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

Kudos for remembering these formats and still being alive! lol

 

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"It depends on what your definition of 'is' is." - Bill Clinton

 

Synonyms for collect
verb accumulate, come together
amass
assemble
compile
gather
save
aggregate
array
cluster
congregate
congress
convene
converge
convoke
corral
flock
group
heap
hoard
muster
rally
rendezvous
stockpile
flock together
get hold of
round up
scare up

 

I ran into the same situation several times over the computer decades. I started with Microsoft Flat File Databases, but when the company ended support for the program and it would not open on newer operating systems, I switched to Filemaker — about 1986. The company has "upgraded" this product continuously, far surpassing my needs for a database manager, so I hold on to older versions for years. I waited too long this time, as there are no conversion tools available to bring my datafiles to compatibility with the latest version of the software, so I am orphaned.

To make it short, I was able to install my old software and data files to an older computer with a version of the OS that has not been supported for more than 10 years. I can connect it to my router via ethernet and print to my current HP Laserjet with a generic driver although there can be no interaction between newer and older computers on this network.

I consider myself a collector, BTW, because I never learned how to spell numismatic. I also had to tell my mom I was a stamp collector and not a philatelist because she would have thought I was swearing.

 

Man, those were the days - IBM desktop, bulky small screen monochrome monitor, MS-DOS operating system, floppy disks and, of course, Lotus 1-2-3 - when I worked for the USPS in the 1980s, that was the 'hot setup' for office work.
Unfortunately, the 1-2-3 spreadsheet software and compatibility with its modern successors and Windows OS has expired long ago - maybe some computer geek/genius at your local college's computer science dept. can solve the file conversion dilemma, but I sort of doubt it.
Good luck in your quest

 

I still use Quattro Pro for my voluminous inventory/history coin files which is much more efficient than Excel when still being used on XP with the original Fat32 installation. I can still update my spreadsheets. I just can't any longer print the files which used several generic past available printers that I have several of, but Canon voided all of the drivers.

When you reside in a rural area with only "land line" access to a single "snail speed" DSL supplier that requires a separate ISP supplier for Webmail (e-mail) access, modern technology isn't that great. There doesn't appear to be an interface available here (it seems) for my Android "smart phone", so I'm somewhat captive to the "dark ages". Fiber optics are being installed in the more densely populated areas. My heaven can wait!!

JMHO

 

All these incompatibilities with formats and media are why trying to keep long term records on legacy tech is a fool’s errand. I have one computer on my network that is there specifically for media transfers. It still has a SCSI interface and Iomega ZIP and JAZ drives, and a floppy drive. WinXP. Trust me, if you want long term, use a pen and a stout little notebook like a Moleskin or even a Pad & Quill brand one. Keep the stinking computers in perspective. They’re just tools, and shouldn’t be the objects of worship they have become for far too many. And I say that as a guy with a full Ethernet switch.

 

When they put it on my tombstone.

" Numismatist"

 

All well and good, but my main reason for even caring about a database is for a complete record of my collection of songs to chart on the Billboard hot 100. Although the collection is almost complete, it has been decades since I have added any new recordings to the data files... note, that's files, not file. FileMaker Pro is relational, so the files interact in a number of ways to produce a myriad of reports in any number of layouts; and, despite a goal for the collection that was nearly reached more than a decade ago, a new record is merely added whenever then becomes part of the whole. That can't be done with mere pencil and paper, but speaking of paper, my collection printed out by artist then song title along with a line of chart data is over 300 pages of double-sided 12 point text.

Coin collecting databases were an afterthought that was abandoned in preference of Excel spreadsheets, one for each type of coin. Not as pretty or efficient but a lot easier to handle. Long time no see, @V. Kurt Bellman

 

I am vertically challenged follicle-ly challenged and numismatic-ly challenged. I wonder if they have a special parking sticker for that.

 

When did FileMaker go relational? I was always told it was a flat file database. True, the BEST flat file database, but not relational. I had it as recently as the last PowerPC-baseed Macs. In fact, I'm not aware of (but haven't looked lately) any affordable fully relational DB's on the Mac platform. I'm building mine on Ubuntu.

