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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;protovdo, post: 1240561, member: 10173&quot;]I sat there with a slightly bemused smile on my face as I studied my latest acquisition.&nbsp; I continued to turn it over in my palm when a trusted colleague approached my office.&nbsp; She seemed intrigued as to what was keeping me from my work.&nbsp; I explained to her, “It’s a 1915 Barber Half Dollar, one of only 138,000 minted that year” as I handed her the piece.&nbsp; I noticed a slightly puzzled look on her face as she noted the price which was still on the Mylar flip. </p><p><br /></p><p>“Why did you spend so much money on something that’s only worth <i>fifty</i> cents?”</p><p><br /></p><p>“Well, I’m a collector”, I replied.</p><p><br /></p><p>“You do <i>this</i> for fun?”&nbsp; She replied with a hint of skepticism.</p><p><br /></p><p>I struggled for several minutes attempting to explain to her the significance of my collection, and why I am passionate about it.&nbsp; Her blank response was more than sufficient.&nbsp; Albeit I was discouraged, I was not altogether surprised at her response.&nbsp;&nbsp; This response was common when approached by my peers of a similar demographic. </p><p><br /></p><p>If I was in the hobby&nbsp; of collecting coins to meet women, I would have a snowball’s chance in **** of procreating in my lifetime.&nbsp; I am one of many that compose a generation that I consider numismatically lost.&nbsp; This is a long winded way of stating that no one my age collects coins.&nbsp; This concerns me.&nbsp; Trying to explain the art of collecting coins to girls that I date renders them looking like cows on astroturf (fake grass), they have no idea what is going on.</p><p><br /></p><p>In the same respect, I find my indulgence in this hobby is not always positive.&nbsp; I am critiqued, judged, and often dismissed as incompetent due to my age.&nbsp;&nbsp; Working with the same shop negates much of this; however, many collectors usually feel my youth reflects my intellect as a collector.&nbsp; I know what I’m down, and I know what I’m looking for.&nbsp;&nbsp; At my age, respect seems to be difficult to earn, but very possible to achieve as I have in many instances.</p><p><br /></p><p>I’m 26 years old, and I have earned my keep from many of my local shops.&nbsp; My keen eye for halves has been noticed by many individuals since I’ve moved to San Diego.&nbsp; However, judgment by those who do not know me is unavoidable, I find.&nbsp;&nbsp; I look forward to upcoming shows, and my future visits to my local shops with a peculiar excitement that I might just meet another collector in my age group.&nbsp; For now, I will have to keep my socializing to these boards.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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