My Grandpa got me started in Coins

My grandpa was a collector, back in the 60's - 80's. He sold off most of his collection, but he saved just enough to jumpstart the imagination of a young child back in the early 90's.

My very first coin was a 1986 Statue of Liberty Proof Dollar, which he gave to me on my 1st birthday. Growing up, I stared at that coin in wonder. How reflective it was! And how beautiful were those cameos (of course, I had no idea that's what they were called). From a very early age, I can remember my mom telling me how special that coin was, and that I could look at it but not touch it.

For my 10th Christmas, Grandpa gave me my first RedBook (I still have that, too). There was a bundle of Whitman Thumb-busters, with just a few coins in their slots (a few silver Washingtons, a couple of Kennedys, and a half dozen Ikes). This was a fortune! The untold riches which had befallen me were more than I could imagine. I spent hours upon countless hours pouring over that RedBook, absorbing as much as I could. I imagined seeing, holding, and owning all of the intriguing coins I read about, figuring out which designs interested me most, and which coins were the most valuable. I scoured my pocket change, trying to find a rare or valuable coin - and filling in all of those folders he had given me.

Over time, my tastes have matured as a collector. But the joy of those early years stays with me - all due to the encouragement of my grandpa. When I published my book, one of the most special moments was being able to give him a copy, and seeing the pride in his eyes as he read the first few pages.

Unfortunately, my grandpa died tonight. Last week, they found a blood clot in his neck that left him paralyzed from the neck down. They performed surgery to remove it, but he wasn't able to recover. He will be missed!

Here is a picture of me (much, much younger), and my brothers, with my grandpa:



And here is that Liberty dollar that he gave me:

 

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My deepest condolences , I wish there were words in this language or any other that could give you comfort .
That will only come with time,and the memories you have.
May you and your's find that comfort during this tough day just knowing he gave you something no one could ever take. A treasure that is priceless his love for you.

 

I'm sorry for your loss but it sounds like he left a great legacy to carry on.

 

Very sorry for your loss. What a wonderful tribute! Know grandpa will be watching over you in heaven, so proud of the legacy you carry on!

 

I'm very sorry for your loss, Jason. That was also one of my first coins. My father bought us each the 2 coin proof set. I still have it.

I'm glad you and your grandpa were able to share something special.

 

godbless my heart to your family i hope you can keep the love for life and passion for the hobby on point//

 

Sorry for your loss. May you find comfort in all those happy memories.

 

Man that's from the heart. There's nothing a person can say to make such a loss feel better.
The commemorative statue is one of the few I have, even remember buying it in the late 80's.
My condolences to you & you're family.

 

So sorry for your loss. Reading your post about your grandfather reminds me of my roots in numismatics. I still have the coins that got me started and cherish the memories.

 

My condolences to you and the rest of your family, Jason. I know what it is to lose someone so close to your heart. My Mom passed 10 years ago this month.

Chris

 

I'm sorry for your loss, and grateful that you've shared these memories.

My maternal grandparents have been gone for... well, a surprising number of decades, but I still have every coin they ever gave me, including my first Morgan. It's only an 81-S in 62 or maybe 63, but to me there'll never be one finer.

 

I'm sorry to hear this.

I can't really "like" a post like this, so I'll share this little bit of info instead. My family basically tolerated my interest in coins. They didn't encourage or discourage me either way, for the most part. I collected primarily from circulation until I was around college aged. I got a couple of coin-related gifts (birth year proof set, some Whitman folders sans coins etc.), which I loved more than anything, but, honestly, we didn't really have the discretionary income to support it.

One of the coins I got from my grandmother was the 1986 Statue of Liberty half dollar proof. She died many years ago at a fairly young age, unfortunately. I don't still have that exact coin, but I do have one like it, also in the OGP as yours appears to be. It was one of my very first purchases when I got restarted collecting again recently. In a way, it's the most important piece in my entire collection. I do sort of wish I still had the exact coin, but the coin itself almost doesn't matter, because I have the memory.

 

Words are not enough. Stay strong Jason and hold on to all the good memories. Deepest condolences

 

Sorry for your loss, all anyone can hope for is to live a happy, fulfilling life, and it sounds like he certainly did.
What is the title of your book? I'm always interested in numismatic reading, I'd like to check it out

 

So sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family...

My Grandpa got me "started" as well... in a different way... I found his penny drawer as a 5 year old and pulled out all of the ones which looked different on the back... 163 wheaties - the oldest of which were a pair of 1937s. And he let me keep them.

 

Deepest condolences to you and your family. You are in my prayers.

 

I'm sorry Jason. It sucks to loose family. Time to kick back and pop a bottle of wine and just think of the great times from the past. Wish you and your family the best.

 

My grandfather got me started too. I inherited his minors, which I have still yet to really go through. I did snag a Civil War token, which I just sent off to get holdered. He's been gone for 12 years now. So very sorry for your loss, Jason.

 

My Grandfather didn't teach me anything about coin collecting, but growing up two doors away, Taught me to be the man I am today. My condolences go out to you and your family.