A nice article on forum member Owen Seymour
Justacommeman
Posts: 22,852 ✭✭✭✭✭
It’s great to see the Young Turks gain a foothold in our hobby. He was one of the first to gain traction on the Instagram “ platform”. Old hobby, new sales vehicle . A very impressive young man.
The importance of the mentoring process can’t be overstated.
m
From the PCGS May/June Market Report
Walker Proof Digital Album
Fellas, leave the tight pants to the ladies. If I can count the coins in your pockets you better use them to call a tailor. Stay thirsty my friends......
Fellas, leave the tight pants to the ladies. If I can count the coins in your pockets you better use them to call a tailor. Stay thirsty my friends......
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Comments
OwenSeymour is a very impressive poster and has caught by attention several times.
Great story.
The future is in good hands. Thanks for sharing.
Amen!
See http://www.doubledimes.com for a free online reference for US twenty-cent pieces
I'll go further ... the future of numismatics would benefit greatly from mentoring collectors and not just those who want to be dealers. Systematic mentoring of young collectors would be a 'game changer' (or whatever cliche you prefer). The ANA could leverage its YN program and create a network of mentors and mentees who would meet through technology and not be dependent on going to Colorado Springs or an ANA show.
See http://www.doubledimes.com for a free online reference for US twenty-cent pieces
Nice!
Nice to see.
to echo what Astrorat posted, shouldn't we be "mentoring" collectors and not making more dealers??
Both. On the dealer side innovation is sorely lacking plus younger fresher blood is needed. On the collector side softening and shortening the learning curve would strengthen the hobby and keep people around longer.
mark
Fellas, leave the tight pants to the ladies. If I can count the coins in your pockets you better use them to call a tailor. Stay thirsty my friends......
I’ve been on countless Zoom and NuOrder meetings since the quarantine stated. Even post lock down business will be forever changed. I will be traveling less and smarter for work. We will be relying less on sales meetings. Numismatic education via Zoom or like is a no brainer. I wish I was at a different point in my life or I would take this on myself
m
Fellas, leave the tight pants to the ladies. If I can count the coins in your pockets you better use them to call a tailor. Stay thirsty my friends......
I'm glad many enjoyed the article and I appreciate the kind words.
...growing from collector to dealer is an important step for anyone with an entrepreneurs’ spirit...development like this can take a simple store clerk all the way to shop owner...progress is good and one can usually afford more this way in the end. Any collector who doesn’t understand the pain of selling their own coins, isn’t grasping the entire picture. Once a collector learns the ins and outs of selling their stuff it’s pretty easy to move forward with buying at wholesale and selling at retail. Pursue your passion and monies will flow freely is how I feel
It's a shame that that is what you took away from the article.
One cool thing about YNs being so active on social media is that it's really easy for them to reach out to more experienced dealers/collectors for advice/help. A YN might be intimidated to step up to a dealer at a show and ask some questions, but private messaging someone on social media is a lot less intimidating. I've literally answered thousands of questions from collectors on my instagram, I always try to help or at least point them in the direction of an individual or resource they could contact. It would be great if there was a established network of people willing to mentor others.
I think its fantastic, great article and accomplishment.
I run a local small shop, in non collecting town, but its still fun. Years ago, when I visited other shops when I worked for a living, I thought how fun it would be to own a shop, and sit around an bs all day with customers.
I often thought about closing the shop, and hitting the road looking for coins at different locations, but I'm tired and don't want to travel any longer as I used to work for dept of housing and spent many nights on the road.
even though the shop Im at is still mostly junk, occasional bullion, it still can be fun at times.
Great article. I've always enjoyed Owen's contributions on the forum and think it is really cool what he has accomplished at such a young age.
Most young dealers start off as young collectors.
Congrats to Owen!
Considering most coin dealers have underwear older then Owen this a breath of fresh air. Literally
m
Fellas, leave the tight pants to the ladies. If I can count the coins in your pockets you better use them to call a tailor. Stay thirsty my friends......
Great read! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for the post.
