Value of Coin Talk Membership

Right now visitors outnumber signed in members approximately 3 to 1. Granted some of the visitors are members viewing that don't have the time or desire to sign in, but I would say that is definitely the minority. This is directed mostly to those non-members visiting Coin Talk.

I want to discuss here today one of many times being a member has helped me in my hobby and this particular scenario ended today. Back in January I started a collection of Lincoln Memorial Cents. I looked and looked at pictures trying to figure how do you tell a '70-s small date from a large date. I couldn't be sure so I asked the question on Coin Talk.

I ended up being referred to a site that explained it point by point and had magnified pictures to enhance the explainations. I am very sorry I'm unable to thank that person by name here, but it was great. I also got a few private messages trying to assist me.

I watched them for a few months at various places on the internet always thinking they were too pricey, not good enough for my set, or poor quality pictures.

One of the places I was also looking was Arizona Jack's coin site MESACOINS, he never had one. So I sent him a Private Message asking him about it, he returned my message stating he didn't, but would be glad to get one at a show in Michigan he was going to.

I thanked him, told him that would be great, and explained my expectations. He went to the show, got me a coin, and notified me of the price. When I was sitting at the table writing out the check I told my wife I was a little worried about this one. She asked me why and I told her all the ones I had seen before around this price weren't worth having. She asked me if the seller is from Coin Talk. I said yes and she said she was sure it would be just fine. She has never read anything on Coin Talk except for the photo threads of Orlando and the Coin Talk "commercial" on Youtube, but she has heard me showing and teaching my son about Coin Talk and coins using this site.

Anyway the coin arrived today. I could not be happier with coin. Great coin for a great price. All the points shown on the site with the pictures are 100% accurate. I could bring up other times Coin Talk has been a big help, but like I stated earlier this is the most recent. Many thanks are in order here. Jack, I don't need to put you on the spot here or anything, but there is one more that I need.

So visitors come on and join to obtain and provide help. Also you'll make some great friends here to boot.

 

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There is no reason not to join CT. This is a great place to learn and to help others with what you do know. :thumb: All it takes is a little bit of courage to ask the question because there are so many here willing to take the time to answer even the dumbest of dumb questions so they don't even have to worry about it being a dumb question. :goofer:

Ribbit

Ps: Jack is kewl, knows his coins, and is a great person :thumb:

 

I have certainly asked some dumb ones that I knew were dumb when I asked. But, I needed an answer and got it. The nice part people went out of their to help never pointing out or commenting the question was dumb to begin with.

 

I would like to echo the same thoughts! Although I have been collecting for over 40 years, I have still learned a lot from the people here at coin talk and I have enjoyed reading most of the threads. Welcome and Enjoy!

 

Great Post :thumb:. I 100% agree, sign up, if you haven't already, you really do meet a lot of great people.

 

What, noone told me there were PM's happening behind the scenes.! I see how it is. J/K There is alot of friendship and fun to be had as well. Membership is FREE, and what happens along with it is PRICELESS.

 

The information you can get here is wonderful, even more so because it doesn't cost anything to join. I have already been able to get good answers to questions I have had and hopefully provide some info for others who had questions. Not to mention, where else could you help hatch a scheme to create a sunken treasure using only a canoe and a bag of puerto rico quarters?

 

While membership is free, it wouldn't be so if Peter and the moderators didn't dedicate their time and expertise. Since we are trying to get new members to sign up, what about our existing members making a small donation to Peter to help him defray expenses? I know he'd appreciate anything you can give him no matter how small.

Look at the very bottom of this page and see his link to donate under "Would you like to support CoinTalk?" right above the Coin Talk Code of Honor.

 

I too have been in the coin business for many years now but have only been reading and posting on this site for a couple months and I cannot believe how invaluable the information I have received from others' posts has been. What a fantastic easy resource this site is for all coin people!

 

I second that thought. I am not a dealer, but I have found throughout the years that both dealers and collectors develop a specialty. They might buy and sell coins outside of their specialty, but their numismatic knowledge is usually very extensive in one particular area. Some specialize in a particular series, others in a time period, and some in errors & die varieties. Whatever the specialty, Cointalk brings these experts together in a common forum and the wealth of knowledge available is staggering. In addition, the typically friendly atmosphere fosters the education of all the members. The field of numismatics is just too cumbersome to master every facet. This forum provides an opportunity to its members to consult with some extremely knowldeable collectors and dealers covering just about every area of numismatics.

This is by far my favorite numismatic website, and I am proud to be an active member of such a wonderful community of numismatists. Keep on posting guys and gals and I hope this thread entices some of the lurkers to join and share their knowledge as well.

 

And we're glad to have a toned "expert" (I know you don't like that term) here too

And uh, I agree with what everyone else said

 

Yeah, LOL, your'e right. I prefer either toning freak or toning enthusiast. My area of interest is so plagued by ambiguity and uncertainty, I don't think anyone can be called an expert.

 

One of the best things I have gained here, besides the knowledge and experience of others is this:

It is so cool to travel across the West, and more recently, to Michigan, and still be able to meet fellow CT members. It is not like a " blind date", you have already developed a comraderie of sorts, and to meet and greet, put a face to a name and already have something in common is really cool in my book.

Some of my best contacts have been made and alot of my business is done with members I have met here.

Ok gang, group hug, lol

:high5:

 

I agree 100% with what you said. It's interesting that we all have our own specialty interests...when we all come together we have knowledge that is amazingly vast. I have also been a member of several coin sights and this is the only one I care to visit regularly because it is the most helpful and friendly I have found.

Now, speaking of that 3:1 visitor to member ratio...I wonder how many of those visitors are actually bots and not actual people.

 

IDK. Seems like cointalk is every other word that comes out of my mouth these days.

 

Cointalk has enriched the whole collecting experience for me. CT is where I first learned about Conder Tokens, and Civil War Tokens, and saw the beautiful photos of them that were posted on threads. With a little encouragement from new friends (especially you Mr. Numismatographer), this started me down a whole different avenue of collecting. Plus, CT helps keep me occupied so I'm not tempted to go on ebay. :smile

 

Can someone check the first post and make sure that it has been nominated for TOTW?
I went to add my vote, and clicked the wrong button - I may have deleted all of the votes

Speedy

 

Nope, all is good. I added my vote too!

 

I've been collecting off and on for 45 years and thought I knew a lot about coins , well I've learned more on CT in the past year than all the previous years , and still learn something new every day . And the people are great too .
rzage