Where have all the experts gone.

unquote ever since spock retired i am miserable and cant bother to read threads anymore

 

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Try submitting a (Early or Middle Date) Large Cent Question. Those are becoming scarce.

 

Guy, and all of the other experts on this board, I just want to thank you for when you DO answer a question for one of the 'million "collectors" who are really poor investors..' Personally, I came to this site as a result of increased activity in metals, with intentions of finding out what "experts" are doing. I am NOT a collector. In the months I have visited this site, I have read many posts that have piqued my curiosity.. and after all is said and done, that is how some of us learn (me, anyway.) After reading so many threads, for me it is almost intimidating to ask a question. As I said, I am not a collector, but after looking this site over, I understand that my husband WAS.. so that Rubbermaid tote box full of coins and little boxes that I came upon recently, well I am finding out what most of those "things" are. All said, I hope all of you experts will continue to occasionally respond to queries from those of us less knowledgeable. Personally, I'm trying to do due-diligence out on Google Sincere thanks to all experts. Lucy

 

I'm no expert, and my first post was obviouslly misunderstood by most. I was merely stating that the rise in bullion collectors or investors has made for a rise in members here. But when those metal prices evaporate like they always do, how many of those people will still be here? Will you. I doubt it, and I doubt 3/4 of the membership will be. Thats not to say nobody should try to answer their questions honestly, but I know many won't even bother because that person doesn't stick around long enough to post more than a handfull of times. Sorry if that sounds unhelpful.
Guy

 

Never better said, Jim. While I am no expert, I have been around here for a long time. My post numbers per day go up and down, but generally never more than 30 usually more like 1 or 2. The volume of posts, especially the social ones that have been mentioned do tend to overwhelm the average reader with sheer volume, but that is a part of community.

I see people who have been only a few months with near or over 1,000 posts. They even have contests to mark milestones. While I agree that it is notable when someone posts their 500th message and it's fun to celebrate it, sometimes post count has become more important to the individual than the quality of what one posts.

There is also (as in any really large forum) the tendency for trolls to come in, ask inflammatory questions and then start being rude to people in order to create chaos. We have all seen it. I think some just thought that when it happens a lot, it's generally not a whole bunch of people, more like just one.

 

I just read this entire thread & would like to thank everyone for the interesting reading. I do wish that there had been more discussion & photos of coins but that wasn’t in the OP.

The quantity of threads at CT may dilute the site & make it difficult for the experts to even see the questions. It is up to all of us at CT to keep it un-diluted, non-arbitrary & keep it entertaining. The experts are here. IMHO Everyone here is an expert & collectively we are quite knowledgeable.

 

not to be protective of my child, but it's called "The Coin Show" and it is available on the player on this very page. In fact, at this very moment, it has the episode with Doug talking about ducats!

 

I can't say if I will be here or not.. but I will say this, I have owned a substantial quantity of gold and silver bullion for many years (1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998 purchases.) I read a financial newsletter daily and have done so for 5 1/2 years (two actually - of opposing views, so I can fall somewhere in between with my own decision making.) With everyone trying to "advise" me what "they" would or would not do, I have chosen to make these decisions little by little. You are perhaps right, I may not be here for a length of time. But I am here for now. And learning. And glad for the diversion, because life is pretty serious most of the time. Kind regards, Lucy Ray

 

I applaud that, Lucy. You've done some serious homework, obviouslly, and the way I see it you have a lot of expertise on the subject of bullion and investing. Hopefully you'll be one of the few that decides to stick around and offer answers as well as questions.
Guy

 

These forums have changed for the worst since I've joined. I posted a relatively technical question the other day, and the only response was from a poster who responds to every post to increase his post count. I have found myself slowly migrating to other forums.

 

I understand that people get busy or they get tired of answering the same questions over and over again. But, on the other hand I see great posts that are sometimes highly technical or ask in depth questions that only someone deep into that particular field could answer and yet all I see are crickets chirruping. I'm not saying that every question is ignored but it seems that some of the more learned people have either stopped answering posts or have moved on, to where I'm not sure.

 

This thread has really blossomed. The answers to the OP can be found throughout.

I would agree with JerseyCat about the forum slipping in quality posts. When I joined in 2008, it seemed like a very different place than it is now. It just seems kind of slow now. Which may not necessarily mean a "bad thing". It could just be that all of the members have discussed so much back and forth, that everyone has mostly learned what they wanted and don't have much to say anymore. That's pretty much where I'm at. I've read a lot here and several books. I tend to always be thinking about different things but feel that I've asked most everything I could come up with. I don't create many new posts anymore just because I haven't thought of something worth while to post lately.

