I'm feeling intimidated. Is this hobby easier than it looks?

I am just wondering what the members here think of ANACS?
They have a rep at some of the coin shows I attend. So as an experiment I submitted 6 coins to them. If you submit coins to ANACS at a coin show you don't pay to ship them to Colorado. No other grading company has a rep at these shows I go to.
The problem I see is that some collectors shun away from ANACS material.
But then some don't automatically reject ANACS graded coins.
The feeling I get is that most collectors/dealers rank ANACS as number 3 in the field.
If it is so easy just to drop coins off with a representative at coin shows; and there are no extra fees [like having to join a club] then-
why not?
I would like to hear some opinions. Thanks.

 

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LOL... OP wanted help/advice on how to make the coin world a little less intimidating... Believe me, you don't want to start that conversation in this thread... That is a surefire way to hijack a thread... And OP will probably end any thoughts of collecting coins at all... There are tons of threads on the TPG's... Feel free to search, and you can read all day on what people think of all the TPG's...

Not a moderator or anything... I am just saying...

 

OK point taken. Everyone please ignore the ANACS question.
Thanks.

 

ANACS has its good points and its bad points.

I liked the old Ohio-based ANACS, but since then, the company has moved twice, sold and (nearly) completely restaffed, and I'm not quite sure what to make of the new company. Some dealers believe they have dropped in the standings, and use this to their (unfair?) advantage to offer less for their slabs.

If you're a Morgan, Peace and VAM enthusiast, ANACS is the only company that will attribute all 4,000 (give or take) VAM's.

Chris

Um! Too late!

 

...coin collecting is an interesting hobby as long as you remember the

3 R's

read, research and READ some more! here is just one thing

to read that may help with things to watch for: :smile

http://coins.about.com/od/caringforcoins/f/shiny_coins.htm?nl=1

 

That first paragraph is very true. All of your post was very good.

A lot of good information in all the posts. So like Paul mentioned - "Now loosen up and enjoy the ride".

 

"I'm feeling intimidated. Is this hobby easier than it looks?"

No. It's harder, much harder.

 

That depends! It's quite easy if you have so much money that you don't know what to do with all of it.

Chris

 

The way I've always looked at this hobby is you can't make any mistakes if what you did and what you got out of it is enjoyable to you. Therefore I've yet to make any mistakes in numismatics, except the initial one of taking up the hobby. There is no right or wrong way about it, no middle ground. If you want to spend a thousand dollars on a five dollar coin, but that coin brings you joy, then who's to say you're wrong? Just go with it and don't worry about it. People who worry too much tend to lead horrible lives.
Guy~

 

Collecting coins is as easy, or hard, as you make it for yourself. My recommendation to you, if you're worried about counterfeits, purchase from the Mint directly, or from a local, reputable dealer.

My collecting habits are proof and unc sets from the Mint, raw coins, and some slabbed from dealers. I don't album collect because I feel it's a bit restrictive, I don't roll search because I don't want to invest the time into it. I will search through the discount bin at one of my local coin shops, because they have a lot of good deals in their bin. Example: I picked up a run of Kennedy proofs from 1968 - 1989 for $40, and the going price for all was around $80.

Do some shopping in coin shops near you, and get a feel for asking prices on the different denominations.

 

All the posts are great.

Hello Info Sponge,

I am very glad that I saw your thread here & really enjoyed reading everyone's posts! All the posts contain sage advice.

What kinds of coins do you enjoy collecting now?

I recommend that you collect what you like. Always feel free to post a coin here & ask the CT folks for their opinion. You should avoid buying any coin that you don't like. If you don't like it today, chances are that you will not like it any more in a week or a year.

Very best regards,
collect89

 

Absolutely. And the 3Rs are also what makes numismatics enjoyable.

 

Hi Info Sponge there are alot of guys on here with alot of sound advice. Coin collecting should never feal hard or uncomfortable but it should be enjoyable. Spending money is a part of life and IMO should be spent on what makes you happy. Do get educated and informed along the way but remember to stick to what you like collecting. One of the things that has helped me the most was shopping around and finding a local dealer who I felt comfortable with and could communicate my needs and wants with. By finding someone with whom you are comfortable dealing with will make things much less hectic and more enjoyable.

 

I'd thank everyone individually but there have been too many thoughtful and helpful replies to answer one at a time.

The perspectives and advice have been welcome and useful.

 

Which leads me to you not feeling intimidated...it's because you have so much open information from a great collection of individuals that feel like friends for ages.
It really is a great community to collect with. Sure there are a few slimballs but the major majority are great fun people with the same (basically) passion as each other.
Makes it seem alot less intimidating. "D

 

I don't think that makes it any easier. In fact, I think in many ways it makes it harder.

The best piece of advice I can give the OP is to specialize. Pick a particular coin series and learn as much as you can about it. Once you gain a deep understanding of a particular series, other series of coins become much easier.

 

Since we do have a huge shortage of decent emoticons, I was taking it for granted that everyone would realize that I was being facetious when I made this statement.

Chris (Insert ROFL Emoticon here)

 

I concur, and think that's a great suggestion. That was my grandparents approach when started mentoring me as a kid... (30+ yrs ago - in hindsight I wish I hadn't put the hobby down for so long)

I agree, I'm finding it a challenge at times to convey with the available emoticons.

 

I loved Kool-Aid as a kid 50 years ago, but I eventually grew out of it. Of course, now, it is kind of appropriate in some instances. Do you find that you use it very often?

I'm not exactly what you would call lazy, but I didn't start acquiring computer skills until pretty late in life. I don't use Photobucket, so I would have to figure out how to load them into my computer.

Chris