In Metalman's LOTR thread, the subject of spouses came up. (His wife wanted the coins.) How about everyone else? My wife has zero interest in this and actually gives me static about it. Realize that I do this for money. (Well, not CoinTalk, but you know what I mean.) That said, I have been able to make her happy with a few gifts. Perhaps the first was an English gambling token, a "fish" made out of mother of pearl, from about 1800. With not much interest in the coins, banknotes, etc., my wife does have an interest in the people in the hobby. The story of the Western Assay Bars is one she is always interested in hearing new facts about. When I first got started, I was able to impress her with Trends. You know, you go to a coin store, buy something only you would be dumb enough to waste money on, then when you get home, you wave Trends around, showing what a great deal you got... and three weeks later, the price is higher still. That worked for almost a year.
Well.... My wife use to give me static about it a lot, especially in the beginning, she recently just told me that the reason was because she thought that I would loose interest within a couple of months, it's over a year now and i'm still goin strong. But, she gets a nice diamond, or ring every now and again, and that makes her happy, you know what they say " DIAMONDS...........That'll shut her up. " But, she is somewhat interested in foreign paper currency, to some extent, if she sees something "pretty", she will make me buy it, and never look at it again.
I've been divorced for 6 years and my wife looked at coins as denominations to buy things...however, she got interested in them during the divorce proceedings because her attorney told her she was entitled to "half". Fortunately for me, I submitted evidence that most of the collection was obtained BEFORE we were married. For instance, I showed the judge pictures of myself with my late grandfather holding the 1851 Large Cent and Flying Eagle penny he gave me on my 10th birthday. After the judge saw this and the fact that my ex could care less about numismatics (maybe he was one himself), he let me keep the coins...but I lost the nice cabinet. Still get sore thinking about it...thank goodness my mother had those pics.
I always figured, in a family court battle when coins are the issue, if you can provide sufficient evidence that you are the most suitable care taker for them, you will be allowed to keep them. Making the claim that it is historic, and has to be kept in certain conditions to be maintained in it's present state, etc.
I'm very lucky. Our business started with sports cards which was what he collected. When I contributed my coin collection to be sold for the business, he started seeing dollar signs because coins sell so much better than cards. Now, he's as enthusiastic as I am about coins and he's learning about them as we go. I did tell him that within the next couple of years, I plan on starting a Bust Half collection that will NOT be for sale. He wasn't quite as enthusiastic about that, but at least he'll be more understanding (hopefully) when I start that collection. Probably because he'll be thinking that when it's done, I'll want to move on to something else so we'll be able to sell the collection.
I've known my wife since I was two years old, and I began collecting coins when I was six, so she pretty much knew what the deal was well before we ever started dating. Now, after almost 25 years of being married, she is just as interested in my hobby as she ever was.
My husband is pretty supportive of my hobby. He occasionally goes to shows with me and even tries to take an active role by looking and pointing out things that he knows would interest me or thinks I may be looking for. Considering that it will all one day be passed on to Joe he rarely questions how much I spend...I'm sure he figures that it could be worse. I could be at the mall every day but I've never been much of a shopper like the typical girl...in fact, there is very little about me that is typical Besides, considering his hobby is Corvettes...mine pales in comparison when we start comparing $$ spent and sales receipts. And with the holidays coming up he's even been asking for links to the websites that I purchase from and email addresses of the people that I've purchased from in the past. Looks like I need to update my want list for Santa pretty soon!
My Beautiful Bride helps me out by translating legends and such on some of the Japanese tokens/medals that keep popping up masquerading as coins, but my numismatic studies have taught me more Japanese history than she recalls from her schoolgirl studies. So long as my numismatic expenditures come from our kids' inheritance and not from our living expense fund (which has to include cruises, other travel, and the occasional piece of jewelry), she really doesn't care. We decided long ago that we should each engage in individual activities that we enjoy, along with the many joint activities that we also enjoy. So I collect coins and she collects jewelry and we collect ivory, porcelain and antiques. That system has worked for us for more than 49 years, so I highly recommend it to anyone who will listen.
