How do you guys feel about having a coin mentor ? Someone that can help you get started, someone that can tell you about all thier mistakes before you make the same one yourself. I know that CT helps alot but i personally wouldn't mind having a long time numistatic be there for me.
I would think this whole site could be your mentor. Is there some guidance that you think you couldn't get here?
I think this site is like supa-mentor, there probably isnt anything you couldn't find about coins here.
I would really like to have someone who can be there to show me the ropes, hook me up with some connections, help me learn how to grade with coin in hand and guide me in my purchases. Someone whom I could meet face to face from time to time that didn't live too far away. But I still go and pay my insurance and propane bills in person with cash. For me nothing beats real time spent with a real person. Looking at someones collection with them in person.
For starting out, best advice would be to concentrate on books and not buying coins. Next best advice would be do not buy a coin, (because I know you will want to, we all do) without first asking about it - either here or privately with someone you trust.
Even experienced collectors should follow this advice. If you have a question or need advice about a potential purchase, ask someone who's opinion you trust before you make the deal. Right on Doug:thumb:
There is always the possibility that any such Mentor would not be as good as asking or discussing something with a much larger group of POSSIBLE experts. Such a Mentor could make mistakes also. On a coin forum a question may not get the answer you want, be full of wierd answers, disagreements amonst the answerers, arguaments, but in the long run you'll see numerous answers, not just one. A mentor may suggest you purchase something and later you feel you shouldn't have. By asking here, by the time you get all the responses the deal would have passed and you saved yourself the bad feeling later. Kind of kidding there. I go to numerous coin shows and have gotten to know some of the dealers that are consistantly there fairly well. Some for many, many years. Still that doesn't mean they could be trusted. For example one dealer I know real well tried to sell me a coin for about double of what it is worth. I told him that and have not talked to him since. On a web site like this that coin would have been raked over with such a high price. Your better off using such forums as this for your Mentor.
Learn first and a good friendly local dealer can go a long way. So if possible make friends with a local dealer.
for what its worth... I have learnt at least 75% of EVERYTHING I know, from this site. any other pointers or knowledge I have gained has been from buying and asking as many questions as I can when I go to a shop ( which is this weekend!) and buying books. Although I agree, nothing can beat hands on experience, this a great place to learn if you just know where to look. THIS is a section that is Greatly overlooked in this forum. spend some time there
2 things to look for in a mentor available and willing to be your mentor must have real and sound knowledge of the subject
Research research research that's the game oh i forgot Coin Talk Jazzcoins joe :whistle::whistle::whistle::whistle:
That's a great point. There is no way for a beginner to know just how good the information from the "mentor" really is. And asking the dealer whether you should buy a coin is like asking the barber if you need a haircut.
That is a possibility but it's sort of like saying you'll ger a great price by becoming friendly with a used car salesperson. (Can't say salesman anymore your know) A local coin dealer, if in a store, has about as many close freinds as that used car salesperson. Or an insurance salesperson or anyone that makes thier living on sales to others.
I personally never would trust my local coin shop guy. Id prefer someone that has a portfolio of coins that is an expert in coins that I like. thank you all in advance
