I am a new member here, and have recently picked the hobby back up after about a seven year sabbatical. I'm also in my late 20's, and my (new) wife thinks my hobby is...well, weird. She's a typical person -- and has a masters' degree -- but she has sort of a prejudice against coin collecting as being "for old people". Now, I'm certainly not meaning to offend any of our older comrades on here -- I would rather listen to good "war-stories" than be in a club any day. It did lead me to wonder, though, the following questions:
1. Is numismatics a hobby that is appreciated by a generation only when that generation is of an older age? It makes sense that a persistent demographic divide like this could be possible -- especially given the low rates of female participation in numismatics as an analog. If numismatics is not something that appeals to the "older-aged" crowd of every generation, then, that could only mean the following is more apt:
2. Is numismatics a hobby that is popular only with the baby boomers (in the US) and the generations preceding them?
I haven't seen studies anywhere, but it would seem to me that in the US, numismatists are a graying breed. Maybe this is just my view based on the "precious metal" scavengers that flock to coin stores and coin shows these days, but does anyone else have a similar thought? And if I'm not far off-base, how can we attract young people to the hobby in ways that will ensure coins don't become worthless by the time my generation is old and gray?
I don't have any hard and fast statistics on the subject, but from my experience of reading (listening to) the posts on this and the French forum, I think you would find a healthy mix of age-groups and even the odd member of the female persuasion
Just because you can't see it ... doesn't mean it isn't there - Anon.
Numismatics has always been a bunch of old men. it was a bunch of old men last year, and 20 years ago, and 50 years ago, and 100 years ago.... Like the DAR, it has been a graying membership ever since the organization existed, always worried that it'll die out without new blood but never failing to attract it, albeit in old age.
I'm not even close to 16 years of age, and I think numismatics lives as long and as well as big band. Stamp collecting, however, is an old man's thing, even though I'm into the hobby as well.
Kenny
- Verifying your Asian and British-territorial coins everyday with the best quality photos and the best information.
I started coin collecting when I was about 10 years old. My father worked in a bank and occassionaly brought home foreign coins. I had two school firnds, the same age, who were similarly interested. We weren't "coin geeks", but we enjoyed the exotic nature of coins. That I have continued to be interested to my current age is not a reflection of coin collecting being for old men, rather that it is a hobby I have maintained. I also know someone else, the same age as me who collects coins. He is a biker, verging on a Hell's Angel (he calmed down after being repeatedly stabbed during a brawl some years ago).
I should say that as with any hobby or occupation, one can not generalise with accuracy. The scope of ages and personalities represented by posters to this forum reflects this.
i to started out young like matt with coin an stopped when i joined the air force ,then got out an got married/now divforced an was a hells angle type in detriot (the highwaymen) then moved here to flordia with the old timers an back into coin
I've got many young friend that collect coins, but they have few time to use for this hobby (study, new work, girls ....), so is not easy meet they in website or in Numista.
Instead old collectors usually are pensioner, so they has much time to dedicate to coins :-))
When I was a small child I had stacks and piles of pennies. I'm sure there's still a buried stash somewhere in the old back yard. I just liked them. Many years later someone gave me a handful of pocket change collected during the war and I liked looking at those coins even more so. I kept them all in an old pouch. Now, I'll admit that I am older, but the only thing that changes is how I collect. I'm more (a little) responsible about storage and I'm more informed about why I like a certain coin. It's like collecting mini art work, yet each has been changed by it's experiences -- a painting doesn't travel in pockets, so close to a person. Tell your wife it's not old it's just neat. There are FAR worse things a guy your age could be doing on the Net these days. ;)
Rick, there are NO women on the interwebs, they are all FBI agents.
It seems to me that coin collecting (with many exceptions) follows a pattern. You begin collecting as a young whippersnapper while you have the luxury of long summers and no overtime. Then you discover beer and women which inevitably leads to a series of expensive wives, children, cars, bikes, boats, houses and more beer. As you get a little older and serial divorces become just too much effort, the children find their own feet and move out (thank you baby Jesus!!), your expenses become less and your earnings increase.... you have almost as much leisure as you did at school but now you have the moolah to buy those coins you used to dream about.
