Developing an expertise

I have seen many articles and many posts throughout forums about coin experts.

Developing an expertise in any area basically boils down to the same principles. Many hours, and studying.

Constantly through our lives we seek out experts in every field. Whether it is a mechanic, a plumber, or coin dealer.

Yet many times, we allow our own understanding to cloud the information we receive. We all get this idea in our head that we know more than the person who does this for a living.

In coins, there are very few true experts. It takes a lifetime to master any craft. New ideas, and techniques evolve and with that, new learning must take place. Knowledge never stops.

I am often asked how one becomes a dealer, or how to grade, or how to become an expert. The answer is the same for all. Time and studies. As a dealer, my day is spent dealing with coins. From having my nose stuck in a book, viewing websites, talking on the phone with others, sharing experiences, and general conversations here on CoinTalk. All of these activities add to the general knowledge. But it is still not enough. For those of you that have been here on CoinTalk a while know that many of my answers come from the pages of my referrence library.
I still after 12 years of being in this business rely heavily on the experts before me.

The first sign of learning expertise is the understanding that you are not an expert. While your knowledge may be great or your abilities may prove worthy, expertise is life long. With knowledge also comes responsibility. Others look to you for answers and truth.

When people begin a new quest for understanding they almost certainly start looking to become a jack of all trades. Expertise comes from knowing one thing, and that one thing better than anything else.

So as you make your journey through this life, remember that when you are seeking out the answers, you have to learn to accept those answers.

Our hobby is filled with many people who, while maybe not experts know a lot about coins. They share this knowledge because of a love for the hobby and the people involved.

 

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i have not been on this forum for very long at all but the knowledge i have gained would have been very costly if i had not found this forum and asked questions.

my thanks goes out to all of the moderators here. they give their time and money to us (time is money). they share their passion and love for a hobby that is very cool. they teach us what they know for their own reasons.

my collecting has gone in a whole different direction since finding this place where i can get information on just about anything that i ask. my nose is buried in books now. i will not buy another coin until i have read about it. history, what the design means, how it was minted everything. just so mayby down the line i can offer what i have learned. who knows mayby i wont ever get their but i will have fun learn and make a whole lot of freinds on the way. thanx to all of the people on this forum.........

 

One is always dependent on the work of others before him. Even Sir Isaac Newton said that if he has seen further than others it is only because he has "stood on the shoulders of giants". Even if striking out in new directions one is still traveling roads which are well trod. The more one learns about anything the more one will find more questions than answers.

 

That brings to mind something my sainted grandmother taught me way back in the first half of the last century:

An expert knows a lot about something;

A respected expert knows even more about even less; but

A world-renowned expert knows everything there is to know about nothing at all.

 

The first sign of learning expertise is the understanding that you are not an expert. While your knowledge may be great or your abilities may prove worthy, expertise is life long. With knowledge also comes responsibility. Others look to you for answers and truth.

When people begin a new quest for understanding they almost certainly start looking to become a jack of all trades. Expertise comes from knowing one thing, and that one thing better than anything else.

So as you make your journey through this life, remember that when you are seeking out the answers, you have to learn to accept those answers.

Our hobby is filled with many people who, while maybe not experts know a lot about coins. They share this knowledge because of a love for the hobby and the people involved.

Superb. Words to dwell on and live by. Thanks.

And it's said that when Einstein wrote the theory of general relativity that he likely knew nearly all of current physics, but by the time of his death, even in the short years following the development of quantum mechanics, he knew less than 10% of what had been developed subsequent to the introduction of his theories.

Hoot

 

Welcome Hoot,

I keep hearing about your posts on some of the other threads. It is nice to have you here.

 

A little humility goes a long way.

Two complementary mindsets are necessary. One is a willing suspension of disbelief. The other is a willingness to question everything. First, you have to accept the truths found by others. Then, you have to seek out the truth for yourself.

Michael

 

There is a paradox of learning that applies to coins as well - the more you know the more you have to learn. Even if one just specialized in a single coin run (nickels, perhaps), the level of knowledge gained on a particular level only leads to another level that is more specific and more complex.

Ultimately, there are no experts. There are sage gurus who can share what they know, but even these folks are continually searching to learn more. Knowledge is also a degrading asset. If you don't continually learn about new facets of our hobby, your knowledge is compromised eventually. New knowledge challenges the collector and the dealer to re-examine their previous collection of facts.

For me, I know nothing!

 

Well somedays I feel that I know next to nothing. Each year new varieties are found, and new ways of collecting.