e-Letters: May 25, 2023

For me what’s lacking is more opportunities to properly learn grading. It seems you have to go to the ANA to have the opportunity to take a class. I have educated myself over the years by looking at thousands of coins. And like most collectors, when I was new to the hobby I bought over-graded and cleaned coins from less-than-honest dealers. One comes to mind who specialized in Mercury dimes who constantly sold cleaned and over-graded coins. While I would never buy anything again from him and warned other collectors about him, I see he is still selling over-priced coins to new collectors. Having had the opportunity to learn earlier in either a classroom setting or seminar would have helped me avoid dealers like him. This was before the internet.

Roy
Address withheld

If we’re going to keep up with the counterfeiters, the hobby will need more qualified expert authenticators. While the introductory courses provided by the ANA have long been helpful to hobbyists, a much more advanced program geared towards professional authenticators is desperately needed.

Andy Lustig
Nyack, N.Y.

Educational outreach is missing in numismatics. The ANA Summer Seminar is fine, but most collectors cannot afford the time or money, or both, to travel to Colorado. If the ANA could organize a localized numismatic education program using existing resources – people to teach, venues already used by state and local clubs/associations -- in each state, a lot could be done to spread the numismatic word locally rather than centrally. For example, I am a 40-year collector and retired teacher and administrator in Michigan. Ms. Strayhorn [ANA education director] might do well to think creatively along these lines. It would open numismatic knowledge to a lot more people.

Norman Grange
Detroit, Mich.

Expand college curriculum and study opportunities in ancient, modern and world coinage and monies in general.

Roger Quintana
Burley, Idaho

My take is there are numerous ways a collector or anyone involved in numismatics can acquire knowledge about whatever interests them. All it takes is a little effort. A myriad of books and publications like what you folks put out there every week would be one example. That being said, the internet is a treasure trove of educational information, and I’m sure most folks have at least a cell phone enabling access to it.

Name and address withheld

Need online classes from beginner to medium to advanced that can be done as lessons sent graded and returned with corrections.

KT
Address withheld