Not to be Racists but....

Ever notice that the majority of collectors at shows, or that even collect are white?

Not trying to offend anyone on here, but why do you think that is?

stainless

 

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Maybe because the majority of our history highlights the actions of white people to some extent, and so white people feel a more natural connection to the coins of the period.

Frankly I don't know anyone else who likes coins, period. Cointalkers don't count because we've never met.

 

Hi Stainless,
Great Graduation News! Congratulations!


Went to my first coin show awhile back and I was quite surprised.
I am not sure about what color, but the genderism was way off whack!
Hardly a woman to be found, except for the 'helpers' behind the display
tables, and the others who were sitting around knitting and such.
As a matter-of-fact, I think females of any background are grossly under represented in coin collecting, dealing or publications.
imho
jeankay

 

Not to mention age...

 

thanks jeankay

I'm not talking about coins in particular. Even when I collected basketball cards, I never hardly seen any african americans at shows, and they are the majority in playing that sport.

stainless

 

stainless, since you mention it I have notice large majorty of collectors are of specific culture/race ,especially on trips to coast southwest , I see lots of cultures represented along the way.

 

Well, one has to look at the various demographic slices of the participants in the current monetary system used world-wide (with emphasis placed on the United States of America) based upon the context of your question.

From yesteryear even to today the focus of some minorities is placed upon the acquisition of monies needed for basic items of physical sustainment. Believe me when I say "It was much harder for some just a generation (30 years or so) ago to have enough cash on hand to simply buy food and clothing." Many families were comprised of one bread-winner who worked in a manual labor/menial position and had several mouths to feed on a daily basis, with possibly a few bad (ahem, expensive) habits along the way.

When the numismatic seed is planted in a youngsters mind, it usually takes root (in a shoebox or cigarbox), there also has to be a roof over the head, food on the table, shoes on their feet, and love expressed for one another.. REGULARLY. Unfortunately, this was not the case in the small town Texas, (on the other side of the tracks) where I grew up in the 60s-80s. Shoebox cardboard was cut up to strengthen shirt collars which had been handed down for 2 or 3 generations and cigar boxes were cut to fit into a shoe with a hole in the bottom of it, very sad but true. Times were tough for some and that's the way it was...

FLASH FORWARD 40 YEARS -- Expendable income which is now over-flowing abundantly with various Social Programs (which could possibly used for stamp/coin/etc., collecting, but obviously is not) is a new concept for certain ethnic groups here in the 'Good Ole' USA' and given time you might eventually see the change happen.

I sure hope so (very soon) for they (gangsters/druggies) are definitely on the wrong track with no leadership in the inner cities, spending more on a 9mm glock that will kill, than on a Capped Bust Half Dollar which will (along with History Books) enrich and enlighten.

My Rant is Over...

Take Care
Ben

 

Predominately white and male.

It could be due to the subject matter on U.S. coins as mentioned.

We do have a few very knowledgeable black collectors that frequent the store. One is into high grade modern stuff big time.

Last week a guy stopped in that we had never met. SERIOUS collector with great knowledge of Jeffesrson Nickels and Russian coins. He showed us some great stuff believe me.

Other than that the smattering of blacks and women we see are generally after state quarters or presidential dollars.

It's really not a racist question Stainless just an observation.

 

most of the coins shows here you will be hard pressed to see anyone who is not white. stainless is on the money here

 

Most of the shows I attend are in Vegas, so maybe that has something to do with what I've observed (though I can't imagine how), but most people in attendence are white. I thought it ws ineteresting the fact that Jeankay brought up women, because it seems like about 1/3 of them are always women. It also seems most attendees are younger, except for the dealers, who are mostly a bunch of grizzled old buzzards (no offense to anyone who is old and grzzled here). I'd bet the average age is in the mid twenties at those shows. Actually makes me feel old.
Guy~

 

Thats weird coleguy. I'm 24, and I go to several large shows each year. And I'm usually the youngest person there, besides some little kids who I see tagging along, usually with their father.

 

24 is like wearing your diapers usualy everyone is at least 50 in these shows

 

A correct observation, and Stainless with you so close to Detroit, it is even more noticable, the lack of collectors in that demographic ( politically correct ).

 

None taken my friend.

 

here is mostly white but I have noticed more blacks (if I am white, that makes black people black, not necessary to say African-American.... and I have never experienced any anger from calling someone who is black black) attending shows

now if I can see more younger people joining the hobby, then I would probably be appreciated finally.

no offense to anyone, anything you feel uncomfortable about please let me know

 

Huh...what did you say sonny!:goofer: Just joking around as at 55, I am probably viewed by some as an old buzzard.

All joking aside, I think a lot of the black population just have a different set of ideas and mindset when it comes to collecting things! I know and have known some black folks that collect a few coins but they are mainly Pocket Collectors, meaning that they will save a lot of their' pocket change for that rainy day when things tend to come up or for the purchase of gifts or a special purchase. However, before spending the saved up pocket change, they will go through the coins for anything special and tuck those away for the kids or grandkids. Since many black folks were never exposed to mainstream coin collecting due to their' financial or personal situations, demographics or even family values, they just don't see it as a beneficial part of their' lives. Also, I think that some due to their family history (slavery as well as the overall treatment as a people), they do not have a special connection to the United States and it's coinage. I think that as Coin Collectors, we could at least do a little something to change this! Just think to yourself, have you ever asked or even thought of asking a black friend or acquantence to attend a Coin Show with you!!?? It really is a shame isn't it, that white and black people can very seldom relate to having the same hobbies or even values!

Just a thought from one human being to another!:smile


Frank

 

so what happens idf someone is neither white or black? you forgot to mention them

 

spock,

I only mentioned black and white folks as this seemed to be the topic and leaning of the Thread! However, it should not be any different when it comes to anyone of a different color, race, creed or Religion! Hell, I turn blue and purple when I go swimming in a cold River (probably due to my WASP ancestory) in the Great Smoky Mountains and although I get a few weird looks, most folks pay me very little mind!


Frank

 

blue and purple? thats not what you told me when i saw you coming out of the space craft?

 

I have actually noticed a few more black folks at shows in the last 9 months to a year or so. I have alot of black friends and acquaintences, and I know 3 black men who I would say are accumulators of either silver or foreign coins and banknotes. One of my best friends, a black guy, always wants to buy whatever he sees me with. Its usually not something I want to sell, but I have sold him a couple of bags full of foreing coins for dirt cheap, hoping to get him a little more interested. I have invited him, and his uncle who hoarded silver back in the day, to go to a show with me but they always seem to be to busy. It would be nice to see more people of all races in the hobby, and I would absolutely love to see more ladies at shows, hehehe. But for whatever reason, white males currently seem to be the people most interested in numismatics. Some people in this thread have made some good points about why that is probably the case. I don't think there is one single thing that can completely explain it though.