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 Replies: 31 / Views: 6,477 |
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Valued Member
 United States
68 Posts |
Penny Guy and Techwriter: I agree, he knows a lot about coins. That's why I wish he'd stick to telling us things that advance our knowledge of coins, instead of talking about what a great career he's had.
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Rest in Peace
United States
2668 Posts |
TL;DR Questions. Answers. OP suggests better QDB writing style. I suggest QDB keep on keeping on.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1295 Posts |
From what I've seen (having read quite a bit of Q. David Bowers work), he does tend to boast, but his contributions to numismatics are invaluable. We must never forget that.
He has authored guidebooks, red books, and tons of reference material about coins, which have helped many people enjoy the hobby by learning more about it. I don't think our great collecting community would be half as good without all of the knowledge Mr. Bowers has shared.
I tend to agree with techwriter; if you don't like reading something, don't. I personally find Q. David Bower's writing very interesting and informative.
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Valued Member
United States
294 Posts |
Why don't you complain about Q. David Bowers to Mr. Bowers himself? For someone you seem to disdain so much, why are you obsessed with him?
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Valued Member
United States
95 Posts |
Each numismatic "authority" has strengths and weaknesses. Bowers has his. Learned observers can however, throw out the rubbish and keep the good. Bowers does have some good to offer. It is up to you to educate yourself, and to protect yourself. For example: just because the majority of voters elected Obama, does that automatically mean that he is good? Lots of numismatists follow Bowers, does that mean he is good? Each person and each of their efforts must be intelligently appraised. Give praise where needed and correction where needed.
Gary in Washington
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Valued Member
United States
68 Posts |
Allow me to respond to some of your comments. Quote:
Why don't you write a letter to the editor? Because it doesn't merit the attention of the entire magazine's readership. This isn't about coin collecting. It's about journalistic style. It's more productive to get a dialogue underway in this forum. That will yield a range of opinions that Coin World editors can consider. The editors can decide whether this issue should be brought to Mr. Bowers' attention. A debate and a range of opinions is much more meaningful that a cranky letter from one guy. Quote:
Why don't you complain about Q. David Bowers to Mr. Bowers himself? Confronting him personally doesn't seem gentlemanly. I think our behavior should always be gentlemanly, don't you? Quote:
If you don't like the articles, don't read them! Sound advice, but that is not an option. Reading Bowers' column is one of the few bright spots in my dreary existence. Yous see, I'm retired. I don't have much going on in my life. I have virtually nothing to do with my time. Every week, as soon as Coin World arrives at my shack, I pour a big glass of bourbon whisky and turn to The Joys of Collecting. Without this weekly ritual, life would just be too depressing. I can't stop reading his articles. I'm having too much fun. By the way, I own several of Bowers' books and have bought coins from him many times. *** Edited by Staff to add quote tags. Please use them in the future. Posts are very difficult to read without them.*** |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1295 Posts |
Quote:
I can't stop reading his articles. I'm having too much fun. Hold on; am I reading that correctly? You criticize Q. David Bowers writing, and then turn around and say you are having fun reading the articles? I'm officially confused.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4883 Posts |
I'll weigh in to say this much. Like Bowers, I consider myself something of a Luddite. My ebay account has been dormant for some years now, and I prefer raw coins to certified. On those occasions I buy slabbed coins, I pretty much ignore the grade and exercise my own judgment. However, I appreciate the fact that ebay is terribly convenient and also that those who haven't developed expertise is assessing the grade/authenticity/originality of a particular type of coin greatly benefit from having a specimen vetted in a manner that is generally accepted as valid. I do find the Internet to be invaluable for researching odd coins so that my library of old fashioned books needn't become absolutely enormous. But for buying, give me my trusted dealers and the occasional show, where stuff I never knew I was looking for happens to find me. I very much value the work of folks like Bowers, Dunigan, Snow, and many others too numerous to list, even if their work relates to a collecting niche that I'm unlikely to ever develop an interest in. In whatever numismatic knowledge we accumulate over time, we stand on the shoulders of such dedicated researchers, and in the case of Q. David Bowers, I'd say his shoulders are pretty broad. Colligo ergo sum
Edited by Lucky Cuss
11/03/2015 12:34 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1132 Posts |
Quote:
All of this "I did this, and I did that" is tiresome, and a waste of readers' time. As you are a veteran subscription holder to Coin World, I can whole heartedly understand your frustrations with reading the same boastful material time & time again. What you fail to understand is not everyone who reads Coin World has as many issues under their belt as you. A new reader (or collector) may not know Mr. Bowers from Joe Schmoe & this background content lends substance and an element of merit to his points of view as portrayed in the other "useful" tidbits of the column. Edited by CopperCastle
11/02/2015 8:35 pm
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Valued Member
United States
68 Posts |
Quote:
A new reader (or collector) may not know Mr. Bowers from Joe Schmoe & this background content lends substance and an element of merit CopperCastle: Good point. That had not occurred to me. |
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Valued Member
United States
136 Posts |
Bowers is one of my favorite authors, I own more than a dozen of his books. I like his emphasis on the heritage and history of the hobby. I have done little business with him other than indirectly, buying his books. Most of his wares have always been out of my price range but that doesn't stop me from appreciating his contribution to the hobby.
He has evolved into a bit of a curmudgeon lately. That may be due to his age. He seems to move in exalted numismatic circles and may not see how the internet has offered more rank and file hobbyists the chance to play
the game.
I'm not being critical- it is what it is.
Edited by Coins1989
11/06/2015 10:49 am
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
5828 Posts |
Q. David Bowers has always been one of my favorite numismatists and authors. Actually, I remember reading that his brother is a minister at a church in Omaha!
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Valued Member
United States
136 Posts |
I live in Omaha and at least for a time his brother was my minister. Fine person.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7390 Posts |
I must say that I don't read his articles much but when I started to get into coins (before ccf) I learned a lot from his Morgan dollar mini RedBook. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
982 Posts |
Does Bowers still use that old profile picture on all his articles, looking scholarly with his eyeglasses in hand?  |
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Replies: 31 / Views: 6,477 |
First Page
Posted 11/01/2015 4:53 pm
