What is your favorite coin related memory?

Torey

I was 10 years old, visiting my great grandparents and helping clean the garage. I came across a extremely heavy box I couldn’t move. Inside there was old coffee cans and ammo cans of silver dollars. He told me that most were acquired from slot machines and he just kept saving them. He said, don’t tell grandma and tossed a 1923 Peace dollar over to me. It’s a treasure in my eyes!

airplanenut

Helping to put the Smithsonian's displayed coins back in the vault when the exhibit was taken down in 2004 was amazing in its own right, but it got better. A few hours before my time there was done, I noted that I really wanted to see the rarities (2x 1933 double eagles, UHR, 3x 1804 dollars, 1849 $20) which hadn't come back yet. I was tapped on the shoulder to follow someone a little while later, and was taken to the (closed) exhibit area. The case was opened, and I was handed a pair of gloves and told to pull the 7 coins out and put them in a box. I then carried the unlocked box worth something like $30 million across the museum floor (the museum was open) to the staff elevator and back into the vault. Oh, there was a big guy with a gun next to me during that walk.

vplite99

Dad used to "sell" me the silver WLHs he got in change. I still have them.

Walkerfan

-My dad gifting me an 1882-CC GSA Morgan, when I was 7 or 8 y/o.
-My dad taking me to coin shops as a kid and buying me nice raw coins.
-My dad giving me all of the silver that he pulled from circulation.
-Going to local coin shows with my dad and two close friends, as an adult.

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oih82w8

I was listening to MTV ( back in the 80's when they actually played music videos) the song was Precious Time by Pat Benetar, what a hottie, and looking at the Photograde book, particularly the Barber Half section, that I borrowed from the public library.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=N-LaM-yS28A

BryceM

I dunno, but it was pretty fun when Larry Shapiro called me to let me know an individual had purchased my entire Peace dollar collection.

Flatwoods

Sitting at the kitchen table with my son, sorting wheaties into red solo cups by date.

erwindoc

My grandfather letting me pick a few mercury dimes out of a cigar box when I was a kid. I think I still have a few of them.

joeykoins

Awesome Thread!

Too many great coin memories to mention. It's really hard trying to pick the BEST!
Probably, when my father had self engraved all his kids Morgan/Peace Dollars. 5 in all! Our names and BIRTH DAYs.
But recently, when I kept finding half dollar rolls at this one single bank. But only allowed to receive 10 rolls each day
(including 10 rolls my wife picked up too) In the 3 days, I accumulated over $400 worth of Silver halves! I'll never find this again!

My Avatar is mine!

Doubledieanotherday

Getting a 1955 ddo Lincoln for my 30th b day!

MarkW63

I was around 8 to 9 years old and my older brother and his best friend coin rolled hunted, I got swept up in their excitement, but my Dad had a 1965 Official Red Book Of United States Coins, and I remember thinking WoW! it would be SUPER to find one of the those 1955 DDO Lincoln Cents that everybody was talking about?
That book, is this book, I still have it!

No one in my family ever acquired a 55 DDO, until I did when I was 64 years old!
My official bucket list coin.

semikeycollector

Enjoyed!

semikeycollector

My dad kept obsolete coins in an old fuse box. It had a 1858 Flying Eagle, 1871 Nickel Three Cent piece and an 1890 Liberty Seated Dime, plus some cool 20th century coins. I was so transfixed, he just gave it to me! I especially fell in love with the 1890 Liberty Seated Dime. I still have all of these.

Tom147

My dad giving me a new Whitman Lincoln penny album when I was 8 years old. ( 1964 ) Dad in gone now R.I.P. but I still have the completed album. Wouldn't part with it for the world.

johnny9434

I went to coinfest in 2008. One of the dealers had a 39 Oz gold bar off of the atocha wreck. That I won't forget 🙂

Spud2020

Ross Auction in Colorado Springs about 1972. I was 6 years old and saw a bunch of Buff nickels in 2x2's. Mom bought the whole lot for me which started me in this great hobby.

ricko

Coins have been an interest for most of my life. I think the best part has been meeting other collectors at shows, work or just in general life encounters. The interest in coins seems to break down usual barriers and allows an instant camaraderie. Had a lot of laughs with Russ years ago at shows. Cheers, RickO

OldEastside

In the late 60's my Mom worked at the Motion Picture Home & Hospital in Calabasas, Ca taking care of the residents, Anyhow when she would get home from work, She would let me go through her coin purse to check her change as I was working on the Number 2 Whiteman Lincoln Cent's 1941 to Date, So one day as She came home she had a grin and let me check her purse and I freaked out because I found a BU 1942S, 1943S, 1949S & a 1955S all Blazing Red, and I Screamed WOW where did you get these, And she told me that a Man who comes by and visits the Resident Actors frequently gave them to her for me, and that she got talking to him one day and she mentioned she had 4 sons and this and that and her youngest collects pennys/Cents and how I scour her purse everyday and he Laughed and the next time he came by he gave them to her and said stick these in your coin purse for your son. By the way that Man was Peter Lupus the actor that played the Big Buffed Muscle Guy on Mission Impossible

Steve

lkenefic

My grandfather's coffee can of Indian Head Cents. He worked a soda fountain during the Depression and anytime he got one in change, he'd toss it into the can. I had already started collecting Lincoln Wheat Cents from change, but this opened up a whole new world for me! I still have a few of those beat up G4 IHCs...

retirednow

My uncle who gave a circulated 1847 large cent when I was 7.

