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The Witter U Experience

YoloBagelsYoloBagels Posts: 154 ✭✭✭
edited August 2, 2021 5:58AM in U.S. Coin Forum

Hello everyone,

Some of yall might have realized that I haven't been very active lately. That's mainly because about 2 months ago I was accepted for a program called Witter U.

The program was put together by Seth Chandler and his team of employees and interns. It took place over the last week in San Francisco, CA. It was intended for YN's ages 13-21 and was attended by young numismatists from all over the country. Luckily I was accepted and got to go to San Francisco.

It was truly incredible. Not only did I get to meet the team of instructors (Steve Feltner, David McCarthy, Devin Hipp, Jim Stoutjesydk, John Brush, and Kevin Kaufmann). But I also got to spend a week with my best friends from the internet (some of them I have known since I began collecting almost 6 years ago!).

We were given what was basically an ANA Grading seminar with the PCGS grading set plus some super nice coins owned by the instructors. We started out doing individual grading and then got into groups and did competitions. I feel like I learned a lot and really sharpened my grading skills (I started with about 50% accuracy, by the last competition it was around 70%)

I also got the chance to have a 2-hour internship with Seth in the shop. We sorted morgan dollars, talked about our numismatic experience, and Seth showed me some of his most expensive coins (Pan Pac, Prooflike 1803 Heagle, 27-D $20 MS66+, etc). It was a cool experience and I had a lot of fun.

At the end of the course, we had a graduation ceremony. We got diplomas and each student recieved a custom PCGS Witter U slab with a morgan dollar. I got super lucky and my dollar happened to be a beautifully toned, flashy 1881-S Morgan! And in addition to these gifts, PCGS also gave us a free 1 year Gold membership and 4 free coin submission vouchers! Huge thank you to our hosts and Steve Feltner.


The whole experience was great and I learned a lot. I am also super motivated to work on my collection and start flipping coins for profit. I am so happy I was part of this challenge and that I got to spend it with my close friends. Thank you to Seth and all the people who donated and worked to make Witter U a reality!

Comments

  • CoinJunkieCoinJunkie Posts: 8,772 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited August 2, 2021 6:40AM

    Sounds like a fantastic experience! Kudos to everyone involved in making it happen.

  • KoveKove Posts: 2,038 ✭✭✭✭

    Great write-up and photos. Sounds like an amazing experience, and an incredible amount of behind-the-scenes effort to make this happen for these YNs!

    Thanks for the write-up.

  • ZoinsZoins Posts: 34,376 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @YoloBagels said:
    It was truly incredible. Not only did I get to meet the team of instructors (Steve Feltner, David McCarthy, Devin Hipp, Jim Stoutjesydk, John Brush, and Kevin Kaufmann). But I also got to spend a week with my best friends from the internet (some of them I have known since I began collecting almost 6 years ago!).

    Sounds like a great experience! Hopefully your friends and cohort can go through life and coins together!

    At the end of the course, we had a graduation ceremony. We got diplomas and each student recieved a custom PCGS Witter U slab with a morgan dollar. I got super lucky and my dollar happened to be a beautifully toned, flashy 1881-S Morgan! And in addition to these gifts, PCGS also gave us a free 1 year Gold membership and 4 free coin submission vouchers! Huge thank you to our hosts and Steve Feltner.

    That looks really nice and I agree on the toning! Congrats!

    The whole experience was great and I learned a lot. I am also super motivated to work on my collection and start flipping coins for profit.

    Glad to hear your grading went from 50% to 70%. Good luck making some profit from your knowledge!

  • rickoricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Congratulations on your experience. Sounds like you learned a lot and had fun doing it. Good to see you back. Cheers, RickO

  • BryceMBryceM Posts: 11,830 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I love it when good stuff happens in the world. A program like this will have a tremendous impact. Nice 81-S too!

  • AercusAercus Posts: 381 ✭✭✭✭

    This is great! Wonderful writeup. Thanks to @SethChandler and his team for putting together something like this. This is how you grow the hobby!

    Aercus Numismatics - Certified coins for sale

  • Eldorado9Eldorado9 Posts: 2,418 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @SethChandler setting the standard over there at Witter, well done Man! Fantastic way to grow the hobby.

  • savitalesavitale Posts: 1,409 ✭✭✭✭✭

    This is truly an awesome program. Thanks for taking the time to write it up. I hope my daughter will be accepted into the program when she is old enough.

  • ike126ike126 Posts: 802 ✭✭✭✭✭

    This is a amazing gift and program for the YN. Glad to see some positivity lately!! This is a home run and im sure they will never forget!!

  • bidaskbidask Posts: 14,017 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Fantastic experience and thank you for the write and a shout out to all those who sponsored this for YN’s.

    Being the age I am I came from the school of hard knocks when coins were all raw .

    Oh boy 😊

    I manage money. I earn money. I save money .
    I give away money. I collect money.
    I don’t love money . I do love the Lord God.




  • SeatedTonersSeatedToners Posts: 392 ✭✭✭✭

    Thats really awesome! Sounds like a great experience!

  • SethChandlerSethChandler Posts: 1,719 ✭✭✭✭

    Glad you had a wonderful time, YoloBagels.

    I think your WCU Morgan was the best of the group!

    Collecting since 1976.
  • pmh1nicpmh1nic Posts: 3,295 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Thanks for sharing your experience. It's events like this that help keep the hobby alive.

    The longer I live the more convincing proofs I see of this truth, that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice is it possible for an empire to rise without His aid? Benjamin Franklin
  • ashelandasheland Posts: 23,427 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Very cool! And amazing coins shown! :o

  • JustacommemanJustacommeman Posts: 22,852 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Good on you, good on Seth and good on all that made this happen

    m

    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......
  • Great recap! Thank you for sharing!

  • coinsarefuncoinsarefun Posts: 21,743 ✭✭✭✭✭

    It warms my very heart to see such wonderful young men and women carrying on the numismatic
    tradition and education. We need a few more girls in the mix tho’ :pB)

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