Hello, my name is Phil and I'm a fleamarketaholic. So, yesterday despite a massive storm sitting one mile off the coast I decide to trust to luck and head off to our local fleamarket. It's inland, it's early, so I reckon I'm going to have time to at least visit the several coin traders I know and maybe pick up a few cheap tools in passing. On arrival it's still sunny but the sound of thunder rolling in the distance is causing many of the traders to start packing up. After 30 minutes I've picked up a few cheap coins and a nice set of chisels and I'm heading back to my truck when I see this gorgeous ivory handled upholstery needle. I restore old furniture so it's a must-have item. As it's now raining I'm not going to haggle, just give the man his $2 asking price. As I'm getting the money out of my wallet I'm looking at the stuff he has in dusty plastic bags. I see one with some junk jewelry and a few coins for $3. I can see an Ike $ so the worst I can do is waste $2 on some junk so I hand him $5, grab my stuff and run back through the quickly developing storm getting soaked in the final 100 feet. Back home I'm cleaning and oiling my new tools having forgotten all about the bag of junk I bought. It's still sitting out in the truck. It's not until after lunch that I decide to take a closer look. The first thing I pick out is a worn out Edward VII shilling, that's my $3 covered. Some junk Mexican coins, a nice Polish 20zl, the Ike $, a fake 1776 pewter $, a couple of George V Canadian cents and a silver 5 cent, assorted transport tokens, then two Imperial German coins. The last two turned out to be low mintage mint marks with a combined value of over $60. So the whole bag has around $100 worth of coins plus a bunch of brooches, tie pins, earrings and a minature cameo. Isn't that what makes collecting so exciting and rewarding?
Hi Phil. My name is benjamin and I'm a fleamarketaholic as well. That is a perfect example of why I go to them. Most times, you're not going to find high-grade, perfect stuff...but there are always the days you go and find: *a 1914 P Lincoln in AU for $1 *an 1869 IHC in G for $1.50 *foreign silver coins for .25 (happened so many times...too many to list) *a Jerry Rice RC for .05 *all the knives, swords, and stun guns with images of deer painted on the handle and/or blade (never actually bought one, just amazed that there are so many!) *most excellent people watching.
A great day for you Phil. I agree, the little treasures you come across unexpectedly are what makes it fun. Sounds like it was worth going out in the rain for. Bruce
Thats a awesome story Phil and welcome too:welcome: I LOVE fleamarkets too! I was at some coin guys booth and he had a bunch of misc world coins in a bag marked 2 dollars (I dont collect world coins nor do I want too) and there was just so many in the bag I figured its worth a shot and after I searched it I found 3 silver canadian quarters! Nothing better than a good day at the fleamarkets!
