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 Replies: 29 / Views: 3,278 |
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Valued Member
United States
459 Posts |
Yesterday, I was in Queens New York where I have a lot of Non_coin collecting friends. I brought an old silver dollar with me and was showing it to a number of these friends. Most did not know what it was never saw one, and really liked it. A few of the older ones, did remember them and told stories of when they were young and their Dad gave them one etc. I had a great time, I guess there is still nothing like holding a big silver dollar. Today I am going to bring an old large cent.  |
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
2830 Posts |
our coins can help us learn history, geography, metallurgy, art, politics, and probably a few others ...
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Pillar of the Community
United States
759 Posts |
Yes, I remember, and I haven't quite reached dinosaur status yet. To those who weren't around, as late as the early 70s, it would not be all that unusual to see silver (including Peace and Morgan dollars!) used in everyday transactions. I worked at a drug store and probably saw 2-3 silver dollars a month in my part time job there. I would sometimes mention that they may not want to spend them, but not a single person ever pulled it back. Even in the late 60s, you could fill quite a bit of your Mercury, Roosevelt, Washington and Franklin albums through change. I'm not sure I ever would have started collecting without the feel of real silver in my hand as a kid. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Posts like this make me feel old. When I was a kid Mercury dimes were the newest thing around. Always saw Liberty Head Dimes in change too. Liberty Walking halves were common and so were all Silver Dollars. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1213 Posts |
Yeah, I'm with Carl - feeling old. I used to search through rolls as a kid, When my dad came home from work, several days a week he'd take me to the bank to exchange rolls I'd searched for new fresh rolls. I frequently found Walking Liberty half dollars but since my only source of income was my newspaper route, saving halves was a pretty expensive hobby. I mostly did cents and occasionally found Indian cents. Good memories. |
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Valued Member
 United States
459 Posts |
Sorry Carl, I wasn't trying to tease out anyone's age here, although that would make an interesting post, Something like "What was easily findable when you were a kid"
I was interested in coin reactions from non-coin collecting friends. I think it may encourage some to start collecting. Most were very happy to see an older coin, brought back good memories.
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Valued Member
United States
228 Posts |
Don't forget to show them a Buffalo nickel... Those were always my favorite as a child. I still from time to time, salt a nickel roll with an undated Buffalo - just to imagine some child come across it, and staring in wonderment at such a neat looking coin!  |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
I too some time ago had some fun with coins. A group of elderly people used to all go for coffee in a nearby restaurant. That place is now gone and so are most of those people. One sort of younger member of that crowd always bragged about finding Silver Dollars in a nearby pawn shop. One day I place a 2 cent peice on the table and told him this is what our Mint is starting to make now instead of a one cent coin. I put it away and he went around telling others about that and came back really ticked off at me.
Today I have trouble getting people to take a half dollar as a real coin. Some grab them as if they were Gold, others tell me they are no such things.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1064 Posts |
Same as okiepb: I had a huge paper route in the late 50's, and lots of great coins, but didn't realize it at the time, and couldn't really afford to grab much of that change. The paper cost 42 cents for 6 days, so mostly got 50 cents from each customer, but a lot of folks made it 42 exactly. Once I was old enough for a car, forget it; spent every cent I could scrounge.
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Valued Member
United States
459 Posts |
Thanks Carl, That's exactly what I had in mind. Yesterday's normal routine coins are history now.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7187 Posts |
There was a time when I carried a $20 gold piece and a silver dollar as pocket pieces. I would grab my change during transactions and people would notice the dollar not the gold piece.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1348 Posts |
I'm only 25 so those days have never happened to me. I never even saw a real Mercury dime until about 2 years ago |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4778 Posts |
young adult here, so buffalos or mercuries never graced my pocket change when I was little, but I am old enough to easily remember when there were only the small portrait bills.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
642 Posts |
In the early nineties when I helped empty vending machines with my uncle 50 cent pieces were still somewhat common. Found a few silver Roosevelts and Washingtons, but nothing earlier. Also 1935 Silver Certs.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
573 Posts |
I started collecting because I heard a story in the mid-70s about how hard it was to find silver in circulation anymore, then I found a 1964 Washington on the ground in the alley while walking to school. I was 8 or 9 years old. That was the beginning of the treasure hunt for me. A year later I got a 1957 quarter in change at Tigers' Stadium, watching Mark Fidrych beat the Cleveland Indians. Ah, good times, good times, indeed.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
759 Posts |
And whoever is not old enough to know Mark Fidrych and is a baseball fan, you missed a real treat.
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Replies: 29 / Views: 3,278 |
Posted 04/10/2011 08:15 am
