I'm truly thinking of burying it all....

Why do you think a newer collector can't be a purist and cherish every coin they have? What makes a long time collector better then a newer collector? (I'm not talking about amount of knowledge...I'm talking dedication and appreciation of the hobby)

I think I fit all your criteria except one: I don't have a lot of money, my collection has ALMOST been spent for food money in the past, although I've avoided that so far (by going without the food...things are a little better by now, where that won't happen, but not great, by any means)

I spend at least an hour every day either studying the few coins I do have, or reading about coins on the internet. I've already read the books I have, which is not many because I can't afford many, cover to cover more then once.

I've only ever sold coins once, and that is because I got a roll of them and didn't need the rest. At that, I actually lost money because it cost me more to ship them plus face value then I charged. I'm like a black hole...if I get something, it stays with me forever.

However....I only discovered the hobby in 2008, when I found my late father's stash. I have been trying to make up for lost time since then, but when you can only afford to add new coins to your collection maybe three times a year, it's not too easy.

Let me tell you a little story. Earlier today while digging around in the basement, my brother found a ziplock of old coins. Another of my dad's stashs. He died in 2002 and we are still finding them every so often! Anyway, the coins must have gotten wet in a flood, our basement has flooded more then once. I lost a few classics to corrosion, several 40s and 50s nickels and wheat cents. One of the wheat is so nasty, covered in green slime and possibly even mold, there is no possible way know what date it was. The back side is only 50% corroded so I was able to figure out it was a wheat, at least.

Also in the bag was a 1943 quarter. Somebody, for some reason, painted it red, apparently a long time ago, probably in the 40s or 50s, as the red has been worn off the high points. This is a coin that most people would probably melt because most would consider it damaged, and not worthy of being in a numismatist's collection...YET...it will now be a part of my collection for the foreseeable future, as I did not have that date before tonight. Now I do. And, even if I should ever get a replacement, I would still keep this one, for multiple reasons: 1 is to keep some moron from melting it, 2 is because it once belonged to my dad, and 3 is because I have a collection of damaged coins, which I actually find interesting. (I now have coins painted red ranging in age from 1943-2000)

I am not expecting you to give me my coins...but I am hoping you will realize that you are being a bit foolish.

I will also take a photo of the moldy cent and the red quarter to share in the post, which I will post later. These were above ground but yet water got to them....being in the ground, I can't imagine what it would do...I've seen stuff found with metal dectors that was in better shape then these are! (I lost a handfull to corrosion, even though I save every coin from the 1960s or older, some of these will be spent because the corrosion can spread to other coins it comes in contact with. Luckily, none of them were dates I didn't have!)

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

If you really are well off, it makes no sense NOT to put the coins in a safe deposit box. There are few safer places that I can think of and the cost is actually quite reasonable. Maybe a dollar a day. Maybe less.

How much have you spent on women over the years? If I had every penny that I spent on dates, meals, theatre tickets, concert tickets, and gifts over the years I would be a millionaire. Then factor in what I have spent to send my children to fancy private colleges at my wife's insistence. I would be even richer.

Life is short, and you can't take it with you. Live a little!

 

I have gone back to this post several times.. It makes me sad.
I am not sure if it is due to the thought coins being lost to time in the earth... Possibly forever or the self reflecting on my own life that the post seems to bring on.. Why is that.
There is not a person here that would not want ONE coin from your collection let alone come across the HOARD..
I am happy for your fortune in life, many work hard and still never get the breaks some do. I think that is what makes me sad, Your items Might be found..MIGHT not, But for YEARS other will not know, Love, Learn and Care for Items that are Historical..Coins Are History,
I couldn't fathom the thought... Now I need coffee...And News..

 

Krispy, #28, and Billy, #41, have it right. Listen to them.
What do you have against your wife and family to hurt them that way? The only one you are really hurting is yourself. You must not care what they and others will think of you when you croak. All you'll be remembered as is some ego centric idiot miser scrooge who tried to hide and bury his little stash to spite his wife and familiy. Then someone unappriciative of your collection metel detects it and spends it in a week on nothing. Besides $6000 is peanuts. Grow up, get a life, be proud of what you've accomplished in life with your family and friends. Share yourself with them and you will get it 10X back to you. Talk with your wife and family about what your collection means to you and what you would like done with it. Please don't bury it.:desk::headbang::goofer:

 

Here is a picture I want you to see, About Good. It is unknown when these coins got wet, but it MOST LIKELY HAPPENED IN THE LAST 5 YEARS! The first basement flood after the most recently dated coin in the bag (1986) was in 2006.



The cent that is on top of the nickel...try and guess what year that one was! I have no clue. I don't even want to touch it (which is why it's on the nickel). And speaking of the nickel it's on...see the corrosion on it? (at the bottom) It's a 1939! The other nickel by itself is a 1959, and the Canadian cent is 1964. The cent by itself is 1946.


And that's not all of them that got corroded, that is just a small sampling, less then half of this round of corroded coins.

