Late night existential crisis!

I think about the same things when looking at my ancient coins, or anything with any significant age for that matter. The stories, events, people, etc that may have been associated with the item make it seem pretty special.

But then, when these emotions start to pull me into that existential direction, I tend to apply a hyper-rational evaluation to the thing in question. For instance:

-The coin is simply a hunk of metal that was hammered into shape by a human being to serve a purpose. This happens all the time, every day, and we don't think much of it. Doesn't really seem that special.

-The coin may depict a historical event, which seems to give it a special significance. However, the recent "Lincoln- Boyhood" series of US cents does a similar thing, yet, I feel nothing at all while looking at those. Why would age make a difference?

-The coin was likely handled by many people and utilized in many transactions in many different places. The undoubted occurrences of these histories and inability to know them really peaks my curiosity. Yet I have coins that I use to purchase things from time to time, and some person staring in awe at that coin 2000 years from now wondering about the time that I bought something with it just seems weird to me.

There are no lessons in these musings, and it doesn't diminish the appreciation that I have for my coins. I just like to run myself through these types of mental exercises from time to time to ensure that when it really counts, I can keep things in perspective, see the forest, AND see the trees!

 

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I like That!

 

if you like feeling insignificant, this should help

 

Well, they'll probably be speculating about the Dark Ages, when not every transaction was recorded on some blockchain for perpetuity.

 

"When everybody knows, it is science. When a few people know, it is magic. When nobody knows, it is a miracle”
Annon.
J.T.