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Have you bought a coin to commemorate a birth in the family or other event?

bennybravobennybravo Posts: 1,920 ✭✭✭

My son was born in 1994, and I bought a $10 gold eagle about a week before he came along, back when scraping up 65 or 70 bucks was a pretty big deal for a 20 year old kid working at a lumber yard fulltime and going to school. My son is about to have his own son, and I'm shopping for a new ten dollar eagle for my grandson. Anyone else here done something similar? I thought it might be an interesting topic.

Comments

  • CopperindianCopperindian Posts: 1,482 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Yes. When my son in law’s dad passed away I gave him a 67RD Lincoln for his dad’s birth year. He says he’ll never sell it.
    If I see something nice for my wife’s birth year I’ll pick it up & gift it to her. She has a bit of a collector in her so she does appreciate them.
    Finally I have some nice ones for my birth year - 1950.

    “The thrill of the hunt never gets old”

    PCGS Registry: Screaming Eagles
    Copperindian

    Retired sets: Soaring Eagles
    Copperindian

  • ifthevamzarockinifthevamzarockin Posts: 8,876 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I use to buy Silver Eagles to give to friends & family for their birthyear. :)

    I quit doing it when I found out most of them were lost, pawned or sold to get drugs. :/

  • oih82w8oih82w8 Posts: 12,213 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Most of my family appear not to be appreciative about coins of their birth year. When I have asked about the coins after a good number of years, their replies usually state that they misplaced them since they were given.

    oih82w8 = Oh I Hate To Wait _defectus patientia_aka...Dr. Defecto - Curator of RMO's

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  • bennybravobennybravo Posts: 1,920 ✭✭✭

    Noble effort sir. Lots of good folks still out there.

  • bennybravobennybravo Posts: 1,920 ✭✭✭

    Please don't let this thread go darker. Good, uplifting stories?

  • JeffersonFrogJeffersonFrog Posts: 876 ✭✭✭✭✭

    All the time. Our immediate family is taken care of [in spades]. Also like to do it for friends, neighbors, and coworkers when they graduate, get married, have children, etc. Not gold, mind you ...

    If we were all the same, the world would be an incredibly boring place.

    Tommy

  • ifthevamzarockinifthevamzarockin Posts: 8,876 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Sorry, I will delete my post if you like. ;)o:)

  • bennybravobennybravo Posts: 1,920 ✭✭✭
    edited July 24, 2024 10:47AM

    great responses all!

  • CregCreg Posts: 481 ✭✭✭✭

    @bennybravo said:
    Please don't let this thread go darker. Good, uplifting stories?

    I had to quit, bad fortune followed the people until the next anniversary.
    (Not really, Benny, I pull something from my collection on those occasions.)

  • anablepanablep Posts: 5,100 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited July 24, 2024 11:04AM

    Yes, I gave my daughter, born in 2008, an ASE of that year as well as a century old date set of 1908 coins from IHC thru Barber half dollar in a multi-coin holder.

    She still has them and keeps them safe.

    Edited to add: I also purchased a year 2000 1/10 Oz. Gold Eagle and ASE to commemorate my wedding year.

    Always looking for attractive rim toned Morgan and Peace dollars in PCGS or (older) ANA/ANACS holders!

    "Bongo hurtles along the rain soaked highway of life on underinflated bald retread tires."


    ~Wayne
  • bennybravobennybravo Posts: 1,920 ✭✭✭

    @anablep said:
    Yes, I gave my daughter, born in 2008, an ASE of that year as well as a century old date set of 1908 coins from IHC thru Barber half dollar in a multi-coin holder.

    She still has them and keeps them safe.

    Edited to add: I also purchased a year 2000 1/10 Oz. Gold Eagle and ASE to commemorate my wedding year.

    Beautiful post sir.

  • PerryHallPerryHall Posts: 46,144 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Congratulations! A 2024 proof set would be a nice birthyear gift for your new grandson. Unfortunately, as hard as it is to believe, most people don't appreciate and love coins as much as we do.

    Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
    "Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
    "Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire

  • ifthevamzarockinifthevamzarockin Posts: 8,876 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Your thread made me stop and think. ;)

    I always enjoyed giving Silver Eagles and it seemed to make the person happy at the time. :)

    It is really none of my business what someone does with their gift after I give it. ;)

    Maybe I will start giving them again. :)

  • oldabeintxoldabeintx Posts: 1,934 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Assembled birth sets for both parents, both sets of grandparents, my wife and I. Had to get creative for my paternal grandmother, Swiss born. Fun matching the quality. Included gold for my dad-an affordable year. Proof sets for the kids and grandkids for Xmas. A type coin nut here.

  • bennybravobennybravo Posts: 1,920 ✭✭✭

    @PerryHall said:
    Congratulations! A 2024 proof set would be a nice birthyear gift for your new grandson. Unfortunately, as hard as it is to believe, most people don't appreciate and love coins as much as we do.

    Thank you sir!

  • bennybravobennybravo Posts: 1,920 ✭✭✭

    @oldabeintx said:
    Assembled birth sets for both parents, both sets of grandparents, my wife and I. Had to get creative for my paternal grandmother, Swiss born. Fun matching the quality. Included gold for my dad-an affordable year. Proof sets for the kids and grandkids for Xmas. A type coin nut here.

    Awesome man!!!!!

  • bennybravobennybravo Posts: 1,920 ✭✭✭

    @SaorAlba said:

    My grandmother's birth year. I miss her a lot.

    Beautiful tribute sir.

  • ProofCollectionProofCollection Posts: 6,162 ✭✭✭✭✭

    No, I don't lie to myself about why I'm buying coins. I have an addiction.

  • bennybravobennybravo Posts: 1,920 ✭✭✭

    @ProofCollection said:
    No, I don't lie to myself about why I'm buying coins. I have an addiction.

    Nothing wrong with that either friend. There are many things worse to be addicted to. You're among friends.

  • BryceMBryceM Posts: 11,794 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I used to give silver eagles as graduation gifts to the seniors each year at church. I quit when silver prices went up and after a few kids looked at it like it was some sort of ancient artifact.

  • bennybravobennybravo Posts: 1,920 ✭✭✭

    @BryceM said:
    I used to give silver eagles as graduation gifts to the seniors each year at church. I quit when silver prices went up and after a few kids looked at it like it was some sort of ancient artifact.

    Love that you did that man!

  • WAYNEASWAYNEAS Posts: 6,727 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I put together a 1954 proof set in pr66 for my wife's birth year.
    I have also put together proof sets for each of my neices, nephews, neighbors and friends when they have added a new baby member.
    I truly hope that I've sparked an interest in coins as one of them is going to get one hell of a collection when I pass on. 😀😍
    Wayne

    Kennedys are my quest...

  • silverpopsilverpop Posts: 6,680 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Yes this 1943 Silver US Dime PCGS MS66 (1943 was when my mom was born)

  • bigjpstbigjpst Posts: 3,101 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited July 24, 2024 7:40PM

    I have my dad’s birth year registry set. (1940) I also buy interesting coins and tokens from 1940 when I find them.
    https://mycollect.com/sets/eb51a815-21a5-11ee-89a8-060e37a4c43f

  • steve_richardsonsteve_richardson Posts: 161 ✭✭✭

    Someday I hope to get a 1936 proof Walking Liberty half dollar in honor of my grandmother’s birth year. It’s also one of my favorite designs, and the first year they brought back proof coins.

    I remember after my grandfather passed away I worked with my grandmother to sort through his coin collection and help her estimate the value (based on red book prices at the time). It’s a fond memory, and I have since inherited the collection.

  • MapsOnFireMapsOnFire Posts: 231 ✭✭✭

    Yes. I gave a set of 1919s to my Dad, a set of 1922s to my Mom, and sets of 1945s, 1949s and 1954s to my siblings. Working on later years for cousins and descendants.

  • TwobitcollectorTwobitcollector Posts: 3,388 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I bought all my grand children $10 AGE for their birthyears, and now they get a Proof ASE every year.
    The oldest is 23 and the youngest is 17.

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  • Manifest_DestinyManifest_Destiny Posts: 6,896 ✭✭✭✭✭

    We collect my wife's birthyear world coins (uncirculated, largest denomination non gold, one per country). Just started recently in fact. She thinks they're cool and it's a good way to get her interested in the hobby.

  • DoubleDimeDoubleDime Posts: 632 ✭✭✭

    Starting with my own daughters I got them proof sets of their birth year. Later I got them a silver eagle when they graduated from high school. I've gotten other family members proof sets as well but have no idea what they have done with them.

