Looking for a coin vet

Discussion in 'US Coins Forum' started by JoeFromMass, May 6, 2018.

  1. JoeFromMass

    JoeFromMass Active Member

    Really really interested
    In collecting US coins I already have a ton of coins put away. I need somebody to take me under their wing and teach me some stuff I understand that it can be frustrating to deal with ignorance, but I'm a quick learner.

    I need to learn the ins and outs, the acronyms, seeing the difference between DDD and DD, what coins to keep an extra eye out for get.

    If you feel like you have the patience and some extra time to deal with me let me know my name is Joe I'm 32 and I just started collecting coins about 6 months ago. I have some pretty good coins I just am so overwhelmed right now.

    Thank you for your time I'd ask people around where I live but East Bridgewater is a small town and there's no coin dealer very close to my house not that I could trust one anyway
     
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  3. sakata

    sakata Devil's Advocate

    Read and learn from everything here on CT. There are thousands of threads and it will be an education much better than you are likely to get from any one individual. Even after discarding all the junk threads there is still enough to keep you busy for a long time.
     
    JoeFromMass and Cochisz like this.
  4. JoeFromMass

    JoeFromMass Active Member

    There's a ton of junk to go along with members calling out members that are new, because they don't know what they're doing yet.

    I really don't care for the disrespect.

    Reading is only going to do so much. I need to meet up with a collector or dealer in Massachusetts. I am more hands on.

    What I am really lacking are good tools. [Good camera, microscope/loupe]

    Any members from MA?
    edited:language
     
    Last edited by a moderator: May 6, 2018
  5. Adam34falcon

    Adam34falcon Active Member

    I doubt senior members like @sakata care for the disrespect from you. He is trying to help, if you don't want good advice, then don't come back. A quick google search will most likely find you coin collector groups in MA. Please be considerate of someone trying to help you next time.
     
  6. ldhair

    ldhair Clean Supporter

    You will learn much more if you just read topics that are of interest to you. That would show no disrespect to you. Folks here could also point you to books that would help you. You might also look for coin clubs in your area. Welcome to CT.
     
  7. ToughCOINS

    ToughCOINS Dealer Member Moderator

    I cannot speak for others, but my sense is that much of the "disrespect" you allude to is rooted in the attempts of many to short circuit the traditional learning process because of their exposure to the 'get rich quick in coins' books that have hit the store shelves these past 10 years or so. Those books have lined the pockets of their authors, and those are pretty much the only people that they have helped. They have given birth to a new breed of collector, which is much more profiteer than true collector.

    You should be patient, and identify and capitalize on opportunities to learn as they present themselves to you. Buying books instead of coins is the best place to begin, and I don't mean price guides, top 10 investment newsletters or books about hitting it big with pocket change. I mean books that educate about the series you want to focus on, and others about pitfalls of making bad choices . . . The Coin Collector's Survival Guide by Scott Traverse is a great starting point . . . https://www.amazon.com/Collectors-S...&keywords=The+Coin+Collector's+Survival+Guide

    I don't want you feeling like the following statement is directed at you in particular Joe, but nobody learns all about coins overnight, and almost nobody gets rich in coins either. In terms of odds, when you read or hear about that person who found a 1943 copper cent, or a 1969-S Doubled Die cent, you are reading about a veritable Powerball winner. The folks who wrote those 'get rich quick in coins' books I mentioned knew that they would sell in droves to those wanting a short cut, yet would help almost no one else.

    Each of us must pay our dues in this hobby. Those wanting to learn it all too fast are likely the ones wanting to make big money on coins they already own, or on coins they plan to spend money on, and are the ones likely to make the biggest mistakes.

    I'm not saying we don't want to help our fellow collectors Joe . . . we do. But, we don't want to be treated like we are 'books on tape' either.
     
  8. chascat

    chascat Well-Known Member

    Since you have a ton of coins, buy a Red Book of US Coins and you will learn much about collecting. Most collectors started out this way.
     
  9. heavycam.monstervam

    heavycam.monstervam Outlaw Trucker & Coin Hillbilly

    I must be one of the few who did make a few bucks off of the get rich quick books.:shame:
    I was already a collector when i purchased it, and i use it like one would use a CPG.
    Im referring to- Strike it rich with pocket change. I assume thats the book you are talking about @ToughCOINS ??
    Ive found numerous 1972 type 2 Ikes and just yesterday i found a 1954 Jefferson D over S Nickel. I really enjoy buying complete Jefferson nickel whitman albums and going through them with this particular book in hand. Have i struck it rich? No? But ive made enough $$ to say this book has paid for itself many times over.

    Edit: im not sure if it was a 1954 now that i am trying to look it up online. I am on the road and wont be home until Wednesday. I guess thats another reason why i like this book so much. I dont have to fumble around on the net looking for images, i have convenient access to them when needed.
     
    Last edited: May 6, 2018
  10. Victor

    Victor Coin Collector

    You could try this guy:
    Lee's coins
    239 W. Main St.
    E. Brookfield
    Also there is a good coin club in Oxford, MA. We meet at the senior center the 4th Wednesday each month at 7pm.
     
  11. ToughCOINS

    ToughCOINS Dealer Member Moderator

    And that's my point exactly . . . the title implies one will get rich, yet a relatively experienced collector like yourself makes "a few bucks" instead of being enriched by it, so why would a newbie be enriched?

