At What Point Can You Call Yourself a Numismatist and Not Just a Coin Collector?

You bet. And a top notch one in my book. Imo

 

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Hey you both knock it out of the park. You kidding me???

 

Smell no taste ok

 

Think Doug just met his match.

 

You are wise. But i know the difference. That bar is mighty low.

 

Thought those were mints

 

http://www.marx-brothers.org/whyaduck/sounds/monkey/stable.wav

 

I finished college-level Calculus 3 in High School, and I still had Math every semester of college.

I also took Quantum Physics and General Relativity.

I could show you the math, but my hair is crazy for a reason.

You don't want that.

 

Groucho : Oh no, you're not gonna get me off this bed.

Lucille : I didn't know you were a lawyer. You're awfully shy for a lawyer.

Groucho : You bet I'm shy. I'm a shyster lawyer.

 

Besides........it's Wednesday

 

I’m trying to find your answer so I can understand why you believe mine to be untrue.

 

Probably the best answer one can give, because it is a continuum.

To me, a numismatist has deep knowledge of at least one subject area. Not about prices but history, context, why certain issues have different survivability rates, etc. Coin collectors, otoh, deal with costs and availability. They may read some light articles of background, but are mainly concerned with prices.

Another tip off to me is a person's library. Having 5 or 6 price guides as a "coin library" means that is a coin collector. A numismatist will have a lot of books on coins, and many others on history of the era they collect.

Neither is right or wrong, just different focuses.

 

I'm a numismatic coin collector - one who collects coins of interest, and attempts to learn a little about those coins. As a coin collector, I may be tainted with numismatic gold dust.

 

I think as soon as you know what the word means, you can call yourself a numismatist if you collect coins. Giving the word new or extra meaning just because it is long is silly. A numismatist is someone who studies or collects coins.

 

This was un true. I do dabble in research. And ask many dumb questions. I'm a collector. But i do see your point

 

I see collectors as people who just acquire coins, mostly because they’re either cool or valuable. Numismatists like to study the coin and often the history surrounding it. One can often be both, but it is not always the case.

How would you define a collector vs numismatist?

 

Absolutely true. I've never heard a serious collector say "I finished my set!" It's more like "I need to find a better example to replace my 1932-S" or "I'll work on getting some more Peace Dollars now" or "Now I need one with the rays."

 

I would say that I am a serious collector.

I have definitely said "I finished my set!" I had a goal, and I completed it.

Contrary to your posit, I then sold my set. Mind you, this was an Award Winning set on the NGC Registry. I could have continued to upgrade it, but I had accomplished what I wanted. There were new goals, and new sets.

Many notable serious, advanced collectors have done the same.

 

Well, I consider myself a Numismatist, and here is why...

I study my own error coins as well as those similar to mine. I learn by making comparisons both from what I have studied and what I see in front of me. What explains the similarities? The differences? For example, I collect coins struck on type 1 blanks. I notice many grading companies wrongly call blanks planchets and vice versa. I know what to look for along the edge for that "rip ad tear" look. I know that sometimes when coins are broadstruck, the edges get pushed up and it looks like a rim, but it is not. I know that off-centers can do that as well.

Also, most blanks struck by dies falsely look like die adjustment strikes because very few are struck fully. Blanks are wider and don't sit in the collar properly, and usally they wind up slightly tilted; this prevents a full and complete strike, and coins that have reeding are sometimes left with incomplete reeding. Many blanks are also struck outside the collar as well.

For me, if you can apply what you have learned and studied using raw examples (or if the label is hidden), then you are moving in the direction of a Numismatist.