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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;trogdor, post: 3548682, member: 21943&quot;]I started out as a collector at 18, quickly started flipping to fund the collection. Within a few years I started selling to fund major expenses. Over time I developed relationships with a few dealers and started working as a vest-pocket guy while I completed 5 years of graduate school. After school when my discretionary income boosted I had the increased capital to really start dealing on the side in order to fund my collection. After a few more years of that we moved out to California and I contacted an auction house on a whim to see if I could play a bit while I found another &quot;real&quot; job.</p><p><br /></p><p>Six years later I&#039;m having more fun and making more money as a numismatist than I had planned to with my chosen career. I have limited motivation to ever return to real work, but I guess the education is good as a backup plan.</p><p><br /></p><p>For obvious reasons, I&#039;ve learned more in 6 years than I had in the previous 12, but the 12 spent grinding were absolutely essential to being able to operate at a higher level. When we look for new numismatists the thing we consistently struggle to find are people who understand the basics. If anyone wants to be a dealer on the side or do this full-time, start with cheap stuff and don&#039;t pigeon-hole yourself into anything too specific at first. Learn everything and be willing to flip things for a couple dollars profit (or loss). Your numismatic education comes from the grind. I didn&#039;t really understand that until I did this professionally.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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