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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;clembo, post: 598357, member: 8033&quot;]It was a good move Klunky. Been just over a year for me now. I don&#039;t make what I did painting (heck just picked up a side job painting) but I get by and love it most of the time.</p><p><br /></p><p>At our shop I advise or buy most of the small sized paper money. Boss knows I know it better and am able to pick out notes he might turn down.</p><p><br /></p><p>I learn a lot there. The boss has forgotten more than I know but he always respected me because I could discuss half cents in one breath then switch over to Standing Liberty quarters. A little general knowledge goes a long way.</p><p><br /></p><p>At times the job will get tedious and or boring. I wait on the majority of customers when I get down to it. I&#039;m a natural BSr as it were. It does get boring at times especially when you hear the same questions over and over. You just have to realize that at one time YOU were that person.</p><p>Hey, I got so bored at one point I just laid of CT for a while. Same old stuff I heard at work all day.</p><p>Tedious is jewelry. We buy gold and I have no use for jewelry myself. Still I sort it when it comes in (which happens every single day) and sell the occasional ring or pair of ear rings. I get paid for it.</p><p><br /></p><p>Another area I am still learning and always will be is World coins and paper. Put it this way. My boss buys darn near anything. I have a newfound respect for those that collect world stuff. Looking it up is half the adventure believe me.</p><p><br /></p><p>A great advantage besides learning is getting first or second shot at a lot of coins. My co-worker Scott gets first dibs. Only fair - he&#039;s been there about 30 years and he teaches me SO much.</p><p>We also look out for one another. He knows what I like and I have an idea what he likes. If we buy something he may want I always make sure to show him. </p><p>I&#039;m pecking away at Barber quarters right now. Have 31 holes to fill. 3 I may never own but the rest are realistic and I&#039;ll buy most of them at work. Some holes I&#039;ve filled for as little as $3. Tougher ones the boss is not going to give away but still I often get them at bid or less.</p><p><br /></p><p>The cleaning thing. Yes, it does happen. Too many people want a &quot;blast white&quot; coin so it happens. Personally, I&#039;m of the original tone camp myself.</p><p>Many unc Morgans get a quick dip in Jewel lustre and are then sent to PCGS or NGC for grading. They come back in regular slabs so what does that tell you.</p><p>I hate to admit but I&#039;m getting pretty good at cleaning coins. Still don&#039;t do it at home but do at work.</p><p><br /></p><p>I don&#039;t clean AG-VF coins as a rule. I will give them a good soak in acetone or hit them with Blue Ribbon. A necessary evil at times.</p><p><br /></p><p>My best work was an Isabella quarter. Took a black coin and worked it very slowly in stages. Got it to a point where it was still a nice grey patina. Boss wanted to go another step and I said NO WAY. Slabbed at ANACS as AU58 with no cleaning mentioned.</p><p>Can&#039;t say I&#039;m proud of it but regular customers were impressed with it.</p><p><br /></p><p>At other times Scott and I have just said NO. Touching it as we&#039;ll only harm it.</p><p><br /></p><p>Guys like us are not going to enjoy doing it Klunky but with patience and practice it can be done in a way that doesn&#039;t make you feel like a heel.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>You&#039;ll enjoy the job Klunky. You&#039;ll notice over time that you get adept at knowing what coins to sort through just by overall wear patterns of a lot. Seeing coins in bulk gives you that &quot;hunch&quot;. My best was a lot of dimes we bought not long after I started. Some well worn mercs so I took the time to check them. Yep, found a 16-D. The boss paid a buck for it and said in 42 years he&#039;d NEVER done that.</p><p>NGC slabbed it as G4 and he sold it for $825.</p><p><br /></p><p>For those that don&#039;t work at shops don&#039;t think we go through every coin that comes. Not enough time. You work on hunches. About 80,000 wheats sitting at work right now. I recently searched about 6000 because I was seeing early dates. Did locate a 15-S in VG.</p><p><br /></p><p>So things you might expect Klunky. Way different on the other side of the counter for sure. Realize you are a valued asset and well trusted person to get the opportunity. Coin dealers don&#039;t just hire people off the street. To me it was flattering to say the least and I love it (most of the time}. <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie2" alt=";)" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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