Dealer, Collector, Dealer/Collector?

Discussion in 'Coin Chat' started by Kentucky, May 25, 2019.

?

What would you consider yourself?

  1. Dealer, I don't collect

    1 vote(s)
    1.5%

  2. Dealer and collector of some

    16 vote(s)
    24.2%

  3. Collector, I don't sell much if any

    49 vote(s)
    74.2%
Multiple votes are allowed.
Page 1 of 4
  1. Kentucky

    Kentucky Supporter! Supporter

    Having known a few dealers, I don't think any of them are really collectors. I know there are a lot of dealers on CT, but I haven't the foggiest idea if any of the dealers also consider themselves collectors. I have also seen many people on here declare that they have never sold a coin in their lives. Just wanting to get a count and any opinions you would like to share.
     
    Kentucky, May 25, 2019
    #1 + Quote Reply
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  3. Mainebill

    Mainebill Bethany Danielle

    Started as a collector started selling and became more of a dealer than a collector. I keep a few but sell most
     
    Mainebill, May 25, 2019
    #2 + Quote Reply
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  4. masterswimmer

    masterswimmer A Caretaker, can't take it with me

    Been a collector for 50 years. I've got every coin I ever found or bought. Never sold anything. Kids will hopefully appreciate this small portion of their inheritance.
     
    masterswimmer, May 25, 2019
    #3 + Quote Reply
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  5. Jwt708

    Jwt708 Well-Known Member

    I think I've maybe sold 3 coins I've ever collected. I am not a dealer
     
    Jwt708, May 25, 2019
    #4 + Quote Reply
    Kentucky and furryfrog02 like this.
  6. Rick Stachowski

    Rick Stachowski Motor City Car Capital

    Collector .
    I worked union my whole life.
    So I keep everything .

    Union ( pension ) pays my way in life .
     
    Rick Stachowski, May 26, 2019
    #5 + Quote Reply
    One Mans Trash, TopcatCoin and Kentucky like this.
  7. Jaelus

    Jaelus The Hungarian Antiquarian Supporter

    I sell a lot at shows as a vest pocket dealer, and some shows I attend primarily to sell. I always look for what I collect, but infrequently find anything at shows. Most of my collection is acquired online.
     
    Jaelus, May 26, 2019
    #6 + Quote Reply
    Kentucky likes this.
  8. happy_collector

    happy_collector Well-Known Member

    Sold a few duplicates and lesser quality pieces upon upgrade. All at purchase or below prices. And I want pass on my good coins to my son.

    Guess that means I am more of a collector than dealer...
     
    happy_collector, May 26, 2019
    #7 + Quote Reply
    Kentucky likes this.
  9. Legomaster1

    Legomaster1 Cointalk Patron

    I'm mostly a collector, though I did find a couple of error coins that I sold to a coin shop.
     
    Legomaster1, May 26, 2019
    #8 + Quote Reply
    Kentucky likes this.
  10. ToughCOINS

    ToughCOINS Dealer Member Moderator

    Everything I've bought since 2006 is for sale. Everything I bought before then sits in a separate SDB and gets little of my attention.
     
    ToughCOINS, May 26, 2019
    #9 + Quote Reply
    Mainebill, Santinidollar, green18 and 1 other person like this.
  11. JCro57

    JCro57 Making Errors Great Again

    I only sell ones if I acquired a nicer one to replace it
     
    JCro57, May 26, 2019
    #10 + Quote Reply
    Kentucky likes this.
  12. Dimedude2

    Dimedude2 Member

    I am in the same boat as JCro57
     
    Dimedude2, May 26, 2019
    #11 + Quote Reply
    Kentucky likes this.
  13. Collecting Nut

    Collecting Nut Borderline Hoarder

    I'm a collector but since I have an antique shop I do sell there. I buy for myself, not the shop. I keep what I collect totally separate from what I sell.
     
