Richard01

I am an avid, if new and somewhat uneducated collector. I am reading every book I can buy to learn, but still know how much I'll never know...
But, here is the question I pose the board members: is the coin collecting hobby tolerent of all the different types of collectors, or do you have to be an 'on the tradeshow floor with 20 years of experience' to fit in? It sounds silly, but I have found that it is a hobby that in many ways makes it tough to belong if you don't fit the mold. Ebay is one example, as is the PCGS message boards, where the elite seem to take every opportunity to bash 'wanabees' and anyone who does not view the hobby their way. Me, I love coins... I love buying them, and selling them to buy others. I don't always know a good deal when I get one, and I get ripped on occassion, and I overgrade and undergrade, but I try to get it all right and have fun. Yet, there are many who would say 'you don't belong here' because somehow, you should not buy, or sell any coin of value until you 'truly' understand its value. In fact, I see endless posts about how wrong it is to try to buy wholesale since you should pay top dollar and get your coin from a reputable dealer who has the right to pay wholesale...
I am hoping this board is different, and recognizes that hobbies need to adapt and to allow new people in to learn their way and eventually take the hobby forward. If younger (and I mean experience wise, not age) hobbiests don't come in because they are not afforded respect and genuinely invited to learn and partake in their own way, then won't the hobby just wither and die?
So, am I crazy, or is the numismatic world a difficult one to wander around in? Is there room for those that don't care about the 'art' but love the coins just because they look cool, or are fun to dig through, and all of that? I have frankly been so disapointed in other boards, and the attacks and snide jabs, that I wonder if this hobby is worth pursuing. Heck, even my local coin store owner is snide about my knowledge, somehow hinting I should know more before I come through the doors.

ndgoflo

Some of the best Major Leaguers started off playing Tee Ball.....

__________________
CONECA N-3926
WINS #531

"When I was a child, I spoke as a child. I wish I could remember what I said." - Todd Snider

ndgoflo

BTW, Welcome to the forum!!

__________________
CONECA N-3926
WINS #531

"When I was a child, I spoke as a child. I wish I could remember what I said." - Todd Snider

Richard01

thanks, I liked the look of this site, and the general talk seemed freindly. I hope to learn and contribute. Starting off with a beefy question seemed like a fun way to jump in!
I don't contribute in many forums (only one other, and after recent attacks, I'm outa there...) Not that I'm not thick skinned, but life is to short to have a battle of wits with the witless... I just want to be part of this wonderful world of coins! Love 'em... I have expended way too much money in way to short a time in this facination! Now I must speed up learning process...

cush66

Richard, there are a lot of folks that think the same as you. There are more of the "good ones" vs the "bad ones". I use these terms for lack of a better word if you know what I mean. Local coin clubs sometimes offer a good outlet. I havent been on this board as long as the others but I can say that the posts have changed from when I first started. Lots of the posts you just have to take it with a grain of salt. It is very hard to try and understand what a person is trying to say when you have to read vs see and listen in person...at least it is for me hehheh. I think this is a good place and who knows....this may be your "nitch" LOL!!! Trust me, you are not alone in your search. Hang in there and collect for the fun of it and collect whatever you like....I know I do and I could care less if i didnt get a spectacular deal or if it isnt worth anything etc etc.

Richard01

I think that the greatest drawback of boards is that they are anonomous, therefore they invite rudeness and personal attacks. You see it everywhere, and it drives away many that you'd love to talk to. Almost worse for me is the condescending 'come back when you know enough' type comments, and that is what I hope to avoid. That is what I hope is not prevalent here. I want to learn from the experienced folks, but maybe insert some new ideas that they could think about and accept at face value (instead of just hating that ebay, the internet, and tpg's have changed the industry forever). Things change, they always do, but the best way to preserve the 'best of the industry' is to share and encourage others to learn good things and care about the hobby. The smug attacks always seem counter productive to me.

midwestcoin13

Remember everyone has to start somewhere.You are lucky as you have found the forums.Everyone starts somewhere and in between there they some times forget about most of the people and become elitests.You should go over to the PCGS forum and join as they dont bight.Usually!Along the way you will meet people who don't think you belong but most will welocme you.Unless you collect modern junk then you should leave and never come back

Richard01

I lurk at PCGS but there is a poster there that talks about 'wanabee' coin sellers that set my teeth on edge (as if the free market system can't support every type of selling and buying that is available to it). So, I may pass on PCGS. They also fall into that PCGS slab or garbage trap, which I just don't subscribe to.
As to modern trash! Well, I only collect modern treasures! So, we'll be okay on that mark.

midwestcoin13

Just avoid the posts on wannabes and you should be fine.You also have to be careful about making comments on PCGS or you will get flamed more than a BK whopper!Also it sounds like you may have a PCGS problem?Please tell.Also it's good you collect only "modern treasures" because this hobby doesn't need any more of them modern trash collectors

cladking

This is a fairly good site but you'll see the condescending attitude at all the coin message boards. The PCGS site is good also though some of the "bashers" are more vocal there than at other places. While I don't believe this is good behavior, keep in mind most of these people are doing what they believe is right. While I and many newbies believe it is very misguided and detrimental to the hobby, they believe they are protecting the unwary, ignorant and inexperienced.

