So I was going through my pocket change today as I always do, looking for coins worth saving. Oh, a 2009 Puerto Rico Territorial Quarter! Don't see those too often. Then a 1958-D wheatie. It's a good day!
As I headed off to put the 58-D in the ziplock bag in the drawer where I keep all my common wheats, it struck me that if this had been a 59 instead, it would have been a whole different procedure. It would have gone with the 73-D and 79 I found. The procedure for copper is that I put them in a tube by the computer until I get 50 of them - then I roll them and put them down in the basement.
The Zincolns go into the spare change bin - unless it's an 82 of course. Those have to be weighed - but only after I guess zinc or copper (I have gotten pretty good at this actually).
So you have special coins, sort of special coins and junk. And I wonder why my wife looks at me funny sometimes and my kids make fun of me, saying "Coin...COIN!" Like the mummy from the Scooby Doo cartoon:
All hobies are similar in that regardless of the hobby, people tend to treat their hobby items as if made of Gold. Think of the people that collect cars. There are car shows, used car lots, new car stores, zillions of places that sell parts for cars. And just look out the window at the people washing, waxing, vacuuming out those things. Peeple spend a fortune on maintenance and upkeep for a pile of plastic and metal called a car. You see people treating a pool cue stick as if made of Platinum. And what about those that collect cans, bottles, rocks, etc. And all treat each item as if it was the only one. So why not coins?
Sure. But as just carl says, aren't all hobbyists? When I think of the hours I spend on the internet looking for coins and studying tiny little differences between them. I even have books about coins and catalogues of sales of coins to refer to.
And of course, I can't pick things out of change (well, not the ones I collect, though I do have a few drawers of currency coins I've spotted that are in better condition and I've put aside) I actually have to buy my coins ... and they aren't particularly cheap. And when I do, there's the ritual of writing out a ticket for it. And if it's one of the nicer ones it gets a different felt cushion to the 'regular' coins, which has to be cut out before the coin can sit in it's little space in my trays ..!
I stack change coins very specifically on the night stand. Quarters, Dimes, Nickels and the cents go into the 80 year old pickle jar. I will closely search every coin before rolling them for the bank, saving anything that may be of interest to research again later on. Once the pickle jar is about half full then those are sorted, copper, zincs and error/varieties. I try to not look at any cents when I put them in the jar so it's more of a surprise when I go to search them later. My wife almost "threw out" a very significant broad strike because as she said it was defective and therefore was not important, AAAAAARRRRRGGGGGGHHHHHH !!!
I definitely have a collector streak in me. I very much enjoy the whole process of obtaining and organizing. Maybe it is something inherent in the human race - as Carl said, if you can think of it, someone probably collects it.
Quote: I hear you can tell apart zinc and copper cents by taste.
If you should really consider that, here is something to think about. How many people pick their noses, then handle coins. How many people go to a washroom and don't wash their hands and handle those coins. How many people do all sorts of stuff with their hands, don't wash and then handle their coins. Ever wonder about someone with a deadly illness that handles their coins and then passes them off in change?
Quote: Ever wonder about someone with a deadly illness that handles their coins and then passes them off in change?
Well, my mother often says that about my 17th and 18th century coins. "They could have plague on them!" I don't think I've ever got sick from touching any coins, though (even those corroded zinc ones from the 1940s). But then, I probably wouldn't dare to lick any, either.
@Carl interesting true facts but thats why they they tell small kids money is dirty. Thats why I constantly wash my hands especially when I fool with coins. @ram96 I'm a nut and organizer as well. I have a shelf with 60 nice size bins full of nuts and bolts,screws,washers,etc. separated with metic and standard size quages to tell the difference. I rarely run to the hardware store for any of that!
HAHAHAHA....I'll have to show you my basement if you come over again! It's mostly "junk", rolls and bags of stuff I collect from change and from searching boxes. I really need to unload some it! Come over and buy it from me!
I too am a "nut" as you put it. I sort all of my pocket change. Sometimes when a teller gives me change I do not have the patience to wait so I will quickly search the dates. I do sometimes get looks from the cashier like "I know how to count! I gave you the right change!" I have even had a few say something like that. I quickly let them know that I collect coins.
I personally don't keep the 82 cents even if they're copper only because if I was to later sell my copper pennies, they would only be questioned by the potential buyer. That's just me though. I think like that.
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Posted 05/25/2013 8:05 pm
