One reason why people collect coins is for the history. Unfortunately, most young people like us don’t appreciate history. Public schools and colleges want students to regurgitate info to pass exams, they aren’t concerned with fostering the love of learning.
I am a strong supporter of professional organizations, whether hobby or work related, so take my opinions for what they are worth I learned a lot of info and made a lot of contacts through the ANA especially when I first joined in the 80s and will still continue to support them, but a also feel that the political nonsense keeps creeping back into the organization. BTW. V Kurt is doing the same old stuff across the street. Apparently he feels that asking questions is not an acceptable form of learning. Newbies need to to do all of their own research before he will provide help, but will have no trouble being critical of newbies that can't find the research (how do you find it if you don't ask???). I recently stopped contributing to NGC because of members like V Kurt and some others. Too bad, because there are some good people there, they just get swallowed up by ridiculous comments from experienced members that should know better Just my opinion, nothing more
No question, Kurt is not very friendly. He has drove many members away from the NGC forums. It's actually sad.
I was an ANA member for a number of years, but I stopped renewing a year or two ago. Though I had no problem with the organization or the magazine or anything else about it, I found that I didn't get much out of the membership. Those who want to use their online resources, their extensive physical library, go to seminars or such will probably get a lot more out of it than those who don't. I attended a mini-seminar a number of years ago and it was great, but after maintaining a membership for a number of years, I found that I never used their website, I had no time for seminars, and I stopped reading the magazine. I did visit the Money Museum in Colorado once and saw the big rarities. I'm glad I went once, but I'm not sure that I need to go again. Overall, they seem like a good organization, but perhaps it just wasn't for me.
Yup, and that's the entire reason I'm a member of ANA. I'm not sure what or if there's a connection between the two, but HWI will not insure your collection if you're not an ANA member.
YUP. I've been trying to make this point about world coins for a while now. Find those "Less Commonly Collected Coins" (or "L3Cs" for short), whether it be a world coin series or even something like Barber Dimes (some of which are much more rare than other US series of coins, but are somewhat neglected by the typical 'merica-coin-crowd). LOTS of options are available in coins. You can collect ANY way you want, anything you want, and in any condition you want. If you're on a budget, don't listen to the style freaks in this hobby about "what's worth collecting." World coins are STILL largely unexplored and undervalued in certain areas. Also, collecting may not be your focus in numismatics: Research might just be! As a noted numismatist once said, "Numismatics is a field where a little expertise goes a long way..." Lots of things to research in the world of coins...
MLUV43, The world is getting smaller. I agree with you; there is a lot to learn and enjoy about the numismatics of other countries. In Maryland, the Governor has proclaimed the first KIMCHI DAY. "Things are getting better every day". Signed: Ford Lincoln Mercury ( some here will know the reference, I assume.)
I let my membership lapse this year. Nothing against the ANA just starting to distance myself from National Organizations. I belong to FCRV (Family Campers and RVers) and it is a dying organization. At it's peak it had over 5000 members now it's less than 2000. I pay $35/year and all I get is a quarterly newsletter which I throw out. In fact I haven't got one since COVID started. My camping club which is a local FCRV club had to host a regional meeting in Aug. We as a club asked in the meeting where the dues money was going and the Regional director didn't really give good answers. She said you do get benefits just look on the FCRV website. My renewal for FCRV is up in March and I'm letting that expire too.
It used to be a common model where you had local and shared resources at a national level. With the Internet everything's next door and you don't need both.
