What is the difference between a Beginner and an Advanced Numismatist?

Just thought I'd throw this out there and see what people think. I think coin collectors can be sort of generally classed into five categories: Novice, Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, and Expert. What do you think differentiates these different levels?

To me, a novice is someone who might be interested in collecting, but doesn't really know anything about our hobby. They might have gotten a few state quarters in change, and their curiosity is piqued. They don't really know anything about coins, and they have a lot of questions. These are the sorts of people who think Bicentennial coins found in their change are "rare," and think they have a valuable find when they pull a Wheat Penny from circulation. Novices don't really know much, but with the right mentor, with the right inspiration, and with the right focus, they can go far.

A Beginner is someone who is a little farther into the hobby. They've probably gotten the Red Book, and have a little understanding of how the hobby works. They know some basic terms, like Uncirculated and Proof; they are familiar enough to at least recognize a few of the more popular series, such as Morgans. They probably have tried their hand at buying a few coins, most likely on Ebay. They don't yet understand cleaning, or how to spot a cleaned coin. They probably can't spot most counterfeits either. The Beginner is probably (hopefully) going to purchase more modern coins, or lower value coins, until he or she gains confidence and knowledge. The Beginner is a fascinating place to be, at least from the perspective of more advanced collectors, because they have their whole numismatic journey ahead of them. They ask many questions, and their curiosity opens a whole new world to them. They probably try to get involved with a collecting community, such as this one, so that they can learn more.

An Intermediate collector is when we can really start calling them numismatists. A numismatist is one who studies coins, money, or sometimes medals - the Intermediate has probably found a couple of series that really interest them and has begun to pursue them. As they learn, they find they can spot many cleaned coins, some AT coins, perhaps a few fakes. The Intermediate is still always learning, always asking questions, but their questions are a bit more advanced now. They have a grasp of numismatic history, and they are familiar enough to recognize almost all US coins, and give a decent grade estimate. The series they have chosen to specialize in they pursue with a passion. They read about it, learn about it, and ask plenty of questions about it. At this point in their journey, the Intermediate numismatist still benefits greatly from having a helping mentor. The Intermediate numismatist is excited to find how much they really have learned, and will begin to share his or her newfound knowledge with others - either through posts on a discussion board, or presentations at their local coin club or elsewhere.

An Advanced collector has progressed in his numismatic knowledge to the point where he is actively mentoring or teaching others. The advanced numismatist will write articles, in-depth posts on a discussion board, or teach specialised lectures at his coin club. The advanced numismatist is still always learning, but often the advanced numismatist will be researching new material. The advanced numismatist has often progressed to the point where he knows a great deal about his chosen specialties, to the point where he is conducting new research. He shares these with the rest of the numismatic community by writing books, or articles, or running websites devoted to his specialty. The advanced numismatist is not limited to his or her chosen specialties either - they can grade almost all coins fairly accurately, can generally spot most AT and fake coins, and have great numismatic knowledge. The Advanced numismatist is well known in the circles he travels in, and is respected for his knowledge and his efforts to share with others.

The Expert numismatist is recognized as one of the top people in his or her field. They have published authoritative studies in their specialty, and they are recognized even outside of their circles. When people have a question about their series, they can provide the answers. They can grade a wide range of coins accurately, and have immense numismatic knowledge on a broad range of topics. These are the people that the rest of the numismatic world look up to. They take an active interest in promoting and protecting the hobby, and will take the time to help others.

So what do you think? Anything else you would add? Anything you don't agree with? Where do you fit on this scale? If you are modest, where do others think you fit on this scale?

I'm curious as to the distribution on this board, at least how you think you rank. Please be honest and don't inflate where you think you are!

 

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Physics-fan, glad to see you posting here more often.

I actually asked this question about myself on the forum earlier...only one person really told me what they thought about my knowledge. I would have to agree with them, that I'm probably an 'intermediate'. I'm beginning to specialize I've decided in classic head quarter eagles have begun to study the die marriages in that series for a paticular year.

I have a fairly good knowledge of counterfeit detection also (alteration isn't quite as good but I'm working on that) which I also choose to pursue the most. I've written a couple articles on the subject. I would be curious what you think my level is, physicsfan.

I still don't understand exactly how coins are made, the in's and out's I mean everything. I'm beginning to learn better how to grade (My grading is terrible) and I read alot about die conditions, such as how semi prooflike and proof coins die flow lines aren't as visible as other types of die states. I found your post on luster very informative. I sent you a PM recently as well on the NGC forums, you may want to check that

 

Nice overview.

