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 Replies: 9 / Views: 1,370 |
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Bedrock of the Community
 United States
12831 Posts |
I wandered into my local coin shop the other day and picked up a used Ike Dansco for 5 or 6 bucks. Empty, of course, yet in great shape. Well, an empty Dansco album is not a happy Dansco album, so as I looked at the shiny Ikes in the store's inventory, my mind started to wander and began to make up scenarios on how this album got to the shop and how many of the Ikes the shop had for sale came from this very album.
I imagine this happens frequently. A numismatist that's been at it for years/decades passes on to the great coin bazaar in the sky and leaves all his/her collections behind (we can't take it with us, right? RIGHT?!? Those ancient Egyptians sure tried).
Well, by legal will or some other means these coins/folders get distributed to the beneficiaries (if specified) or to the state. If the beneficiaries (or state) have no interest in the coins or need to generate money to cover bills, those coins/folders get auctioned/sold/whatever.
That's how I imagine this very folder I'm holding right now ended up in my hands. I just wonder, as I look at the empty pages of this Dansco, what its previous owner did for a living, why they liked collecting Ikes, what else they collected, how they came to be separated from this album, and where they are now, if still alive... all that kind of stuff.
I can think of several possibilities..
1. Owner died and estate was auctioned/sold/liquidated instead of being handed down (very sad)
2. Owner needed cash and sold (sad, but it happens, unfortunately)
3. Theft (angering)
4. Owner Got tired of the hobby (booooo)
Really, this is just some rambling thoughts; I don't really have a point here but thought this might be an interesting discussion starter. Forgive me if this conversation has already taken place.
Maybe you have some interesting stories on how you came across your albums?
~ CK
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1374 Posts |
You are right, I wouldn't be surprised if those Ikes came out of that Dansco! Very hard to sell a completed set!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3486 Posts |
THIS owner needed cash, so he sold several collections with which he no longer had an interest.
He THEN used some of this cash to buy the coins which he really wanted.
Sometimes several circles must be sacrificed to feed the empty holes in a favorite circle (or two, or three or more).
Beyond the numismatic. Beyond the intrinsic and historical value. There is a romance to coins which should be kept alive.
CelticKnot, I suspect, values the romantic.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1510 Posts |
I wish I could find a used dansco--there all new here
or they sold the collection and the dealer broke it up and sold them individially
Retired USAF 1983-2003
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3486 Posts |
I have a Dansco for the Walkers. Someone out there should be looking for a bargain. What do they run new?
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Moderator
 United States
188503 Posts |
You are obligated to rebuild the album, especially since it is an Eisenhower dollar album.  I expect to see photos by the end to the week.  This rather depressing. I really hope that my descendants will carry on my work when I am gone; or at the very least, appreciate them for what they really are. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Used Albums and Folders are very common. Many dealers I know purchase Albums and Folders full or partially full of coins. This comes from people that had them as kids and just want to get rid of them. Some are from a family where a collector passes away. Some are actually from robberies. The dealer takes all the coins out of them and puts them in either 2x2's or 1-1/2's for individual sales at coin shows or a coin store. In most instances those dealers just throw them in the garbage. Some attemtp to resell them at their stores if they have one.
In the past I've asked many delaers at coin shows if they would mind bringing some to me at the next show. If a repeat dealer at that show, might just do that and usually free. One dealer I have been getting many from now opened a store so used Albums are being sold there. At a coin show last Sunday he gave me about 30 or more Whitman Folders. He said he gets about that many every Month. I give these to local schools so if kids want them, they are free.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1211 Posts |
My dad and I bought our type set Dansco at a local coin show for 5 bucks.
The thing is used, but my no means has it been abused. Its in good solid shape, just lonely without any coins.
We are slowly bringing it back to life.
It does smell like my grandparents house though, so I assume its previous owner was older. Or lived in a humid climate, or was a smoker. Ha, who knows, but I often wonder who owned it before us.
That book filled with its new coins could definetely tell some cool stories.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1510 Posts |
thats funny carl I went to a show here and asked about used books and everyone said --no
Retired USAF 1983-2003
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1590 Posts |
We have this problem right now in my family.
My 4th Great Grandfather was Harutyun Vardaniants; was Treasure to the Shaw of Iran in the late 18th Century. He began a coin collection that is currently with my Uncle. Each Generation added to it; albeit minimally to the present day. My Grandfather and Uncle both greatly increased the depth and width of the collection.
And now my Uncle faces a quandry. His son's are already trying to find the best way to dispose of the collection and divide the proceeds between them. My Uncle found this out when a dealer/broker he knows was approached with an inventory of the collection and asked to give an opinion on value and the best venue for selling it; by my Uncles youngest son.
My Uncle was very moved, almost shaken. He loves his sons very much and feels that they deserve "the Patrimony" (never mind that it went sideways through an only daughter at one point....). And as the collection has a rather substantial value that forms a considerable part of his estate he does not feel that he can just give it to the only member of the family that actually cares about coins.
Lol, just the thought of my Uncle alienating that part of the estate to me was enough to make them promise to at least hold on to the "Ancient" part of the collection. But my cousins wife is already looking at some prime real estate to purchase.....and my poor Uncle is still with us!
Knowing that they are going to sell his collection has led him to give out modern proof and commem's to his grandchildren directly as gifts!
And that is one way that Dansco's end up in the trash or being recycled...
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Replies: 9 / Views: 1,370 |
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Posted 10/16/2012 08:57 am
