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 Replies: 19 / Views: 1,141 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1291 Posts |
Hello all! Long time no been here! (Yes, I know that's ungood grammar!)
I'm hoping that one of you can direct me to a web address or just give me a suggestion pertaining to where I can find a photo showing coins for sale in a sort of retro display case that was in vogue in the 1960's, when I first started collecting. You probably have to be at least 60 years old to have any chance of helping me with this.
My local Sears store back then in Maple Hts., Ohio, had one of these things. Yep...Sears sold coins back then. Other places did, too, but it was the one in Sears that I remember best.
The individual coins were in some sort of "holders", whether that be a 2x2 or something similar, and all these coins were arranged on glassed-in panels that were hinged to a central post of some sort.
Think of it like this: Have you ever been to a diner (like Big Boy) or maybe a bar that had a coin operated music "chooser" attached to the wall right at your table/booth? Not a jukebox...just a contraption with a long list of songs, a slot to insert coins and a bunch of pushbuttons along the bottom? If so, then you know that the songs (and their associated pushbutton numbers) were arranged on little, hinged panels/pages/sheets/leaves that you could flip back and forth while you searched for your favorite songs. That's kind of what the coin display in Sears looked like...just bigger (and with no push buttons) and sitting right on top of a counter.
The coins were all marked with a price and there was no haggling over it because you were at Sears, not a coin store. If you opted to buy a specific coin the nice lady behind the counter had get it out of there for you...maybe with a key or some other sleight of hand...I'm not exactly sure, I just know you couldn't get the coin out yourself and walk it over to the cash register.
Anyway, after that long-winded description...I can't seem to find a photo of that display (or similar) on the internet, although I'd be surprised if there isn't one out there somewhere. If anyone could point me in the right direction I'd sure appreciate it!
Thanks in advance!
(And if anyone wants to hear me ramble on about this some more, ask me WHY I'm trying so hard to find this.)
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Moderator
 United States
164145 Posts |
 back to the Community! I do remember coins being sold at a Sears back in the 1980s. It was actually a sublet area in the store, so this was not Sears selling the coins. I bought my first roof Ike dollars there.  As to what you are describing, I am unfamiliar with it. I am 55, so maybe just before my time.  I hope someone will be able to help though.
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Moderator
United States
54171 Posts |
My close friend had a coin store with one of these in it.  Show your financial support of the Coin Community Family (click here)See my topic on Mexican Numismatic Medals (click here) |
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Moderator
United States
54171 Posts |
Show your financial support of the Coin Community Family (click here)See my topic on Mexican Numismatic Medals (click here) |
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Moderator
United States
164145 Posts |
I remember those, usually in the jewelry section. But I do not think that is what is being sought here? I am re-reading to better visualize the item.  |
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Valued Member
United States
238 Posts |
We had a local antique (flea market type) store with one of those. Had a lot of over priced coins in it.
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Moderator
United States
71929 Posts |
nice one @nss! I remember that case - with the 2 buttons to make it rotate forward or reverse..  |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
1291 Posts |
Yeah...I sort of remember those cases where the shelves moved up and down. But the ones I'm looking for weren't quite that fancy, and the pages (which is a better choice of words than my original "panels") swayed left and right.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5751 Posts |
The only LCS in my area has one.
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Moderator
United States
164145 Posts |
This is what you are comparing it to, right?  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1291 Posts |
Yessir!! Now just use your imagination to eliminate the two rows of buttons along the bottom, the glass bubble and the coin slot on the top. Then use your imagination to make those pages (or leaves) each about two feet tall and 16 inches deep and loaded up with coins instead of song titles and you've got it. (I have to admit that looking at it and NOT using my imagination makes me hungry for a burger and fries!!)
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Valued Member
United States
359 Posts |
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Moderator
United States
164145 Posts |
Quote:
Now just use your imagination... Working on it...  Quote:
I have to admit that looking at it and NOT using my imagination makes me hungry for a burger and fries!! I thought I was the only one. 
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1291 Posts |
@FreeSpeech57: About 6 months ago my daughter enrolled me in something called "StoryWorth". Their tagline is "Everyone has a story worth sharing". Basically, every Monday for a whole year, I receive an emailed question asking me about...stuff...I have experienced in my life. My earliest childhood memory, how I met my wife, what my parents were like, the stupidest thing I ever did, how did I get my first job, the first major news story I remember living through...etc. My answers - and associated photos I can come up with in relation to these questions - get emailed back to her, my wife and son and a few others - and also get compiled into a sort of "book" that can be saved with family heirlooms or used as kindling or whatever. This week's question was - "What store did you love to go to as a child?" - and the answer is "Sears" and the reason was because they had coins I could buy for my collection...which I began in 1964. I was hoping to add a photo of the display/rack/whatever this thing was called to my response to the question.
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Moderator
United States
164145 Posts |
A wonderful story!  I am still looking... |
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Moderator
United States
164145 Posts |
I have been looking off-and-on all day, I cannot find an image out there. Maybe after some rest I can craft a better search string. |
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Replies: 19 / Views: 1,141 |
Posted 02/11/2025 1:51 pm
