Here is a link to the ANA educational department. For anyone who has an interest in the study of numismatics, I highly recommend taking a course. http://www.money.org/numdipl.html
Thanks, ND. I had heard of this program before, but had never seen the detail about the coursework. It is also nice that you can do it all from home!
All of the staff and I have completed these courses. I can't say enough good things about them. This is truely where the ANA shines.
I actually took three or four of these courses about three years ago. I kinda got sidetracked on it all.
Based on the description of course materials, the ANA apparently defines numismatics as the study of United States coinage.
It is. The ANA does have several subjects on Ancients. Anyone interested in World coinage should contact the ANA at: education@money.org
It might not help people whe don't actually *go* to the seminars, but the ANA does have many training seminars in person in their Summer Seminars, and some of them do concern themselves with coinage outside the U.S. http://www.money.org/sumsem2004.html
Ziggy, What happened? Did you find the courses less than satisfactory? Or, if you are like me, you just procrastinated?
I completed the Introduction to Numismatics and then Grading U.S. Coins Today. Since then, many other course have been added and I am remiss in not following through with more education. The ANA courses -- as ANA membership itself -- are pretty much my baseline definition for deciding whether or not someone is "really" a numismatist or a "serious" collector. I mean, you can FEEL dreadfully "serious" inside when you buy and sell, but if you do not have the basic knowledge, you are perhaps kidding yourself about being dreadfully serious. On the other hand, there is the problem of "cognitative dissonance" and rationalization. You and I took the classes, so you and I feel they are important and useful. It would require some hard objectivity to say that we passed with High Honors and found it a waste of time. That said, I still found the ANA correspondence courses to be valuable. Michael ANA R-162953
The ANA constantly updates their education series. Both in corrospondence and in their seminars. Their conventions are filled with many great small classes. Don Kagin gives a wonderful seminar on gold. Something that really must be seen. With any study, continuing your education is a must.
Guess I'm just guy who likes pretty round thingees, as I am not now, nor have I ever been, a member of the ANA. My longstanding membership in many other organizations , such a EAC, probably does not count, those guys aren't serious numismatists. And my local club membership, where I have been an officer for over 10 years, and bourse chairman for 7 years, really doesn't afford me any real experience when it comes to the serious study of coins. Guess I'll jsut take my 500+ item coin library down to Goodwill and start collecting Beanie Babies. Or maybe I'm just not "dreadfully serious". PS Don't tell those millions of coin hoarders in countries other than the USA that they aren't dreadfully serious, they might get agitated.
I dunno about the dreadfully serious part of it all, cause if I ever felt that way I would drop coins in a heartbeat. I have three addicitions for the same reason: Jazz Cigars Coins Because when I am enjoying them, they quiet my head, ease my worries and lift my spirits. These are my reasons, just mine..... BTW - will the ANA education make me feel dreadfully serious about coins, or can I retain that easy happy feeling? If I can stay me, sign me up. If I have to sign over my coin soul to the ANA, I don't think so scooter.
