I am in the process(sending a check) of enrolling in the week-long ANA summer school taking a grading course. Have any of you attended before or talked to someone who has? I'm interested in any comments from you-all. At $923 for tuition, room and board for a week it looks like a real value and the instructors are top notch well known numismatists. Thoughts please.......:secret: When I get to old to learn it will be time to cash in my chips.
Our club has sent several young numismatist to it and they have all learned allot. You will have a great opportunity to learn and enjoy. -O)
So much depends on many, many items. For example are you working and would have to take a leave or something? Do you have a family that would have to or want to go with you? Do you have a family that requires you to be home? Are you already in school and want something to do for the Summer? Are you planning on making coins a buisness? Planning on starting a coin store? Now have a coin store? Going to do private authenticating? And if you just happen to have $923 that you don't know what to do with, you could send it to me. That course or any course about anything is always something that could make us better at anything we do or where we go. A really famous man once said everyone should learn at least one new thing everyday. That course could do that and much more BUT, do you need it, want it, can use it, etc.? Way to many personal pieces to your life for anyone here to decide that for you.
Personally I get a lot out of the summer seminar (Colorado Springs); I go every year, but this year only able to do a 2 day course and mini seminar. They combine a coin show with the seminar and can cause scheduling conflicts. I have taken intro to grading, intermediate grading, counterfeit detection, a coin dealer class, and a few others. This year I am taking an error and varieties course and photo shop mini course. The amount of knowledge at the summer seminar is unbelievable, and all the instructor are very respected and knowledgeable. In my opinion the grading classes and counterfeit detection are the best classes and are the first to fill up. Tom Halllenbeck and Mary Sauvain are very very good graders and you can learn a lot from them, Matt Kleinstuber is also a unbelievable grader instructor and he is only in his 20’s. J.P Martin (anacs) teaches a very comprehensive course on counterfeit detection. Now some may think that money spent for summer seminar could be used better elsewhere, but if you want numismatic training and or education the summer seminar is about it. Unless of course you can convince Northwestern University to give you a PhD in Numismatics. I recommend taking the grading and counterfeit classes, but when it comes to grading it just takes looking at a lot of coins to figure it out, say 20 years worth… Every time I am at a convention or auction I go to the lot viewing and putting my finger over the grade when I pull it out of the box and trying to figure out the grade. One can look at 100’s of coins that way beefing up their grading skills. I think the summer seminar is worth it for those you are looking for training.