AUandAG

In the early 1950's, three of us neighbor boys, would go down to Wells Fargo and buy rolls of cents to go through right there in the lobby on their benches. We had a blast every Saturday for a couple of years. Paper route money, lawn mowing money, but it was all about friends and coins. Just buy what you had money for, search it, roll it back up and trade it in for more rolls.
Best memories.
bob

BustDMs

My dad driving me to coin shows, stores and individuals houses who advertised coins for sale in the newspaper. Yes, people actually used to do that! Dad knew nothing about coins but supported my hobby.

When I was 13 he agreed to match the money I saved to buy a S VDB to complete my collection. Going around town to find the right coin and then to other places to confirm authenticity. Ended up at legendary dealer Sol Kaplan’s office. He gave us “rubes” a few minutes of his time authenticating my new coin.

Getting my first job at the coin store where I eventually became a partner. Becoming a partner there!

Discovering the wonderful world of bust half dollar die marriages.

Becoming a contributor to The Redbook seeing my name on the contributors page for the first time.

Being inducted into the JRCS HOF and recently the Rittenhouse society.

Overall, a continuing dream come true hobby turned vocation. Can’t wait for the next chapter.

jesbroken

On my 10th birthday my great uncle Schley gave me an 1880 O Morgan Silver Dollar.
I think it was BU but not sure, was sure shiny. I told him I would start saving them
he told me to start with pennies as I could get them at cost out of change and
couldn't with dollars. I began that day going through change and drawers and jars
looking for the elusive famous cents. Sometime later he asked where the dollar
was and sure enough I couldn't find it. When I did, he decided he would keep it for me
in a black leather coin pouch in a small dollar size envelope, which happened. Over
the years he would show me the coin. On my 16th birthday, this wonderful man passed.
Unfortunately, none of his effects could be found along with his pocket knife(I had used
so many times) and change purse. Thirty-five years later, his daughter passed and my
Mom was the executor. Sure enough, in her possessions was the knife and the change
purse...yes, with the envelope in it although quite deteriorated. Unfortunately, the coin was
ruined, blackened and discolored terribly from the sulfur in the paper envelope, as it had
been in there for nearly 50 years with who knows what kind of chemicals affecting it, Schley had
worked for 50 years at Tennessee Eastman in the Chemical Division as a Electrician.
At least I got the knife and coin purse back and a then ugly dollar. Although that small gift
did not survive unmaimed, it started me on a lifetime of enjoyment in the world's greatest
hobby. Thank you for reading and allowing me to enjoy it with you, mostly wonderful people. lol
Jim

joeykoins

It seems that the theme here is mostly about Dad or Gramps.

CentSearcher

There's a lot of events that I can answer that question with, so I'm just going to say my first coin show, which I went to for my birthday last year (yeah, I'm not that old ). Had some great experiences, met some great people, and made some great pickups, one of which just now got back from PCGS (results coming soon in a post)

golden

In May 1968 my Dad and I drove about 20 miles to meet a banker. He sold us 600 Silver Dollars for $1.75 each. While Dad drove us home in his Grey 1959 Ford Fairlane I sat in the front seat. I kept sticking my hand in the sack to look at the dates. I found 2 1889-CC Silver Dollars that would grade around VG. A great memory.

JimTyler

My limited brain capacity for favorite memories has no room for coins.

silverpop

being given coins as gifts from my wife's family

ajaan

1964. My coin collector uncle gave me a brand new Kennedy half.

acsb

Might have mentioned this before... Must have been fall of '75. Mark, Nooks, and I would bike down from Old Tappan to Bill Dominick's in Westwood. About halfway there was a bank in River Vale. A bank that had oodles of 76-P Type I dollars. We'd stop, get an Italian Ice and take all the rest of our money over to the bank for a couple rolls of Ike's. Don't remember exactly, but I think Mr. D was paying $2.50 a pop. Did this for several weekends in a row. Good dough when you're in ninth grade.

WillieBoyd2

Sometime around 1955 when I was seven my father gave me a half dollar.

I still remember the large eagle on it (a Walking Liberty half).