A Coin Collecting "You're Getting Older" Moment

I now have old man stories about "I bought that coin for $5 and now it's worth $150". Or, going through my stash, finding coins I forgot I had. Also, having kids that enjoy collecting makes me feel good....... and old.

I got back into coin collecting after a 30+ year break. My collection sat under my old bed at my dad's place until a few years ago when he converted it into an office. Then it sat under my bed for another few years collecting dust. As the kids got older, I decided to show them the collection, mostly to educate them on the value of collectable coins and the difference between spendable money. I hope to never become victim of a child's urge to buy ice cream with Franklin half dollars and Mercury dimes. So over the past few months, I've had a few 'you're getting older moments' -

30+ years ago,

- Used to cull out the LWCs and leave the LMCs; still look for the LWCs but also collecting LMC varieties and other nice specimens
- could read date and mint marks readily; need magnification unless I have one of the youngsters collecting with me
- happy I CRHed a lot as a kid; filled many holes in the albums but finding LWCs with mintmarks is a somewhat uncommon event these days
- same is true about Jeffersons, but mintmarks are more readily available
- finding silver dimes, quarters and halves were not 'rare' events

While I have the means to purchase elusive coins, I resist unless the specimen offered is a bargain too good to refuse. I'm very happy I found and filled albums when I did. And while the focus on what is collectable has shifted, the passing years has not diminished my interest or enthusiasm for the hobby.