    Collecting Nut, May 26, 2019
    #12 + Quote Reply
    Randy Abercrombie, happy_collector and Kentucky like this.
  14. GDJMSP

    GDJMSP Numismatist Moderator

    This kind of thing has come up many times over the years. And when it does I find myself almost always pointing something out. Namely that before one can ask such questions I think it important that one first needs to define what a dealer is. And then, one also has to define what is a collector.

    And I'm gonna predict, right now, what's going to happen because the same thing always happens - there's not going to be any consensus as to what defines a dealer, or a collector. Instead, there's going to be a whole gaggle of definitions ! And dang few of them are ever going to agree with each other. And some will be night and day different.

    But I'll give ya mine, and defining a dealer is the easy one ! A dealer is somebody who makes his living selling coins - his primary source of income is derived from selling coins. That's it, plain and simple. If you don't meet that criteria - you're not a dealer.

    So what defines a collector ? That's much more complicated, in my eyes anyway. And I say that because just acquiring coins, and putting them away in a jar or bowl or bags does not make one a collector. Nor does using a coin board like those for the State Quarters when they first came out. No, being a collector means much much more.

    To be a collector one needs to acquire the coins because there is something specific about them that he likes, organize them in one way or another, study them, and learn about them - including how they are made, what they are made of, their specifics, their history, etc etc.

    And I'll grant you there are a great many degrees to which that last line can be carried. But that last line is the defining criteria for a collector. And if you don't meet it, then you're not a collector.

    And yeah, this is a classic example of something I say quite often. Very few people ever have the same definitions for anything !
     
    GDJMSP, May 26, 2019
    #13 + Quote Reply
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  15. CoinCorgi

    CoinCorgi Tell your dog I said hi!

    Ditto.
     
    CoinCorgi, May 26, 2019
    #14 + Quote Reply
    happy_collector and Kentucky like this.
  16. CoinCorgi

    CoinCorgi Tell your dog I said hi!

    Let me be the first to disagree with you on this definition.

    A dealer is someone who buys coins with primary goal to sell at a profit.
     
    CoinCorgi, May 26, 2019
    #15 + Quote Reply
    wxcoin, Lehigh96 and Kentucky like this.
  17. Collecting Nut

    Collecting Nut Borderline Hoarder

    Agreeded. You don't need to support yourself to be a dealer. You can support yourself in other ways and still be a dealer in coins.
     
    Collecting Nut, May 26, 2019
    #16 + Quote Reply
    Kentucky likes this.
  18. GDJMSP

    GDJMSP Numismatist Moderator

    Hmmm - let's say the elderly neighbor lady down the street pays you to install a new faucet in her kitchen or paint her porch ? Does that make you a plumber or a painter ?

    I have to say no, it doesn't. And the examples are countless. Same thing applies to coins.
     
    GDJMSP, May 26, 2019
    #17 + Quote Reply
    John Skelton, Magnus87, TheFinn and 1 other person like this.
  19. CoinCorgi

    CoinCorgi Tell your dog I said hi!

    Let the OP define it then so that he can get meaningful responses.
     
    CoinCorgi, May 26, 2019
    #18 + Quote Reply
    Kentucky likes this.
  20. Kentucky

    Kentucky Supporter! Supporter

    Fair enough. My initial thought was to get a feeling for the demographics of our little microcosm here. Selling one coin doesn't make you a dealer and keeping a lucky pocket piece doesn't make you a collector. I would define a dealer as a person who often buys coins with the express purpose of resale, AND who derives a significant (say >25%) of their income from their business. That would include all of the big guys and some of the "vest pocket" dealers. On the other hand, a collector doesn't have to study extensively (remember this is MY definition...others are welcome to disagree), but they acquire, arrange and study coins without much or any thought of resale.
     
    Last edited: May 26, 2019
    Kentucky, May 26, 2019
    #19 + Quote Reply
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  21. CoinCorgi

    CoinCorgi Tell your dog I said hi!

    <---- collector!
     
    CoinCorgi, May 26, 2019
    #20 + Quote Reply
    Kentucky likes this.
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