologies. I knew there had to be at least a few others.
<< <i>so I get to be in silence and just play my music and do my work in peace >>
So, reading this, I first thought about a snarky response, like: how do you play music in silence? Now I realize that potentially you, like me, can use music in such a way that it quiets the voices inside your own head.
Silence is golden.
And whoever out there that thinks "brainy = happy" has got more to learn. In my experience, the surest way to happiness is through a rigorous program of lowering expectations.
Empty Nest Collection
U.S. Type Set
<< <i>One of the things I have noticed about coin collectors (BROAD GENERALIZATION HERE) is that they tend to be either white or asian-american. I live in the SF Bay Area and in the Area there is a large white population, a large hispanic population, a large asian-american population and a relatively small black population. Given that, the relative paucity of blacks at shows is not too surprising, but the relative lack of hispanics is surprising. How is it in other parts of the US with your demographics? >>
Considering the fairly high percentage of Asians in the Bay Area the number of Asians at coin shows is also relatively low. It is true that there are substantially more men than women, especially in Santa Clara county, but that shouldn't account for the fact that the ratio of men to women at a coin show is no lower than 60-1.
Authorized dealer for PCGS, PCGS Currency, NGC, NCS, PMG, CAC. Member of the PNG, ANA. Member dealer of CoinPlex and CCE/FACTS as "CH5"
<< <i>the ratio of men to women at a coin show is no lower than 60-1. >>
We might have stumbled on the problem, Wei... What percentage of time do men, who are involuntarily single, spend in environments where the male to female ratio is 60 to 1?
Ya just gotta get out more, son! And I don't mean to the Silver Dollar Show...
<< <i>
Considering the fairly high percentage of Asians in the Bay Area the number of Asians at coin shows is also relatively low. It is true that there are substantially more men than women, especially in Santa Clara county, but that shouldn't account for the fact that the ratio of men to women at a coin show is no lower than 60-1. >>
Really, i am always surprised by the amount of woman that ARE at coin shows!
You should try a model train show sometime ! ?:
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