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 Replies: 12 / Views: 1,098 |
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Valued Member
United States
58 Posts |
(my apologies if this topic has already been covered) I've always said I've been collecting since I was 10 years old but could never pinpoint what triggered it. For some reason I was thinking about it again today and it finally hit me. The US bi-centennial coins. They first started coming out in 1975 when I was 10 years old. They were the first US coin re-designs in 37 years and it would be seven more years before the mint began striking commemoratives again so this was pretty big. All the repressed memories came flooding back... buying my first coin magazine... reading about how there would be no 1975 dated quarters, halves and dollars... What was really captivating is that these were circulating coins. Nowdays most everything new put out by the mint is just, well... *sigh*, marketing. Of course I collect the State Quarters because, again, they're circulating coins, but I never buy any proof sets or commems from the mint anymore. So, what got you hooked on coins? |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5362 Posts |
I think most of us can point to a few incidents in our past that got us interested in coins. Perhaps my earliest memory of a coin comes from second grade (1953 or 1954) in Miss Reed's class (or was it Miss Blake). Anyway, I won the monthly prize for having the best marks in class and the prize was 25 cents. My teacher didn't have a quarter so she sent me to the teacher next door to get change for a dollar bill. Well that teacher took out her change and had a very well worn 1894 Barber quarter and three newer ones. I asked her if she would include the old one and she said - "I don't even know if it is still spendable?" But she gave it to me. When I got back to my teacher I asked for the old one. She was surprised but gave it to me. I brought it home and my mother shined it up for me - I think she used silver polish from a bottle. I carried that coin every place I went for over a year. It was my favorite possession. I didn't start collecting coins in earnest for a couple more years. But I have never forgotten that one old quarter. I still have it. |
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Valued Member
 United States
58 Posts |
Oh man, I'm so jealous of all of you who could pull silver from circulation. Nothing but clad since I've been alive.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
773 Posts |
I have kept every coin I have found ,such as wheat
pennys ,Canadian coins,even Mexican coins,since I
was a kid.If they were different I wanted them.I
guess I liked unique.But when I received the ones
passed down to me from my great grandmother,I knew
I wanted to get more involved in this.I like all
kinds of coins,but even more I like the history,and memory behind them.I'm having lots of fun.sn31.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1327 Posts |
As most knwo I started collecting back in 1999 when the State Quarters came out, but all my collecting was getting quarter rolls adn buy thing for the US mint website. It was something My Dad and I did, but he pass away from cancer at the age of 50 about 4 yr ago, After he passaway I stop collecting since it reminded me to much of the fun we had doing it. But 8 0r 9 months ago I coin so I had to get back into it. When I got into it I never knwo how many different coins were made I am hock, Addicted what ever you want to call it. Since I have start I have bought and learned alot about coins. I learn new things daily. so that is how and why I collect |
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Rest in Peace
United States
2884 Posts |
My Grandfather had lots of Indian Head cents and Morgan dollars. I always liked to look at them. What really got me interested though was the actual history of the minting of coins and just plain old history. I always wondered who may of handled the coin before me. I was also lucky enough to live within walking distance of 3 or 4 coin shops, a few that did not mind me hanging around. My father, although not a collector encouraged my hobby and always searched his change for anthing old or unusual and gave them to me. It has been a lifelong hobby for me. Mike  |
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Valued Member
Australia
99 Posts |
Its great reading these posts. I had an interest as a young kid but had very few coins. My grandfather was a collector and I enjoyed looking at his collection and listening to the information he passed along. But it wasnt until 2000 when I was in a post office and saw a millenium commemorative coin I just had to get, which started a frenzy. In the same year an American friend came all the way here to visit and knowing of my new hobby brought some american money over for me as well. Well there started my desire to collect Morgans among other coins.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1703 Posts |
I just recently started collecting coins. I have been buying silver bullion and started seeing older coins also. Once I had my first coin that was over 100 yrs old I was hooked. Just think if these coins could talk, what a story they could tell and what they have been thru, the old west,growing of a nation, Civil War,world wars. I know it sounds strange but just to hold a coin that has been part of our history for 100-150 years is very exciting for me and that these coins are being melted for there silver value,I think is a shame
So I'm collecting as many as I can and when I'm gone my daughter and her children will have something of U.S. history and I hope they keep passing that history on.
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Valued Member
United States
58 Posts |
Mike & TLS, I know exactly what you mean. The designs got me interested but the history behind them, and thinking about all the people whose hands a coin could of passed through got me hooked. My 9-year old daughter is starting to show an interest and I'm trying to get her hooked too. I let her hold the 1853 3¢ silver I just got last week as I was putting it in my album and I said "just think, Abraham Lincoln might've touched that once". You should've seen her face! Like she was in a museum staring at a sarcophagus. Then I gave her my "Twisted Tails" book to read. She really liked the story of Longacre's daughter putting on the Indian headdress and being the inspiration for the Indian cent, and the one about the little girl that spent an 1898-S dime to buy ice cream! Edited by quarterfan
05/06/2006 10:43 pm
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Valued Member
United States
383 Posts |
In 1995 when the doubled die cent came out my dad got me interested by going thru mint sewn bags and such. I started a Lincoln Dansco album in mint state and still have a strong desire for varities. Still working on it 11 years later. Over the past 11 years my dad and I went to mant coin shows togather and spent countless hours talking coins and did you see this auction? or did you read that in Coin World? I'm sure the hobby brought us closer togather then we have ever been in our lives as I was now the only one he knew who enjoyed coins as much as him and he wanted someone around who would understand the value of his collection. Well he passed suddenly last summer and I inherited his collection. Some of what he had has sentimental value to me and I will always hold onto other things I am learning about and either keeping or selling off. At least by getting me involved in the hobby he laid the groundwork for my mom not to be taken advantage of. Joe |
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Valued Member
United States
194 Posts |
In my case a realative passed away leaving a minor coin collection to my mom, who didn't want them and passed them on to me. It was a lot of fun figuring out what was what and why a particular coin was saved. Now I am hooked for life.
Swamperbob, great story, what a great memory to have.
Enjoying everyone's beginnings!
Margaret
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
1295 Posts |
What got me started was walking past a jeweller and seeing a nice silver proof coin in the window dated the same year of my sons birth. I had no idea that these things existed and I was taken by the mirror like fields and the frosted detail of the coin. I started accumulating proofs, mint sets etc from the year my sons birth with half a mind of giving them to him when he hits 21. I've since become interested in collecting other things for my own interest.
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Member
United States
1154 Posts |
My dad told me he had some silver certificates. I kept asking him where they were. He found this little red like change pouch thing. Inside were the silver certificates plus about 20 old coins. A buffalo, some mercuries, wheaties and some old nickles and quarters. Hooked ever siince
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Replies: 12 / Views: 1,098 |
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Posted 05/05/2006 11:16 pm