Here is the red quarter I mentioned earlier. Most here would not accept it in their main collection...but I will...because it's the best example, being the only example, I have of the date. The other coins in the photo are also from the bag. Luckily, the three silver coins that were in the bag, I needed all of them for my collection, and none of them got corroded!

 

Wait until you croak and have someone secret the coins in your coffin--that way you can take 'em with you!

You have:

2 complete sets of silver proof quarters...100 coins..
every lincoln coin from 1930 - in slabbed condition.. other coins..
over 260 coins in pcgs or ngc....
many, many more in sets, raw, probably 1000 raw in uncirculated condition....
pcgs 1950-D ms 66 , many others like that, but way too many to list...

​

Because all the coins are common as dirt, they should blend-in well with a subterranean environment

 

What he said

What he said.
Or just find a hobby that makes you happy. Build a racing lawnmower or catch a fish. Then let it go. Or eat it, something real.

 

In case you wanted to know how that quarter got painted red, the most likely scenario is that it was a jukebox quarter, when the house needed livening up, the bartender or waitress would put a quarter in the jukebox painted red, when the man came to empty out the machine he would give the quarter back, most were painted with nail polish, so acetone should remove the red, unless you decide you want to go for a jukebox quarter collection.

 

On my way.. Can you please put an X on the Map and send it back to me.. Thanks..


LOL

 

OK, After reading a few comments,and thinking more, I have made a decision.

I WILL NOT be burying ANY Coins..!!!!!!:thumb:

I put way too much time and effort into these coins. Not to mention money. I bought books and studied. Talked to other coin collectors, etc..
It wasnt work, it has all been fun, and I look forward to adding to my collection. :eat:

Burying them , well, I guess it was just an idea after having too many glasses of Vino.:whistle:

Thanks for giving your comments, they really helped. I hope no ones does bury their coins...Not a good idea.

Now, for my sportscard collection...?????.. I am going to have a bon-fire this weekend..!! LOLOL..!! :mouth:

 

Glad to see that you have come to your sences, at least with the coins! There are more card collectors then coin collectors, so you can sell them right now, and buy tons of firewood.

Chip, I read that story in the latest Numismatist. Very interesting. I do have a small collection of them, mostly red but also one blue and one black. Most of them are from the 1965-68 years, but I have one South Carolina issue and now this 43 issue. Only the 43 is in my permanent collection due to lack of a better example, though! The others I keep seperate, just as curiositys.

 

Billy, I think your pictures of your corroded coins snapped me back to my centses....

Thanks..

 

Glad to hear it Even though it stinks that I lost quite a few 50s and older coins, I am glad that their loss served some purpose!

If it will make you feel any better, I will bury that really moldy one in my backyard (I don't think anybody will accept it as payment for anything, nor will the coin machine at my bank take it! )

 

Interesting post, My first thought was wifey troubles and made you start to have strange delusions. :desk:

I think the coolest thing you could do is wait till next holiday season and go around to the Salvation Army red buckets and anonymously drop some in like the man did with the gold coins. No one would know but you and maybe a few here might figure it out

The interest generated in coin collecting would be huge, not to mention someone who hasn't had anything to eat for days might benefit from a hot meal!!! :eat::eat::eating::eating::eating::eating:

 

December 5, 2010:

"Talk about unusual,..... Someone is depositing coins into the Salvation army buckets all around town. The unusual part is that they are sonically sealed in plastic". A spokesman for the Salvation Army states, "We love the generosity of the individual or individuals, but opening up the plastic with hammers and bolt cutters just to get to the coins is really taking up alot of our volunteers time." :computer: :mouth::bigeyes::hail:

 

After much consideration.....and my on-going relationship with my sons, I am definetly going to BURY MY HOARD. I have had nothing but awful times with my sons this year. Especially in the last few months. They REFUSE to work. !!! I am sorry, they both hooked up with rich women, who love them, and want to support them.
I am NOT like that, and never will be. I make over 65K a year, I have always worked,, and for over 35 years... Ever since I was 18 years old, I worked...
I don't know what happend to this new generation, but they are god awful, but i blame myself for spoiling them...but NO more..~~!!

Not only are they lazy, but they are un-educated to say the least.?? Are they compassionate? Yes, but that doeasn't work in this world...
I have to give my hard earned collection to some one WHO appreciates it.!!
I have one nephew,...but he is a jug-head, but a good person.....I want my collection to go to to true DIE-HARD collector..,,,,,someone who doeasnt have money,,, but is passionate aboout coins....please tell me who you are...I dont want anyone under the age of 40 years old...
please let me know...Or , I just should go ahead and bury it all......

 

Don't take out your frustration on your coins because you can't control your sons or enforce your personal work ethic on them and also can't find another extended family member to dump your coins on. You might even find out that they're not so lazy if they know how to dig up your buried loot when you're not around.

 

You need to get to know my wife, she can't make up her mind either.

Happy Collecting

 

Wow, you're going to bury it? That would be a tragedy. Leave them to someone who would love them. Anything is better than burying them. Hell, have your will dictate they be auctioned off via Heritage and the proceeds donated to your favorite charity.

Also, I'm sure there's a lotta people on this web site that would truly appreciate any additions to their collections.