What Is Numismatic Information?

Let me rephrase.
Some coin/currency dealers are numismatists, but not all numismatists are coin/currency dealers.

 

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didnt mean to start a huge debate....the info has been helpful though, thank you!

 

Don't worry BenGold. We do things like this all the time. The guys are very knowledgeable. We learn from each other. And as long as we debate with respect towards each other, it is all good.

I was actually being sarcastic with the guys but I guess they never really got it. I know what a numismatist is and I know I wrote it wrong when I said you had to make a living to be so and it went from there.

Either way. Glad you learned something and welcome to CT.

 

@Rigo.........

 

Yeah. I would consider all of the members of TCACC numismatists since they all spend long hours studying ancient coins.

A dealer very well can be a numismatist, but as Guy said others are just salesmen. Nothing wrong with either. Both collectors and dealers cover the entire spectrum. A collector who publishes articles about certain series and is a recognized expert in them certainly is a numismatist, but so is a dealer like Harlan Berk who has written books on series. OTOH, there are collectors who just buy coins they find pretty and have no inclination as to how, why, or the circumstances of where they were coined. You also have dealers who just buy and sell according to a sheet of paper, not caring what coin he buys or sells except to be able to flip for a profit. Neither of these I would call numismatists.

Bottom line, its the STUDY of numismatics. If you collect mercury dimes and are a numismatist, you know that 264,000 16d's were struck, how to spot a d versus an s in a worn example, and the fact the 16s is actually rarer in high grades than the 16d. A coin collector knows the price sheet says the 16d is the most expensive, but is not absolutely sure why, it just is.

 

YES!!! So I am a numismatist!!! :rollling:

 

I would never dare to say you weren't Rigo.

Doug had a great example, himself. Number of coins owned never makes anyone an expert, it simply means they are good at writing checks. I am sure it could be disputed, but I consider myself like Doug with US coins, I haven't sold mine, (the horror at the thought), but never buy any unless I am ultra bored. Still, I try to keep up with US numismatics.

 

True, Doug. I really doubt that anyone who IS an expert would call himself an expert. Became an expert comes after many years of study of numismatics, and then it does not matter whether you call yourself an expert, or numismatist or anything. One of the great men of numismatics said once that his greatest achievement in life was to establish where was located one of mints (it was obviously a joke, because this man was the author of many important books).

 

Oh no....now I'm so discombobulated....

 

Hahahaha, do not even try to find excuses, I am waiting for your e-mail

 

He may have been telling the truth. To truly and perfectly locate a mint location would be the crowning achievement of many writers, as that feat will stand the test of time while his writings will be later superceded.

I know what you are saying Doug. The first time I met Curtis Clay I could just sit there all day and listen to him talk about any of the hundreds of subjects he truly was an expert in. It is very humbling to those of us who start to think we are beginning to know something.

I have no idea how I would react if I ever got to spend an hour with David Sear or Harlan Berk.

Chris

 

Constant drooling and jaw on ground?

 

Yepp, but not this time. He was talking about very obvious location. This city mint was not even moved thru years to another location in the same city. Guy had a sense of humor and a distance to himself, that's all. I appreciate people like this one. But they are scarce like a coins you are looking for all your life...

 

I know, I know. No rush, you got more things to do

 

Most just call themselves Broke

 

Especially after the last few weeks.