The E-Sylum:  Volume 8, Number 46, October 30, 2005, Article 16

THE COIN COLLECTING COMMUNITY

Clifford Mishler writes: "Having noted Dick Johnson’s posing
of the question of what we might best categorize our interest
pursuit in the Oct. 23 issue of E-Sylum, I am moved to offer
the following observations.

For right around a decade, now, I have endeavored to opt for
“coin collecting community,” or “our hobby community.”

This appellation did not originate with me, I must point out.
Rather, it was broadcast into my mind back in 1994, when
I read the New England Numismatic Association’s “Executive
Secretary’s Address” presented by Robert F. Fritsch in
“NENA News.

As Bob observed at that time; “Numismatics is a Community,
composed of Collectors, Dealers and Organizations.”

Since that time I have I have appended thereto, when I’m
delivering programs and writing about the topic, additional
elements such as collectors, dealers, publications, scholars,
catalogers and writers.

The point is, in my opinion, all hobbies are small communities.
They are like the community of my youth – Vandalia, Mich.
– or that of my maturity – Iola, Wis. – in that, so to speak,
everyone knows everyone else and is dependent on their
success for the involvement of everyone else. The coin hobby
is like a small community, except that instead of being
geographically concentrated, it is geographically spread. The
pursuit of one of the elements is best pursued when that
pursuit is not oblivious of the others.

I personally believe it better captures what we are than
“industry,” “field,” “world,” “business,” or any other terminology
that has come within the scan of my eyes and ears.

As an aside, in answer to Dick’s other inquiry, to the best
of my recollection I never encountered the “Coin Whirl”
parody that he referenced."

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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