So I got to go through a friend's sock-drawer 'coin collection'

mirabela

A friend of my wife's was in town, and knowing I collect coins she brought her "coin collection" as she wanted me to tell her what everything was & what it is worth. It was the usual kind of thing -- 30 post-1940 wheat pennies, three common low-grade buffalo nickels, a crumpled silver certificate, some wartime Jeffersons, an 1886 Morgan in EF, etc. She emptied the last envelope, and a mercury dime rolled out among other things. I reached for it, saying I collect those, mostly just wanting to exclaim over what I think is a very beautiful design -- and what has she got rattling around in her envelope but a nice 21-D in F-15 or so! I told her why that coin was worth taking care of, how to handle it & store it safely, etc. I think upon departing she had decided to ebay all the junk, hang onto the merc -- and she left three MS 1964 Washingtons for my daughter. A fun day in amateur coinworld, where not much usually happens!

relayer

It's nice to find a gem in junk

JrGMan2004

That's pretty sweet!

MacCoin

it hard for me to look over other people coins unless they give me first choice to buy.

Shamika

You never know what lurks in those sock drawers.

TheLiberator

I just found a better date barber dime (1894) in the vf range. It was in an old bag with post 40's wheaties!!

My first "sock drawer find!"

solid

That's a story with a happy ending! It's not much fun telling folks that
their treasures are really just common junk-box items.

BAJJERFAN

So thats wut Sandy berger was lookin for in the sock drawer at the Archives!! Coins!!

rhedden

When I was in college, my friend brought me a collection of total junk that was his grandmother's. It looked like there was nothing in it better than a 1921-D Morgan in XF. When we got to the last coin, he says "what's this piece of junk worth?" and throws an AU-Unc. 1918-D Walker across the table at me. It was heavily toned, but had luster. I told him that he should not toss his coins any more and gave him a 2x2 to hold it.