How much have your skills improved as a result of this forum?

291fifth · February 27, 2007 11:19PM

Grading?

Spotting coins with eye-appeal?

Spotting problems?

Avoiding scammers?

My own comments:
Grading - I was always conservative and remain so. I have become much more adept at net grading.
Spotting coins with eye-appeal - I was always able to spot them, but have become even more picky.
Spotting problems - I have gotten much better at this, especially in regard to spotting all forms of cleaning. I find myself looking much more closely at all coins I consider for purchase.
Avoiding scammers - I have gotten better at spotting them in advance.

Barndog · February 27, 2007 11:20PM

I hvae becoem a much bteter typsit as a result of partcipating here.

AnkurJ · February 27, 2007 11:23PM

When I started on this board, I was a complete newbie, and was swindled only once ;-)

Since I joined this fourm, I have been able to grade accurately, and realize what is a good buy and not. And thanks to a lot of the people on this board, I have been guided in the right direction in buying.

Thanks a million to everyone!
Ankur

ricko · February 27, 2007 11:29PM

This board has contributed to my skills immensely.... over the seven (six on the new board) years I have been participating, I have learned an incredible amount of coin history, grading skills, scam/counterfeit detection methods and even made some friends. The consulting aspect of the board is invaluable. Cheers, RickO

COINB0Y · February 27, 2007 11:42PM

1.) Grading - Without a doubt, I have a complete understanding of all of basic things that are done. Other than looking at a 69 vs. a 70 and picking out which is which, I know my limitations. I leave grading to the experts. I have learned that here.

2.) Spotting coins with eye-appeal - Like 291fifth, I was always able to spot them, but I understand now that one must become picky (see #1)

3.) Spotting problems - Because of this Forum, i.e. PVC'd coins ;> , spotting all forms of cleaning, whizzing, dipped, rubbed...

4.) Avoiding scammers - Because of this Forum, my Block File is HUGE, looking out for auction 'ner-do-wells', like PINKLADY Coins...

5.) Beyond skills, just knowing who is a 'Straight Shooter' - guys like Bear, Russ, Jerry (notwilight) , FloridaBill, Mitch (wondercoin), itsnotjustme, mrpaseo (Ray who is also a good shot, as well), ericj96, CoinMaster1229, Kaelasdad, Brian (clackamas) and many, many others. Some of whom I have done deals with on just a phone call agreement and you know they trust your word and you can trust that their word, as a bond. That alone is priceless.

mirabela · February 27, 2007 11:47PM

I think my knowledge base and understanding of the various levels and niches of the market have increased astronomically.

My understanding of the minting process and the mechanics of coin circulation has exploded.

I have gotten better at staying out of trouble of all sorts -- grading, problems, scams, you name it.

It has helped me greatly to refine the rationale behind my own collection, what coins get included therein and what coins do not.

I think it has done more for my ability to grade coin pictures than for my ability to grade coins, though (I mean this in total seriousness! Anyone else find this happening?)

EricSan · February 27, 2007 11:54PM

I am definitely more selective now in the arena's that have already been mentioned (picking nicer coins, avoiding problems such as cleaning, bad dipping, spotting problem sellers, etc). After hanging around here for a while, I went back to look at a number of classic coins I purchased long ago and was surprised how quickly I was able to identify problems with each of them. Now I know to look more carefully at a wider variety of issues.

Thanks everyone!
Eric

RYK · February 28, 2007 12:10AM

Grading - I was always conservative and remain so. I have become much more adept at net grading.

Oh, go on...

I think it has done more for my ability to grade coin pictures than for my ability to grade coins, though (I mean this in total seriousness! Anyone else find this happening?)

I agree completely. While both skills involve overlapping experience, knowledge, and judgment, despite what many here believe, they are not the same.

RedTiger · February 28, 2007 12:15AM

The board has given me more perspective as to what other collectors find attractive. It has helped my grading skills go up a notch. Answering newbie inquiries has helped reinforce my own grasp of fundamentals. That said, I remain ever humble and willing to learn.

I mention humble because the arrogant newbies (less than five years), especially those with deep pockets, amaze me. They have all this information available, and experience to drawn on. Yet ego, and confusing having money and having knowledge, seems to prevent them from learning more than the bare basics, and sometimes they don't even seem to get that much. That cliche about a horse and water comes to mind.

