A visit with my old collection

Nap

I have collected coins since I was a kid. As a kid, most of my coins were lower grade circulated early 20th century coins, pulled from circulation by my mom and grandmother. The first old coin I bought was at the Macy's Herald Square (New York) coin shop, and was a large cent. I bought a few things from Littleton too. As a teenager, I worked part-time jobs but never had much left over for coins. One of my pastimes was computer games. In the late 90s and early 2000s I played an online multiplayer game. As I focused on my studies, I decided to sell my virtual video game possessions, and put this money into my second coin collection. My area of interest then was bust half dollars. I collected these from about 1999-2003. I did most of my buying from a local coin show that I'd go to with my dad- the Melville coin show. I think they still hold the show. I didn't know any big dealers, and I didn't buy from auctions. I planned to collect a date run of bust halves from 1801 to 1839. It was around that time that I joined the PCGS forum, though I lurked for about a year before I registered.

I never finished the set, but did make some progress, picking up more than half the dates, including a few tougher ones like 1802.
I didn't plan to go for die varieties, but I did have a copy of Overton. I figured out the die varieties years ago but lost the papers.
Eventually, I left home to study and the collection was put on hold. Several years later my father died. I ended up never going back to finish the set. When I returned to collecting a little over 10 years ago, I decided to focus elsewhere, on medieval, mostly British coins.

I kept the coins at my mom's house while I was away at school. After my dad passed, it was tough for my mom to make ends meet and she ended up taking in people to rent rooms in her house. One of these individuals robbed her of a number of things, including some of my coins. Fortunately, the stolen coins were mostly replaceable items- 40% silver half dollars, some lower grade 20th century type and wheat pennies. The thief did not find the better stuff which was hidden. At this point though, I realized I needed a safer storage location, so the coins were put in a bank safe deposit box. And for the past 15 years, that's where they have remained. I really haven't looked at them since. I did move them to a different SDB when I moved, but otherwise they've been neglected.

This week I took the coins home for the first time in a long long time. I wanted to see them as I've largely forgotten what I had, as most of these were purchased more than 20 years ago. Also wanted to see how wretched a collection I'd built given my lesser knowledge at the time. I presumed many of the raw coins would be harshly cleaned and problem pieces, and a number are, but some are ok. A small number of them are slabbed. Most of the slabs are a bit beat up from poor storage. Seeing the collection makes me happy and sad, as it reminds me of going to shows with my dad, a time in life that's forever gone.

My wife tells me I should sell the coins, as I no longer collect them. She even encouraged me to use the proceeds to buy more coins in the area I collect. But I haven't done it. Maybe I will in the future. Maybe I'll decide to finish the set. Maybe I'll hold on to them for another 20 years. Maybe they'll just end up staying in the safe box. Haven't decided yet.

I took a few pictures of some of the better coins to share.

I also found this coin, which is not a half dollar, but was purchased around the same time. I thought it was a better date gold coin. I also thought about working on a set of these half eagles, but was daunted by the length and complexity of the series.

If you read this, thanks for indulging my trip down memory lane.

mattniss

Thanks so much for sharing. I'm also from LI originally and grew up going to the Melville coin show with my dad in the mid-90's too. I hope you'll hold onto a couple of them to keep those memories alive, but might be nice to sell a few and use the $$ for the next chapter of your collecting journey.

HillbillyCollector

Very interesting read. Can’t offer any advice as to how is the best way to divest the coins you have.
Personally, I would love to have some coins that both myself and my dad worked on together but sadly he wasn’t into coins.
If he had been, I would find it really hard to part with them, but then that’s just me.
Take care.

mlittle

The 1805 and 3 bust 50 cents are nice. The Mint should use those designs for the 2026 coins.

Mr_Spud

Those look like really nice coins 👍🏻

tommy44

I love the 1874 half eagle. It is a very scarce coin as are all the Philadelphia issues from 1862 through 1877. I found that one nice thing about trying to collect the entire series is that you most likely will always have something on your want list.

Tom147

I would suggest hanging on to some of the coins directly related to your father. My late father started me ( like many others ) on a Whitman cent album 41 to present back in 1964. I still have that album and I consider in priceless. Lost my mother in early 1997. A few months later, dad called me to stop by the house. I arrived to find his entire collection sitting on the table which he made me take home. A few months later, he too was gone. I will pass his and my collection to my boys someday soon. My condolences on the loss of your father. Hang onto the memories both physical and spiritual.

BobSav

I like that 1828. Good honest wear in just the right places. I love old silver that looks like that !
Bob

divecchia

As others have said, I would hold on to some of the coins that you collected while your dad was with you at the show. It will keep those great memories of your time together alive for many years to come. The rest, that don't interest you I would try and move at a coin show.

Great story and good luck with whatever you decide to do.

Donato

pursuitofliberty

Thank you for taking the time to share with us. Memories of my parents are very dear to me. I suspect no matter what I did if I was in your shoes, I would never part with at least a couple of those. I think the 1803 would be something I would keep and cherish, for sure.

winesteven

Thanks for sharing. I find stories like yours so interesting!

My biggest regret with our wonderful hobby is as follows: About 60 years ago, as a young teenager in 1963 or so, my dad brought home for me an 1875-S Twenty Cent piece from the coffee shop he owned. Apparently a customer must have thought it was a quarter. That sparked my interest in starting a Type Set (see the end result of this as my #3 Ranked Dansco 7070 in my signature area below). Roughly 25 years ago or so I sold that coin when I bought an upgrade. My dad passed away a couple of years after that.

Oh, how I wished I saved that coin. Use my error in judgement to avoid making a similar mistake. Save at least your favorite one that was bought at that show with your dad. You won’t regret saving it, I promise!

Steve

pcgscacgold

Thanks for sharing the story regarding your collection. I'm sure you enjoyed getting those back out after so many years.

Yes, a set of Half Eagles would be a huge task and has gotten very expensive.

In the last week I started collecting CBH's. I am finding there is a great group of forum members in that world.

johnny9434

i like that 34 in the lot, it looks nice