Ok, so after threads like "where did your coin collecting start" I've been trying to place my birth moment. I knew it was something but just couldn't place it. Then a few nights ago it hit me like a ton of bricks. It was when I was a kid, I saw a movie where a bum was given a lousy penny and the penny turned out to be worth a lot more than 1 cent. Thus, my ccf friends was THE birth of my coin collecting passion. It may have come 20+ years later but THIS was the start to my interest in coins. Like a seed was planted all those years ago and has now arisen to a mighty oak. Anyway, here it is, it was the weird AL movie UHF... this Epiphany was like a recessed memory jumping to the front of my cerebral cortex!
Here's a summation of the scene...
in a final twist of fate, a homeless man whom Fletcher had earlier attempted to insult with a donation of a single penny approaches George, Harvey, and the increasingly impatient gangster. The bum, an avid numismatist, explains that Fletcher's donation was in fact a 1955 "double-die" penny - an anomaly worth a fortune. Well, a small fortune, anyway. Even after buying a Rolex watch, he has enough left over to buy "a whole buncha shares": specifically, $2,000 worth. To Fletcher's great dismay, George pays off the gangster, Harvey signs over the station, and the Telethon tally board ticks up to $75,000, spraying a fountain of celebratory fireworks into the sky. The crowd erupts in triumphant applause, and a bawling Fletcher sadly accepts a consoling hug from the bum.
***looks like I have to buy a 55 double die. I'm afraid it's a must have for me now!
Very interesting and a movie I have not seen. Checking IMDB, it has the following listed as a "goof:"
The Bum told Fletcher that the penny he gave him was a 1955 doubled-die Denver mint penny. However the 1955 doubled-die cent was made in Philadelphia, not in Denver.
Ya, I loved this movie growing up. Just never put 2 & 2 together on it being the birth of my coin appreciation until recently. I've never had a recessed memory jump like this before. It's crazy!
My favorite quote from the move has always been (in mexican accent) "Badgers!? Badgers!?... we don't need no stinking badgers" or on the fish wheel scene (in Japanese accent) Oh, Red Snappa, veeery tasty" or (same scene) "let's see what's in the box".. Nothing, absolutely nothing!"
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Posted 09/25/2015 11:07 am
