i have never been to a coin club meeting. and i would like to know what goes on? do they charge an entry fee? they meet on the first wednesday of the month, so tomorrow. should i just go and get a feel for it. or do i want to dive in head first and take all my trading stuff. and be prepared for wheeling and dealing. thanks in advance
Well if its a good club they will have a membership fee, usually an annual one. The club should allow a visitor to come to consider membership. Our club does this but does not allow guests to participate in the coin auction. Go check it out and have fun. If you don't enjoy it or have fun you may not want to join. IMHO coin clubs are a great way of meeting collectors and learning from their experiences in Numismatics. Good clubs are there to help members not rip them off or cheat them on coin deals. Those actions should be membership violations stated in the Club Charter and By Laws. Keep on Collecting!!! Allen
My coin club was only $5 to join, and they meet the first Wednesday of the month at the city library, close enough for me to walk. It is well worth it to join, you think opinions here are great (from pics), try an "in hand show" around the club meeting. There will be YN's and old salts and everything in between. I think coin clubs rock !!! My club just had the honor to host the ANA show this month as well. Every meeting there are raffles, and an auction too.
Are they safe though? I havent heard of anything bad coming from being a member, but with all the scum out there???
What's so interesting is you are just as likely to meet scum online, as in real life but if it cost money to get in, it usually keeps the rift-raft out. :hammer: Ribbit :smile
I think I would have a easier time spotting scum in person than over the internet. Also paying helps. Look at this forum for example. I have met a lot of great people here. Willing to go out of their way to help someone up and coming. And just think I havnt seen any of you, not to mention this site is free. So I guess im not that worried. But i love this forum. you guys are GREAT:hail:
I just looked up my local coin club on google and they meet on the third Thursday of every month and it's free. :hammer: I'm going to go to their next meeting and become an active member. Ribbit :smile
There are 3 coin clubs here in Charleston, WV - why 3 you ask? Well, they are located in different parts of the city Many members attend all three, but I only attend 2. It costs $8 a year to join each coin club. We begin our meetings at 7pm - for the first half hour we usually just mingle around talking about coin stuff. Some people bring in coins to sell or trade. Also, we hold an auction at each meeting, so when you are not talking to the fellow members you are looking at the items in the auction deciding which items to bid on. I just went to one last night. I enjoy them because I can share my experiences with other people who share the same interests as I do. Lastly, at the end of the evening we give away door prizes. If you were one of the lucky first names drawn you would have won either a Peace or Morgan dollar or even a 1964 proof set. Sometimes the value of the prizes alone can cover the $8 yearly fee. I have not been lucky since joining both clubs - last night I walked away with a 1999D quarter. That found its way into my change cup in the car. Also, I found a 1834 large cent that was in the auction that had Liberty doubled. No one else noticed it - not even the two large cent collectors in the room - probably because the cent was in AG/G condition and was overlooked by them. I pointed it out to a high school kid and he ended up winning it in the auction. He was so excited. These are the things that make going to these clubs so fun. P.S. - the fees raised from the dues are used to purchase the door prizes and items used in the auctions.
Our coin club meets twice a month, meetings are free and you're encouraged to check us out before joining. There is a business meeting on the first meeting of the month, a more casual update on the second meeting. Then there is show and tell, a break, and a talk given by one of the members. There is usually an auction that occurs after the official meeting is over. Our dues are $20 a year but cover the costs of our newsletter which is six times a year. We mint a presidential medal each year as well. I'm not sure I'd bring anything to my first meeting other than a couple of items that might be of interest to members, and yourself of course. I would approach a new club gradually. Be sure to introduce yourself informally if you're not given the chance to do so formally (our club recognizes all visitors and encourages them to say a few words to the group).
So much depends on where you live, what personal information you must submit to the club, where and how such information is stored. The reason is simple. If you live in a high crime area some people join those clubs to acquire personal information. If you do join and all memebers have access to you name, address, have coins at home and they now know you are at the meetings on certain times and days, you can guess what is next. If all such information is put into a computer, then the files can be accessed by who knows who. If your in a high crime area you would find not a real lot of people join such clubs and if they do it is only if you do not have to give out personal information. Of course in such areas you could be followed home since criminals know if your in such a club, you must have millions at home. Slight exageration but a criminals mind is not necessarily one of great intellegence. If your in a smaller community where crime is not as privelant as some areas a coin club could be fun and enjoyable. Where I live in a large city there are numerous coin clubs or supposed to be. I see them advertised at local coin shows. I just have never met anyone that belongs to one or at least admits to belonging to one. Always better to be safe than sorry. Same with coin magazines delivered to a home where what is in the mail could be seen by the wrong people.
well i went to the coin club meeting last night. and it was a lot of fun, they talked about the profits from the recent show. and had a raffle for some nice coins. we watched a video on how to grade coins and what to watch for with weak strikes and altered coins. also how to determine at and nt coins. also i joined, the club cost ten bucks for a year. i also ordered a set of club coins silver, brass, and copper. they are a little larger and thicker than a silver dollar. not bad at a cost of 37 dollars. i am looking forward to the next meeting.
WTG Jon! Coin Clubs are a great way to network and meet interesting people. Keep on Collecting!!! Allen
