Mystery Career #9: Who Am I? Can You Guess My Job?

I started my life's work when I was eight years old. My Uncle Henry gave me the first piece in my now extensive inventory for Christmas that year. It was called a trime. I was hooked! I bought a beginner's book on collecting and memorized every piece of substantial value! I scanned every piece that came into my hands and hoarded all that I thought could be worth something. I would go without lunch at school rather than let go of a suspected find. Can you guess how I make my living?

By high school, I pretty much knew I wanted to make a life long business out of my hobby, not just become a vest pocket dealer. The thought of being my own boss really appealed to me. Plus, I'd be doing something that didn't seem like work at all and that I enjoyed immensely. I heard the siren's song calling me to this profession. Have you figured it out just what I do, yet?

You don't have to go to college to be successful in this field, but my mother begged me to. To appease her I took a business and finance curriculum at the local community college. It was only so I would know what I was doing as I grew my own business. Nights and weekends, I expanded my business. Ok. I'll give you some more clues.

By the time I hit my mid-thirties, I had become an expert in collecting hoards with mistakes/errors, as these bring the highest prices. My lucky break came in 1972 when I found a rare piece with a lettered edge. Only seven were ever made. I flipped it to an overseas collector for 1.5 million dollars! Thankfully, I had learned enough to invest the profits wisely. Other than move to a nice house on a lake, my wife and I didn't go on a spending spree. I continue to build my business to this day, with the clout of that rare deal continually bringing me new, mostly foreign clients who come to me seeking ancients. Now have you guessed my profession?

To make a living in this field, one must buy and sell constantly. I excel in my trade by walking every bourse floor, attending every related auction and reading every book and catalog on the subject I can get my hands on, especially the Redbook. I do these things on a weekly basis to keep up with the ever changing market. All of these tasks have enabled me to become progressively better at my craft. I never grow tired of my work!

Have you guessed that I am a numismatist, or coin collector specializing in coin dealing? Excellent! I own my own business. I also belong to the Numismatic Society of America, a large organization that specializes in the study and valuation of coins, currency, tokens and medals. So you see, not all numismatists are coin collectors, like me! Some specialize in paper currency, or historical tokens or medals. The Numismatic Society of America also maintains a collection of over 800,000 coins and other numismatic objects and publishes its own magazine.

Many numismatists also provide contract services for museums, archeologists, and historical societies. There are also numismatists that research the field for libraries, universities, and other academic enterprises. The numismatic field isn't for everyone. I know many consider it quite boring. For those of us who pursue coins as treasure, though, it provides countless hours of happiness!

If the terminology I used kept you guessing a bit, the definitions follow below:

1. ancients: coins of antiquity from approximately 600 B.C. - 450 A.D.
2. bourse: coin show
3. flip: coin deal
4. hoard: collection of like coins. For example: 50 Indian Head pennies
5. lettered edge: coin edge with an inscription
6. numismatics: the study of coins, paper currency, tokens and medals
7. numismatist: a collector of coins, paper currency, tokens or medals
8. Redbook: coin collector's retail price guide, published yearly since 1947
9. trime: a three-cent piece
10. vest pocket dealer: part-time coin dealer

To read the previous Mystery Career Installment, click here

Sources: 1. "Numismatics," en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Numismatics.

2. "Coin collecting terms," 2-clicks-coins.com/coin-glossary/coin-collecting-terms-glossary-dictionary.html.

3. "Brief coin collecting history," 2-clicks-coins.com/article/coin-collecting-history.html.

4. "American Numismatic Society | Collections," numismatics.org.