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 Replies: 9 / Views: 1,362 |
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Valued Member
United States
477 Posts |
As I cruise around the forum looking at all the wonderful pics of coins seeing those of well worn condition makes me think of what a beating coins used to take before the time of paper money, checks, credit cards and paypal.
Most every transaction was done with coins, sliding them across the counter or bar, taking a sack of them to buy your first Model T, or getting a handful of shiny silver on payday. I can imagine the sound of jiggling change was everywhere.
It was a far simpler time back then but I wouldn't trade for it. I like my creature comforts too much.
Rick
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
2781 Posts |
paper money & cheques were around before model T's , but ya, I hear you!
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
A post not to long ago was about all the things people have done to and with coins. An almost fantstic list of stuff.
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Moderator
 United States
188213 Posts |
Quote:
A post not to long ago was about all the things people have done to and with coins. An almost fantstic list of stuff. https://goccf.com/t/49649 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
8516 Posts |
I heard people used to put silver dollars in their cars gas tank but I'm not sure why.
Oregon coin geek.....*** GO BEAVS ! ! ! ***
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Moderator
Australia
16826 Posts |
Quote:
I heard people used to put silver dollars in their cars gas tank but I'm not sure why. It was a form of savings - like a piggy bank, but much harder to break into, forcing you to save until you really, really needed the money. Quoting from this 1950 news article: Quote:
...out West it isn't unusual for a car owner to drop silver dollars in his gas tank as a reserve against the day he trades for another car. Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very"; otherwise, you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite. - C. S. Lewis
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Valued Member
 United States
477 Posts |
Sailors/boat builders used to put silver coins under the main mast. I seem to remember they found a bunch when they were restoring the USS Constitution.
Rick
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Pillar of the Community
United States
950 Posts |
Dang it.. not I have to check the gas tank in my '54.
I found a slip of paper in the dash that had a phone number on it.. it was only like 5 numbers.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
9792 Posts |
Quote:
Most every transaction was done with coins, sliding them across the counter or bar, taking a sack of them to buy your first Model T, or getting a handful of shiny silver on payday. Have you read Dr. Sheldon's "Penny Whimsy" yet? The standard reference on Large Cents? You just about described the first chapter, and one of my favorite reads.  "Buy the Book Before You Buy the Coin" - Aaron R. Feldman - "And read it" - Me 2013! ANA Life Member #3288 in good standing since 1981, ANS, Early American Coppers Member (EAC), Colonial Coin Collectors Club member (C4), Conder Token Collector Club member (CTCC), Civil War Token Society (CWTS) member, Liberty Seated Collectors Club (LSCC) & Numismatic Bibliomania Society member (NBS), USMex, Member in good standing, 2¢ variety collector. See my want page: http://goccf.com/t/140440 |
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Valued Member
United States
477 Posts |
Nope west, never heard of it. As a matter of fact is was only a couple of months ago I learned there is a large cent. I will keep an eye out for it as I am absorbing this coin stuff like a sponge.
Just last night I was holding a Barber half that has just about retuned to planchet state. I was thinking about where all it's been, how many times it's changed hands and for what purpose and if anybody famous had owned it. Of course that's impossible to ever know but each and every one of the zillions of circulated coins has it's own life's story.
Some could have been in the pockets of the lucky ones from Titanic, some could have been in the pockets of air crews over Germany or Japan. Some could have been lost at an early age only to be rescued decades later, some sat in piggy banks or cookie jars for decades but most spent their live's doing what they were made to do, circulating through vending machines, parking meters, bank coin counters or just in and out of cash registers, pockets or purses.
Then at some point somebody gets hold of the coin and it ends up in a collection where it will live a pampered life forever without any further degradation for all to admire and appreciate.
Rick
Edited by shootnstarz
08/17/2013 11:23 am
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Replies: 9 / Views: 1,362 |
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Posted 08/15/2013 11:18 am
