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Commems Collection Modern: An Ode To Clad Coinage

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CCF Master Historian of Commemorative Coins
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commems's Avatar
United States
12648 Posts
 Posted Today  4H 47M ago Show Profile   Bookmark this topic Add commems to your friends list Get a Link to this Message Number of Subscribers
Time for a trip back to 1966 for a 'Friday Funny.'

Here's a short poem by Charlie Gebhard that was published in the Waverly Democrat (Waverly, Iowa), courtesy of Representative Harold Royce Gross (R-IA):

WE'VE BEEN SLUGGED

Now listen, friends, and you shall hear
Just why I'm crying in my beer.
It really is a tale of woe
That started many years ago.

My dad worked hard and saved his cash,
And taught me not to do things rash.
He said, "Now, son, please stay awake
And wooden nickels do not take."

I shunned the poolhalls in my youth
And booze and dames and things uncouth;
Yes, I was prudent all my life
And found myself a thrifty wife.

We worked together, side by each,
Till wealth was nearly in our reach.
But then there came the fateful day;
That "two-bit move" by L.B.J.

For coins he ruled that silver's out
And copper slugs he's spread about.
He says they're just as good as gold;
Farewell to honest coins of old.

Now I recall my father's words:
"Wooden nickels are for the birds."
New copper slugs seem worthless, too,
But what are you and I to do?

The day of reckoning is here;
That's why I'm crying in my beer.
Life's no longer milk and honey--
Here we are with funny money.



Mr. Gephard certainly had a way with words!


For other of my posts about coins and medals, including US and Canadian commemorative pieces, see: Commems Collection




Collecting history one coin or medal at a time! (c) commems. All rights reserved.
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cladking's Avatar
United States
2295 Posts
 Posted Today  2H 8M ago  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add cladking to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
This certainly captures the spirit of collectors and explains why these "slugs" were never saved and instead allowed to circulate till they are nearly all degraded or lost entirely.

Frankly I was always surprised the general public cared so little about being forced to use debased coinage. It was like they didn't realize they were tendering a gold backed dollar for a 2c pack of gum and not even getting their change back. But no one cared except collectors who saw the more valuable silver coins disappearing from circulation.

Now days you can buy stacks, rolls, and bags of 1964 quarters in any grade you want but most of the '65 quarters are long gone and the few survivors are coins that began life as ugly misshapen and poorly made slugs and are now in poor condition, scratched, gouged, and stained. Finding a nicely made coin better than F condition requires a lot of effort simply because coin collectors knew we were being short changed and the general public never cared.
Time don't fly, it bounds and leaps.
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mikev50's Avatar
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2307 Posts
 Posted Today  2H 4M ago  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add mikev50 to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
thanks for sharing
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nickelsearcher's Avatar
United States
16034 Posts
 Posted Today  39M ago  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add nickelsearcher to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
That was a fun poem to read.

I appreciate your insights @cladking.

Thank you both for sharing.
Take a look at my other hobby ... http://www.jk-dk.art
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