Coins As A Career Path

So I guess you're saying they're looking for critical skills? Science, Technology, Engineering & Math?

And they have a grand total of two vacancies: Safety and Occupational Health Specialist

nuf said..




You should have swung by the Denver Mint and applied for the job.

Whether you are a mint employee, coin shop owner or a researcher - they all share one thing in common - they all require specialized knowledge.

It is a niche market but there are ways around it. If you are into finance, it may help you into sales.

Thank you all who replied to my question! I'm surprised so many responded honestly haha. I appreciate every one of them!

I would love to work in the British Museum, researching into ancient numismatics. Unfortunately, I don't have the pHd skill level to do this type of work.

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Actually, I have a niece who received a pHd for research into ancient Roman sociology. I am attending her wedding in Rome in September this year.
Only a few weeks away !

She was fascinated by my collection of ancient coins, and that was partly instrumental in engaging her interest to work for and receive a bachelor degree in archeology.

After the wedding in Rome, I will spend a couple of weeks in Sicily, looking at what remains of ancient Greek culture.

jakes8- Let me ask you a question. If you had a choice of jobs in the numismatic world, which one would you choose?

I am a dealer. I can tell you that Sel 691 gave some of the best advice. Work for one of the larger auction houses, or a company lke Littleton.

Before that though you need a lot of education. I mean ALOT. I have degrees in Aerospace Engineering, Mathamatics, and Satelitte Communications. I will tell you truthfully that I have way more time involved in learning my trade as a coin dealer than anything else.

You need to learn to speak coins. You NEED a basic understanding of the Indian and Lincoln Cent series; Buffalo and Jefferson nickel series; Barber, Mercury, and Roosevelt dime series; Barber, SLQ and Washington series quarters; Barber, WLH, Franklin and Kennedy halves; Trade, Morgan, and Peace dollars. Classic Commem's. You need to be able to tell what a full head SLQ, and a full thumb WLH...and which ones, if any, are common. For instance Full Split band Mercs give you a premium. Sometimes a huge premium. Unless they are late 30s to 45 coins issued at Denver which was well known for it's tight spacing and not running a die till it was dead...in all it's issues. And Grading, grading, grading!

Consider those your equivelant to your Freshman and Sophmore years at University. Except it will take you much longer, unless you develope your education in coins to the detriment of your college studies.

Jr and Sr years; Snow numbers, VAMs ( which can take years to learn), Proof characteristics for early LWC and Peace dollars. Full steps, Full Bells, and more Grading, grading grading!

Graduate course. Early Coppers, which should be a whole "year" by itself. CB and Seated coinage and their varities. Sheild Nickels and varieties. Colonial Coinage. Patterns.

You need to understand the bullion market and more importantly how and when to cut your losses so that you can have cash flow; which you should also understand.

I am a fifth Generation Coin Collector, and a third gen dealer. I have been involved with this since 1965, and I am still learning new stuff, almost on a daily basis.

I'm not trying to dissuade you. WE need new blood. What I am saying is that this is not as easy as it looks. I make a lot of money...one more time...a lot of money on other dealers who simply do not understand varieties.

Good luck

Has anyone worked for an auction company (like Heritage)? Curious if anyone has any experiences to share.