American Numismatic Association (+1)

This all started when someone suggested I start a membership. I delayed because I did not think it would be worth the money. Well I was wrong. This is a good deal. You get the magazine, a method of sending in your own coins to NGC, and most of all access to one heck of a library.

I am glad I did...Thanks Caleb!

Here is what I have a coming...



That alone was worth the basic fee. Funny thing is if I would have done this earlier, I could have got the full subscription to Coin World, the one with the weekly magazine and not the monthly I get now for the same price.


Check it out here, sign up temporarily and look around..

http://www.money.org/

 

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And if your a YN and get 3 or more A's on your report card you can get 6 Month membership FREE!!!...
http://www.money.org/explore-the-world-of-money/young-numismatists/coin-education/coins-for-as.aspx

 

I was member back in the 70's, was not for decades and signed up again this year.

I'm sorry to say that I won't be renewing.

The magazine sometimes contains poorly researched articles. There doesn't appear to be much, if any, editorial fact checking.

The library content is mostly old and out of date. It's of historical interest, sure, but actually harmful if you used it to educate yourself.

 

When I consigned coins to Stack's in 2012, I got a year's free membership to ANA. I did not renew because they filled my physical mailbox and my email with CRAP from their marketing affiliates including insurance, auto clubs, pet food, and camping gear. They must be hard up for money.

 

Definitely. Membership is way off.

 

Wow, did not know this. I guess I will have to wait and see. So far I am happy.

 

I'll just say this: take everything you read in their magazine with a big dash of salt and read the letters section every month when more knowledgeable people will write in to try to correct the nonsense.

I'm not saying it's all bad. There is some good stuff too. But they really, really should be getting stuff fact checked before publishing it.

As to the library, well, again, be careful. Even the original authors of some of those books would now disagree with their content in some cases.

 

I'd agree that the original published works have in many cases been updated and that the articles published in the magazine do not appear to be peer-reviewed. However, I have not found the articles so poorly written as others might suggest and the ability to send coins to NGC is a great plus. What no one has touched upon is that ANA members may buy coin insurance through Hugh Wood, Inc. and that is an enormous benefit for members.

 

I don't use NGC, but I agree that if you do, the membership has value for that alone.

I have found some articles to be very poor. One that sticks out like a sore thumb was that nonsense "Josh Tatum" racketeer nickel malarkey, but there have been others.

*However* there are very good articles too - I just wish they had more discrimination.

As to Hugh Wood, I found that my own insurance company would also insure my coins, although they did want detailed documentation, which Hugh Wood does not require under $10,000.00.

I don't know - it will be worth it to some, I'm sure, but I advise caution in reading!

 

I don't use NGC, either, so that part would have no utility for me. Regardless, some folks like and use NGC so that pool is helped. I also agree that there are other insurance companies that will insure numismatic holdings, but most charge significantly more (such as a rider for homeowner or renter policy) than Hugh, Wood, Inc.

I joined as a Life Member many years ago and do not utilize much of what the ANA offers its members.

 

Scandals, thefts, lack of vision, and political infighting --

 

I joined because of the Hugh Wood benefit. The rest is gravy.

 

I have been a member for several years. I've always enjoyed reading the magazine. Granted they need to do more fact checking at times but overall is still a decent read. I've used the NGC benefits a couple of times and have bought insurance through Hugh Wood.

Hopefully the scandals and infighting will stay in the past. I am hoping to attend their summer camp one of these years. People always seem to have positive experiences. I also want to attend more of their National Shows. I went to one several years ago and it was great!!

 

I checked into H Woods today, its got me thinking for sure.

 

I would like to point out that Hugh Woods is also the official insurance agency for the American Philatelic Society, a national organization for 35,000 stamp collectors, similar to the ANA. You can visit the APS website at www.stamps.org for more information.

I'm a Life Member, first joined in 1973.

 

Well I got them in, will have to take some time to review. I have had the stove fail (replace control module), hot water heater fail (new one), Car thermostat (will get it this weekend as it started working again), and now finally the dryer...(reading up on possibilities. I got the vent unclogged (20') and thought I had it but no heat. Thinking fuse so really have not had time these last few days. The library rocks though, sent just as they said and all it was was $10 postage.

 

I had the same thing on the dryer recently. Natural Gas? Tried the fuse, it tested fine. Mine was the ignitor, it was obviously cracked when I removed it.

 

Turned out to be the element. $55 shipped....obvious what was broke. I tested it and had no continuity so figured that was it, but starting looking and sure enough found the break.

Started reading Cameo Proofs, so far so good. Most of the information I was familiar with except the actual guess of around 50 cameos per die...and far less deep cameo's etc.

 

Sex scandals no less.

 

I feel that all collectors should support the ANA by becoming members.

It is the national organization for our hobby that we love and has been so for over 100 years. Sure, the ANA has had some problems as mentioned... but they also manage to do quite a bit of good as well. The library alone is a reason enough for all of us to be supporting the ANA. The museum, ANA shows, Summer Seminar, access to Hugh Wood insurance and the ANA's support of local coin clubs are a few other good reasons to support the ANA.

Remember, you don't have to agree with everything that has been done by the ANA to be a member. And as a member can you vote for change in the organization if you feel strongly enough there are problems. It just doesn't seem that walking away and abandoning the organization completely is a very good solution. It's a shame that so many collectors do not support the ANA.