Do you have to be really smart to be a top numismatist...
Coinstartled
Posts: 10,135 ✭✭✭✭✭
...or just have a good memory?
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Coinstartled
Posts: 10,135 ✭✭✭✭✭
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I believe it was Ken Bressett that said: "All you need is a good loupe, a good memory and 40 years of experience."
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Define smart.
I know loads of smart people who can’t pass written exams. I also know plenty of smart people who can’t program their own lawn sprinklers. What’s more, I know more than a few “dumb” millionaires who somehow run wildly successful businesses.
I think it is a natural ability for some and it can certainly be honed with practice by others.
Sometimes, it’s better to be LUCKY than good. 🍀 🍺👍
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It certainly can't hurt.
"If I say something in the woods and my wife isn't there to hear it.....am I still wrong?"
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Smart guys have someone else program the lawn sprinklers.
...But only if they are smart and wealthy guys.
Obviously not...
And then, only if those smart and wealthy guys remember to do so.😉
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
You're smart when you are hungry to learn more than what you know already. You grow your intellect by keeping an open mind to many sources of information. IMO. And you commiserate with likeminded people. Peace Roy
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The only thing I would add to this is focus, focus, focus.
"A dog breaks your heart only one time and that is when they pass on". Unknown
How smart do you have to be to figure guide price less 42% ?
All I know is that when I am in a room with my serious numismatist friends, I am always the dumbest in the room.
Joseph J. Singleton - First Superintendent of the U.S. Branch Mint in Dahlonega Georgia
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I feel that way at the OFR.
I vote for smart, as in savvy.
Here's a warning parable for coin collectors...
"My friends tell me I'm the dumbest smart guy they know." - Jeremy Lin
Let's settle this right here and now with a math problem.
Is 66 just a little more than 65?
Welp.
65+bean = 66 $
"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
This is not an agriculture problem.
it's infinitely larger - by a metric of how many numbers exist between the two!
Or should I not bring mathematics into this?
Minor Variety Trade dollar's with chop marks set:
More Than It's Chopped Up To Be
We talking a different numerical radix or just logarithmically?
Those number don't even exist in a calculus done in base 5. Or base 6. There's no 6 in base 6. That seems more than "a little more"
If we're talking the price differentials in the 65-66 range, the only grade level measurably (sic) more than 65 is 65.7. A 66 may mean more Fibonacci calculations on a gold rarity, but useless on 81-S $1's in less than 68+. I got a lot of this from Dr. Irwin Corey R.I.P.
Let's take n-dimensional Hilbert space and put it on the back burner, and get back to "There are 10 kinds of people in the world. Those who understand binary and those who don't" and why a 25% buyers fee is desirable.
The most interesting numismatists to me are ones that are like detectives. I’m less interested in a loupe only than research and conclusions, like establishing that the Continental Dollar is likely a European medal, the Franklin Hoard Clark Gruber double eagles were counterfeits (loupe useful), and the linkage between Koehler, Kuner and Baldwin.
Ooohhh. Perhaps we should be talking about Lebesgue measure, here. Perhaps that is a better identity for 65 to 66, they are different measures. Or perhaps we should use P-norms. As an aside, I did attend a talk at the Joint Mathematics Meetings conference about quasi p-groups, which incidentally was a complete snoozer.
Minor Variety Trade dollar's with chop marks set:
More Than It's Chopped Up To Be
See? Already the thread reeks of smartness!
Do you mean 'smart' or 'intelligent'...There is a difference. Cheers, RickO
Smart.
Origin
Old English smeortan (verb), of West Germanic origin; related to German schmerzen; the adjective is related to the verb, the original sense ( late Old English) being ‘causing sharp pain’; from this arose ‘keen, brisk’, whence the current senses of ‘mentally sharp’ and ‘neat in a brisk, sharp style’.
Feel upset and annoyed.
‘defence chiefs are still smarting from the government's cuts’
Mental pain or suffering.
‘sorrow is the effect of smart, and smart the effect of faith’
🕸
I don’t think you’d have to be smart as in having an above average IQ.
I think the average joe could become a top numismatist as long as they are dedicated and spend many, many years researching and taking thorough notes.
Sometimes it helps to just be lucky with right time right place
https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/quarters/washington-quarters-major-sets/washington-quarters-date-set-circulation-strikes-1932-present/publishedset/209923
https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/quarters/washington-quarters-major-sets/washington-quarters-date-set-circulation-strikes-1932-present/album/209923
Common sense works for me
True, but they should also have the ability to do it. Ya got yer book smart and yer street smart and each has its rightful place.
Intelligence certainly helps, but focus, attention to detail, and memory would all seem to be more important.
