Over the last couple of months a couple of things have occurred that has really made me reflect on this hobby I would like to share. I record three shows on my DVR to watch at my leisure and conveinence. Antiques Roadshow, HSN Coin Collector, and SHOPNBC Coin Shoppe. It also affords me the capability fast forward when I want. No, I don't purchase from them, just enjoy watching at least portions. I work at night, so usually on my first night off I'm up late, and sometimes all or a part of the family watch with me at least for a portion at a better time for them. I know absolutely nothing about antiques, but I find it interesting. I also guess at items worth before the expert places a value on it. If family members are watching with me, we all do it in a contest form. This has occurred several times, but recently there were two paintings someone had by an artist I had never heard of valued at $35,000 each. They were about 2' x 3' or so in size and they were quite beautiful, but $70,000. Around the time this occurred a couple of other things happened: #1 I purchased a Buffalo Nickel off a gentleman and when we were discussing the coin he told me it had a tiny scratch on the reverse, but you could only see it with 5X magnification. I've looked for this scratch under the magnification, and I have yet to find it. #2 A couple of friends of mine came over at totally different times. One came to see my coin collection because he was interested, but I think it was more to borrow my wood bores. Another when he arrived I was in the "office" looking at some of my coins. He came upstairs and was interested, and ended up looking at all of them. The facial expressions and comments these two made were actually very humbling. Many of the coins they had never heard of or never seen before. It was totally unimagineable to them that coins that old could still look that good even when I knew they were certainly not superior. They were amazed by many of the "new" coins they didn't know existed, such a thing as a proof coin, a grading system exists, and there are companys out there that grade coins. I certainly include myself in this, but in "our world" we think in terms of: -it's been cleaned,-it has a scratch next to the date,-it is a weak strike,-it's a VF possibly a XF,-it's beautifully toned,-it's overgraded. I could go on and on with this. So I have been thinking about if I was in a room in my house, and at seperate times people came here for whatever reason. I have those two paintings on the wall and I have some of my coins out looking at them. As these people arrive I have a facial expression and mental interest gauge installed in the room (fictional gauges of course). Which do you think if I showed them the coins would generate the highest on the gauges, the coins or the paintings? If I went to Target or a Buccaneers game and announced "All people who know what a Peace Dollar is report to......" or "All people who know what a Mint Set is report to.....", how many people would be reporting? In this scenario all that do know do show up. Besides their beauty I always think people are amazed these coins were used in circulation everyday at some time in our nation and have never seen or heard of. People are also amazed the US Mint sells coins directly to people for collecting and some are not for general circulation. When I think about all this I think about how fortunate I am to be in this hobby, owning something real out of this nation's history, owning real genuine form of art, and having knowledge about a portion of our nation's history that so few know. I won't have to worry about any of my coins being in a registry set, but I truly do congradulate those that do. But, I am just as proud and happy with my coins as they are with theirs for many reasons. I think this hobby allows one to easily be happy with they have and not envious of someone elses. To all new collectors or people with limited budgets be happy with what you have (as we all should) and what you know about this hobby. Coins are like houses or cars someone always has a bigger house, faster car, and etc. Be happy you're in the hobby to include the gaining of knowledge that is never ending.
That was a beautiful post, i have been putting together my mint set and proof set collection, along with trying to get one of each coin from the twentieth century for my grandkids. My neighbor comes over and shows me the $1500.00 gold coin that his son had him buy at auction and it cost just about as much as my whole collection. but I am every bit as proud of mine as he is of his expensive collection. I would not part with these for anything, and my 6 year old grand daughter is so into it now, that she knows when she comes to papa biggies house for summer vacation she will see a lot of coins and will take something special home to put in her hope chest. yes this is a great hobby!!!!:hatch:
I nominated this post for totw because it expressed very well the hobby collectors passion. I thought it was very positive and from the heart.
I agree, this was really a sweet, homey, feel good post - even though I'm a dealer, I do have a deep passion for my coins and am proud to show them off to anyone who will tolerate my enthusiasm for coins. I too am grateful to be able to be dealing in coins for a living as well. And it brings me back to when I first got into coins whenever I get customers who ask me what that coin with the Indian on it is. As was true with me way back when, many people still don't know an Indian cent came before the Lincoln, and that coins over 100 years old can still look brand new. Any way, great post, and I second the nomination!
thank you for posting this, this piece reminds me always of my roots when i started collecting. and come to think of it, everyone has chances of bagging prize coins sooner or later. it is just a matter of time and patience.
Great story and nicely written. One little thing I usually mention though is security. I know it's nice to show others a hobby such as coins, paintings, stamps, etc. However, always remember that as word spreads of what you have and home invasions are becoming more and more prevalent, you should really be carefull of who is shown what.
I agree with Mark wholeheartedly. I know if most of the poeple here were to come see the mish-mash that is my collection they would laugh at me. My collection has a little of everything, from tokes, to foreign and US paper money and coins. Yes, I'm in the "acquiring" phase, instead of the "collecting" phase, but I find it fun and interesting. To reiterate and get back on topic, great story. Thank you for sharing. Dan
What a nice group - coin and currency people are. Seems at least once a week there is a really good post. Seems like the old days. Thanks very much for the OP. :smile Mike
This was a real satisfying post in that it made me feel good after reading it. You did a great job of relating the feelings most of us have concerning our hobby. Thanks for your input. Bruce
Amen. I think the vast majority of people spend their lives completely unfulfilled and completely oblivious to what the past was. It's a shame really. Very eloquently stated.