On top of this, people are busy! I'd say most people won't take the time to read this entire page 2, let alone this whole thread. Let alone 15-20 different threads a day here.

Would have to agree, the subject line needs to be very specific and has to be interesting. I skip 90% of the threads anymore and I usually will not post unless I feel I can add something thought provoking. I admit, I'll usually look at the topic and then look to see who the OP was, before I'll click on it. Nothing against the newcomers. I just know a veteran's post may be more interesting to me.

There is a wealth of excellent, old threads here. The newbies would do themselves a lot of good to go back and read some of them from the past few years. The search function works great. I'd rather see an old one bumped up than a brand new one with the same subject line I've seen 5 times before.

A lot of thought has went into answers in old threads. Most people don't feel like writing it all over again for someone else, again and again. Just the way it works in every forum.

 

Arizona Jack and The Penny Lady (to name two).

 

foundinrolls

 

Last I heard AJ was busy getting his sauce company running - not really moved on, but too busy with that and other things. The Penny Lady always seems to be busy with shows and stuff, so she does answer at times. I just figure she has lots of work to keep her busy.

 

I do not know that cpm9ball is concerned with his post count. He has not changed his Title. I think he just has time on his hands: 3000+ posts since April 2010; old guy retired to Florida. I have seen some of his many posts, and like that one, it might not be the answer you want, but there was nothing wrong with what he said. He openly shared what expertise he had. But that brings up a basic issue, also hinted at by GDJMSP.

1. If you want expert advice, are you willing to pay for it? Does just hanging out entitle you to it? We all socialize here and we all share our knowledge as part of that, perhaps the core of it, really. But at some level, as in the case of JerseyCat10's Peace Dollar Looking for a VAM Number, an expert opinion will turn junk into treasure. Does the person with the right answer get any tangible payment? Has anyone sent GDJMSP a dollar for sharing knowledge?

2. I asked above, "What makes an expert?" but there was no answer, and perhaps there cannot be. Citation of facts is a help. You ask "What do I have?" and the reply is by page and picture and auction catalogue lot number with hammer price. But that depends on (2a.) someone else sharing the interest enough to know ... and (2b.) being engaged enough in the moment to reply.

In the first case (2a.), my interest is not in Peace Dollars by VAM number. It is beyond my level of expertise, even though I wrote an article for The Numismatist about Peace Dollars and even though I directed my "Internet Connections" readers to the VAM website. So, maybe JerseyCat10 needs to advertise for VAM Experts to chat with.

The second point (2b.) is that you might know that you have the answer, but the citations are in a box in the basement or attic or bookshelf and it's dinner time and the kids need this and the spouse needs that or it's 11:30 PM and you already answered several technical questions or whatever.

 

Michael E. Marotta
Numismatic Publications (partial list)

• Roethke Award, Michigan State Numismatic Society, 2003 for “Copper Owls: The Emergency Coinage of Athens”
• George Heath Literary Award Second Place, American Numismatic Association, 2002, for “Sir Isaac Newton: Warden and Master of the British Royal Mint.”
• Annual Literary Award, Women in Numismatics, 2000, for “The Origins of Coinage.”
• George Heath Literary Award First Place, American Numismatic Association, 1995 for “A New Look at the Origins of Coinage.”

“Internet Connections” Monthly feature column, The Numismatist, January 2002 to December 2010.