No. Numismatics is a skill, like any other. Some people are naturals, and become top drawer numismatists by constantly getting more experience in the field, while the rest of us have to work at it a bit more to become hopefully better than average.
I'll provide a personal example. In high school, I was a top drawer student, and also ran track. I probably spent an equal amount of time studying as I did working out. The results in the two areas couldn't have been more different.
"Seu cabra da peste,
"Sou Mangueira......."
Not necessarily. Most people are smart when it comes to what interests them. On the other side of the coin, could be considered dumb in other aspects of life.
Reminds me of the Abbott and Costello routine about 7 x 13 equals 28.
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What type of knowledge you'll need depends on what type of coins you collect. For example, knowledge of Greek and Roman history is important for attributing ancient coins. Knowledge of history is less important for US coins such as Morgan dollars. For US coins, knowledge of grading and identifying die varieties/marriages is more important. I honestly have no clue what type of "knowledge" is needed to collect ultra-modern NCLT proof coins.
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Just lucky. If somebody got in market in 1972 nowhere to go but up. 1988 nowhere but down.
Being able buy low / sell high a must. Understanding pricing very important.
I am no smart cookie but I like to think I am a good numismatist and this is not necessarily means in big bucks.
Love what I have collected in the last couple years.....mix match it is but a beauty nevertheless for my eyes
so I am
It sounds as if you’re talking about being a trader and making money, rather than being a “top numismatist”. They aren’t at all necessarily one and the same.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
Yes perhaps so but at end of day I don’t think losing money is a goal for anybody. Knowing market pricing dynamics and flow as important as knowing ones numismatic area.
Everybody knows we are all numismatists even though some specialized plus some more in the professor (expert) role. But to be good research, research, research. Good ones (favorites) which come to mind: Bowers, Breen, Harry Laibstain (his work on Commems), Akers (his work on Early 20th century gold.
Concentrating on an area of interest, researching it, understanding its pricing and valuation, developing numismatic library, good organizational skills, important goals. Another key area is study of market history - PCGS 3000.
I like the studious philosophical numismatists, some have been lucky and amassed or inherited money before pursuing the noble hobby of numismatics.
Those who are making a living at it you see at shows, they can breeze through many coins spotting issues others don't see. It is more an instinctual thing than smarts. Also it doesn't hurt to have an iron clad stomach able to survive bourse food.
I see you've already been reminded that there is a big difference between being a top NUMISMATIST and a top COIN DEALER. I've decided to self-edit the rest of this before posting.
One day I may start a new discussion: "What is a numismatist?" Once we define the subject of the discussion - in this case a numismatist - we can keep more focused and not cluttered with things like the request I'll make below.
Then we can narrow down the meaning of "smart" in the OP as others needed to do.
PS Will someone post the link to the OFR that split away? I forgot to write it down. It sounds like a place where different views on taboo subjects are discussed openly. That's a place you can learn some new things by reading opposing views!
PSS You know what, I'm all wet! I should delete this entire post but I'm leaving it to make a point and answer the OP's question:
NO
According to the definition, just about anyone who fools with coins in some way is a "numismatist!" However, I don't think that is what the intent of the question was.
My short answer is "no" and it's just based on personal experience at being at the top in a couple of things, and not being really smart.
This story, being older than the hills, will illustrate an aspect of this conundrum.
A new group of recruits line up for the first day of Basic Training.
The sergeant calls out "all of you with IQ's over 120 step forward." They do. "Assigned to Officer Candidate School".
Over 100 - Assigned to Military intelligence.
Over 90 - assigned to Infantry School.
Over 80 - assigned to latrine duty.
At this point only two recruits remain.
One looks at the other and asks "Say, you don't have a copy of the latest Greysheet, do you?"
As in, some people know the price of everything and the value of nothing.
I can agree with several of the posts above, but just for clarity, there are collectors, there are dealers and there are numismatists. A person can be any combination or all three but they are all different definitions of what one does with coins.
I think anyone active with coins is a numismatist, especially if they are doing research - price guides, books on their favorite series, etc. Like a planet has an atmosphere. To what extent can vary.
Frankly I like what Ken Bresset said (beginning of thread). Who was it that said years ago “the only thing that is conditional (in numismatics) is making money.” I recall the comment but fuzzy on who.
As far as top numismatist that is a subjective area everybody has their ideas and opinions.
my response is, nope, just have a head for beans.
Yes, and you can "YODA" the question for the answer. A top numismatist very smart, yes.
I will take the OCD habits over smarts.
Attention to detail and perfectionist qualities.
All I care about is learning to grade.
Give me an endless supply of coins and a little OCD... and I am half way there.
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OCD and being super smart, yeah, that's the ticket
Think you only have to be "smart" enough to hang out with the "T.N." to possibly become one.