JEFF GARRETT ON NUMISMATIC MENTORS

Numismatic mentoring has a special place in my heart, and I’ve been thinking about it quite a bit lately, especially since one of my earliest advisors, Ed French, passed away in October. I was about 10 years old when I began collecting coins, and I was extremely lucky to have several coin shops in my community. The closest was Ed’s store—a classic hole-in-the-wall operation in the heart of downtown Dunedin, Florida.

Over the years, his shop became my primary hang - out, and, like a sponge, I soaked up every bit of information about coins. If I was a nuisance, Ed never let on. Without hesitation, he nurtured my interest and encouraged me to expand my collecting horizons. He knew that knowledge was the key to hobby success. Many of the lessons I learned in his store 40 years ago have served me well over the course of my career as a professional numismatist.

Each week, Ed also took me to one of the many local coin club meetings in the Tampa Bay area. These gatherings were critical steps in my numismatic journey, as they introduced me to collectors who shared my enthusiasm. Many of the people I met during those years are now among my closest friends.

Not surprisingly, Ed played an important role in my first real ANA experience: in 1974 he let me tag along with him to the ANA’s Anniversary Convention in Miami. It was a chance to witness real hobby legends in action. I still remember seeing dealer Abe Kosoff, who, dressed in a white suit, was a commanding figure behind his bourse table.

Today, collectors young and old who are enrolled in the ANA’s Numismatic Diploma Program (www.money.org/diploma-program) can request mentors to assist them with the courses. Who among us hasn’t benefited from such guidance? Without a doubt, the support and encouragement of adult collectors was crucial to my success. I urge everyone to pay it forward, just like Ed French did.

To visit the ANA web site, see:
www.money.org

To read the earlier E-Sylum articles, see:
WAYNE’S NUMISMATIC DIARY: AUGUST 16, 2015 : Jeff Starck and Numismatic Mentors (www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v18n33a15.html)
NUMISMATIC MENTORS (www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v18n34a27.html)

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