I searched and read a couple of post that were close but not quite spot on. Here's the deal: I started collecting as a child of 5 so the most of my coins were from circulated change. I spent about 10 yrs doing that, I would grab anything older than 1960 (just my date for old coins in the mind of a kid born in the mid 60's). As you know I acquired quite a few common coins and stopped really actively doing collecting, but never stopped hoarding coins that caught my eye. Flash forward 30 yrs and my interest is peeked again. So I've been going thru those hoarded coins and as you know unless I got really really lucky they are mostly common circulated coins. So what do you guys do with these? Do you keep them as more and more sell for melting (don't know if they actually melt them) hoping that one day they will get actual value? Do you sell them? I've considered giving them in Whitman folders to kids(nieces, nephews, & cousins) to see if they will get interested in collecting. They would be incomplete sets for them to complete. Speak!
Depending on condition, you could hold them for melt(pre-1964 and 65-71 clads). If any are in pretty good condition I'll hold them.
I'd save them all, just 'cause I like silver coins. Your idea of giving them to the kids as incomplete folders to work on is a good one, as long as you think the kids would like doing that. It'd be a shame if they just popped them out and spent them.
The coins that I'm referring to are mostly nickels & pennies. I agree that all dimes and above cannot let go of myself. The kids that I would give them to I would offer a buy back plan for more than they think they are worth. Because if they are popping them out to spend then they are only looking at face value. These are nieces, nephews, and cousins so I don't mind giving them a $20 for a bunch of pennies or nickels.
It's a time piece Dion. Something that you collected long ago and far away. Much the same thing happened to me. I collected a ton of cents back in the year of '65. Had 'em sittin' in manila flips for a number o' years before I transfered 'em into 2x2's. As I was transferring them out I said to myself, "what the hey did I save all of these for? What the hey was I thinking"? Do I really want these coins? Is the effort of putting these coins into proper holders really worth it? I really considered putting these coins back into circulation....but I didn't. They represented a certain time in my early years of collecting. A connection back to my early years in the hobby. Something you may want to consider old fellow....
As for nickels and cents, I would go through them and save the best and either dump the rest or give them to some kids to maybe get them interested in collecting. A lot of smaller coin shows I attend usually have old coin folders cheap or free. you could put some of the coins in some folders and give them away.
Green I also feel the way you do about the coins. That's why I asked the question because I even have coins you can't see the dates but I still like the coin. Buffalo nickels for example, when most of it is worn away i think it's still a good looking coin so I've kept them.
Soemthing similair happened with me and the coins I collected as a kid. I'm a little older than the op here. I kept everything and just put the coins I don't have a spot for in my Intercepts in plastic tubes. I can then do something like you suggest and give them to someone who needs a starter kit.
