What is a numismatist?

Discussion in 'Coin Chat' started by bernard55, Aug 26, 2021.

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  1. Archeocultura

    Archeocultura Well-Known Member

    I have been collecting Romans since 1974 when I sold my collection of Dutch coins to a 'dealer' . He wasn't a numismatist as I knew more about the coins he sold than he did. I would never have called myself then a numismatist as I realized how little I knew. Only decades later, having seen thousands of ancients passing my hands, I dared call myself numismatist at a modest level. But I know stories to tell about rulers, denominations and representations on coins; yet I am no scholar. Most people trading coins are dealers and few are really knowledgeable. Beware of those who state their merchandise is 'very rare' and then show a bad quality common example. Slabbed ancients are often of poor quality and only slabbed to get more money. I buy internationally and meet many sellers. One of the nicest jokes French sellers accidentally make when appraising an 'Altar of Lyons' coin of the emperors Augustus or Tiberius (altar = autel in French) to describe the coin as a 'Hotel de Lyon' coin. Then I know I am dealing with someone who knows nothing about numismatics, but he/she makes my day!

    Frans
     
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  3. Treashunt

    Treashunt The Other Frank

    That dealer is a moron, and an elitist.

    It has been said that a numismatist is someone who spends more on his library than on his coins.

    Great definition, but...

    I'd say a numismatist is someone who studies coins, not just hoards or accumulates them.
     
  4. John Johnson

    John Johnson Well-Known Member

    I have always thought the difference between a collector and a numismatist is books. A numismatist spends a lot more time studying and learning about coins.

    As I've grown older I've come to a different opinion, probably because I'm also a runner. As a runner I know that know matter how fast you are or how much you weigh or what you look like or what kind of shoes you wear, if you lace them up and go run, regardless of the distance, you are a runner. With that in mind, I now believe that no matter how much you know about coins or how big your collection is, or if you have ever sold a coin or been to a show, or bought a graded coin, or even paid a premium for a coin, if you collect coins of any value at all, you are a numismatist.
     
    Mike Thornton likes this.
  5. Conder101

    Conder101 Numismatist

    How does he get him to run?
     
    Treashunt likes this.
  6. green18

    green18 Unknown member Sweet on Commemorative Coins Supporter

     
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  7. Dynoking

    Dynoking Well-Known Member

    Or a pothole dodger.
     
  8. Dynoking

    Dynoking Well-Known Member

    That sums it up for me.
     
  9. derkerlegand

    derkerlegand Well-Known Member

  10. Mike Thornton

    Mike Thornton Learning something new everyday.

    I've heard, everyone knows what BS is, MS is More of the Same and PhD is Piled high and Deep.
     
    Dynoking likes this.
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