[Poll] Collector or numismatist?

Following the other thread about the Pawn Stars stating a coin collector is the same thing as a numismatist (obviously wrong statement), would like to open this poll where members can vote what they consider themselves to be of the two.

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

In spite of more research than buying lately, I went 50:50.

 

In my opinion:
-a numismatist - a person who studies coins / currency / medals etc , looks for new varieties, errors, writes articles; numismatics is a science;
-a collector - a person who likes coins and buys them on a regular basis in order to complete a collection; just buys, looks at them, and put them in an album, no study whatsoever; collecting is a hobby, not a science;
-an investor - a person who buys coins without the purpose of completing a collection, just for resale, neither study nor collecting here;

I don't agree with the definition in the dictionary.

A botanist studies all kind of plants. Having all kind of plants in the house doesn't make one a botanist. Same analogy.

 

I put both equally . I study and try to learn as much as I can and buy when I can . Doug I'd call the person who pulls state quarters out of change and puts them into those maps a beginning collector , whether or not he becomes a numismatist is where he heads after that . It is a start , no different when I was a kid and pulled wheaties and a few Mercs out of change and put them into a Whitman .

 

I went with more of a collector than a numismatist. Mainly because I have a few types of coins that I researched and know a bit about, and I am currently trying to build my collection around those. I am going to start studying and doing more research though, especially now that I've got a website project that I'm working on.

 

I'm more of a numismatist than a collector...doing actual research and understanding the significamt of certain coins, varieties, etc. is just as fun if not more fun than buying a coin and putting it into a set in my personal opinion.

 

Not sure I like your definition of accumulator there toughcoins.....

 

I call myself a collector. I'm probably also a numismatist but wouldn't call myself one. It sounds like a term that someone uses to sound self important.

 

Before this thread I would've called myself a collector, but I guess I'm in the 50/50 category. Work and family keeps me away from my hobby more than I'd like, I enjoy the thrill of coin roll hunting, but enjoy reading about coins and how they're made, the history behind the coin, and different varieties more.

 

I think there is more than a bit of semantics in defining the difference. Both express the same love of coins, and desire to collect them. I say, call it as you see it, and don't worry about labels.

 

Both...

 

95% Numismatist, 5% collector , either way 100% business.

 

Pedestrian - nuk nuk nuk

(need a link?)

 

More of a collector than a Numimatist at this point. I'm learning each and every day and someday would like to consider myself a Numismatist, but I can't at the moment.

 

To me, they are kind of the same thing. To truly collect something, one must study and understand it.

Now, there are also "coin accumulators" and those are a different group IMHO. Those are the people who simply pull from circulation and throw the coins in a jar or into a map (as GD put it). He accurately stated in my opinion that they are not collectors.

So, from where I stand, collectors and numismatists are the same thing.

 

There's my word in a decidedly negative light again.

ac·cu·mu·late
verb \ə-ˈkyü-m(y)ə-ˌlāt\ .
: to gather or acquire (something) gradually as time passes
: to increase gradually in amount as time passes

^ From Mirriam Webster.


2col·lect
verb \kə-ˈlekt\ .
: to get (things) from different places and bring them together
: to get (one or more things) from a place
: to get (similar things) and bring them together as a hobby

^Also from Mirriam Webster

What constitutes a 'collection'?

1
: the act or process of collecting
2
a : something collected; especially : an accumulation of objects gathered for study, comparison, or exhibition or as a hobby
^Once again from Mirriam Webster

So there we have it. One cannot collect anything without first accumulating objects into a collection. A collection is nothing more than an accumulation of like objects.

Despite the assertion of the US Mint in regards to promoting the general public to save the various recent themed coinage (quarters, nickels, cents) Mirriam Webster defines a collector as:
col·lec·tor
noun \kə-ˈlek-tər\ .
: a person who collects certain things as a hobby
: a person whose job is to collect something (such as trash or money)

It and other sources use Numismatist synonymously with Numismatologist (new one for me) and define it as such:
noun
a collector and student of money (and coins in particular) [syn: numismatist]

So the issue becomes: To what degree are you a collector/numismatist?

A 'Dabbler' who pulls the recently themed coinage to fill a map? (Call it 4th degree collector/numismatist)

A 'Novice' whose interest in collecting is rising and perhaps for the first time is realizing there are other realms to collecting coins? (Call it 3rd degree collector/numismatist)

An 'Intermediate' who has one or more sets begun within their collection and may be honing in on a niche, and has a more trained eye for what they like? (Call it 2nd degree collector/numismatist)

A 'Student' who has developed their interests and is learning all they can about a particular type and/or series, as well as counterfeit detection? (Call it 1st degree collector/numismatist)

A 'Master' whose abundance of knowledge has risen decidedly above the norm, and whose insights on those subjects is sought after and highly regarded. (Call it 'Master Collector/Numismatist)

As with many facets of this hobby, every label one could give seems too generalized, too simplistic when one really pays close attention.

There are 'error coins' so someone buys the CPG, from there gets a taste and buys other, more detailed books on a specific type.

There are Bust Halves, and then you need Overton to truly appreciate what you have.

The list goes on and on. So really, how can 'collector' or 'numismatist'/'numismatologist' be so cut-and-dry? It cannot be black and white when there are many more than 50 shades of grey between.