  • seatedlib3991seatedlib3991 Posts: 720 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I do not give coins away to others because I know they are not coin collectors. having said that, my collection is filled with notations on certain coins. Bought house. 40th anniversary. 60th birthday. etc. James

  • ShurkeShurke Posts: 372 ✭✭✭✭

    I bought my daughter a proof set when she was born. If she takes a liking to them, I will buy her other coins to mark occasions along the way.

  • CatbertCatbert Posts: 7,167 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I've thought about giving some coins to my 5 grandchildren. However, the oldest two are 6 and I'm not sure they'd really give a hoot. I do like the Bay Bridge commem and have toyed with the idea of giving these (unslabbed) since I think they could find the big bear kinda cool. On the other hand, I'm thinking that any interest would be fleeting and so that would be discouraging. And so, I waffle.

    Seated Half Society member #38
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  • psuman08psuman08 Posts: 329 ✭✭✭✭

    Bought a 1941 proof set for my father's birthyear and high MS coins for my mother's birthyear, 1944.

    I don't give coins away for special occasions as others don't share our passion and they are thrown in a drawer or sold.

  • coinbufcoinbuf Posts: 11,305 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited July 25, 2024 7:54AM

    I put together a set for my mother's birth year. I've started to collect the proofs for 1940 too.

    I have started sets for both of my maternal grandparents' but those may never get completed as I may never be able to afford the gold coins needed for a complete set. Many of those early 1900's branch mint gold coins are tough, especially the 1909-O for my grandfather's birth year.

    My Lincoln Registry
    My Collection of Old Holders

    Never a slave to one plastic brand will I ever be.
  • pmh1nicpmh1nic Posts: 3,279 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I have a 1972 mint set to commemorate the year I met my wife.

    The longer I live the more convincing proofs I see of this truth, that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice is it possible for an empire to rise without His aid? Benjamin Franklin
  • pmh1nicpmh1nic Posts: 3,279 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I also collected a set of all of the coins minted for the year 1900. And yes, it includes the Lafayette Dollar…lol.

    The longer I live the more convincing proofs I see of this truth, that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice is it possible for an empire to rise without His aid? Benjamin Franklin
  • Mr_SpudMr_Spud Posts: 5,359 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited July 25, 2024 11:19AM

    I give out Silver Eagles in Christmas holders just about every year to the people in my group at work and also to some others at work. I also send them to my brother in laws and to my nephews at Christmas time. But I don’t think I ever bought one for a birth.

    Mr_Spud

  • PapiNEPapiNE Posts: 311 ✭✭✭

    Yes. I bought Australian coins of the zodiac on the years my grandchildren were born. My 7 yr old grandson doesn't like being a roster. Just wait til my almost 3 yr old granddaughter finds out she's under the Ox. Oh boy!

    USAF veteran 1984-2005

  • JWPJWP Posts: 22,300 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited July 25, 2024 11:50AM

    I have bought ASEs or a silver commemorative dollar for each of my grandkids when they were born. My folks gave me this.

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  • WalkerfanWalkerfan Posts: 9,320 ✭✭✭✭✭

    My friends’ invited me to their son’s first birthday party in 2017. I gave him a 2016 silver eagle along with a gift card for toys. Not sure what became of it. His parents seemed to think it was cool, at the time.

    Sometimes, it’s better to be LUCKY than good. 🍀 🍺👍

    My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947):

    https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/16292/

  • Herb_THerb_T Posts: 1,739 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited July 25, 2024 1:16PM

    My father was born in 1923, I bought one of each coin from 1923 in his honor. He died in August of 2020. I miss him every day.

  • Dave99BDave99B Posts: 8,535 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Yes. I’m in the process of buying a Philadelphia Lincoln Cent for each person in my immediate family. One each for my parents, and one for my sister, myself, and my three brothers. I’m going PCGS for each example: MS66 for each sibling, and likely a slightly lower mint state grade for my parents. Taking my time to locate really beautiful examples.

    Dave

    Always looking for original, better date VF20-VF35 Barber quarters and halves, and a quality beer.
  • jesbrokenjesbroken Posts: 10,002 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I purchased coin sets for 1942 and 1945 for my brother and sister many years ago.
    Jim


    When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, he will either quit being mistaken or cease to be honest....Abraham Lincoln

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