“The Wizard of Oz: Child’s Tale or Numismatic Allegory,” The Centinel, Vol. 58, no 2, Summer 2010, p. 58-61.
“Champagne: The Athens of the Middle Ages, The Celator, Vol. 25. No. 11, November 2009.
“Optimal Currency Areas and Competing Currencies,” The Mich-Matist, Vol. XLV No. 2, Spring 2009.
“Book Reviews: The Official Red Book: A Guide Book of United States Tokens and Medals by Katherine Jaeger, Forward by Q. David Bowers and 100 Greatest Ancient Coins by Harlan J. Berk,” The Mich-Matist, Vol. XLIV No. 4, Fall 2008
“Harlan Berk’s 100 Greatest Ancient Coins: A Glimpse Behind the Book,” The Celator, Vol 22. no. 11, (November 2008), p. 28-29;37,.
“Book Review: Striking Change: The Great Artistic Collaboration of Theodore Roosevelt and Augustus Saint-Gaudens,” The Mich-Matist, Vol XLIV No. 3, Summer 2008
“Book Review: 100 Greatest American Medals and Tokens By Katherine Jaeger and Q. David Bowers,” The Mich-Matist, Vol XLIV No. 1, Winter 2008
“What is the Root of Money,” The Mich-Matist, Vol. XLIII No. 4, Fall 2007
“China Calling: Getting started with East Asian numismatics,” The Mich-Matist, Vol XLIII no 1, Winter 2007, p. 33-36, ill.
“Michigan in Three Financial Panics: 1837, 1857, and 1933,” The Mich-Matist Volume XLII No.4, Fall 2006.
“Copper Owls : The Emergency Coinage of Athens 406 BC,” The Celator, Vol. 19, no. 10 (October 2005), p. 6-16: ill., map.
“Proof Double Eagles: Rarity and Perfection,” The Numismatist, Vol 118, no 8, (August 2005), p.36-40, ill.
“The Indian Head Cent,” The Numismatist, December 2004
“The Many Faces of Coronet Cents,” The Numismatist, April 2004
“Electrum, ” The Celator, Vol. 17, no. 8 (August 2003), p. 25-31: ill.
“”Short Snorters: Keeping the Memories Alive,” The Numismatist, Vol 115, no 11 (November 2002), p.1302-1305, ill.
“Authenticators offer range of services,” The Celator, Vol. 16, no. 12 (December 2002), p. 37.
“How to Assemble a Dime Type Set,” The Numismatist, Vol. 115 no 5 (May 2002), p. 495-501, ill.
“Sir Isaac Newton: Warden and Master of the Mint,” The Numismatist, Vol. 114, no. 11 (November 2001), p. 1302-1308, 1363 : ill., port.
“The Bicentennial Coinage of 1976,” The Numismatist, Vol 114, no. 5 (May 2001), p. 501-503;541-542, ill.
“A Passion for Bust Halves, “ The Numismatist, Vol. 113, no. 12 (December 2000), p. 1407-1411; 1489, ill. [/B
]“IMF denies issuing Kosovo notes,” Coin World, Vol. 41, no. 2083, March 13, 2000, p. 90 : ill.
“The best of times : collecting Rome's "five good emperors,” Coin World, Vol. 41, no. 2083, March 13, 2000, p. 110 : ill.
“1937-D 3-legged ‘Buffalo’ nickels,” Coin World, November 29, 1999, p. 94.
“Lost Opportunity: the Double Dime,” The Numismatist, Volume 111, no. 9 (September 1999), p. 1024-1029; 1069, ill.
“Doubt Surrounds $20 gold Paquet Reverse of 1861,” Coin World, June 21, 1999, p. 102.
"The Afforable Yet Beautiful Peace Dollar," The Numismatist, June 1998
“Ancient coins show they knew it was round,” The CelatormVol. 12, no. 2, February, 1998, p. 18-20 : ill
"Kolophon: A Quiet Place to Raise a Family," The Celator, Vol 11, no 8, August 1997
"The Buffalo Nickel: America's Handsomest Coin," The Numismatist, Vol. 110, no. 5 (May 1997), p.502-504; 539, ill.
"Dyrrachium: Rome's Gateway to Greece,' The Celator, Vol 11 no 4, April 1997
"In Praise of Walking Liberty," The Numismatist, Vol 109, no 1, January 1997
“A Penny Earned: the Wages of Work,” The Numismatist, Vol. 109, no 11 (November 1996), p. 1320-1321, ill.
"Ireland's Poet Laureate," ANA Money Talks, March 18, 1996
"Sacred Silver from the Roof of the World," Coin News, Jan 1996
"The Voice of Classical Greek," The Celator, Vol. 10, no 1, January 1996
"A New Look at the Origins of Coinage," The Numismatist, August 1995
"Hard Times Tokens," ANA Money Talks, Mar. 20, 1995
"Mardi Gras Doubloons," ANA Money Talks, Feb. 28, 1995
"Levi Loomis and the Bank of Singapore," The Mich-Matist, Winter 1995
"Tomorrow's Money: The Shape of Things to Come," Coin News, June 1994
"The Purse of Eratosthenes: the Coinage and Commerce of Cyrene," The Celator, Vol. 8., no 1, (January 1994), p 18-20., ill

 

I think it has to do with what has been touched on earlier. New people who know nothing or very little about coins come with their hopes high thinking they have discovered something that is going to let them retire. Most of the time it has to do with variety or error coins... but it happens in other forms of numismatics as well. The very competent numismatist among us (some of them even considered the top experts in their respective fields) give them a very good, correct, and in depth answer only to be argued with or the topic just dies without a thank you towards the person who spent the time to impart their knowledge. It's the curse of the boards. It's frustrating to spend your time trying to teach someone something only for them to argue with you because "well, the internet said different". I deal with it all the time in my own coin shop and I'm just a local coin shop. I think that this is some of the root of the problem we are seeing.