Numismatic Passion Begets Entrepreneurial Success

By Curt Gammer

The moment my five-year-old hands held that coin, I was hooked. At an early age, I found myself fascinated by historical documentaries. Much to my parents’ amazement, I would rather watch a five-hour discussion about the American Revolution than, say, your average cartoon.

When my uncle passed away, I was the only other member of my family who had an interest in the past, so he left me his modest coin collection. The fact that I was so young and holding coins that were 20 times older than I, blew my mind. To think that these small objects could have so much information and history tied to them was humbling. This experience inspired me to learn more about coins and collect as many as I could, sparking a lifelong fascination. To this day, my drive to learn about humanity’s past has me constantly surfing through textbooks and documents.

As I grew older and more mature, my passion for coin collecting developed into a profitable business model of purchasing, selling, and trading coins. What is now known as Gammer Coin began with moderate success, with business exploding during the pandemic. This major increase in activity allowed me to hire four employees to help with operations. Using the power and scale of social media, I was able to network with experts and customers throughout the world, as well as gain valuable experience in negotiation and customer service. I have also traveled to over 20 states for trade shows and expositions where I have met dozens of influential people within the collectibles industry and maintain a relationship with a number of them.

Over the years, I have volunteered my time while gaining experience in the field. One such encounter is with Witter Coin University. The yearly summer educational program sponsored by Witter Coin in San Francisco, California, was designed as an outreach program to help young enthusiasts learn how to collect and deal in coins. Attending last year’s seminar gave me the push that I needed to decide on entering the coin industry as a career. Inspired to help the program in any way I could, I established a goal to raise $5,000 for Witter Coin University. My long hair became synonymous with my image, so when I decided to sacrifice such a large part of my outward-facing identity by shaving my head bald, many professionals and hobbyists joined in. Smashing the goal of $5,000, we ended up raising nearly $10,000.

Along with attending as a student at the seminar this past summer, I aimed to serve as a mentor, volunteer, and role model to the younger people and assisted with the sheer logistics of such a massive undertaking. After I completed the program, I stayed in San Francisco for three weeks working for Witter Coin, learning everything I could about this specialized marketplace and helping to add value wherever I could.

Throughout my life, my passions for coins and history have taken me far in the world of business and relationships. As a teenage entrepreneur who has completed over 4,000 business transactions, I have learned a lot about what motivates buyers and sellers. The social skills I developed have also helped me in my daily life. I believe that by continuing to work and learn as much as possible, I will be able to achieve my personal and professional goals while helping others to realize their own.