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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Jack D. Young, post: 21598324, member: 93371&quot;]What a great discussion IMHO!</p><p><br /></p><p>I actually was pulling out of the hobby mostly due to financial constraints and the cost for additional examples in my collection interest, early large cents and more specifically 1794 varieties.</p><p><br /></p><p>Then the deceptive struck counterfeits came along and I literally reinvented myself and my “Numismatic” interests!</p><p><br /></p><p>I found I love the research and have an attention to detail and process (I am a mechanical engineer by training) to be pretty good at it. And then who knew, I have a decent ability for narrative about them- 60+ articles in a half dozen different venues and still going strong…</p><p><br /></p><p>I sold my early large cents last spring and now focus on counterfeits and from nowhere an interest in interesting counterstamped coins, of which I also have several counterfeits!</p><p><br /></p><p>I have learned so much in this journey outside of my narrow focus/ interest in early copper. I joined the LSCC investigating the struck counterfeit 1872-S half dollars at the same time Members there were writing of a duplicate example, with both being in TPG holders. Short story on that one, I found a raw one in a watched seller list on the internet and then a slabbed one in auction archives of a major auction house. It had an opportunity to make an offer to owner, which I did and was accepted. But, after reviewing it with now a Friend of LSCC who reported it to the auction house and TPG, the offer was initially blocked. After discussion at “the top” with all groups I agreed to purchase it for analysis but removed from the holder, but of course I have all the images… Since then I have had 3 articles on different liberty seated counterfeits published in the Gobrecht Journal.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1543166[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>So, I expanded my interest with involvement in other clubs and organizations including the C4 Colonial Club and have had mutual research projects published there as well.</p><p><br /></p><p>And I have added so many friends and like minded folks to make this even more enjoyable, attending club meetings and shows and even displaying exhibits of my “Dark Side” Collection, which in my opinion again is what the Hobby is really all about!</p><p><br /></p><p>And I realize this was a niche that needed some help filing, as several collectors stated when looking at a counterfeit in a genuine TPG holder, “it must be OK, XYZ TPG says it is GENUINE right on the label”…</p><p><br /></p><p>Sorry to be so long winded, but I got my passion for the Hobby back, just evolved over the years!</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1543167[/ATTACH][/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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