Is this anything good or just damaged

Some of us old timers just call it common sense.

 

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I do exhibit judging. We don't give ANY points for "different". We slather on the points for superior material.

Yes, there are a few here who insist these up and comers will "change the hobby", and they're okay with it. I am not. I see the VERY SAME FACTS and I unabashedly call it RUINING the hobby. But I guess they're not alone. There are myriad influences out there bent on ruining numismatics.

 

They won’t change the hobby. They’ll get tired of the futility — and oftentimes rejection — of going through pocket change for rarities and will wake up to the fact that those slabbed American Silver Eagles have put them in the hole forever.

 

Boy Kurt.

You certainly are Different.

Oops, I mean .. I just can't say it .. Supe ..... nope, I'll stick with Different.

 

I do have ONE slabbed ASE coming. I don't even include it as part of my coin collection, though. It's part of my ANA show souvenirs collection.

 

I do answer to "You Stinkin' You-Know-What Hole Different Person." I say the things I do because I unashamedly believe them. I'm not trying to please modern sensibilities, and I won't EVER follow them.

 

I knew there was something I wanted to send you money to get me. Oh well, maybe next time. lol

 

Trying to come into coins through the Errors and Varieties angle is a little like trying to matriculate at Harvard Law School before you've finished Middle School, a dysfunctional beat down PUBLIC Middle School (read: YouTube videos). Soooooo many prerequisites to get through first.

 

Wow... These conversations on CoinTalk can go anywhere once someone starts something kind of relevant to the topic the OP posted. We went from a terribly beaten up penny to coming out of the womb knowing the exact mintage of the 1863 penny...

 

Yup, I am painfully aware of the "collect what you like" ethos, truly I am. And that's okay, AS LONG AS you have no disillusions about being taken seriously by the field at large. You want to go your own way? Fine, go do that. Have fun. But do not expect the hobby to embrace "your way". Before you can BECOME a certified coin exhibit judge you must DEMONSTRATE you will judge largely as your predecessors have judged, or you will NEVER become a judge at all.

Yes, yes, I know that's so "last century" an attitude, but it's both the HOBBY'S (writ large) attitude AND it is MY attitude, for which I shall not apologize. I'm into standards.

By the way, judging standards ARE changing. They're getting MORE draconian and resulting in LOWER average scores than ever before, and yes, there ARE insider fights over that. People are winning 1st Place with scores under 80 on a 100-point scale. Difficulty, rarity, and condition scores have been pushed WAAAAAY down in just the last two years.

A rank beginner might score in the low 60's and win a bronze with it. There is no more standard like you have to score 90 to win a class. Out of over 75 exhibits at Philly, MANY set by past year Howland Wood Best in Show winners, only 4 scored over 90 in their class.

Last year's Howland Wood winner didn't even get a bronze in their class this year.