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Message:: [QUOTE="andyscouse, post: 1178293, member: 27100"]I got started in coin collecting indirectly due to my dad.  While I was growing up in Liverpool, England, my dad was renovating the cupboards in his bedroom in 1980. As he was emptying the old ones out, I was helping him (being 13, that was the kind of thing I liked to do) and I came across an old jam jar full of old [circulated] pre-decimal UK coins. I was quite mesmerised by this jar and its contents. In particular, I recall, I loved the large size and feel of the silver halfcrown of George VI dated 1939. It was also cool to see Britannia on the large pennies and halfpennies. Along with this trove (of about 100 coins, I'd say) was an old hand-written list listing the approx values of certain denomination/date contents. With all of this, I was taken immediately! My grandma would then keep aside florins she'd find with those dates (they were in circulation until 1992). Rounding off 1980, I received the 1980 UK proof set,. From those humble beginnings my collection began. Now I have a nice collection of Unc UK C20th - which is not by any means complete. Sovereigns were inspired when my brother sent me one in exchange for some Lego back in 2001 (Lego is my other passion!) ... a great time to start collecting gold at $350/oz! So there you have it!  And in agreement with other posters - this is a great idea for a contest![/QUOTE]