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If Only Coins Could Talk

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Valued Member

Canada
55 Posts
 Posted 02/13/2012  9:59 pm Show Profile   Bookmark this topic Add PennyBox to your friends list Get a Link to this Message Number of Subscribers
I was searching another box of penny coins, hence the profile name, and got very philosophical. I pulled out a few coins some having been in circulation for a least 70 years. Some of the coins are black, some are corroded, some have very strange toning. Where have they been to get these effects.
Got to thinking if these coins could talk wouldn't they have a lot of stories to tell. Stories we will never know.
Some of the coins that I pulled out of circulation were 40 years old and still looked as good as new. Where were these coins hiding while the others were being subjected to different environments and abuse. Some of the coins have large marks on them, deep scratches and marks, and battered and beaten. Where have they been and what they have been through in circulation.
I am searching Canadian coins and found quite a number,of US coins, 1000 in about 8 boxes searched so far. Just goes to show how much travel there is between these two countries.
Found a number of coins from other countries, again goes to show how people are travelling and how the world can be very small at times. As I look at these, I reflect and get to see how other countries are choosing to depict the history of their country.
This was my moment of reflection.
It would sure put another dimension to this great hobby if these coins could talk. I certainly got a better appreciation for circulated coins.
Guess this is why there is such a diversity of collectors out there and it is great to have this forum where everyone can share their preferences and experiences in collecting coins.
See "shooting for 100,000 searched pennies" by Crockett, in " Canadian Coins , Bank Notes and Paper money" to see some images of what he is finding. My experience has been much the same. I'm just starting my hunt.
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MartiVltori's Avatar
United States
870 Posts
 Posted 02/13/2012  10:08 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add MartiVltori to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
This is exactly why I would rather collect circulated coins vs. proofs or mint sets.
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enworb's Avatar
Australia
4411 Posts
 Posted 02/13/2012  10:40 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add enworb to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Im sure this is a big draw card for people to coin collecting. It is for me!
Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts
 Posted 02/14/2012  10:44 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add just carl to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
I too have wondered about that. Imagine how you could get factual stories about the past instead of so many possibly artificial and non realistic information. What really went on in old Rome? What really went on in Hitler's Germany? What was it really like in a small town during the Civil War? How many criminals really roamed the streets of Chicago during the Al Capone era? What vending machines were used by the Early American Indians before we got here?
I've always wondered what would happen to our history books if coins could tell us the true stories.
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SeatedNut's Avatar
United States
2797 Posts
 Posted 02/14/2012  10:49 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add SeatedNut to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
The coins in my pocket are screaming ... "IT'S DARK IN HERE!"
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SteveCaruso's Avatar
United States
1796 Posts
 Posted 02/14/2012  10:59 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add SteveCaruso to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Hehe, you see this is why I love circulated coins.

It's one thing to have, say a silver dollar proof in a case -- it's beautiful in its own right, and I have many proofs in my collection -- but it's another thing to have a silver dollar in your hand, feel the warmth and texture of the metal and wonder where its life has taken it.

This is also why I have a collection of unusual examples of PMD. The sort of examples that make you scratch your chin and say "Ok, I can't figure it out. What the %^&*^ happened?" :-)
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jbuck's Avatar
United States
189340 Posts
 Posted 02/14/2012  2:35 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add jbuck to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
I do collect modern proofs, but I prefer to get my business strikes from circulation. Most of my pre-1980 coins are all in the middle circulated grades. I do enjoy the added character and have always had the "if they could talk" attitude towards them.
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biggfredd's Avatar
United States
9104 Posts
 Posted 02/14/2012  6:50 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add biggfredd to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
, PennyBox!
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biggfredd's Avatar
United States
9104 Posts
 Posted 02/14/2012  6:54 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add biggfredd to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
One of my customers keeps a few bullion gold ounces handy to play touchy-feely with.
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matchbox's Avatar
United States
1007 Posts
 Posted 02/14/2012  8:09 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add matchbox to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
I was thinking of this before. The coins minted before and during the Civil War and during the Reconstruction would have tales to tell. When I get a coin from that era I wonder what was bought with it, who had it and how many times that little hunk of metal changed hands.
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vermontensium's Avatar
United States
16679 Posts
 Posted 02/14/2012  8:12 pm  Show Profile   Check vermontensium's eBay Listings Check vermontensium's eCrater Listings Bookmark this reply Add vermontensium to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Exactly why I have a passion for Colonials and early Federal type coins.
swcoin.ecrater.com
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DivChaser's Avatar
United States
62 Posts
 Posted 02/14/2012  11:36 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add DivChaser to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Great thread. I was thinking that this weekend. I had some British and German coins that I was putting into 2x2s.

I had a number of pre WW2 German with "the logo" on it. My Grandfather was in WW2, and brought home a German uniform. I have been to Germany, and in some of the towns that he was in. It was kinda odd to be there. I was wondering whose hands had held those coins before they ended up with me. Kinda chilling to thing about for some of those.

The British coins were much older, dated back to the 1800s.
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