Maybe a dumb question, but I'm just wondering, since I just can't afford to join everything. Does everyone belong to the ANA? There is so much out there to read and go through, and all the more so online. Not enough time to do it all. What do you folks think? What do you recommend? Does the membership help when selling or buying? Thanks...........
I have found my ANA membership the best investment I ever made in this hobby - The Numismatist, Summer Session, Library use, direct NGC submission rights, etc. These are what I thought of when seeing your question and there are more positives - like free admission to the 3 Money Fairs!
It will only help buying and selling if the knowledge you learn helps you. Knowledge is key to this hobby, and everything that helps you gain it is a very worthwhile investment. The ANA membership is ok for me, but if you are a US collector its more worthwhile.
I don't know if ANA membership helps when selling coins but the knowledge you can gain through membership by reading the Numismatist and attending seminars sure can help when buying! You can join and opt to read the Numismatist online, which will lower your annual dues significantly. Plus you get submission privileges to NGC and many other benefits.
Others may (and probably will) disagree but I think membership in ANA is well worth the price. I have been a life member for 26 years. I have learned more about coins at Summer Seminar than I ever imagined there was to know. I really enjoy using the ANA library. (It helps that I live 15 minutes from ANA Headquarters.) One way that ANA membership can benefit you when buying coins is that when buying from an ANA member or dealer-member the seller must abide by the ANA Code of Ethics. If you have problems with the transaction ANA can provide mediation services to help you resolve the problem.
I've often thought of joining, but then had too many reasons not to spend the money. I have no time to attend their shows which are usually thousands of miles away, and if I do can pony up the $5 to enter without membership. I definitely don't have enough free time to attend summer seminars. And, I get issues of the Numismatist for free from my friend's shop. It would be nice to have access to their library, but to me it's just not worth the membership fees to borrow a book or two per year as my time allows. It's a great organization in many ways, but it's not for everyone. Guy
OK all, and thanks for the replies. I've just re-joined after not being a member for a couple of years. I called and went over the benefits and decided there were certainly enough there even if I never read the magazine, but I probably will anyway. Colorado Springs is about 1900 miles away, but I do have family there I could visit in Lakewood!
I thought about that when I saw the question. They obviously can't control what individuals do but I guess I'd rather buy from an ANA member than a non-ANA member in general. I get the Numismatist online. I can spend a couple hours reading it on a Sunday morning. I think it's the best numismatic magazine out there, hands down. It's impressive the amount of articles they fill it with every month. There's something for everybody in most issues. Oh yeah, got into the Worlds Fair of money for free. I got an ANA Visa card too just because the design is so cool. Members get 7% off a purchase from Dell and group rates for insurance.
