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 Replies: 50 / Views: 6,152 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3843 Posts |
A lot of successful small business owners start out by having their venture as a side job while working full time, learning the needed skill sets, making mistakes, and testing the waters before they go in full time. This gives you a lot of stability while seeing if being an entrepreneur is right for you and having a job working for someone else helps subsidize your health insurance which is a huge expense these days. Being a flea market or show dealer might be options to test things out and make sure you can make enough of a margin. You might consider not just focusing on coins, you may want to incorporate similar collectables like coins and antiques into your knowledge base so that you have another avenue to make a quick buck if the coin market isn't enough to survive on.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4469 Posts |
There are no short cuts to be successful in any industry. You need desire, ability, and willing to put in the effort. You could start off working for a local coin store while in college. After graduation then you could look for a position with one of the major dealers like APMEX. Then maybe look for a entry level grading position at NGC, PCGS or ANACS. After doing the grading job for a few years, then you may be ready for a numismatic position at one of the TPG's or a company like Heritage, Stacks or Great Collections. This type of path will most likly require relocation to move up in the industry. |
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Rest in Peace
United States
18456 Posts |
Quote:
This might be over exaggerated and facetious but let me put it to you this way, you could have a PhD and you wouldn't get hired to sweep the floors of the Mint's production areas.
 And a super clean crime record, clean drug test and a complete background check .  |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Getting a job at the Mint is only job. I highly doubt that is the place to get rich or even start a business. One friend of my Son in college also messed around with Anthropology. Ended up as a carrier at a University. He still loves it. My Son on the other hand got a degree and never really used his education for a job. Started a construction company and is getting rich doing what he likes. Just never know who will end up doing what. I met a coin dealer some time back that got his start with a laundromat. He looked through all the change every night and put aside anything that looked like it could bring in a profit. Eventually he started a coin store, made lots of money and retired. Most of his inventory was from the laundromat.
Yet as I mentioned previously, my suggestion is to stick with Finance. Get a job at a stock broker and get rich.
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Rest in Peace
United States
4078 Posts |
Well here is my source. There maybe a hiring freeze that Trump put into place I'm not sure. Went to the U.S. Mint web site and look what is posted https://www.usmint.gov/about/careersHaving been retired for eight years I have had many jobs U.S. Post Office (mail handler). Hard rock miner, (shift boss). Middle school teacher (MI.) and a number of others. Highway construction, (Denver), Seafarers Great Lakes. Jakes8, if you think you can do it you can.  |
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Pillar of the Community
5464 Posts |
Quote:Went to the U.S. Mint web site and look what is posted https://www.usmint.gov/about/careers 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.. Quote:
Highway construction, (Denver)? You should have swung by the Denver Mint and applied for the job. Edited by USSID18
06/28/2018 5:10 pm
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
I mentioned earlier in this thread about being an employee first, to learn, before starting out on your own, to set up your own business.
I know of a couple of people who have done the reverse.
Their business didn't quite work out, but they had built some professional reputation. Both of them ended up becoming an employee, working for major auction / coin dealing businesses.
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
3831 Posts |
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.
My partial coin collection http://www.omnicoin.com/collection/gxseriesMy numismatics articles and collection: http://www.gxseries.com/numis/numis_index.htmRegularly updated at least once a month. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
819 Posts |
I heard somewhere that a lot of business fail because the owner doesn't understand the financial side. True or not I don't know.
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Valued Member
 United States
123 Posts |
Thank you all who replied to my question! I'm surprised so many responded honestly haha. I appreciate every one of them!
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12057 Posts |
I'd love to work in numismatic research or auction catalog preparation, but I do not have any idea how I would pay the bills with such a job. After 17+ years in automotive dealer industry (service/management) I sure would love to get away from the 65 hour weeks, nonexistent benefits and constant stress. If this was 40 years ago I would have loved to own or manage a coin shop, but many of those nowadays are going the way of the dinosaurs or have switched to bullion sales. It probably wouldn't pay very well, but it would sure be fun.
Member ANA - EAC - TNA - SSDC - CCT #890 "Most of the things worth doing in the world had been declared impossible before they were done." -- Louis D. Brandeis |
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
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. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1156 Posts |
Coin photography and writing articles for numismatic publications are other options.
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Pillar of the Community
5464 Posts |
jakes8- Let me ask you a question. If you had a choice of jobs in the numismatic world, which one would you choose?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1211 Posts |
Good grief at some of the replies in this thread... Yikes.
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Replies: 50 / Views: 6,152 |
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Posted 06/27/2018 11:18 pm
