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 Replies: 16 / Views: 1,385 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2200 Posts |
  I bought this set when I first began collecting as a young teenager back in the early 1970s. I hadn't thought about it in years until I saw an ad for a similar set on the Internet today. I looked in my "good coins" box and sure enough, I still had it. It has a 1943 WL half, a 1927 SLQ, a 1942-D Merc, a 1935-S Buffalo, and a 1907 IHC. As I recall, it was marketed as an "obsolete" design collection. I had never seen anything so magical before--all these wonderful old designs in one place! It's history! I was particularly enamored with the fact that all three mints were represented. Living in New Jersey, we almost never found "S" coins in circulation. To have an "S" on an obsolete design was beyond my wildest dreams. (Looking at it now, I was wondering why it's called a "mint set" instead of a type set. I think it's because of the three mints being represented.) I believe it cost around $6.95. Not cheap for a young kid with no income save my allowance, but still affordable. I remember the feeling of pride when it arrived in the mail. Anyway, this modest collection helped fuel my interest in type coins which eventually evolved into owning an almost-complete 7070. Just wanted to share.  *** Moved by Staff to a more appropriate forum. *** Edited by jpsned
06/14/2023 5:55 pm
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Bedrock of the Community
 United States
24906 Posts |
Wonderful story, jpsned! Thank you for sharing it (and pictures of your "mint" set) with us. This is one of the first two coins I bought - at around the same age and time as you. IIRC, it set me back $5 at our school's "Winter Carnival Fundraiser Flea Market". I was just amazed that there was a coin over 100 years old, and it could be mine!   Inordinately fascinated by bits of metal with strange markings and figures
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5820 Posts |
 This was the first coin that got me started while working in my parent restaurant 40 years ago, found in a penny roll. In a NGC holder grade MS-64BN. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3634 Posts |
Very nice story, jpsned! This does bring back a lot of memories of some of my first coin purchases back in the late '60's or early '70's. In those days I mowed a few of our neighbors' yards for about $2 each, and I'd occasionally splurge and buy a few coins from ads in Coinage magazine. I still remember the anticipation of checking the mail each day, the disappointment when nothing was there for me, and then the excitement when they finally arrived!
When I started collecting we were living in Charleston, S.C., so as with you finding any "S" mint coin was really something special.
Member of SPMC, FCCB, ANA and ANS. My U.S. Classic Commemorative Complete Set: https://www.NGCcoin.com/registry/co...sets/278741/My U.S. Fractional Note Set: https://notes.www.collectors-societ...eSetID=34188 |
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Moderator
United States
94728 Posts |
pretty nice set, thanks for the story to go with tit.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4233 Posts |
Still having the coins you bought as a kid in the early 70s is fun, isn't it? I'm in the same demographic and still have everything I ever bought (which wasn't a lot on my lawn mowing income). Your set is interesting in that for the early 70s, they're all the most recent obsolete coin except the half dollar. It's funny what you said about the S mint mark - even living in the Chicago area anything with an S was automatically considered more valuable.
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Moderator
United States
15386 Posts |
Fun trip down memory lane - thanks for sharing.  |
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Moderator
United States
56855 Posts |
Nice set and nice story. You might want to write that info down and keep it with the set for future generations. John1  |
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Moderator
United States
187582 Posts |
Very nice! I remember seeing these sets advertised in the coin magazines way back when. |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
2200 Posts |
Thanks for the kind words, everyone. I'm happy to have shared this with you. I think I bought this from an ad in Numismatic News (when it was still a newspaper). |
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Moderator
United States
187582 Posts |
Quote:I think I bought this from an ad in Numismatic News (when it was still a newspaper). The good ole days!  As much as I love the digital age (CCF, FTW!), I do miss the old printed coin magazines and papers; sitting outside on a cool evening thumbing through them. Just not the same with a smartphone or tablet (Or in my case, a phablet). |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2233 Posts |
Man, if only that 1927 quarter was an S.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2200 Posts |
Quote:
Man, if only that 1927 quarter was an S. I'm sure that thought crossed my mind when I received the set... |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3634 Posts |
Quote:
As much as I love the digital age (CCF, FTW!), I do miss the old printed coin magazines and papers @jbuck, for all my magazine subscriptions and one newspaper I still get print versions if they're available. While I do buy most of my novels in digital format, I really don't like reading magazines or books which have a lot of illustrations or photos that way. At some point, if I live long enough, I know I won't have any choice but to switch over. However, as long as print subscriptions are offered I'll be getting those... Member of SPMC, FCCB, ANA and ANS. My U.S. Classic Commemorative Complete Set: https://www.NGCcoin.com/registry/co...sets/278741/My U.S. Fractional Note Set: https://notes.www.collectors-societ...eSetID=34188 |
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Moderator
United States
187582 Posts |
I have not bought a real magazine in... years.  However, I have never bought an eBook. I even dislike audio-books! Real books... that might just be the last hill I defend.  |
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Replies: 16 / Views: 1,385 |
Posted 06/14/2023 6:39 pm
