Death Of My Coin Dealer.

Before work last week I took a few minutes to stop by my local coin shop here in Silverdale, Washington where the owner, Mike, has sold me coins for years now. I was really excited to see him as lately I haven't been able to visit as much as I have in the past with my new job and schedule. When I walked into the shop looking for Mike his partner, Dick (the stamp guy) told me to have a seat. I assumed maybe Mike was sick since he's up there in years and tends to fall ill rather frequently. However, it was much worse. They found him at his home dead last Tuesday after not showing up at the shop.

Now, when I first met Mike, I didn't really like him. He can come across as really rude, short and generally uninterested. The more I visited the shop the more I realized that his tough exterior was due to his upbringing. I can't fault a guy for that.

When the economy turned south in '08 I was laid-off from my job and I suddenly found that outside of looking for work I had a lot of free time. I spent most of my time at Mikes. I would be there every day, most of the time for hours and hours on end. I even brought my daughter in and Mike would spoil her with candy, free coins (she's not even two, but she can say 'coins') and generally let her terrorize his shop and go behind his counter to search through his inventory.

I've bought most of the coins I own from Mike. I went to my first coin shows because Mike was there, and other dealers gave me great deals because I was "a friend of Mike's."

I consider Mike a good friend. He taught me a great deal, was always kind to my family and always ate every burnt chocolate chip cookie my wife made for him.

It is going take some time before I can open my safe again and look at my coins.

Rest in Peace, Mike O'Hara.