Numismatist But Not Notaphilist!

These descriptive terms are inclusive, rather than exclusive - a "numismatist", for example, is someone with an interest in coins, and "coin-related objects", related either by use as money (tokens, banknotes, primitive money, etc) or by similarity in physical appearance (eg medals, seals) or by method of manufacture (eg. badges). Things that are "numismatic" but not actual coins or banknotes are often classified as "exonumia" (a term used here on the forum to describe things that aren't coins or banknotes).

Just like there is no one-word term to describe someone who only collects quarters, to the exclusion of all other coins, there is no single-word term for someone who collects coins, and only coins to the exclusion of all other numismatic objects. Using a phrase like "pure coin collector" sounds a bit elitist. Using just the phrase "coin collector" would be adequate when talking to the general public, as most folks don't even consider exonumia to be genuine collectables (I have seen non-numismatic folks joke about Chuck-E-Cheese tokens, as if everybody knows they are worthless objects unworthy of being collectable). To other collectors, you might need to qualify that by saying "just coins" or "only coins, not the other stuff".

That's some collection of notes you've got there hfjacinto, but to me notes are just good for changing into coins.

And to think there are people out there who don't care about either coins or paper money! Imagine!

Numismatics is the study of money and money substitutes. Notaphily, and exonumia are merely subcategories of the overall encompassing term "Numismatics" (Personally I would include Philately as a subcategory of Numismatics as well, as stamps are actually a money substitute as well.)

So depending on you level of study, you are still a numismatist. You merely restrict your study to one category.

Well, I just had a circular experience. I wondered where the word numismatics came from in the first place. "Matics" is easy. But "numis" isn't. "Numbers" suggested itself, or maybe the numeration of money as we all count ours. (Or not).
Wikipedia says "A numismatist is a specialist in numismatics, 'of coins'; from Late Latin numismatis, genative of numisma."
Wiki had nothing on numisma,
Dictionary.com doesn't have an entry for numisma, but it defines "numis" as an abbreviation for numismatics.
So, there you have it officially (or not).

Me.

I was collector of U.S. coins for over 50 years before I bought my first U.S. banknote in 2019. I initially thought I'd just pick up a few interesting large size notes as a little sidetrack to my primary collecting goals. However, it wasn't too long after I started that I became hooked, and the majority of my purchases are now U.S. banknotes (both large and small) and Confederate banknotes.

I've had diversions before that didn't last - for instance I had built a decent collection of British and Dutch gold coins but eventually lost interest and ended up selling them all a few years ago. Maybe that will happen with my currency collection, as well - who knows! However, I know I'll enjoy it while it lasts!

I think every coin collector has a small collection of banknotes/medals/tokens. Now I'm selling my collection of banknotes, but I don't think I'll give it up completely. I have saved a few banknotes and I think in the future I will buy more that I find interesting.




and then I immediately remember the money-stamps of Russia 1915-17

P.S. Photo taken from the internet