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 Replies: 12 / Views: 1,265 |
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Valued Member
United States
104 Posts |
At my family's Easter celebration, the topic of gold jewelry, the skyrocketing precious metal prices, and coin collecting came up between my mother, myself, and a newly married-into-the-family relative. Between constructing layers of lasagna, she mentioned in passing that she's got "some gold" somewhere in the family. Turns out, her 80-something year old father was into coin collecting and hoarding AS A CHILD and into young adulthood. "I dunno where they are now. He had pages and pages of coins in some kind of album and lots in those plastic holders," she said. "I think theres a couple barrels of those gold and silver coins around somewhere. Can you pass the ricotta cheese?" BARRELS? How big is a coin barrel?
I tried to get more information out of her but she was concentrating on dinner. After dinner she told me they had one of the coins made into a pendant which she went to get. It was an 1889 half eagle which must have been dern close to uncirculated when it was mounted.
Her attitude was that since she had no intention of selling them, there was no reason to move them from where they are. Despite my best efforts to convince her that her father's coins should be preserved and displayed in some manner other then in a barrel under the stairs in the barn, she seemed uninterested.
I need to come up with another strategy to get her to let me preserve those coins. It just seems like a shame that they should go to waste. Has anyone else been in a similar situation where a coin collection has fallen to someone who just doesn't care?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1173 Posts |
I would council patience. You said that the conversation included a "newly married into the family" relative. Your mother is likely much like my mother-in-law, and prefers to hold her cards close to the vest, especially around "new in-laws." She isn't a coin collector; she is a conservator of family history. Very different mindset!
Try a second conversation in a month or two or twelve...sometime when it is just you and your mom. Maybe show her some of your collection. It is very unlikely she is interested in displaying the coins...there can be lots of reasons beyond "she doesn't care."
Just thank your lucky stars that there's a hoard in your family that you will someday get to see. Most of us on this forum are envious!
Edited by hunter20ga
03/24/2008 11:18 am
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Moderator
 United States
188061 Posts |
Welcome to the Forum, Mike!
Interesting situation. I think my advice is to continue the dialogue with her; don't pressure her, but keep asking questions about the hoard. Eventually, the bug will bite her and she will want to do the right thing. Hopefully, she will then solicit you for assistance!
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Valued Member
United States
336 Posts |
if you got any graded coins.this is a good way to show her what some preserving looks like.there is a draw back it the cost to do it.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
543 Posts |
Just keep trying to convince her.
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Valued Member
United States
255 Posts |
That is amazing. Maybe take her onto teletrade and show her that there is real value in coin preservation. she may be interested in selling a few pieces and using the proceeds to preserve the rest. good luck
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5318 Posts |
Sometimes the best you can offer are subtle hints, and hope they read between the lines and draw their own conclusions. I've found the more helpful I try to be just gets some family entrenched all the more in their ways. Not just coins, but other "great investment" schemes.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1713 Posts |
The "she" you refer to is ambiguous. Is this your mother's hoard or the new family member's hoard?
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New Member
United States
42 Posts |
Sounds to me like she does care, to some degree, about the coin collection, as she has no interest in selling it. Otherwise, she might be eager simply to find and sell it all complete. As you said, you were all in a social situation, and she was concentrating on that (and dinner). Definitely wait a while and talk to her when you guys are alone, as hunter20ga suggested. She'll probably eventually find them and show them to you, especially since you're the most interested. Remember those coins have been sitting in a so-called "Barrel" for a long time now-- even a few months more won't make a big difference. Just have patience.
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Valued Member
 United States
104 Posts |
arthrene - the hoard belongs to my aunt's family. She came into the family a few years ago by marrying my mother's brother (aka uncle).
I think the surroundings made a conversation impossible. She was hosting Easter dinner so I doubt she was committing much thought to the coins. I'll take toniblab's advice and bring her some slabbed coins to show her how they can be preserved. At the least, I'd like to put the best specimens in an album for her and my uncle to enjoy. Maybe that will be my Christmas gift for her this year.
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Moderator
United States
188061 Posts |
quote:
I'd like to put the best specimens in an album for her and my uncle to enjoy. Maybe that will be my Christmas gift for her this year.
Sounds like a good idea to me!  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1173 Posts |
Ah...sorry I misunderstood your original post. Thought you were talking about your mother. Oops. Communication is always so tricky.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6326 Posts |
I could best help you if I was more informed as to the exact proximity of this "barn" compared to where "I" live. And I also need the exact weight and number of these "barrels"......(to see if my pick up truck will be big enough) >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>  ...................  ................... Just kiddin'...heh heh..... But, if I understand that this is your "mother".......then just keep having conversations about it with her and let "your" interest be well known to her ! IT'S YER MOM FOR PETE'S SAKE ! She outta let ya look at em' all and organize them and identify them and catalog them......... get an overall picture of what she has.......even SHE should want to do that ! Edited by eaglefoot
03/24/2008 3:40 pm
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Replies: 12 / Views: 1,265 |
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Posted 03/24/2008 11:23 am