My wife more or less tolerates it. Occasionally she shows a little interest when I show her a coin she thinks is particularly pretty, like the Saint I bought a couple of months ago. She'd never seen one before. She's getting to the point where she starts looking for signs of wear, for scratches and dings, et cetera. Once in a while she notices a flaw on the coin before I do. Every now and then she's a bit, umm, inquisitive about the cost of some of these coins. But then I remind her that at least money spent in pursuit of MY hobby is likely to keep most of its value!
Mike this a cool thread,, a chance to brag a little about my bride, she has always supported my hobby, but has little interest in most US coins, she wears a necklas that bares a Barber dime with the date of her dads birth, that she picked from my collection, 1916 just my luck, But this was the beginning of our relationship ,,about 8 years ago,she has never complained about the cost or the time, but like I said to get her to help me cherry pick a new batch of merc's forget about it !!
Jody, that is pretty cool that you met your wife at 2. I believe that marriages are meant to be. The trick is finding the person you are meant to be with. I guess you found that person at an early age. As for me, I knew that I was going to marry my wife at first sight and this was after many years of dating many women who I appreciated but never felt in tune with. As for the coins, I curb my spending for I wish to have money to spend on my wife and kids. She knows this and she never questions me on anything. As is, I have to review our assests with her and show her where everything is. I remember her surprise when I told her we could buy her dream house. I think she also understands that I am collecting the coins also for our children. I share the hobby with them and I want to leave them something solid plus the memories to remember me by when that time comes. I am only in my forties but I have seen alot of friends go in their twenties so I know that time is always borrowed which is why I want to spend as much time with them as possible.
My last few gold eagle purchases have come on the heels of identical sums spent on jewelry for my wife. She: “Here’s a ring that’s nice !” Me: “It is ! Why don’t we get it ?” She: “Well, ... okay.” Followed a week later by an identical sum spent on coins for me; makes it very hard for her to protest.
wives Well, the last time I collected before I got out for 10 years, she used to enjoy the shows and would dven scout the dealers for what I needed. This time around I don't know? she went to a show with me a few weeks ago and?? We'll see I thunk she will warm to it sooner or later. At least I hope so. Tony
This is easier for me than you can possibly imagine. I can spend all I want on coins - any time I want - and not have even a single complaint. You see - I don't have a wife
A weekend get-a-way at a bed and breakfast is always nice for the wife. If you pick the place and find the right time to interject.... "Hey honey, guess what, there's a coin shop here in town". everybody wins. Dave.
That is the best part of my divorce of 6 years. I don't have to explain, I don't have to hear, "We need to have a talk...later.", or any of that. If need be, I could always sell my coins. I could never sell and recoup all of the thousands she blew and wasted away.
Yeah, Andy, I don't ever remember not knowing Carolyn. Our mothers were friends and co-workers in the early 1960's. We began dating in '77, and have been a couple ever since. That's about as cool as it gets. I'll bet she's one heck of a good wife and mother to you and yall's kids, too. As for us, we never had kids, but if I had it to do all over again, I wouldn't change a thing. She's quite a lady, and I'm a very lucky man.
"That's about as cool as it gets. I'll bet she's one heck of a good wife and mother to you and yall's kids, too." Jody. Thanks Jody, She's a better mother then I could ever be or should I just state that she is a better person then I and has made me better then what I was. "As for us, we never had kids, but if I had it to do all over again, I wouldn't change a thing. She's quite a lady, and I'm a very lucky man". Jody I am sure you are Jody. Your contentment with life seems to come thru your writing. I think you were blessed to have always known your soul mate. Alot of people never do, at least not in this life, and for those who are not married I guess they all will agree it is better to be a part then be a part of something that doesn't work. As for coin collecting, I wish I could share it with my wife but if a shiny object doesn't fit her wrist or go around her neck then she has no interest.
