Possible Encouraging News About The Canadian Coin Market.......

You still need a lot of new younger collectors, at most GTA shows although recently there are a few more younger attendees, it's mainly a aged crowd, things goes in cycles I hope.

The age factor is an important factor to consider, as I have overlooked this.

Hopefully it won't play a part as it has with the stamp market.

I remember my last stamp show many years ago, as I walked up to the first dealer of the day, he said to me "what are you looking for today, sonny?"

This statement would not have but unusual in normal conditions, but for the fact that my age was 52 with plenty of grey hair.!

I actually told him the last time someone called me 'sonny' Nixon was President.

I agree, young people are the future of coin collecting. I have seen a growing # of young people into coins but the growth needs to be higher. Its important for the old timers to respect the young crowd tho.
Going to coin shows has become irritating to me. Dealers (not all of them but many) will talk down to me, ignore me, give me short answers. I feel like I'm bugging them! Too many times have I been looked down on because I'm a young guy, and I'm not the only one. I recently heard from a friend ( 22 years old) that a dealer wouldn't let him view the good stuff because he probably couldn't afford it.
Old timers should encourage the young guys and girls, show them that this hobby can be fun and interesting. Smile! Be happy! Welcome the young crowd!
If your going to be condescending, your not only going to loose a customer, your going to make the young crowd just turn away from the hobby.

I've been casually collecting interesting pocket change since I was 6, and much more seriously from 19 to 23 (now).
Speaking for the Calgary Numismatic Society there's maybe 5 regular members under 25 - and a few in the youth group.
I haven't had negative experiences at coin shows with the age gap, but until I pull something rare and expensive out of my pocket they take me more seriously.

When I was young I can remember a time when the majority of the baby boom generation thought our parents and grandparents to be old fashioned, unhip, stuck in their ways, behind the times, etc.

As far as coin collecting, for this very reason I believe it's us to blame for destroying the hobby if our collections and interest is limited only to old silver or copper coins, while the younger generations perceive us to be old fashioned, unhip, stuck in their ways, behind the times, etc.

When ever I've been to a coin show, I'm astounded at what I see. If someone just landed, they could easily conclude that Canada quit minting circulated coin in about 1968 - almost 50 years ago. It's that huge gap in time that I think has put the hobby at risk.

Can't help but think that we might need to skip a generation or two and wait for a completely cashless society before something changes and nostalgia & renewed interest kicks in.

For most of today's youth everything is disposable. Saving anything just doesn't compute. With Canada's mass immigration I would also venture to say that a large portion (of those coming from poorer countries) can't fathom saving hard currency for any reason other than spending (ie pennies are used to feed your family, not for putting in folders to "look at").

I've focused my collecting on colonial period tokens, mostly because I really like the variety, character & soul of the coins, but also in the back of my mind hoping that the age & history of the pieces will be appreciated both historically and monetarily.



EDIT:

my apologies, the point (made poorly and in poor taste) was that maybe if our currency was a little more exciting/interesting that it might attract younger collectors vs the same repeated design for 75+ years.
I've since installed a breathalyzer on my keyboard so the faux pas does not happen again.

W

@XWLCoins

Far too many dealers make hasty judgements about their potential customers. I was at a show (not a coin show, but another collectibles show) and asked a vendor about the price of an item. He took one look at me and said as insultingly as possible "one billion dollars". I smiled and walked away. Little did he know I had 3500.00 in my pocket. I have no time for this type of dealer. If I am not treated with respect I will take my money elsewhere.

I know what you mean orfew
When you're interested in something it's their way of sizing you up
Making you say what you want for a coin you want to sell... Or offer for a coin that has no price in their showcase

For example I had a NGC graded $7000 trends penny. That price is for a red coin, and mine was graded red brown. He asked me what I wanted for it, and I said $3200 so he could make some money and due to the RB (a reasonable opening offer). The dealer tried to convince me red brown is extremely undesirable and would only offer $1650 for it.
Needless to say I sold it for almost $4000 on ebay a few weeks later.