Do You Look Like A Coin Collector?

The exact type that is watched at every move at a coin or gun show. Now if your carrying a Bible, they would probably still watch your every move.
In reality over the years I've noticed that it is impossible to tell anything about who collects coins by their appearance. I go to about 2 to 4 coin shows a month. If I go to one early on a Sunday morning, there is great amount of people dressed up as if they just came from church. Naturally even that is suspecious since way, way back most people dressed up on Sunday. At an international type, large coin show, the amount of people with dressy looking clothing is much greater than a small, local US type coin show.
However, regardless of the clothing, the only real noticable thing about a coin collector is the age. As I noted previously, the greatest amount of collectors at coin shows are elderly.
Never have been able to see any difference in the looks of people at gun shows and flea markets.

Yep...

rogers- wow that's great! I'm glad that you have gotten a warm welcome. I have had some really good experiences and some really bad ones as well. But it does sort of bother me when a dealer automatically suspects that a younger collector is either a shoplifter or is just there pawning off a bunch of stolen coins in order to feed their drug habit.

Interesting thread.

I think coin collectors come in all shapes, sizes, ages, sex, race, religions, etc. There is no stereotype.

Now if we can just convince some of the coin dealers at the shows, they would make money, we would expand our collections and younger generations would take this hobby on with new gusto!

I think what is remarkable about this hobby is that coins tell histories and stories. Coins are absolutely intertwined with history. Look what's happening even these last few months with US Mint selling out of buillion products despite a plunge in silver and gold prices.

Many young folks collect sports cards and I did also as a young kid. It would have been better if my parents encouraged me to spend my extra money on coins than sports cards. I never learned all that much from sports cards, except they are now worthless :(

The State Quarter program has introduced many new hobbyists and we have some young folks who actually now know where most of the states are on the US map!

I don't think I've ever been treated rudely, but there is a coin store in town where I haven't been treated at all.

Of the 3 shops I know and have frequented, I choose the one that actually has the least inventory in world coins to go to as often as possible. They treat me better. They treat me like a long lost daughter. I get lunch with the employees if I'm there at the right time. I get layaway privileges. They hold coins they know I'm interested in. They give me the local coin news. I'm always happy and pleased (And broke) when I leave that store.

There's another store, that's older. They have all kinds of junk in the shop, it's dark, dirty, not well organized. It's also a place where young women get overlooked so the workers there can chat with their old military buddies. I've sat for an hour wanting to look at an item, or dig through a bin, and been ignored. I rarely go back to this place. Actually I never go back to this place, although I did pick up some great items at the last show from him.

Then there's the last shop. I've only been there a few times, and I can't really tell you why. The reason used to be he was too far away, but since we moved he's probably the closest! He's got a fantastic selection of world coinage, he's never been anything but nice to me. However, I've heard lots of stories of how he's called the police to escort people just browsing out of the store. He isn't rude, but he is paranoid he'll be robbed and it shows! Still, he's a neat guy and I do enjoy going in there. If I'm looking for a specific coin I will go see him.

How does a coin collector looklike? fat, big belly, with eyeglasses? Not me!

KurtS- heh, well let me tell you, it is funny in a sense, but when the dealer has a coin that you've been looking for and for a great price, it is horribly frustrating.

glenzy1- It is so true that most people at shows are males. hmmm...I just wonder why this is. This might be the sociologist coming out in me, but I really would like to investigate the fact that coin collecting is very gendered in the sense that it is considered a rather "male" hobby.

I've never been to a coin show, nor a coin shop (and may keep it that way, from all these comments!). The closest I got was just recently when I realized I was in the same town as Eagle Eye Coins and swung by one day to pick up a copy of Rick Snow's IHC and Flying Eagle attribution manuals.. I thought it was a coin shop but it turned out to be his office, boy was I embarassed ... The lady inside the door was very nice though, and even offered to have him autograph them since he was in that day. After which, he escaped rather quickly! I didn't think I was THAT scary-looking. So I guess I do look like a coin collector!

Ah well..