Читать книгу Coin Collecting For Dummies - Neil S. Berman - Страница 72

One of the most dramatic posters from World War II shows a sailor slipping beneath the waves for the last time, his ship destroyed and sinking in the background. The words Loose Lips Sink Ships jump off the poster, emphasizing the importance of discretion during times of war. The same is true for coin collectors.

Coins are thief magnets. They’re valuable, portable, and easily sold. Thieves know that, but why help them out? Even without knowing it, you may be giving out hints that you’re a coin collector or that you’ve got coins with you or at home. A little discretion and common sense can keep you and your coins safe.

Following are some tips for keeping your hobby secret:

 Avoid discussing your collection in public. I know you’re proud of your collection and the neat new coins you just purchased, but be careful about how and where you discuss them.

 Remove all hints of numismatics from your correspondence. Placing the words coin, coin collector, numismatist, or any other coin-related words on the return address of your envelopes is dangerous. Be sure to instruct anyone who sends coins to you through the mail to remove any coin-related wording from their envelope or package as well.

 Be careful whom you tell. You may trust someone enough to let them know that you’re a coin collector, and you may even show them some of your goodies, but can you trust them never to tell anyone, who in turn may tell someone else? An adage in sales is that everyone knows a hundred people. Therefore, if you tell one person, you’re telling a hundred, and each of them can tell a hundred … you get the picture. Be careful whom you tell.

 Hide your coins. Don’t leave your coins out for the cleaner or anyone who peeks in your window to see. Coin calendars are nice, but I guarantee you that someday, one of your visitors will ask, “Oh, are you a coin collector?”