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 Replies: 9 / Views: 1,847 |
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Valued Member
United States
325 Posts |
I'm a relative newb to coin collecting and have been trying to educate myself as to what needs to be known thru books and on forums such as this. I joined a coin club about 4 months ago, and have learned absolutely nothing by doing so. Do you think I should continue my membership in this club? I'd really like to learn a lot more about grading, mint production, and all the other myriad things concerning coins/paper money and other numismatic collectibles but can't find a place, other than this, within 30 miles. Any suggestions? Did what I post make sense?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2049 Posts |
You should go to the coin club chairperson and tell him what's on your mind. He can point you towards more experienced members or make them specific topics of discussion in future meetings. The way I look at it is you get out of it what you put into it. So if you're sitting idly by and just listening, you may not get much out of it. Does that make sense?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
581 Posts |
Not knowing what exactly the goal of the club is, I would also say ask the questions.
Some of these clubs are nothing more than social gatherings. Not that, that is a bad thing.
Some of your best information comes from that. I would also think that the club would not be like going to classes.
My wife and I were looking to join a digital imagery club. (I know not quite the same)
At the end of the evening, We were talking to the "president" of the club about the goals of the club. He made the statement that went along the lines of "I want a digital projector" then very quickly changed his statement.
Since the dues were what seemed to be a means to his end, we never went back.
Stick around...ask questions, and decide whether you really want to be involved.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3077 Posts |
i consider this my coin club
i have found some local coin shops where the owners are a wealth of knowlage.
funny observation seams to me a single owner shop w/ no employes is where I get the best service
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Valued Member
United States
53 Posts |
The clubs that I attend are mostly older people. They have been into coins for a long time and don't always do anything educational at the meeting. However, if you ask a question, the answers are there. In most cases they take pleasure in getting to share information.
r
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1801 Posts |
Our local coin club is always looking for speakers and topics to have at our meetings. Talk to the chairperson (or whatever they call themselves) and suggest a grading presentation. Mention that you want to learn about grading. Certainly the members of the club can come up with a presentation that will be fun and educational. Our club about once a year has a night where everyone is asked to bring a specific type of coin, slabbed, and with the grade covered up with tape. We lay them all out in a row, give each one a number and everyone goes by during our break and writes down on a form how they would grade each coin. Then we peel off the tape and see who got the most right. We have one dealer in our club that has gotten 100% when we do this, he is who I want reviewing my Morgans when I have any. Bottom line is we all learned something (including that certain grading companies over grade their coins and we had a lot of fun doing it. Coin clubs are a great way to learn. If you are interested in something, for example Indian Head cents, ask at a meeting if some of the members could bring some to the next meeting for you to look at. Most collectors like to share their coins and their knowledge but sometimes you have to make the first move. By the way, the forum here is my favorite coin club, the knowledge depth on this site is incredible. I want to meet some of these people sometime and I will have questions. |
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New Member
United States
3 Posts |
If you haven't done so yet, buy a copy of the RedBook and subscribe to Coin World. You will learn tons of valuable things from minting to counterfeiting, grading, and fair prices. Do not spend any serious money on coins until you know what they are worth. Use the PCGS price guide available online, but remember that those prices are only for PCGS graded coins, also NGC would be close. Watch out for 'bargains' in unslabbed 'raw' coins, they are probably cleaned. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
As most have already mentioned. Clubs like what you describe fall into a lull due to the same people, same time, same days, etc. New members should probably be the ones to inspire something. If you start asking a pile of questions, you may be the one that rebuilds their interest, life, etc. IF on the other hand they sort of treat you like an idiot for asking, then just get out of that situation.
However, try to remember that you may want to explain several times that you are new and trying to learn otherwise they may think your an trouble maker or something.
I say all this due to most clubs are full of elderly individuals set in their ways and don't like the younger interferring.
You may well find that many of the elderly really want to pass on their knowledge but just don't know how.
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Valued Member
United States
436 Posts |
I just joined the local coin club, attended my first meeting this month.  They seem excited any time new blood arrives, and the members appear for the most part interested in any questions I have. I suggest get around, even if one member in 10 is interested in answering questions, you're bound to learn! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
8904 Posts |
My Two Cents: I've always considered it MY responsibility to learn about coins, mintages, fakes etc. I agree coin clubes can be good sources of information (don't wait for someone to come to you, talk to them!) The internet, (particularly this Forum) is a wonderful source as well as many reference books mentioned here by many CCF members. Get smart by yourself! It's pretty easy, particularly these days. |
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Replies: 9 / Views: 1,847 |
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Posted 08/27/2009 7:55 pm
