Numismatics truly is something to be grateful for

Thanksgiving is tomorrow.

What are you thankful for?

Among the many things for which I am grateful was the huge opportunity given me by Chet Krause and Clifford Mishler.

They hired me over 40 years ago.

I am still here at Numismatic News despite rookie mistakes, foolish mistakes, and even carefully thought out ideas that turned out to be stupid.

They had confidence in me and helped me overcome whatever setbacks came my way.

Whatever you call it - mentoring, giving someone a leg up, or even just doing someone a good turn - virtually all of us have gotten a boost that set us along a professional path.

I’ll bet you can think of examples in your life just as I can.

Next Thanksgiving there will be someone who will be grateful for a numismatic career boost thanks to the Central States Numismatic Society and dealer Rick Snow, owner of Eagle Eye Rare Coins.

The Tucson, Ariz., dealer is sponsoring a new scholarship for young numismatic professionals.

The Central States Numismatic Society Emerging Young Professional Scholarship will send one individual to the annual American Numismatic Association Summer Seminar in June in Colorado Springs, Colo.

For over 50 years, these seminars have brought hobbyists together for the purpose of improving their numismatic knowledge.

Lifelong friendships have formed as a result.

Numismatic professionals who attend find it to be a means of developing a personal numismatic network.

That’s important.

Knowledge aside, there is still much in this business that depends on personal contacts.

“It is difficult,” said Snow, “to get into the coin business without the help and guidance from established dealers. I could not have begun my career in numismatics without the support of the dealer I worked for prior to starting Eagle Eye Rare Coins in 1992, Elliott Goldman.

“It is my hope that this scholarship will help an emerging numismatist make that leap into a professional career," Snow said.

What a wonderful thing to do.

I have heard many stories over the years about kids in a coin shop turning into part-time help and then full-fledged professionals.

This scholarship is a little more formal than that. But it isn’t really for kids.

In this case, applicants must be 30 years of age or younger and prove they are employed in the numismatic trade.

Persons who meet these two requirements have until Jan. 31, 2019, to apply for the scholarship.

Applications will be found in the January-March 2019 issue of The Centinel, official publication of CSNS.

You can also request an application by writing to Mitch Ernst, P.O. Box 24559, Omaha, NE 68124. He is president of CSNS.

He can also be reached by email.

Write to him at: president@centralstatesnumismaticsociety.org.

All of the important details about the scholarship can be found in the application.

Ernst said, “We all have heard that YNs are the future of the hobby. Yet no one has thought about helping the future of the dealer side of the hobby. It is our hope that this scholarship will help fill that need.”

I wish the lucky scholarship winner a fulfilling career in numismatics.

My thanks go to Snow and Ernst for helping to clear a path forward for the winner.

I remember well when I needed this kind leg up.

Buzz blogger Dave Harper won the Numismatic Literary Guild Award for Best Blog for the third time in 2017. He is editor of the weekly newspaper "Numismatic News."