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 Replies: 26 / Views: 5,192 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1302 Posts |
I probably always had the collector gene, but it was my grandmother's coin collection and specifically her shiny proof modern commemoratives that hooked me into a lifetime of learning and collecting. This week for my coinweek.com column, I discuss what it was like to appraise her collection for her estate, what I learned about her as a collector, what she did right and wrong, and how her collection compares to most collections and how she compares to most collectors. It's worth the effort to read through the piece as her wins and losses could very likely be the same as any of ours. http://www.coinweek.com/commentary/...-collection/As always, I welcome comments and discussion and will answer any questions. Charles Edited by cc99999
09/30/2013 11:45 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
652 Posts |
Thanks for posting a very interesting article.
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Moderator
 United States
14463 Posts |
nice article.  I hope my collection does a little better when I probably leave it to a nephew. My grandmother had coins stuck somewhere at her house, but no one has been able to find them after her passing. Either they were hidden very well, or my cousin found them years ago and cashed them in.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
899 Posts |
Thanks Charles... very nice article. Your grandmother was also a very pretty lady!
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Pillar of the Community
2087 Posts |
 interesting article indeed. We all read the stories about the great collections......but this story is about the usual collections |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4085 Posts |
Great article, really enjoyed reading it. I think that what you saw with your grandmother's collection is pretty typical of what relatives find and what we see posted here - i.e., not a gold mine. However, the fact that she enjoyed it and passed down a love of collecting is what really matters.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
919 Posts |
Great read. I hope when people/relatives look back at what I collected they also take the joy I got from collecting into account (not just the % gain). Most of the money I spend on coins is entertainment money. Money that would have paid for season tickets or extra dinners out. Most likely they will say why did one person need so many Walking Liberty halves. |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
1302 Posts |
I love all the individual stories you guys are sharing. that's really what collecting in the larger sense is all about!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
608 Posts |
Very interesting and enjoyable, thanks for sharing.
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Rest in Peace
United States
10625 Posts |
Very nice article Charles. It was my grandmother that planted the spark in me to become a collector, also. That first Peace dollar she gave me was all it took. |
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Moderator
United States
187702 Posts |
Quote:
It has sentimental value, yes, and it also stands as an important part of my family's story. But it's also important to the hobby.
Because without collections like it and collectors like my grandmother who put them together, most of us wouldn't be collectors ourselves. They may not drive markets but someone, somewhere, showed us that first coin. That first, magical coin. Yes, yes, yes. I certainly hope someone in your family is able to take this and continue. This is what I hope for mine, since it is hardly a "make them rich" collection. Also, I will admit to owing three Prestige Proof Sets (all three were gifts from my mom, priceless in their own way).  |
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Valued Member
United States
306 Posts |
Thank you! Great article. Reminds me of my Grandmother's collection. She often bought off of late night TV (QVC or HSN)  ....sprinkled with a few Mercs, buffs and wheats kept in a jewelery cabinet and dresser drawer. Thank you for sharing! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3453 Posts |
Excellent article. Your description of your aunts and uncles sorting through coins at the behest of your grandparents reminds me of when I did that with my dad. When my son was younger, we did that as well. Now he just watches me asking how much we can spend (tweenagers!).
Yes, that first coin is magical. Thank you for sharing such a personal story.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1817 Posts |
Great read, Charles. What I'd like to know if you would consider this a hoard because a collection usually is formed by careful consideration of purchases one coin at a time with an eye towards completion of a set or quality, after some research, whereas your grandmother collected based on appealed to her, either the coin's appearance or packaging state. She started buying modern coins at a time when classic gold was legal to own again (& cheap) and many, many rare classic coins were fractions of what they cost today. It's interesting how she knew of the RedBook, but did not use the contents to her advantage. It's a good wake up call to every collector to catalog what they have for their heirs. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1302 Posts |
My grandmother had one gold coin, the 1984 ten proof that was part of the gold and silver olympic set. They didn't make enough money to buy gold with any consistency, so I think she just avoided it. she did appear to buy some circulated Barber quarters and halves from mail order companies, but the majority of her collection was built with the type of material a collector new to the hobby would create. she followed what the mint offered and what was possible. she had many commemoratives of the modern period, but amazingly didn't have any of the scarcer ones- I find that amazing and curious. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2189 Posts |
Very nice article. thanks for sharing.
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Replies: 26 / Views: 5,192 |
Posted 09/30/2013 12:50 pm