In any case there are very knowledgeable collectors at most of the boards who are very happy to help a newbie no matter what he collects or how he collects it. The best bet for me is to just ignore much of posts and all of the attack (as possible) and concentrate on learning and sharing knowledge.

Good luck. I'm sure your experience here will be a positive one.

__________________
Tempus fugit

Richard01

Not so much a PCGS problem, as surprisingly good experiences with the others. As part of 'learning' I went and bought some lower value PCGS Morgan slabs in several MS ratings. I use them as bench marks along with other tools. I then used some other TPG's (bought some coins already slabbed, and sent a group out to several). Okay, there are bottom feeders, for sure, such as the famous SGS and others with 99% MS70 coins, but mostly I find that there are just differing 'opinions' and the other TPG (Nugrade for common coins, and more recently I've tried ACCGS) also have hardworking smart graders offering a solid, backed by experience grade to their coins. So, I like the underdog... I get the coin cheaper, because for some obtuse reason, a peice of plastic labeled PCGS makes a coin 40% more valuable than a piece of plastic housing that same coin with the label ACCGS on average. That strikes me as the greatest ad to buy from other services! After all, don't we all want the best COIN at the best price???
Anyhow, and on to moderns, I do avidly collect modern proof's and commemoratives (I have every proof, prestige, and premier set) from 1957 on, and am working on the older ones, as well as a collection of lose high quality proofs from 1964 on that numbers about 1,200 lovely coins. It is the heart of my current collection. However, my new love is Morgan's and Peace dollars (or just about anything toned!) Too many great choices of what to collect. I also dabble in large cents, and other 1800's coins. I have a huge purchase due today (my biggest buy ever!) and I am so damned excited I'd like to just go home and see it!
(with a name like cladking, I think that at least one member may appreciate my modern clad proof collection!)

GDJMSP

Howdy Richard01 - Welcome to the Forum !!

I do understand your comments & concerns. Here at Coin Talk there is room for everyone - beginner & experienced collectors alike. There is no such thing as a forum that will please everybody - that's why there are so many of them. I explain it as chocolate & vanilla.

And there are those who will say the rules are too strict - and still others who think they are not strict enough. Personal attacks are not tolerated, but there is still plenty of spirited debate and good honest discussions. It would probably be a good idea to familiarize yourself with the Forum rules.

I would like to comment on something you said though -

The first part of that sentence does not and will not apply here. But the second part - "you should not buy, or sell any coin of value until you 'truly' understand its value." Now that I agree with wholeheartedly, perhaps for a different reason though. But I would phrase a bit differently. You see I believe it is foolish to spend significant amounts of money on something you don't understand. So I believe the knowledge should come first - before spending the money. And how you define a "significant amount" will vary from person to person depending on their means. To some $50 may be a lot - to others it may be $1000. Either way - the importance is the same.

For if you don't understand or are not knowledgeable about the item you are buying - you stand a pretty good chance of making an unwise decision. That goes for everything in life, not just coins. And that's why I feel the way I do - I hate to see people taken advantage of.

__________________
knowledge ..... share it

lawdogct

Welcome to the forum. I haven't been here long myself, but have come to enjoy and greatly appreciate the wealth of knowledge and experience represented by this forum. As has been mentioned, anywhere there are human beings involved, you will find your range of "characters", but on a whole, the tone here is very friendly. I feel that the "senior" collectors here (not neccisarly a note on age ) genuinely care about the hobby, and enjoy sharing it through the education of the new, not the discrimination.

Again, welcome

midwestcoin13

Richard before you start messing with those bottomfeeding TPG's you mentioned you should stick with the big four NGC,PCGS,ANACS, and ICG in no particular order.Once you feel you are good at grading then you can dive into the top bottomfeeders like PCI and SEGS.

Richard01

For me, part of the fun is taking risks. I buy some large estate auctions, knowing I could get gold, or crud. I like doing that, and am lucky enough to be able to afford it. I also don't mind getting a great deal, knowing it, and gladly selling off part at another great deal, just so that I can move on, even though a little time and research might double what I could sell for. Does that make sense? If I buy a huge lot at public auction for $6,000 and find it is worth $12,000. I may take out the stuff I can afford to keep, and then sell of the rest for the same $6,000 I put in, even if, fully attributed and detailed, it may be worth $8,000. Its just the way I collect. Buy a lot, and take my profit out as a few of the coins I want, and sell the rest to keep cash flow moving as needed. I don't educate myself on value, because it does not matter to me, its a hobby, not a way to make a living. Am I crazy? Don't know. Does it engeander cynicism... sure, at times. I have a regular job, and do not look at coins as a way to make money at all. I am fortunate in that I can afford to buy large lots and auctions. I understand enough to determine what my risks appear to be, but I am years away from being perfect on that account. But, I win some and I lose some, and on the whole I have built a significant collection and kept my cash flow about even, without feeling ripped off, or that I have every ripped someone else off. I find that, in coin collecting, better deals do come to those with larger bank rolls. Fair? Don't know, but no different than anywhere esle. If you want to save money on toilet paper, you buy 100 rolls at costco, not 4 rolls at safeway. I buy big, and have continued to find some success, and an ability to sell off the rest at still fair prices. There may be gems I let go of... but is that not the incentive for the next guy to buy my extras? That they can then attribute those coins and work hard on the lot and make money, or increase their collections value? I am a strange mix of collector, and speculator, I suppose.