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 Replies: 11 / Views: 2,411 |
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Valued Member
United States
420 Posts |
Hello,
As I have mentioned on this forum numerous times I'm visually impaired which makes being a coin collector hard because I'm also a picky perfectionist in everything I do and especially when it comes to my collecting. For example I will not purchase a coin set or commemorative coin that originally came from the mint from a dealer online, at a coin show or at a coin shop if it is not in excellent condition AND has all of the original mint packaging and documentation which also has to be in good condition. Told you I was picky.
Anyway, because of my disability and also lack of interest in grading coins I'm wondering if I would have to know and fully understand how to grade any coin in order to be a coin dealer? Now, before you answer I will say that I have gone up to dealers at coin shows who are interested and sell 90% in ancient coins but have modern coins and when I ask them a question about the modern coin they tell me they do not know the answer. Now, whether or not they sell the modern coins I don't know but they have them and they are dealers.
I would someday like to sell coins even part time but my fear is that I'll never know "enough" to be able to do so. I know nobody knows "everything" but what is "enough" knowledge?
Thanks,
Rich Rich M. - Collector since 2008
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10284 Posts |
I think that you can do anything you want to do. Now it sounds like some limitations might hinder your grading coins by yourself but maybe you could take on a young numismatist to be your eyes for you.
You could help each other.If you can study the coins by reading, or maybe your local blind association has books on cd's about coins. Maybe that would help.
Everyone has limitations, maybe you have a bar raised too high for what you think a dealer is.
Perhaps if your inventory was well organized, you could locate certain items for consideration and point them out or present them to customers.
Most people are basically honest. A helper could watch for the old slip of the hand kind of stuff.
Back in the Old Schuylkill county court house we had a guy who ran a newsstand, poured coffee, sold cigarettes and candy and all sorts of little odds and ends and he was 100% blind. He did it for decades and nobody ever stole from him that I remember.
I'd say, get a partner and help each other. I say yes you can do it.
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Valued Member
United States
244 Posts |
I think the problem with grading is going to be serious. No, you don't have to be an expert, but I suspect you're going to at least have to be pretty good.
Consider as a dealer you actually have two jobs. One is obvious - selling coins. The more relevant for this discussion is buying them.
If you're offered coins to buy, and you undergrade, you run the risk of the seller leaving - and perhaps figuring you're trying to rip him off. If you overgrade, your profit evaporates, as discriminating buyers are unlikely to buy the coins from you at the inflated grade, and you'll have to mark them down.
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Rest in Peace
United States
1729 Posts |
snitchard - I commend you highly for approaching this situation with an "I can" attitude instead of a negative one.
Here's another aspect to consider. Right now I'm in the middle of a Craigslist situation in which someone is offering a coin which most likely is a fake. I've never seen a real one before, so I'm at a disadvantage, although I suspect that if I inspected the coin carefully under a magnifying glass, I could spot some obvious aberrations. The lady who is trying to sell it is clueless, so sooner or later someone is going to have to determine whether the coin is real or fake and figure out how to break the news to her - that she's doing something illegal (or she's trying to charge double what the coin is worth, if it does turn out to be real).
Could you expect to handle this situation, as a dealer?
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Valued Member
 United States
420 Posts |
Hello,
I think what I may do is take some of the suggestions I have gotten so far to the next level. I love the suggestion about getting a partner but I was thinking about getting a job at the local coin shop as a starting point and learning experience, what do you think?
Thanks,
Rich
Rich M. - Collector since 2008
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Valued Member
United States
244 Posts |
I think that's a great idea regardless. Nothing like learning the business from the inside.
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
3692 Posts |
"Enough" would be picking a field and being an expert at it. Be an expert in moderns if you like, because most dealers I see are past their 50s, and once they're gone the next generation will have to be good at something. I think that the more coins of one type that you see the better feel you'll have for that series.
How much vision do you have?
Edited by Libertad
10/21/2010 3:07 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
511 Posts |
It would help to know the extent of your vision impairment. It sounds like gold $1s and Half Dimes might not be for you. If you like nice modern commems, many dealers will sell them off to fellow dealers for below bid. Ask around and see what you find out. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Quote:
I think that you can do anything you want to do. Now it sounds like some limitations might hinder your grading coins by yourself but maybe you could take on a young numismatist to be your eyes for you.
You could help each other.If you can study the coins by reading, or maybe your local blind association has books on cd's about coins. Maybe that would help This is what I would consider the smartest, best, most considerate of a YN, suggestion for you. Don't know about if you have relatives, friends or neighbors but you should really check with them as to the previous suggestion. Many completely blind people rely on dogs for their eyes. Not only would a YN or any young person be a good choice but you could be training someone in the future of Numismatics. Not sure how much you can do but you may want to check with a Coin show or coin store about such individuals. Naurally a relative may be the best choice. The main thing here is two could learn together. |
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Valued Member
United States
487 Posts |
The perfectionist that you describe yourself to be is how I see myself when it comes to collecting coins, I would use the term. "Fussy"! Nothing wrong with having that trait when it comes to coins!
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Valued Member
United States
420 Posts |
Hello,
I'm not sure if anyone here knows much about visual acuity but here it is. I have no usable sight in my right eye. If I cover my left eye completely I can see some light and a little movement out of my right eye but again nothing usable. Without the correction of my contact lens I have 20/200 sight in my left eye. With my contact lens in my sight is 20/75. I have almost no depth perception either. How does this effect any grading skills I may have I don't know. I think for me it would be a lot like driving. Once I learn how it may be something I can do with lots of limitations but may not be the greatest of ideas, which is why I have not tried either driving or grading coins.
If I mess up on grading a coin as a dealer I can seriously cost myself or a customer lots of money by under or over grading. Likewise if I make a mistake while driving that could cost me or someone else their life. I personally have seen dealers who make grading an extremely small part of their business. If something really needs a grade they spend the money to send it to one of the third party graders. I guess this really is just a matter of opinion. I may try and take the Summer Seminar Grading classes someday. I'm still young so I'm not in too much of a hurry....Thanks for all the awesome input though.
Rich
Rich M. - Collector since 2008
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Pillar of the Community
United States
591 Posts |
Well technology a wonderful thing. They make things that could assist you in grading coins.People with impaired do things all the time that you wouldn't consider being done. Just keep in mind where there is a will there is a way.
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Replies: 11 / Views: 2,411 |
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Posted 10/20/2010 01:14 am
