The way I put it, when I'm asked how long I've been collecting, is that back in mid 2010 I decided to get serious...I've always been interested in coins, got more drawn in when the statehood quarter program began, was collecting them out of change and putting them in the old black plastic camera film cans (ha! remember those). But in mid 2010 my mother in law showed me a stack of the Presidential Dollar coins which had been stashing. She decided to put them in an album. When I saw the album that was the straw for me...I thought it was the coolest thing to look at. I decided to take the state quarters I had started with and "get serious" As I started filling holes, I decided to start a Washington quarter collection in BU. I bBought books, looked on ebay, found some proofs that I liked...bought them...etc. Then I had this stack of really nice coins and didn't know what to do with them...purchased a Dansco, and I was off to the races. The reason for my post really is a look back at how I've changed as a collector, and more importantly a look back at what I've learned. Below was the first key date coin I ever purchased. A 1932 Washington Quarter. When I purchased this it was listed on Ebay as a BU 1932 Washington quarter. I was excited, couldn't wait till I got it. I paid $20 for it! When I got it in the mail, I immediately had buyer's remorse. It certainly didn't look like the picture did on the listing! When I went back to the pic, it was a bit blurry, and over exposed so the coin did look shiny! Whats funny is that I remember the only thing that I was upset about was the ding on GW's nose. I was pretty upset, and contacted the seller. I let him know that I was upset that this coin was not as nice as it was advertised and that there was a ding on GW's nose that wasn't clear in the pic. His reply, "Well I thought it was a nice BU coin, you can return if you'd like." I told him yes...I want to return it. Ultimately he offered to return $10 of my money and I could keep the coin. So all in all this coin did only cost me $10. What strikes me (no pun intended) is that for a while I believed I owned lower grade MS uncirculated 1932 Washington Quarter. I've certainly learned the difference, I can immediately look at this coin and determine its no where near Unc. I've since purchased a nicer example of it and have had this in my sell pile since, albeit with a price that will ultimately keep me from selling. I think I need to pull this aside and just keep it as a lesson. LOL. For your enjoyment:
I'm pretty sure we had all made mistakes before. As long as you don't keep making the same one again you should be fine.
Great story. Also a nice coin for $10. I'm not good at grading Washingtons, but, off the top of my head, looks XF-ish?
@Paul M. Yup, for a silver washington I'd put it at VF35 to XF40. I'm usually pretty tough on the series tho...someone might grade higher...it's just really it's just dinged up.
Many of us have paid far more than $10 for our numismatic lessons. Call it tuition, and count it as a win.
