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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Jason Hoffpauir, post: 3057426, member: 67527&quot;]OK...here we go; when I was a young boy my Dad&#039;s brother, my uncle, Uncle Don was a Vietnam Veteran and he would get me the annual Silver Proof sets each and every year since my birth year (1968).&nbsp; I would always scratch my head and look at my Dad with a look of, &quot;what the heck do I do with these?”&nbsp; He and my Uncle Don would just tell me to put them away and save them and that one day I would understand.&nbsp; This would go on for years.&nbsp; During this time we traveled all over the world since my Dad was in the Air Force.&nbsp; He would collect coins from every country we visited. When I entered the service (Army 1988) I began to do the same thing.&nbsp; I would collect coins from each and every country I was deployed to.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>&nbsp; I collected all these coins in an old Cuban cigar box.&nbsp; Around 2003 I was stationed at Schofield Barracks, HI.&nbsp; It was my dream assignment. I met a friend by the name of SSG Simpson.&nbsp; He was a tall red neck soldier from South Carolina that stood 6 feet 4 inches tall and always had a ball of tobacco on one side of his cheeks.&nbsp; He carried an unused coke bottle to collect his spit.&nbsp; He was always looking on the ground as he walked, I mean ALWAYS.&nbsp; I would joke around with him and told him, &quot;Why are you always looking on the ground Simpson?&quot;&nbsp; He looked up at me and smiled and said, &quot;Let me show you something&quot;.&nbsp; He turned around and unlocked a foot locker and pulled out an old cigar box that contained numerous amounts of gold chains, gold watches, gold chains, silver coins, gold nuggets, diamond ring, etc...He said, “You would be surprised what people drop out of their pockets when they reach in their pockets to pull out money&quot;.&nbsp; Since that day I have always walked looking down for treasure and I swear to you I now have my own cigar box full of treasures lost that I now collect.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>&nbsp; SSG Simpson also introduced me to EBay and I was off.&nbsp; I started to collect everything from Morgan Dollars, Peace Dollars, Trade Dollars, Cuauhtémoc Mexican .900 coins, silver rounds, silver bars, paper money, etc. I was also a World History buff and well as you know History and coins go hand in hand.&nbsp; I am completely fascinated with the history of coins and where they have been, who had them in their possession, etc. Since those early days of my coin collection I have traveled all over the country and overseas to buy and collect silver coins or any coins that I like or would like to investigate further.&nbsp; This is why I always tell everyone I meet, collect what you want, not what others tell you to collect. If you want to buy raw, then buy raw or if you want to buy certified coins only then do that.&nbsp; Just do what makes you happy.&nbsp; I personally don&#039;t collect in hopes that I can make money.&nbsp; Now, if what I bought years ago is now worth more than hey that&#039;s great.&nbsp; If what I bought lost money then I am ok with that too.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>&nbsp; Back in 2003 Silver was $4 / ounce and Gold was $400 / ounce.&nbsp; I bought hundreds of oz of silver and probably 50 oz of gold.&nbsp; How would I know that silver would go up the way it did or that gold would do the same thing.&nbsp; By the way I still have those original purchases to this day; locked away at an undisclosed location.&nbsp; This is my nest egg so to speak.&nbsp; I love collecting it is what I do to De-compress.&nbsp; It is my way to deal with the long day&#039;s work.&nbsp; I allows me to calm down. So yes it is my hobby.&nbsp; I encourage everyone to collect for the fun of it.&nbsp; This is just my 2 cents worth.&nbsp; Thank you and enjoy what remains of your day.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>MJH</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; </p><blockquote></p><blockquote><p><br /></p></blockquote></blockquote><p>[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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