You can bet that the Seattle Coin Club will have lots more to say about this topic, but for now take a look at our history (A Brief History of Pacific Northwest Numismatics), attend one of our meetings, and decide for yourself. The internet is great, but there’s no substitute for personal interaction, and many numismatists highly value the friendships formed over the years via coin clubs, along with the knowledge gained, opportunities for buying, selling and trading, etc.

If you read the history page you may have noticed that while there had been coin clubs in major cities such as Seattle for decades, during the 1950s and 1960s, coin clubs popped up in medium-size cities such as Tacoma and Everett. This corresponded to an intense interest in U.S. coinage spurred by varieties such as the 1955 Double Die and 1960 Small Date Lincoln cents, and the removal of silver from U.S. circulating coinage after 1964. Club meetings were often packed, with members actively trading coins. Of course there was no internet then, and other entertainment options were limited too. (Remember only 3 or 4 TV channels before cable?)

By the 1980s some clubs were already in decline. (Still no internet for most people, but at least there was cable TV and the first video games.) The clubs themselves were often responsible for the decline, for example by failing to recruit younger members, having too much business at meetings, and sometimes by meeting in inconvenient locations. The Seattle Coin Club met for many years on Queen Anne Hill, which is a nice neighborhood, but can be hard to get to during busy after-work traffic hours. Now the SCC meets at the Tukwila Community Center, easier to access off of I-5. The decline led to some clubs disbanding completely, and others merging, including eventually the University Coin Club with the SCC.

In recent years, many coin clubs have seen a resurgence, thanks to addressing the issues noted above. This includes making meetings more interesting, fun and relevant by limiting business, having short but interesting educational programs, and including other fun and useful activities such as raffles, auctions and “show & tell,” along with refreshments. Annual events such as banquets and holiday dinners remain popular (everyone loves to eat) and clubs hosting annual coin shows do a great service to their members and the collecting public. [The SCC is considering an annual show. The former UCC held small but successful shows for many years.]

The biggest reason local coin clubs (and sometimes regional and national organizations as well) remain relevant is because of the personal interactions and friendships noted in the first paragraph. You can learn a lot by researching coins and numismatic topics on the internet (and you’ll likely end up doing some buying and perhaps selling on the internet as well), but there’s a lot to be said for also sharing and discussing coins and other items with your friends at a club meeting. You might even develop a new collecting interest which you hadn’t considered before.

Understandably you might be concerned about security. Fortunately, most clubs no longer mail newsletters via the postal service, and don’t require a home address. And you can always choose what information to share. If you’re an investor, you don’t have to share that you own $50,000 worth of coins, although I’ve known a few collectors and dealers over the years who have done exactly that without problems.

Most clubs nowadays are also very family friendly and may have special prizes or activities for young numismatists (YNs). Although kids may not always be able to attend club meetings on a school night, most clubs no longer have meetings that go late into the evening, so the kids can still get home intime for school the next day.

If you have any other questions or concerns, just contact us and/or attend one of our meetings. Guests are welcome, and you’re welcome to bring along a few coins or other numismatic items to ask us about.