Women, children, cars... they come and go like the corn in the field. What remains are man's true best friends, coins and beer.
Non illegitimis carborundum est. Excellent advice for all coins.
Make Numismatics Great Again!
Philip, when you think of it, coins are like women. Some are beautiful, some are common, and you have to respect them. And there are some guys who just treat them like dirt, while others brush them off and keep them until they find one that's better.
Kenny
- Verifying your Asian and British-territorial coins everyday with the best quality photos and the best information.
Quote: numinubiIt's like collecting mini art work, yet each has been changed by it's experiences -- a painting doesn't travel in pockets, so close to a person. Tell your wife it's not old it's just neat. There are FAR worse things a guy your age could be doing on the Net these days. ;)
Well said, there are also so many historical and cultural lessons in coins, I have learned a tremendous amount because of coins.
Any way I started collecting when I was 5 and am only 30 now. one way to get young people into it is just to carry a different coin around with you every day and show them to kids and other people, when some one is interested I give them one, common coins of course.
Sadly not to many people are interested in anything but TV these days.
Taking a break from swapping for a while, but still interested in pre 1799 Spanish coins, I will make time for that!
Quote: pnightingaleWomen, children, cars... they come and go like the corn in the field. What remains are man's true best friends, coins and beer.
I'm agree :-)))
I start at 12 and stopped my collect at 16/17 years to others interest; for 10 years I prefer collect beer, computer, music and girls, no coins :-DD
But after 26 years I continue to collect, and I can tell that I'm always happy about coins that I've find or buy when I've 14/15 years !!!
I can explain it to my husband but he still just doesn't get fascinated by coins like I do. I got back into collecting when a very nice customer wanted to give a tip, but tipping was against the policy of the jewelry store where I was working. So the fellow came back in the next day with a handful of change he'd collected & carried throughout the Second World War. I was entralled! Today, I still prefer the thrill of finding something different in pocket change -- which doesn't happen very often where I live now -- but I have started to buy a few coins online. I can promise you my husband prefers I spend maybe $5.00 on a coin that makes me happy rather than $500.00 on a shoe habit type of thing.
When both people share the exact same interests within a relationship it makes for a boring world -- young or old.
I don't think there is an age limit when it comes to collecting. Some are interested in coins and some on different subjects. I have friends in their forty's that collect comics and baseball cards. Then there are those that collect nothing, but when I see them all they do is complain about everything. Which leads me to believe, collecting keeps you sane.
And while we are one the subject of age and collecting. I remember when I went to stamp shows as a youngster the dealers were thrilled that a young person was interested in collecting.
I, like many others, had a coin collection when I was young. It started with coins my grandparents gave me...commemorative £2 coins. Then one day my Dad gave me a 1763 5 Kopek piece. I kept these coins in a box for ages. Then...I collected other things...and was interested in other hobbies...I collected pins (brooches) and marbles...until now. In February this year my girlfriend, now fiancee, and I bought a house. Shortly after this my friend was moving out of their family home and asked if I wanted a bag of his grandfather's coins. Of course I said," Yes!" and since then I haven't looked back. I discovered Numista shortly after and learnt a lot, have swapped, will swap, have bought coins and think coins. For me it is partly about money...I guess having these coins...doesn't make me feel wealthy. I'm disheartened when I log my collection and think this coin must be rare and then I see the mintage number is over 50 million. Still there we go.
Well, I do collect coins since I was 7 years old and just turn to fifty. Though I do must to admit that as older as I get, as bigger the interest in my coins and investiment.
As example, I did bought 11 kg world coins (100 euro), just to complete some country collections.
I'm sure that it can sound weird to some of you, but to me this is more than an investiment in my hobby, it's an unexplainable love for coins. Besides that it's safer than invest money in the stockmarket at Wall Street.
As one of one friends told before, there are far worse things to do.
For me it is a relax and pleasure :)