Just one coin
LoveTypeCoins
Posts: 35 ✭✭✭
My son isn’t interested in coins. Recently he said “dad, if I only keep one of your coins someday as a remembrance which would it be?” Would your one coin be highest price? Rarest? Highest grade? Design? Toning? Strike? Historically significant? Personally significant? The hunt? The negotiation? The purchase?
Mine would be my 1877S liberty seated half in 65. I like the design but I LOVE the strike! Every feature is hammered. This coin taught me the importance of waiting for the right coin to come by and improved every coin in my collection purchased after that. Strike became the most important factor. (I can’t seem to get the picture loaded).
https://us.v-cdn.net/6027503/uploads/editor/5g/urceglp2qngn.png
Why don’t I sell everything except the one coin? First I enjoy looking at all my coins. Second, I have (slight) hope he changes his mind. Third, I have detailed instructions on who/where/how to sell. Finally, if I sell I expect to have a loss for my mostly common coins, which makes me sad. But when he sells everything will look like a profit and he’ll be happy!
Comments
The biggest one. Maybe a silver eagle. If there's no interest, there's no interest.
Size matters to the uninitiated.
With all due respect, your son seems rather presumptuous. In all honesty, I would have replied, "Son, if I only keep one of your possessions as a remembrance which would it be? "
I would defer to which coin he likes best because what I like may not be what he would cherish. So, he needs to answer his own question!
"Got a flaming heart, can't get my fill"
Beautiful coin!
If it were me and my heir wanted only one item to keep, I'd choose a coin that is tied to an interesting story involving me. Not necessarily my favorite coin or the most valuable, but one with a story that the son would remember and could retell.
My strategy is about collecting what I intend to keep, not investing in what I plan to sell.
If you tell him to keep the most expensive one, that will surely be sold someday when and if times get tough. I mean, really what does it matter what something is "worth" if it can never be sold?
If no interest in coins, it might be better to choose something that is interesting and fairly cheap.
Dead Cat Waltz Exonumia
"Coin collecting for outcasts..."
No comment.
Love your ‘77 lady! What a strike. That would be the one I would suggest for your son to keep and explain to him all of the reasons why it’s your favorite.
I'd probably pick something sentimental rather than expensive and tell him why.
Maybe mark it in some way.
My Saint Set
Beautiful half. Looks like a medal! Hammered is right.
Agree on that one. I’d write up the story to go with it. The story would probably mean more than the coin. It might be my 1893 Morgan which was my grandfather’s.
I already have it in my mind to sell my collection in my 60s when I get there unless my son develops an interest. He’s 5, so I don’t expect much right now.
I am not there yet but I am obviously closer than you are. Life doesn't stop at that age so I am not sure your plan will seem so clear as it approaches.
I have two coins of sentimental value, one representing each of my parents. Those I will never sell.
You’re probably right. I always reserve the right to change my mind. Thankfully I have many hobbies and interests so maybe I’ll have time to finally explore them more.
A lot of good input in this thread and the OP is good to start thinking about these things.
Some random thoughts.....
What if you have grandkids? Will one coin handed down to your son be enough for him to pass along that part of your legacy to future generations?
I agree with the sentiment that leaving a single valuable coin will only increase the likelihood that it will get sold off.
A small "hoard" of several interesting but not particularly valuable coins might serve as breadcrumbs back to your interest for future generations without providing the temptation to sell them off for a windfall that will be urinated away.
My collections are a legacy only if my heirs are interested in them. At present they are not, so I've left detailed instructions on how best to dispose of them. I collect for my own pleasure, no decisions other than what relates to that, unfortunately.
That coin has more than just strike going for it!
That's a wonderful coin 🙂
I'm not sure I've found that coin yet. I will keep looking!
I always get the best coin of my child's birth year as well as other "family members".
They will always remember it.
They also do not want my coins but for me my 1972 d no fg is my favorite.
and to
LoveTypeCoins, Hi dad and did I tell you that I love you and I'll keep your coins forever lol
have a nice day
Kennedys are my quest...
I’d tell him to keep whichever one gives him the fondest memories of you.
This is sorta the reverse scenario, but...
Over the years my father has given me several morgan dollars. I’m not sure where most of them have ended up and there’s only one remaining that I am positive was from him. If a day ever comes when I decide or need to sell my whole collection, that one morgan will be the only coin I keep.
My coins are destined to go to my great nephews and nieces
as I have no grandchildren 
.
I do hope that I will have created a new collector or two. IMO, I am a true collector and not a dealer or profiteer, I have not sold a coin in 45 years. I have every coin since then because I do so enjoy them. I have both gold and silver, all old and new. Collecting has always fascinated me. As I have stated before, " I need a bigger safe". On a side note my wife decided to clean my office as in vacuum and etc. and found several slabbed coins that somehow did not make it into the vault and were hidden under things. Now I know how slabs get chips and damaged but luckily for me, mine did not. Mine were behind the sofa on a rug. Oops on my part. I do wish that I can take a coin to my grave but I have chosen to be cremated so Wayne..."NO COINS FOR YOU". LOL
In a selfish way, at least they will remember who I am or was. If they sell them, so be it and that will be a good excuse for me to come back and haunt them.
Melted bullion does not look good in the back yard amongst the flowers and landscape. If for some reason this does not happen, I will take my 72-d no fg fs 901 with me. I cannot explain why I love this coin so. I hope that you feel the same about that special coin.
Kennedys are my quest...
Your 1877-S is a very nice coin! Par excellence!
I knew it would happen.
Definitely a silver trime.
Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value. Zero. Voltaire. Ebay coinbowlllc
I certainly have a coin or two that are special to me...but none of my immediate family is interested in coins... I do have a nephew who collected - until girls and college came along
- I may leave one or two for him, since I know he will return to the hobby. Other than that, my wife will dispose of the grand accumulation 
Cheers, RickO
Further proof that girls ruin everything.
I am sure that over the years they have done more to ruin young (male) coin collectors than anything else. They no longer have the time or money to spend on coins.
If they would only continue with coin collecting they would find that there would be fewer girls around to distract them. (Probably not quite as much a girl repellent as stamp collecting, though.
).