 

I would classify myself as an advanced collector, but I don't think I would get a CAC sticker. These descriptions are very broad and hard to encapsulate every collector. Regarding toned coins and Jefferson Nickels, I am certainly an advanced collector, but I would have to classify myself as an intermediate in most other areas and a beginner in few areas like early US coinage and gold coinage.

And Kevin, you are definitely an intermediate collector, my opinion has not changed.

What I would be interested in is not my opinion of myself, but the opinions of others.

 

One word - Education.

That's why, using your definitions, I would be deemed (incomplete list)

• "Novice" regarding
  • exonumia
  • bullion
  • errors
  • NCLT
  • most paper money
  • ancients
  • European, British Commonwealth, African, and Central/South American coins
  • post-WWII Chinese and Korean issues
• "Beginner" regarding
  • US coins
  • most Asian coins, including pre-modern Chinese, Japanese and Korean
• "Intermediate" regarding
  • early Chinese Republic
  • Japanese occupation coins and currency
  • Japanese paper money
• Advanced" regarding modern struck Japanese coins; and
• "Expert" in my dreams.

IMHO there are few, if any who could qualify as "experts" across the board, and a relatively small percentage of collectors are "advanced" in multiple areas. I've never met a collector who would rank higher than "beginner" in every area of the hobby (with the possible exception of GDJMSP - the most educated numismatist I have ever run across!).

 

Intermediate

By your descriptions of each class I chose Intermediate for myself. Although I view Numismatics as Collectors and Dealers, feeling that most people probably gravitate towards one or the other. I am more of a collector myself.
I believe you could probably create titles and descriptions for Dealers as well, such as an amateur will buy lots of coins and see very little return and probably lose a lot of money before learning how to turn a profit, a Intermediate has learned well enough that they can now purchase coins in such a way that they can continuously by new coins off the profits of past purchases, and finally a professional is one whom can quit their day job and make a living off coins

 

I think of myself as an advanced beginner. I'm pretty happy at this level and this is my approach to most things in life. There are too many things that interest me to spend the time to go beyond the advanced beginner level. If I ever went back to school, I'd probably take the 101 course in every dicipline. The benefits of this multidiciplinary approach is that it really helps in making connections and building mental models as ways to think about just about everything. If I need to know more about a numismatic subject, I ask you guys.

 

What is the difference between a Beginner and an Advanced Numismatist?

An advanced numismatist (seller) can get a beginner (buyer) to pay more for a coin that what it's worth.

An advanced numismatist (buyer) can talk a beginner (seller) into paying less than a coin is worth.

Knowledge is power.
The key to being a good numismatist is to know the series that you are buying and selling and know what is fair market value. Learn how to grade and not just read the slab label.

Knowledge is often double edged sword.
It will serve you well when cherry picking but will also defend you from getting ripped off to badly.

 

As per Merriam Webster (my italics)

Numismatics: the study or collection of coins, tokens, and paper money and sometimes related objects (as medals)


Now, where do you see selling? In fact, most of the experts I can think of are collectors! By their very nature, dealers must spread themselves over a wide variety of material. Only a persistent collector can have the patience to amass and study a sufficient body of coins.

 

Ditto.

 

I am an intermediate, because I can't afford to be advanced, and I haven't taken the time to study any one field of numismatics extensively. I know enough about most aspects of numismatics to be slightly dangerous. The more I know, the more I know I don't know.

 

I would call myself intermediate. I might approach advanced a little when it comes to Morgan Dollars, but even there I have a ways to go. So, I think intermediate in most areas is probably a good estimate for me.

 

Fits me also. I also think intermediate is for me. I'm dangeous enough to myself at this level.

 

What is the difference between a Beginner and an Advanced Numismatist?

10 years, 100 books, 1,000 pages of reading, and viewing 10,000 coins !

Money is secondary. The term "numismatist" refers to the mind. Collectors need money, numismatists not so much.

 

In order to study (my italics) and collect coins, tokens, and paper money and sometimes related objects. They must be obtained. Most obtain their collections in the marketplace where the collector would be the buyer and the person with the objects the collector desired would be the seller.

From time to time, collectors review their collections and decide that they don't wish study a particular series anymore. They might then choose to de-acquisition it (i.e. sell).

I think you were trying to make another point but it wasn't coherent.

 

I think people are reluctant to hit the "Expert" themselves. There are definitely a good number of people I would say fall into this category.

 

Yes Doug, but you have owned coins and probably many over time. There will always be exceptions, but I think what he said is true.

 

I have never liked labels like "expert" because it doesn't really leave room for anymore growth. Now, I am certainly far from an expert...but some of those here who have great knowledge in certain areas might just feel there is more they can learn and I personally think that is a great way to view life in general. I hope I never consider myself an expert in anything as there is always some way to improve.