    As for ROI, I daresay virtually every reader who has digested Mr. Travers' book has saved far more in the avoidance of inadvisable purchases than what hunters of coins profit from having read the get rich quick books.
     
    Last edited: May 6, 2018
  12. Pickin and Grinin

    Pickin and Grinin Well-Known Member

    I think it would be in your best interest to put away the old worn out coins for a while. And direct your attention to coins with full details. Understanding what a coin is supposed to look like directly from the mint.
    Then read up on the minting process.
    This may seem like a lot of work, but this hobby isn't a cake walk either, it may take years, so be prepared.
    I spent a little time looking through your posting history, I didn't see any disrespect,
    If you post am I crazy, and what you post suggests that you may be? Get ready for some folks to agree with you.
    This forum is filled with very knowledgeable folks. Just remember that respect is a two way street.

    Hang around post some photos, ask some questions, and learn. We are all here to help, if you are willing learn.
     
    JPeace$, JoeFromMass and ominus1 like this.
  13. eddiespin

    eddiespin Fast Eddie

    So you want to get under a wing, do you? Turn up the volume...

     
  14. Casman

    Casman Well-Known Member

    I'm a big fan of and highly recommend the CPG's. As a small sampling of just 3 Ebay Cherry picks paid $5.00, $59.99, and $29.99. Graded and sold total: $12,049. Went on to find several dozen more, and used the proceeds to further fund my collecting endeavors.
     
    JoeFromMass likes this.
  15. wxcoin

    wxcoin Getting no respect since I was a baby

    I must like the wrong cherries.
     
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  16. Randy Abercrombie

    Randy Abercrombie Supporter! Supporter

    While I would never cross what the educated numismatic minds here suggest, I am of a bit different thought than @Pickin and Grinin. I rather believe a coins dealers “bargain or junk box” is a wealth of information for new collectors. You can still marvel at the rich history that lies in your hands without fear of taking a financial bath. And I still believe the dealers bargain boxes are the best deal in numismatics today..... I been collecting fifty years and I have learned as much in my few months on this forum as I did all those years on my own. Point being all these guys here are tickled to death to help a person out. Only time it gets testy is when folks are looking for the gold pot at the end of the rainbow in their pocket change. So yeah, I think everyone here is happy to take you under their wing. Just so long as you can stand a little good natured ribbing in the process!
     
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  17. Clawcoins

    Clawcoins Damaging Coins Daily

    search out and join a coin club.

    Though the idea of using a coin shop to learn, you have to understand that they have a business that needs to make money. Many times the coin shops keep themselves busy all the time when they are not dealing with paying customers.

    Of the coin shops I've been to I only get the ppl involved when I want to look at something, etc as most often than not their busy.

    Using them once in a while I don't think would be a problem but trying to spend a ton of time there to learn from them might not be a good idea. Also, many want to turn over a large amount of coins and may not even bother with "error" coins and all the minor deviations.
     
    JoeFromMass likes this.
  18. ziggy9

    ziggy9 *NEC SPERNO NEC TIMEO*

    Hi Joe, There was some good advise given here before the thread got a little side tracked.You can learn a lot from this site and you can learn a lot from books. I do agree though that a mentor is priceless. I am not the most knowledgeable person on the site (some are even more ancient than me) but I do live in eastern MA. I am the vice President of the Boston Numismatic Society which meets in Waltham on the 2nd Tuesday of each month (this Tuesday). I also work in the only coin shop in my area. If you want further info PM me.
    Richard Ziegler
     
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  19. spirityoda

    spirityoda Coin Junky

    learning about coins is a life long hobby. I have been collecting for about 20 years now. still learning, but I have come a long ways. you will make many mistakes. you will pay more for coins sometimes. you will get burned some times. you will learn from your mistakes hopefully. ask many many questions before you buy a coin. get second and 3rd opinions before you buy a coin. enjoy your coins. buy coins you like. pay what you want to pay. never feel pressured into buying a coin. be patient and take your time with coins. there will always be another coin to buy/trade/sell. talk with other coin collectors at coin shows. buy books on coins that interest you.
     
    Last edited: May 6, 2018
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  20. wxcoin

    wxcoin Getting no respect since I was a baby

    I would add the word "good" to coin club. I currently belong to a coin club that meets twice per month but doesn't do much in the way of positive numismatic interaction during these meetings. I have the feeling that most of the members that come to meetings have been together for decades and are of the attitude "been there done that". As a newer member I have almost no clue as to what most members collect or are interested in. They talk about infusing new, younger blood into their club but seem oblivious to the fact that their complacency will undoubtedly turn new members away. It's a shame as I generally like most of the members. Unfortunately, the same few individuals dominate discussions at each meeting without allowing time for others to chime in.
     
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  21. heavycam.monstervam

    heavycam.monstervam Outlaw Trucker & Coin Hillbilly

    I wasnt disagreeing with you, but i guess i DID miss the point. Oops, maybe i shouldnt have commented:eggface:

    Youre right, noones going to strike it rich with by reading that book. If i ever find that 92P or D close AM Lincoln i may change my mind.
    (Knocks on wood)

    I agree on the Travers book as well, very good info in that book especially for a newp. Seems like ive read 2 of his books but i dont recall the name of the other
     
    Last edited: May 6, 2018
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