Posted Today 53M ago
Wonderful stories, howell - thank you for sharing them with us! Although a bit younger than you (just turned 64), I can relate to your tales of collecting coins from change. Of course, by the time I began handling money, most of the silver had long since vanished. An occasional one did pop up, with War Nickels being the type I most commonly encountered. And yes, wheaties were quite prevalent in circulation in the late '60s and early '70s, although they became scarcer by the year. I was able to fill quite a bit of my Whitman folder that way, although the coins were generally not much to brag about.
The first coin I recall collecting was this 50 Centimes from my parents' penny jar back in the late '60s. It was just the coolest coin that I had ever seen - so old and exotic! I asked them for it and of course they let me have it. To them, it was really nothing - about what a 1980's vintage Chuck E. Cheese or arcade token is today. I've held on to this beauty lo these 50+ years, through multiple moves across the country. I really regret never having asked them how they obtained it.
France 50 Centimes 1923 - "penny jar" find
The first coin I recall collecting was this 50 Centimes from my parents' penny jar back in the late '60s. It was just the coolest coin that I had ever seen - so old and exotic! I asked them for it and of course they let me have it. To them, it was really nothing - about what a 1980's vintage Chuck E. Cheese or arcade token is today. I've held on to this beauty lo these 50+ years, through multiple moves across the country. I really regret never having asked them how they obtained it.
France 50 Centimes 1923 - "penny jar" find
Inordinately fascinated by bits of metal with strange markings and figures
