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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;kaparthy, post: 7836, member: 57463&quot;]What basic knowledge do you think really enhances your appreciation of the hobby?</p><p><br /></p><p>We say that coins are history you hold in your hand.&nbsp; Really, though, what do you need to know about Webster-Ashburton in order to enjoy a Large Cent?&nbsp; I have read from others -- and I agree - that a Mint State example is nice to look at and nicer to own, but that, really, a circulated coin evokes images of people and places.&nbsp; So, do you need to know U.S. History?&nbsp; And how much?</p><p><br /></p><p>Our coins have Latin mottos.&nbsp; Clearly, if you want to enjoy collecting issues from other countries, a smattering of foreign language knowledge helps.&nbsp; </p><p><br /></p><p>Coins are art, and paper money all the moreso.&nbsp; Collectors will praise this issue or that because they &quot;like&quot; it but they seem not to be able to speak in the language of art.&nbsp; Do you need to know art, art history, or design?</p><p><br /></p><p>One of the questions that comes up is &quot;What did it buy?&quot;&nbsp; Again, this is a history topic, but also raises question of economics.&nbsp; (I perceive a strong correlation between conservative political theory and numismatics: coin collectors are gold bugs.)&nbsp; The Morgan Dollar is always popular with collectors and you can get some pretty heated arguments over MS-66 vs MS-65 when money is on the table.&nbsp; Does any of that derive in any way from &quot;The Crime of &#039;73?&quot; or &quot;The Cross of Gold&quot; speech? Does it matter one way or the other?</p><p><br /></p><p>Knowing how coins (and banknotes) are made would seem important.&nbsp; People seem to have this image of a man at a stamping press, feeding coin after coin while pulling a lever.&nbsp; The image of eight coins a second automatically flowing into a bucket is more realistic.&nbsp; Does it matter?&nbsp; What do you need to know about tool and die, or engraving? Do you need a Machinery Manual on your shelf next to Breen?</p><p><br /></p><p>And, hey, do you need Breen?&nbsp; I know many collectors who stop with The Red Book, and few stalwarts who subscribe to Greysheet.&nbsp; Paying $100 for Breen or $50 for Taxay is not on their priority lists when they go to a national coin convention.&nbsp; Does it matter what Breen says, as long as PCGS says &quot;MS-63&quot;?</p><p><br /></p><p>The bottom line is that my &quot;devil&#039;s advocate&quot; thesis is that we say &quot;coins are history&quot; (science; art; archaeology) but all that really matters is whether you can crack it out for an upgrade.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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