 

In the late 1980s... I guess about version 5 or so. It was the first relational DB for the Mac that did not require a degree in computer science to run and configure. The latest versions of FMP are way beyond the needs of most programing dilettantes like me. From the TOC of the latest version... 16, I think.

https://www.amazon.com/Learn-FileMa...&qid=1538749528&sr=1-1&keywords=Filemaker+Pro

 

Rumble! Rumble! (Noise made when the numismatic knowledge base expanded in the year 2014.)

Let’s see... A U.S. Mint medal series (yes, an entire U.S. Mint series) was first organized and first formed (after I made the first discovery). That is both unbelievable and remarkable (three firsts in the previous sentence). How does one discover, organize, and form a U.S. Mint series? The simple answer is “carefully”. By carefully performing numismatic research with the end goal in mind of “making a name for oneself” (aka expanding the numismatic knowledge base).

Let’s review this particular expansion: First to document each medal's mintage, check. First identification of the designers, check. First uncovering of the purpose of the medals, check. First to organize and form a U.S. Mint medal series (even before the U.S. Mint should have), check and check. First to assign identification numbers, check. First to document the historical relevancy of this new medal series, check. First to uncover why this series was never documented for over a half-century, check. There is too much to list. Wait, just buy my updated/expanded book...

Just to make it well understood. When you want information about these medals, my surname is associated/attached (and will always be) with these medals for all eternity. Now, this is a great example in how to get to the numismatist’s end game!

Rumble! Rumble! (end goal moved with another expansion in 2016, 2017, and 2018... to be continued). https://www.potus-sgm.com/

Questions before visuals.

What was the purpose of the May 1960 Paris Summit?

Which U.S. President attended the May 1960 Paris Summit?

Which other nations were part of the May 1960 Paris Summit?

Why did Nikita Khrushchev upend the May 1960 Paris Summit?

What aircraft (hint name of an Irish rock band) was shot down in Soviet Union airspace on May 1, 1960?

Who was the aircraft pilot and why was it flying in the Soviet Union airspace?

How is this medal tied to U.S. History and why hasn't it been documented before?

How many were stuck by the U.S. Mint at Philadelphia?

How many were destroyed by the U.S. Treasury?

Why were they destroyed?

How many survived?

Who was the designer?

Why is the medal the same dimension as a U.S. Morgan/Peace silver dollar?

What is the medal's identifier? What Class assignment? How many medals in this Class?

Less then a decade ago, one could purchase this medal at bullion price and today you are looking at over $1,300 to buy one (if you can find one). True or False?

Who was the first person (looks left ... looks right) to document numismatic information on this Paris Summit medal?



Who was Dwight D. Eisenhower (it's his incuse facsimile signature) and why did he have a medal struck with this design?




The research collection plus 2014 book (out of print).




Prior to NGC grading and encapsulation.

 

WGAS

 

I can't ever call myself an numismatist, but just a collector. I don't do research and I don't publish. I'm pure collector..........

 

Blow it out the saddlebags, eh old fellow?

 

Rendezvous?

 

Great question. It really is. Only you, yourself will realize when you have moved on from "collector" to "numismatist." I would say your progression of knowledge and number of coins; you have acquired over time have something to do with this. Also the amount of time one puts in, and one's willingness to engage and inform others about coins is important too.

 

No, I was with TCBC selling computers on the late 1980’s and FileMaker was most assuredly NOT relational, nor any time shortly thereafter. It was the most fully flat file DB going, but not relational. That I can say with 100% confidence.

 

As you wish.

Go to the link I provided above then scan the TOC as suggested. While that will not provide you with info on exactly when it went relational, it will certainly show you that it is. As for the was, I said about, and that could have been 1989 thru 1992 when I was working with some folks at LSU on a data structures text.

I did a big jump from version 8 to 12 about 5 or 6 years ago with nothing in between, which is now several versions in the past. No big deal, but as I am a pack rat you are welcome to come to search my closets for the older manuals that are surely around here somewhere. Not all of the relations survived the conversion from 8 to 12, but the most important ones did... on my older computer, that is. Version 12 will not run at all on the latest Mac OS.