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 Replies: 34 / Views: 3,621 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
756 Posts |
i thought this would be a fun topic. I searched and didnt find anything similar. what got you started in the hobby? if you dont have pictures id still like to hear the stories. here is mine: im lucky enough to still have the first coin I purchased. when I was 8 years old I bought this for $1. I got it at a jewelery shop that was a five minute walk from my parents house.   |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7613 Posts |
In the early 1960's my uncle was going thru bags and rolls of coins looking for better dates. The small date cents and Buffalo nickels were popular. I was a 10 year old kid and I showed interest. One Friday afternoon he called and wanted to know if I wanted to help him go thru a bag of nickels he got at a bank in Princeton, Texas. So I rode my bike over to my Aunt and Uncles house, sat down at the kitchen table and started the search. Of all the stuff we found included was a gorgeous 1939-D Jefferson in AU/BU condition that I found in one of the rolls. My uncle 2x2'd it! About 10 years ago I was visiting my very elderly uncle and we got to talking about that coin. I asked him if he remembered it. His answer was "remember it? I've still got it!" I told him I wanted it as it was the coin that got me hooked. He said he'd find it and get it to me. A few weeks later he called me to come and get the coin. I now have it safely framed and in my office. Unfortunately, my uncle passed away a couple of years later. I am so glad I was able to get that coin that got me started! |
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Moderator
 United States
187544 Posts |
I really have no idea what my very first purchase was. Probably some wheat cents on approval from Littleton in the early 1980s.  How about the first purchase that I photographed after I bought it.  1931-S Lincoln CentThese are the photos I posted way back in 2009...   This is a combo shot of those images that I adjusted and combined later...  |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
756 Posts |
@westernsky - I like the idea of framing it. I might have to to that with my coin. I'm glad you got to get your coin from your uncle. I bet that made his day!
@jbuck - sweet. that last image set looks great. its crazy how far coin photography has come in the last 10-15 years. it used to require a ton of specialized equipment. today many people have amazing cameras attached to their phones.
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Valued Member
United States
282 Posts |
My first purchase, (that is long gone) was a 1864 2 cent piece. Was always highly interested in the Civil War and WW2, so became my first purchase with my hard earned paper route money.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
756 Posts |
i love the odd denomination coins. I like to buy them holed with clear date and denomination. I put them on my keychain and then give them to non collectors I meet out and about. ive started a couple collectors, bought a couple inherited collections, and been bought a fair number of beers. its a fun experience. |
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Moderator
United States
187544 Posts |
Quote:
@jbuck - sweet. that last image set looks great. Thanks. Not bad considering it was an old Kodak point-and-shoot with a whopping 1GB memory card (huge for the time). Quote:
its crazy how far coin photography has come in the last 10-15 years. It is. The aforementioned P&S camera was barely 3MP, my current phone has 108MP; it also has a macro lens, so less cropping. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
24886 Posts |
This was either my first or second - the other being an 1839 Booby Head large cent. Still have both 50 years later, but not pics of the cent (yet).   Inordinately fascinated by bits of metal with strange markings and figures
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Moderator
United States
187544 Posts |
Very nice!  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
756 Posts |
thats a nice looking civil war token. I can see why you saved it all this time!
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
24886 Posts |
Thank you, jbuck and Carr! Both of you are always so supportive and positive - you really make Coin Community feel like Family! I dug out my 1839 large cent. My 9 year old self bought this ~ '71 sight unseen from an ad in Coin World or something similar. Mainly based on the name but I wanted a really old US coin that I could afford on my saved allowance ($9?). It's nothing special from a numismatic standpoint, but it has great sentimental value to me.   Inordinately fascinated by bits of metal with strange markings and figures
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Pillar of the Community
United States
756 Posts |
1839 is a great year. that was the year baseball was invented! it also marks the end of an era. the coins become almost entirely hubbed and much more uniform after that year. basically the only difference after 1839 is date placement, tool marks, die clashes and cracks.
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Bedrock of the Community
United Kingdom
17879 Posts |
I think someone started a similar topic not long ago, but it got hijacked with people posting coins they were given as presents or found in change! I started collecting coins from change as a schoolkid shortly before the UK converted to decimal currency. A coin shop opened in my home town and the dealer used to have a number of very cheap trays. On my first visit there I spent some of my pocket money on several coins, including a 1797 Cartwheel penny and an 1897 shilling that I have subsequently upgraded. However this 1697 William III sixpence is a survivor from that first visit to the coin shop!  |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
24886 Posts |
Nice one, NumisRob! The very first notable coin I "acquired" was this 1923 "Bon pour 50 centimes" from my parent's penny jar back in the '60s. Yes, I still have it!  Inordinately fascinated by bits of metal with strange markings and figures
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Pillar of the Community
United States
756 Posts |
its amazing to me how casually ancient things are on the other side of the water. my city was settled in the 1830s. most of my coin collection is older than the city I live in. i remember my first Half Cent. I dont have pictures or the coin any more. I bought an 1804 Half Cent from a dealers cull box. I had heard that the 1804 dollar was rare. and that the 1804 cent was rare. id never even heard of a Half Cent. I was convinced I had made it! I was rich! I went around and told everyone who would listen about my great score. I still chuckle thinking about kid me running around bragging about cherrypicking a common variety 1804 Half Cent from Chis Young (a very successful variety guy). |
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Moderator
United States
187544 Posts |
Quote:I dug out my 1839 large cent. My 9 year old self bought this ~ '71 sight unseen from an ad in Coin World or something similar. Mainly based on the name but I wanted a really old US coin that I could afford on my saved allowance ($9?). It's nothing special from a numismatic standpoint, but it has great sentimental value to me. Outstanding! I love the sentimental coins.   |
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Replies: 34 / Views: 3,621 |
Posted 10/27/2022 5:08 pm
