The Duty of Collectors

by Dave Provost

In past issues of the RCC newsletter, I have discussed the apparent trend of today’s collector, along with his or her collecting pursuits, becoming more and more private. The context for these ruminations was current-day security concerns and the wealth of information that is available via books, magazine and the internet (collectors don’t need other collectors to learn about their coins the way they once did!). What is the potential outcome of such behavior?

One very real possibility is that more and more of our non-collecting friends, relatives, co-workers and others that we meet and interact with will never be aware of our coinage history. Unless we, as collectors, share our knowledge – and our coins and notes – many things we take for granted will never be known or understood by non-collectors.

For example, if you were not a collector, you would likely be unaware that:

• gold coins were once part of our circulating coinage and that some of them are among the most beautiful coins our Mint has ever produced
• the Liberty Head dime, the Standing Liberty quarter and the Walking Liberty half-dollar are all timeless examples of classic beauty
• the heft and feel of a silver dollar in one’s hand is unlike that of any of today’s coins (and that it has a distinctive ring when it is dropped on a table or countertop)
• the US has issued well over 100 different commemorative coins celebrating the history and triumphs of our nation
• our paper money was not always the size that it is today and that the ink color used to print the seals on it was not always green
• our nation once had one cent pieces as large as today’s quarter and one dollar coins smaller than today’s dime

I can go on and on with examples, but I believe my point is clear. What we, as collectors, consider common knowledge is essentially unheard of outside of our circles. I believe it is our responsibility to make sure our knowledge and appreciation for our numismatic legacy is transferred to as many people as possible.

How? Prepare an educational exhibit for display somewhere other than a coin show. Write a short numismatic article for a non-numismatic publication. Give a “coin talk” at a local civic or social organization. Or simply carry around a few well-worn coins from “days gone by” to serve as conversation starters. The possibilities are endless!

So, by all means, protect your coins but let your knowledge be “stolen” by anyone who wants it!

Until next month, Happy Collecting!

ã Copyright Raleigh Coin Club   -  2002

The RCC grants permission to reprint any articles not copyrighted by the author for non-profit educational purposes only, provided the Raleigh Coin Club and the author are cited as the original source.