I saw that article, very nice. I'm far older than Owen, but I've found Instagram and other social media to be great avenues for the younger demographic as well as for the more adventurous old "farts", plus it's fun to look at what everyone collects, be it just stacking silver Eagles or collecting toned coins.
In this lockdown phase, these avenues have proven to be pretty important to our hobby, especially in the absence of shows.
10-4,
My Instagram picturesErik
My registry sets
Great article and sounds like Owen has the “ Right Stuff!”
It's a shame that that is what you took away from the article.
Owen, you don't have to go on the defensive about my post. I simply asked a question. and not only that, I echoed what another had stated just prior to my post. further, part of the reason that is the "take away" for me is because that is what the article states plainly. in a way, it is sort of a Primer for how to become a Coin Dealer from a young age by using internet platforms such as Instagram.
if you spend much time at this site you'd understand that the bulk of the membership is concerned about the future of the Hobby due mainly to lower overall participation, especially from younger collectors. Mentoring is a fantastic tool and not just in Numismatics, my question is simply do we need to "mentor" on how to be a Coin Dealer or on how to be a better collector??
there are plenty of members here who will praise you but stop short of any criticism, I'm just not one of them. congratulations on your endeavor and I wish you success. my question, though, is this --- when you'r holding yourself out as an example for others in your age group, is that as an example of how interesting this Hobby is, how rich it is in History and comaraderie and how can be a lifelong endeavor --- or --- are you holding yourself out as an example of how to make money??
neither is bad or good, but if you can step away for a moment and re-read the OP you might understand my perspective.
Great story and I wish Owen continued success. This is an amazing hobby that covers so many fields, - art, metallurgy, history, process details, varieties etc.. It is a hobby that allows continual learning....always something new. Not a week goes by that I do not learn something about 'coins' . Lending our knowledge (mentoring) is an important part of the hobby and the future. We need collectors and dealers. Cheers, RickO
1 > @keets said:
In regards to your question I've written and presented information that relates to both. This article wasn't intended to be an example of how to make money. It was intended to serve as inspiration for other YNs who might be interested in buying & selling. Without a healthy network of future dealers the hobby would be doomed. I hope no one read the article and thought "wow I hate coins but I can make money if I just do this!". I was looking for more of a reaction where someone may realize that it IS possible for them to become professionally involved in their favorite hobby, and maybe even form a career that revolves around doing what they love. I've also written another RCMR article that focuses on the YN engagement and future of the hobby.
I absolutely agree with you that a mentor is an incredibly important resource for a collector. Dealers should not be the only ones being mentored, and mentoring collectors is a great way to increase the likelihood that individuals will continue to participate in our hobby. I also think its important to note that a mentored dealer often passes the knowledge they've learned onto anyone willing to listen. Much of the knowledge that I received from my mentors has already been passed onto dozens or hundreds of collectors.
Awesome.
Hard work pays off again.
Instagram has been fantastic for me.
Owen, what is your handle on Instagram?
@PA_Coins, we have talked there before
Ok, yes indeed, I am following you
Wow, you have 7,867 followers, that is fantastic. How long have you been on Instagram?
I am at a little less than a year and am up to almost 1000.
Instagram is such a great venue for coins as it is image based.
Best of luck to you !
About five years. Nearly a thousand in under a year is fantastic. Thank you!
Owen, are you using Facebook in conjunction with Instagram or just Instagram as a stand-alone?
I do not do Facebook as I do not like it.
But, is Facebook a necessity, and should anyone with an Instagram business also do Facebook?
I thank you for your insight.
I have a business Facebook page but honestly rarely use it, its posts aren't linked to my Instagram. I am however active in many numismatic facebook groups, my favorite being the Virtual Coin Show on Facebook which I reccomend to both buyers and sellers.
I just had my high school reunion via Zoom!
Why not a message board zoom meeting? Or webinar on collecting coins, sharing collections, grading, etc. Certainly seems like a way forward when there are no shows. Think about the educational displays that people put together and are likely enjoyed by a small fraction of people who might be interested. (I've really enjoyed when @BillJones recreates his displays here online.)
Like MJ I think there could be a lot of potential here. Best part of shows are the people, making connections, learning.
My current "Box of 20"