Learning to Collect

I'll toss my Two Cents in (because I like them).

I believe I'm another one that understnads where Treashunt is going with this and it's not to insult anyone or call them lazy.

I work in a shop and believe me I hear a lot of questions in any given day. Honestly, it's why I don't answer as many here anymore. I get kind of burned out actually.

Today a guy actually asked me if I knew there was a "penny factory" in Denver. I was vaguely aware that there is a U.S. Mint facility in Denver. I had already done my research.


We buy a lot of "stuff" at work so I do a lot of research. We have a pretty good "library" at work as well as two computers. My coworker and I use these resources a lot. EVERY DAY as a matter of fact.

A few months back we bought a large hoard of World Paper money. Not our strongpoint but we bought it and bought it cheap.
I spent FOUR DAYS looking this stuff up because I had the books. Now usually I'll spend ten minutes finding some obscure note and find out it's worth a buck. Not the case in this lot. The notes were in good shape and one sold on Ebay for over $600.

At this point a lot of people like to say that we (the dealer) ripped the guy off. Way wrong my friends. The seller could have done the same thing. My boss PAID me to look the stuff up not knowing if it was worth anything. We made money but it was a risk to begin with.

We not only use books we use Ebay a lot as well but believe me it's NOT the only source of what something is worth. For a common date proof set, for example, it's great but for some things it is useless.

When I can't find it in a book, a website, an auction house we rely on other methods. Customers help US at times. If it's an odd piece for us but we have a customer that specializes in it we will consult them after we have tried other avenues. We also utilize other dealers in this capacity.

I have posted coins here with questions after I have tried other venues usually because I know there are a few "experts" that may be able to help me.

When it comes to Barber coinage I even have a tendency to go to Treashunt for help. Not because I don't know the "value" but I respect his insight. That's a lot different than putting up a picture and asking "What's This Worth?"

As a group we definitely encourage people to ask questions. I know I do but we must also encourage people to read a book or several ESPECIALLY if it's a type of coin they show an interest in.

I've recommended certain U.S. Paper Money books to people and they have bought them then thanked me. One will occasionally run across a note when out of town and with no book and PM me about the note.
I have no problem with that because he DID take the time to buy the book, just doesn't have it handy.

So keep asking the questions folks BUT do some research on your own as well. Personally I'm not running out to buy books on World Coins and Paper Money anytime soon as I have access to them. If I were to start collecting them I would though.
It's amazing just how much I HAVE learned about World Coins and Paper Money in the past year and a half just by working in a shop. If I didn't have the books available I'd know next to nothing and still have A LOT to learn.

If you like a particular facet of the hobby then I strongly suggest you curl up with a good book.

 

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I like this thread, it shows both sides of the coin, as it were. Cointalk and others like it are great resorces for knowlege and comeraderie (just don't come here for spelling lessons!!). Anyway I belive there is much knowledge to be learned here, but any beginning collector should start with a few reference books.
Asking questions is great, but some of the questions asked, have answers that could very easily be found with a very small amount of research.

Buy the Guidebook, study up, ask questions, and enjoy the hobby.

ask a good question and expect a good answer. :hail:

 

I'm not knocking books, I have a some myself. But, people are going to have questions when making a decision on what they want to collect, often people still need a clarification after they read something.

Someone is thinking about collecting Barber Quarters because they think they are attractive, or for whatever reason. They should research, but they will probably have some questions concerning these coins before a final decision is made. I don't think they should go out and buy a book until a definite decision is made. I also have seen many new people ask for advice on what is the best book to obtain.

If they ask questions and someone knows the answer(s), but decide they don't want to share their knowledge that is their decision. For new members if you read what the majority of members say to them in their introduction, it is something to the effect of welcome and feel free to ask questions. I hope no new members or lurkers contemplating joining feel their questions won't be welcome.

There are people I see post here that six months or so ago asked the typical "newbie" questions. Now these same members are answering these questions for other new members. I personally get a lot of satisfaction seeing this occur.

I'm not real sure of why we are here if it is not to learn from each other sharing knowledge and information. I mean what's the point?

I have always wondered a couple of things concerning Bowers. Before I mention them let me state right now I own a few of his books. But, when he first made the statement about buying the book before the coin, was it prior to the day of the personal computer? The other thing is he just happens to be an author of books that people can buy.

 

Bowers' advice still holds true today. To put it in more modern terms, it means to do research and have an idea what you're buying BEFORE you spend any money on something.

It was not a tagline to sell books, it was the age-old advice to look before you leap.

That said, what has been said more than a few times on CT is that you may ask all of the questions that you like, but it behooves you to search, read, and know a little something as well beforehand. There are many people here who claim to have deep knowledge of multiple subjects when truth is, they don't really know anything. If you listen to them long enough it becomes rather apparent, but if you also know nothing, then you can't tell the pretenders from the geniuses. You can make even bigger mistakes than had you struck out on your own by listening to bad or misguided advice.

At least with published works, you can tend to rely on their information more because on the whole it is much better researched and founded in truth or real knowledge.