TwoSides2aCoin · February 28, 2007 12:17AM

I'm a much better guesser on the "guess the grade" threads

mgoodm3 · February 28, 2007 12:55AM

I think that the boards provide education about coins that's not so easy to find in books. Practical knowledge about grading, problem coins, dealers.....

rhedden · February 28, 2007 1:10AM

I used to collect 1796-CC Trade Dollars on ebay, but now I am much smarter about counterfeits and have moved on to hoarding the 1845-CC's.

AuldFartte · February 28, 2007 1:16AM

Grading - Absolutely, in circulated grades. I still screw up regularly on MS grading though.

Spotting coins with eye-appeal - Definitely improved in this area thanks to all of you. I am now much more selective in my purchases than I was before I got here.

Spotting problems - Again, absolutely. I can spot many more problems on coins now.

Avoiding scammers - Yup. The threads here "outing" scammers and pointing out questionable auctions, especially on Ebay, has helped me immensely.

I know I've said it before, and I'll undoubtedly say it again, but the vast majority of the folks right here are most generous in sharing information that is helpful to me, and I thank all of you for your efforts.

DeusExMachina · February 28, 2007 2:05AM

I have learned quite a bit here and I have been collecting for 20+ years. I first starting collecting by pulling coins out of circulation so grading and scams weren't a huge issue.

I think the biggest impact of these boards has been avoiding scammers. I have learned about the numerous ways coins can be altered and how to identify those alterations. I have shifted my collecting to focus; rather than owning 80-100 coins of varying quality, I want to own 20-50 of excellent quality for the grade.

Grading? Improved

Spotting coins with eye-appeal? About the same but I have learned about what other collectors believe is an eye appealing coin

Spotting problems? Much improved

Avoiding scammers? Much improved

BigRed · February 28, 2007 2:06AM

I've learned to look at coins more closely, I mean really more closely. I used to be a marks guy,if a coin didn't have many marks it was an OK coin.Now I look at the strike, originality,marks,luster and the whole coin and try to read the coins past, hope that makes sense. Some of you guys give pretty harsh opinions on coins of other peoples and I have but one thing to say about that,"keep it up"

It makes people with less experience stop and look at what they are buying and they learn from thier mistakes instead of making them over and over again, like I did for a while.

Colorfulcoins · February 28, 2007 2:09AM

Perhaps I look at things with a more jaundiced eye as a result of being here..........

pharmer · February 28, 2007 2:09AM

I can type, without looking up the spelling, words such as Heritage, Doug Winter, Heritage, QDB, Heritage, Doug Winter, QDB and Heritage.

Rollerman · February 28, 2007 5:52AM

I'd been at the hobby for a long time prior to getting on the forum, but I feel I have learned much since being here. I think the "guess the grade" posts have helped the most, especially when the images are as good as most are. I still think, in the non-Gold coins, the Buffalo nickel is still one of the hardest to grade.
Put it this way, I'm not going anywhere! This forum is the nuts!~
Pete

richardshipp · February 28, 2007 5:59AM

This was (I think) the first coin I posted here thinking it was a great save from when I was a kid.......... any questions about how the forum has helped me now?

BECOKA · February 28, 2007 6:04AM

Great question. Some of the stuff posted on these boards is purely incredible. We get chances to see the potential in high quality coins. Not just expensive but great eye appeal at lower grades. Without this the stuff I collect would have been mediocre at best as I would have accepted almost anything not knowing the beauty of what could be out there.

The biggest thing anyone can get out of this forum is seeing lots of cleaned vs. not cleaned and a multitude of various graded coins for comparison purposes.

anablep · February 28, 2007 6:49AM

I use these forums as an educational tool.

Most of the material is valuable and the participants knowledgeable in their fields of interest.

For that, I am thankful.

As a community, we should be thankful we can communicate as we do here. I cannot imaging what this hobby was like 25-30 years ago, without the internet to facilitate such a place as this.

WTCG · February 28, 2007 6:51AM

I don't know about improvements, but this forum has taught me to complain more frequently about issues that I don't know much about to begin with.

RYK · February 28, 2007 6:59AM

<< <i>I don't know about improvements, but this forum has taught me to complain more frequently about issues that I don't know much about to begin with. >>

Well, it's nice to see that you have at least learned something.

Julio · February 28, 2007 7:00AM

"I hvae becoem a much bteter typsit as a result of partcipating here". Barndog

HMMM. We are going to work on your spelling.

. jws

How much have your skills improved as a result of this forum?

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