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Posted 10/14/2025 11:46 am
I was asked why I had disappeared from the forums a few weeks ago, and its not that I wasn't following what people were doing but my priorities had changed this year.
Even though I've been a coin/paper money collector since I was 7 years old (even younger), I've always had other hobbies, these include photography and astronomy. I've had film cameras from 110 to 35MM to Polaroids and digital from snap and shoot to 4/3 to full frame DSLR.
Since I have a hobby budget I set aside a certain amount each paycheck, I can only spend so much and for the last 7 years I was heavy into coins. So much that I sold off a bunch of telescope eyepieces as I didn't think I needed them. But like every hobby sometimes you want to go back and do it again. This year I started taking the telescopes out again.
And realized that my battery wouldn't hold a charge and that the eyepieces I sold off, I actually needed. So I pivoted from Coins/Currency back to telescopes, with the intent of getting a new battery and 1 or 2 eyepieces and then.....
TARIFFS HAPPENED!
A lot of the telescope gear comes from China, which meant I had to hustle otherwise prices would increase. In a few weeks I was able to get a new battery (in the picture above black/yellow) and was also able to get the 1.25" eyepieces I needed to use my solar scope (red and white scope below).
This meant I was going back into coins/currency in summer. But what happened, well my daughter needed a camera for her sorority events, which meant a lot of times I didn't have a camera available. As many of you know I like taking my own pictures and I don't like taking them with a phone camera. This really became an issue when Elizabeth and I went to Western PA to go see Fallingwater and my daughters needs my camera.
Since my camera was already 14 years old and again with Tariffs I figured now was the best time to get one. So the money I had saved up to get the 1893 or 1895 Morgan was allocated to a new camera which I got 2 weeks ago.
And I'm happy I did as the price went up over $200. So I can start savings again, but my wife threw a wrench into that as she wants to go to Paris for her birthday and I honestly just got an expensive camera so can I say "No"? Of course not, but since Canon changed the mount from EF to RF, I really want a walk around lens (24-240MM) which means coins and currency or off for a little bit.
Does this mean I stopped?
HECK NO
A few weeks ago I changed all my notes from Hard Plastic toploaders to Mylar holders which did 2 things, 1 the notes are now in an archival sleeve and the mylar holders are so much less bulkier than top loaders that 4 cases became just 1.
And while my hobby fund has been allocated to the new lens. There was some cash I had on the side (from selling stuff and not buying bullion due to the cost) that I was able to add a few low cost notes to my collections (coming soon).
So this is why I haven't been as active lately.
Even though I've been a coin/paper money collector since I was 7 years old (even younger), I've always had other hobbies, these include photography and astronomy. I've had film cameras from 110 to 35MM to Polaroids and digital from snap and shoot to 4/3 to full frame DSLR.
Since I have a hobby budget I set aside a certain amount each paycheck, I can only spend so much and for the last 7 years I was heavy into coins. So much that I sold off a bunch of telescope eyepieces as I didn't think I needed them. But like every hobby sometimes you want to go back and do it again. This year I started taking the telescopes out again.
And realized that my battery wouldn't hold a charge and that the eyepieces I sold off, I actually needed. So I pivoted from Coins/Currency back to telescopes, with the intent of getting a new battery and 1 or 2 eyepieces and then.....
TARIFFS HAPPENED!
A lot of the telescope gear comes from China, which meant I had to hustle otherwise prices would increase. In a few weeks I was able to get a new battery (in the picture above black/yellow) and was also able to get the 1.25" eyepieces I needed to use my solar scope (red and white scope below).
This meant I was going back into coins/currency in summer. But what happened, well my daughter needed a camera for her sorority events, which meant a lot of times I didn't have a camera available. As many of you know I like taking my own pictures and I don't like taking them with a phone camera. This really became an issue when Elizabeth and I went to Western PA to go see Fallingwater and my daughters needs my camera.
Since my camera was already 14 years old and again with Tariffs I figured now was the best time to get one. So the money I had saved up to get the 1893 or 1895 Morgan was allocated to a new camera which I got 2 weeks ago.
And I'm happy I did as the price went up over $200. So I can start savings again, but my wife threw a wrench into that as she wants to go to Paris for her birthday and I honestly just got an expensive camera so can I say "No"? Of course not, but since Canon changed the mount from EF to RF, I really want a walk around lens (24-240MM) which means coins and currency or off for a little bit.
Does this mean I stopped?
HECK NO
A few weeks ago I changed all my notes from Hard Plastic toploaders to Mylar holders which did 2 things, 1 the notes are now in an archival sleeve and the mylar holders are so much less bulkier than top loaders that 4 cases became just 1.
And while my hobby fund has been allocated to the new lens. There was some cash I had on the side (from selling stuff and not buying bullion due to the cost) that I was able to add a few low cost notes to my collections (coming soon).
So this is why I haven't been as active lately.
maybe someday I'll buy another nice one (before I retire so I can afford it).
