Inspiration Lost

I find those that brag feel like they have the most to lose.

Right now we cannot afford to purchase the high end stuff (who am I kidding, my budget is $50 / month and right now I am not spending) but I know that I can post in CCF and always get a wink, some info or, if I totally blew it, a sympathy pat on the back. (Of if SteveX is on the thread, total and unabashed harassment because he knows I will come back for more ).

I have no experience with that particular club but if that is the case, I bet it is a cyclical thing. You can always glean bits of info from lurking.

Just focus on what you have, CCF is a great home base. Plus enjoy YOUR type-set and other treasures you have gathered.

It's not cleaning, it's "conserving".

Personally, I'm not too happy with the recent election results ... Do I then give up my citizenship, move to Australia? Heck, no! Just change gears, adapt, and focus on other interests.

Having collected coins for over fifty years now, there were lapses in my interest, the reasons varying, the absence sometimes lasting years. Yet, I would eventually gravitate back. This hobby has been a joy. The CCF has many kindly and helpful folks therein, yet there have been some very unkind exchanges posted at times. Nothing is perfect, and who among us is all that perfect? Whether it's a coin or an attitude, we all need to let go and move on at times. Personally, I'm happy for anyone who makes a great find, including Mr. Snow.

We can all learn a lesson here from Mr. Snow. I've never met him, but from what I've read, he's long been immersed in study and writing about coins. Serious collectors, students of this great hobby, those who buy books and participate in clubs and forums, network, have a far better chance of making great finds than those who simply accumulate coins and plug holes.

I don't think there is anyone on the forum that hasn't been where you are now if they have been collecting any length of time at all. Life can change your interests many times throughout life but I feel a collector has something special inside them about what they find appealing and beautiful that they like to collect. Even if life changes their feelings, if they live long enough one day they will think about those times when they really enjoyed collecting what ever it was and will start back up. I have not seen the before or even the after pictures of this coin but there is a difference between conserving and cleaning a coin. There have been many coins conserved properly that added value to the coin, there have been many that were cleaned harshly that ruined all value also. I do not know Rick personally but we all know the name even if we aren't into the series he is known for. He has the knowledge it takes to make those huge finds and just because he is a dealer that specializes in one series doesn't make him not a collector at heart. Most good dealers have a passion for coins and that is why they try to make a business out of it. Its something they love and I have always heard that if you love your job you will never have a bad day at work. I myself have been the recipient of a HUGE find (even though I didn't know what it was when it was purchased) that turned out to be worth multiples of what was paid for it so I know how exciting it can be and how much you want to share the information with fellow collectors that have the same interest. Not only to get a way to go from them but also to let them know they are still finds out there and they too can find them if they know what to look for. I am sure some think of it as bragging and it may make them even a little jealous but I am not one of those people, I am just happy for them and also glad they thought enough of us to share their finds with us. I know if I would have found a special coin I would have posted it for all of the friends that share the same interest to see. Not only because I am happy but also because there is no one else I can share this type of information with that would ever understand the significance of the find. We all share the love of coins and I think sooner or later someone is going to realize what every coin is and what its worth. Sometimes it seems the coins choose who it reveals its secrets to and when so we just have to wait for that time one reveals itself to us and we can share the feeling of being the one who has found a significant coin

It took me awhile to post that last post because my mind was racing with things to say and they were all jumbled up in the post so I had to read and re-read it a few times to try and have it make sense. After I posted I saw SmallEagle had posted in this time and he said


The coin I am talking about that was a HUGE find for me was on ebay in someones ebay store for months without being purchased. The seller had huge clear pictures of the coin and once it was identified as what it was you could clearly see what the coin actually was by those pictures. Myself and another moderator had even spoke to each other about this very coin at a time when neither of us could afford to purchase it but both were very interested in it as it was a series we both shared interest in. It ended a couple times on ebay without a buyer but was always on my mind and I found out the seller also had a website where he sold coins. I was looking at the coin on his website and a friend who did have the money purchased the coin for me, all the time with me thinking it was something else as I am sure all the other VAM collectors besides this other Moderator and myself did when it was on ebay all that time. That is why I said I think sometimes its the coin that chooses us instead of us choosing the coins. There can be many that is interested in that series looking at the coin and still not be able to really see what it actually is until its to late.

Quote:
It's not cleaning, it's "conserving".



Haha exactly !
Ive now gone through all my 1888's looking for the holy grail...

Knowledge is power.

In this case, his knowledge was his gain.

In terms of cleaning v. conserving, I am with others here....that is an ethics question.