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What's the definition of "Numismatist"?
MidLifeCrisis
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And how is a "numismatist" different from a "coin collector"?
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EAC 6024
A New Miss Mat'ist
<< <i>A dude who would rather discuss coins with others numismatists than paint color with his/her significant other. >>
What would happen if she wanted to discuss painting the walls "dirty gold"
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CoinsAreFun Toned Silver Eagle Proof Album
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Gallery Mint Museum, Ron Landis& Joe Rust, The beginnings of the Golden Dollar
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More CoinsAreFun Pictorials NGC
(merriam-webster)
Yes, even we paper money collectors count!
<< <i>Definition of NUMISMATICS: the study or collection of coins, tokens, and paper money and sometimes related objects (as medals).
(merriam-webster) >>
OK, thanks. What about my second question? How is a "numismatist" different from a "coin collector"?
Or...do you consider yourself a numismatist? If not, why?
Here's the short answer:
1. Do other knowledgeable collectors refer to me as a numismatist? If so, then I'm a numismatist.
2. Do I ask the question "how is a numismatist different from a coin collector"? If so, then I'm not a numismatist.
Here's a longer answer:
Do I have a wide (or deep) body of numismatic knowledge? Do I have sufficient numismatic experience to complement my wide or deep body of knowledg? Does my body of knowledge enjoy the respect of other numismatists? Do I enjoy the pursuit of numismatic knowledge as much or more than the pursuit of money from buying and selling a coin?
Check out the Southern Gold Society
TD
<< <i>Well, I think that being a numismatist is sort of like pornography - one knows what it is when one sees it.
Here's the short answer:
1. Do other knowledgeable collectors refer to me as a numismatist? If so, then I'm a numismatist.
2. Do I ask the question "how is a numismatist different from a coin collector"? If so, then I'm not a numismatist. >>
Got it! Thanks for clearing that up.
Oh wait...you had more to say on the subject. But now I have more questions.
<< <i>Here's a longer answer:
Do I have a wide (or deep) body of numismatic knowledge? >>
Compared to what? How do I know if it's wide (or deep) enough?
<< <i>Do I have sufficient numismatic experience to complement my wide or deep body of knowledg? >>
How much is sufficient?
<< <i>Does my body of knowledge enjoy the respect of other numismatists? >>
How do I know the answer if I can't tell who the numismatists are?
<< <i>Do I enjoy the pursuit of numismatic knowledge as much or more than the pursuit of money from buying and selling a coin? >>
Hmmm...you might be on to something here. So, maybe, pursuit of numismatic knowlege - not who has the best coins or who makes more money or who has the higher registry set or who has a higher post count - maybe pursuit of numismatic knowledge can define you as a numismatist.
A numismatist studies the history of coinage, while a coin collector studies the numismatist's findings!!
I think the two words today mean about the same thing, but I would think that the difference might mean knowledge versus purchase power. I have seen many a knowledgable collector with no coin in his/her collection valued at $500 and many a collector with limited knowledge having only $10k+ coins in his/her collection. Now, this does not mean that collectors with 10k+ coins is never a numismatist, nor does it mean that collectors with $500- coins in his/her collection is always a numismatist..........Of course no offense meant here....
And to comment on a quote above me, I know a few colonial coin collectors who currently have a more expensive library than coin collection, however, I would assume that would not stay that way for much longer
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
<< <i>And how is a "numismatist" different from a "coin collector"? >>
A coin collector tosses old auction catalogs in the trash.
A numismatist keeps em all even after they start to cause structural damage to his home.
Edited to Add:
As I've said a few times before over the years I've been on this board...
I can't deny that I don't enjoy acquiring a new coin purchase, yet for most part they are locked up away from home and I'm just left with images on my hard drive.
My library is the part of this hobby that is always within arms reach and adding a new piece of reference material to it gives me the same joy as buying a coin.
I feel it's quite possible to enjoy this hobby without owning a single coin and think it's sad that we loose active members here once they've auctioned off their collections.
Looking a coins is neat and you might pick up some things, but they do not feed your brain the way a book can and this is a hobby where knowledge makes a difference.
There's only a small smidgen of worthy info on some series in this hobby on the internet, so printed reference material is a necessity.
And some series have so little printed reference material that acquiring older auction catalogs is the only way to really gain more more of an insight.