Great Numismatic Occupations
chiefbob
Posts: 1,077 ✭✭✭
My Uncle Jim, who gave me the numismatic virus, staffed a token booth for the New York City Transit Authority in the 50s-60s. He lived in the Bronx, and I would visit him for a weekend when I lived on Staten Island. I can still remember the great coins in circulation then. Uncle Jim had a great deal going. He worked the night shift, and would have coin dealers visit him on a regular basis. "What do you have for me tonight, Jim?". Jim would set aside the SLQs, Liberty Walkers, Barber Halves, etc. From what I remember, they would give him a want list of sorts, and he had the time to sort through the thousands of coins in the booth for their needs. They would buy from him, he would replace the monetary value and keep the profit. This afforded him the opportunity to take my Aunt on vacations and buy her things that he could not otherwise afford.
When he died, he left all his coins to me and my brother. Rolls of Walkers, bags of Buffaloes, you name it. And there were scarce dates included. A few years later, my brother called to inform me that he sold all the coins to a dealer. It seems he needed money for his college tuition! I can only imagine what was in that accumulation.
Anyone have similar stories from the golden years?
Bob
When he died, he left all his coins to me and my brother. Rolls of Walkers, bags of Buffaloes, you name it. And there were scarce dates included. A few years later, my brother called to inform me that he sold all the coins to a dealer. It seems he needed money for his college tuition! I can only imagine what was in that accumulation.
Anyone have similar stories from the golden years?
Bob
Retired Air Force 1965-2000
Vietnam Vet 1968-1969
Vietnam Vet 1968-1969
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Comments
Frank
For years his father being a taxi driver would sort them out of his pocket at the end of the day when Indian cents would still turn up in circulation and he saved them because they were different and not because he was collector.
For us the temptation was overwhelming when so much could be bought with so little.
We made many a happy trip to the local candy store where we spent many nice Indian cents there.
Carmine and Bill the stores owners were always happy and patient to wait on us while we undecidedly agonized over what we would buy.
I have always wondered since about those Indian cents that we spent.