Why are so many people coming on here looking for errors?

Is it because it's such an intellectually-enriching hobby? Don't flatter yourselves, guys. Most of these people don't know the first thing nor do they care any about learning the first thing. That's clearly seen in all these links we provide them and they never bother to even read much less learn from them. Here, e.g., is what we're up against with this bunch...

 

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It’s all the get rich quick-check your pocket change schemes that are everywhere.

 

Yeah... I was just the other week at the local bookstore. They happen to have quite a coin hobby selection, however it is dominated by one book... How to get Rich with Pocket Change........ But you know.. It is incumbent on us to try to plant the seed wherever we can. You never know where it may sprout.

 

Once the internet came,everything collapsed and people will believe some of the most nonsense things others can promote and say whatever they desire and make a little army to follow!! .

 

That is why I suggested a forum here for identification of varieties, errors, etc,by a group of members for money ($1) that could be used to upgrade the forum as necessary rather than mainly the owner(s) having to beg and use their own resources to keep us going.
A second thought was to have "stores" for members to post coins, paper, and coin equipment for sell such as magnifiers, scales, books, etc, with the owner of such paying a small % of income.

Jim

 

I like how you think, Jim.

 

Seriously, we do this for the love of the hobby. We're not playing Bingo, here.

 

As a young collector I had an outside chance of finding any coin that had ever been put into circulation. Collecting was inexpensive and exciting. Today a collector can only hope to fill sets from 1965 to date. Very few are worth over face. The focus of life these days is instant gratification. Consequently, coin collecting has become slow and boring. We can't waste time looking for a dime that is only worth a dime. If we are looking for dimes let's look for those that are worth a million dollars.

I avoid any input to the queries seeking validation of these get rich quick coins. I think that is all they want, validation to use in selling the coin. Let them go back to the source of the misinformation for validation.

 

There you go, we should send them off to there.

 

I have several hobbies. I like cointalk because of the interesting people and their coins. I buy from ebay, but only for those things I can trust to go through. Having been an auditor, I am veer skeptical aboul just about everything. When I saw the "Great Kentucky Hoard", I was interest, but when I saw their prices, no so interested. I have had to pay high prices on somethings because if I had to wait to find a coin that I liked and the price is right, I'd have to borrow from my dog's piggy bank to get it.

 

But, see, it still is -- if you think that you MIGHT find a "rare error coin" in your "pocket change". And there are thousands of videos out there assuring you that you CAN find one.

I think we're stuck with the strike-it-rich folks until change no longer circulates. Which, of course, might not be very long at all.

 

I searched change for small date 1960 and 1970-S cents because there was a realistic chance to find one and, more importantly, because my album had a hole dedicated to them and holes needed, nay had, to be filled. I bought the hole, therefore I had to fill it.

 

I think there’s a balance - however, it does favor those looking to “get rich quick” without any desire to learn. These are the same people that save bicentennial quarters and $2 bills like some did beanie babies.

That being said, I think our disposition should remain consistent among everyone regardless of intent. Of course not saying you are making a point to the contrary here. But, there is still a chance to be had that someone stumbles upon a coin hoping to get rich, and then are drawn in further by the community of people imparting knowledge and kindness.

 

At least this isn't Reddit! I had to unsubscribe from the coin thread with the constant posts of people finding circulated bicentennial coins and thinking they hit the lottery. that, or Grandpas proof sets from 10-20 years ago

 

Answer: Media
These, "if you have one of these in your pocket change, you may be rich." are appearing everywhere.

 

I used to roll search but never looked for errors. I looked for silver or buffalo nickels.

 

I think the "error-mongers" aren't true hobbyists, or rather, their real hobby is daydreaming of getting rich quick. This week, it was treasures found in pocket change. Next week it will be day trading or a book that has a system to beat Vegas or multilevel marketing. But there are those who discover varieties late in life (like me) and I can say that I appreciate the links you guys provide when trying to educate those get-rich-quick types. (Cited from: https://www.cointalk.com/threads/why-are-so-many-people-coming-on-here-looking-for-errors.406547/)

 

Hey! I've seen that one before.

 

The chances of finding a valuable date or date and mint mark combination in circulation are very slim. The only realistic hope is to find a mint error or doubled die. Technically doubled dies are not mint errors; they are die varieties.

The mania for doubled dies amazes me. If you need to 10x glass to see it, the doubled die does not amount to much IMO, but that is a minority opinion, at least for now.

And yes, it drives me nuts when all people can think about is making money. There is so much more to this hobby.

When someone gives a presentation on “How to Make Money with Coins,” they will fill the room. If you present any other topic, the room will be mostly empty.

I am going to work on a counterfeit presentation for the January FUN show. It will be interesting to see how many people I attract. I view the “How to Get Rich” presentations as an “offensive strategy.” I view counterfeit detection as a “defensive strategy.” If you pick the right coin that make money for you, great! BUT if you get stuck with a counterfeit, you have nothing.

 

I was pumping gas at one of those despicable stations with the televisions that spew out nonsense while you sit helpless, unable to escape, at the pump. As I stood there, the video began playing and a woman with a perfect broadcasting voice said "many are diversifying into rare coins... [blah blah blah]... many coins sell for millions of dollars..."

I don't remember the entire rant verbatim, but, to paraphrase, it more or less argued that rare coins provide a good hedge against inflation, they could make you rich, and YOU could get lucky. The visual on the video at one point changed to what looked like dozens of gold coins falling onto a table and bouncing all around and into each other. What a great introduction to keeping your coins in pristine condition. Yes! Buy gold coins and drop them! The more you drop together the better! Just look at those riches!! IT COULD BE YOU DAMAGING THOSE COINS!!!

The absolutely last thing I expected to see on a gas station pump video was a "rare coin" advertisement. I wonder who funded that thing? It left me feeling rather sad as I drove off.