In my career I basically help people navigate through major life and career changes...they are literally from ALL walks of life. Today I helped a gentleman and I immediately liked and appreciated him on many levels. He is navigating through life changes. I'm in my 50's he's a bit older, I spent a couple hours with him. He is a wonderful character to say the least! Dresses like he's straight out of Starsky and Hutch and I love it! It was another super cold day in the Denver area and he came in wearing dress boots and a full length fake fur coat that was just awesome lol. I was giving him some final information and he held out his fist for a fist bump and said "So I have a little gift, I haven't done this in a really long time...but you've been so incredibly helpful and kind..." and he turned over his fist and opened up his hand with this in it... I was literally in soft warm loving shock. He put it in my hand and it struck me as the warmest toning in this pure brown...my brain had problems processing this lol. He thanks me again and started to walk away while doing a little happy dance, it was too much. I was genuinely almost crying and said his name to get him to come back for a moment. I still had the coin just sitting in my hand from him placing it there and he started coming back... So I told him "So...I'm '69 and my little brother is '72....and I've been a pretty serious coin collector since the late 70's. This is an amazing gift". He was clearly overjoyed and just lit up..."Oh my gosh, I have doubloons and pirate gold, I come from a line of pirates, and I also am a serious collector...!" We spoke about coins for a bit (he definitely knew his foreign gold and silver!) and how I often have a pocket piece but I don't want to screw up this beautiful warm tone (I actually don't even care if it's old shoe polish lol, but it looks like genuine beautiful solid warm brown toning) so maybe I'll use this as my card protector in my next poker tournament... The connection via this coin for both of us was the stuff of legend. It's the kind of story we all seem have whether as new collector or as a seasoned numismatist. Stories of how we got our start in collecting and/or why we continue to share our love of coins unabashedly with pretty much anyone. The connection via this coin for both of us was genuine love and appreciation for another human in fact. Share a coin karma story in any way you like...
Great story and esspecially on a day like today! Now your description, the fact that Jello lives in Denver Well am I the only old fart that thinks Jello doesnt fit this....to a T? Jello and I are old buds...love him like a brother...... but you just described him.... is his name Angelo? I got to know and understand that you may not be able to say....if it isnt Jello then he has a twin brother from a different mother.
Wow. Well I will contact him and I'm sure we will chat more. I hope I'm not sharing too much, in fact I don't want to ever....it was one of those encounters that effected me in the most positive ways and added that much more value to what I try and do every day. Wonderful man. PM me if you like...
I totally understand about hippa laws... but like the old song goes I've seldom been right,but never been wrong...
Well I can confirm...that was not him lol. But this was such an amazing encounter that Angelo must be a pretty awesome human
As a young man working in retail food I was a magnet to old guys and their stories....some grannies too. At times so busy but, they needed an ear...and I needed a break from the fast pace...and general bs. But I do understand this story ....Deja vu Sometimes you knew they had no one else to talk to... As was a customer named Bill he was a trip nicest guy ever...it fact I hooked him up with a couple dates with a few older ladies. I took him down the marinara one day for a crab cake and beer. He told me of his old dog blind and on it last days...a week later Bill passed, and his son had the dog put down and layed it in Bills arms. Somethings you never forget... like a lunch and a beer and a sweet old man.
He is one of a kind... 20 year regular Army, Nam and all the messes afterwards, he is very much missed here on Ct.
What struck me so much (afterwards) about this encounter is that he was going to give me this beautiful coin having genuinely no idea how much I literally live for and appreciate coins and what different things they're attached to for us all.
Lifes biggest rewards come in small packages.... a buck...probably still it that time frame that a buck was a good tip.... never the less betcha would take a C note for that Ike....I wouldn't either.
Interesting and lovely story. I enjoyed it immensely. Quite moving, in fact. The 'Jello' sightings (other poster) are suspect. MIA he is........why doesn't he post anymore, and yet, there are still sightings of this member. Poirot must be called in......
I have gotten free coins from members here on CT that really warmed my heart. The Secret Santa here on CT is 1 of my favorite times of year to give more than normal. It feels so good doing it. To get a coin gift you are not expecting really takes you by surprise and makes my whole day.
I don't have any coin karma stories like that, my aunt gave me her collection 4 or 5 years ago, which is what got me started. But, around the turn of the century I worked as a credit counselor and met many people struggling financially. It was the best job I've ever had, and also the most difficult. It sounds like you have a wonderful vocation. Many stories stick out, the worst was; I met with an elderly lady, and as we went over her situation, I told her that her creditors would drop the interest rate to 0% while she was in the program, so all monies paid would go to pay off the principal. "Oh that's fantastic. My doctor told me I have 6 months to live and I want to get my affairs in order as much as possible." I think of her often. Now I work as 'Big Brother'. I utilize call transcription software and program queries to identify training opportunities and problem calls. :/
