A Darkside experience that makes me wonder...

MrEureka

Looking up a few things tonight in Krause and came across some things I never knew existed. (Early Argentina and early El Salvador, if you must know.) Several times I got a major rush, like "Holy Smokes! I didn't know they made these! I've gotta get one!" Of course any of us that started as collectors have had moments like that. But here's the thing:

How many years have you been collecting and how long has it been since you had a similar experience on the Lightside?

Naturally, we would like to hear the details!

DeusExMachina

I just had a similar experience but with some darkside stuff too. The Krause catalogue can be dangerous.

Here is my only such experience on the lightside. Cap & Rays

Maybe someday.

Pentimento

I haven't been collecting very long, and my last similar experience was seeing pictures of that unlisted private restrike that Dcarr posted recently Link.

Cladiator

I know the feeling well. When I dedicated myself to the Capped Bust Half Dime I had that feeling. Most recently I had that feeling when I came upon the idea of my Southern Silver Type Set. It's a good feeling, a numismatic epiphany if you will.

MidLifeCrisis

I've been collecting seriously for about seven years (also collected when I was a kid). I've had similar experiences with coins that others may think are ho-hum, such as Irish Gun Money, the End of Pain conder token that is my avatar, and many colonial coins. If I look through an old auction catalog of a well known or specialist collector, I get that feeling fairly frequently.

cladking

It used to be common with liteside moderns but even this doesn't happen much anymore. I still get little surprise once in a while but it's been six or eight years since one of the big ones.

Aegis3

<< <i>Looking up a few things tonight in Krause and came across some things I never knew existed. (Early Argentina and early El Salvador, if you must know.) Several times I got a major rush, like "Holy Smokes! I didn't know they made these! I've gotta get one!" Of course any of us that started as collectors have had moments like that. But here's the thing:

How many years have you been collecting and how long has it been since you had a similar experience on the Lightside?

Naturally, we would like to hear the details! >>



Here are a few. A month ago or so, I finally got QDB's American Numismatics Before the Civil War because I've been wanted to add some Augustus Sage medalet to my misc exonumia collection, but I really didn't know enough about them to know just what I would want. Anyway, going through that I've decided that I really want his Odd's and Ends #1, his Crystal Place medal. (I'd also like Anthony Paquet's medal on the same topic, which I also heard about from the book.)

Earlier, in March, when I was flying home from a conference in Chicago (note to self: if you get rebooked due to your connection being grounded to to thunderstorms and tornados, make sure your new connection does not fly into a snowstorm.), I was reading the ANS COAC on contemporary counterfeits. Reading Kleeburg's paper on counterfeit 2 reales (likely made in the US, and so technically lightside), I've decided that I really need to get the variety with the fully retrograde legends (i.e. instead of HISPAN it reads NAPSIH). Unfortunately, this one is not in Stack's upcoming mail bid sale.

Earlier still, while skimming through an auction catalog, I came across a Robert Ingersoll plaque by Alex Shagin. As a freethinker myself, I decided this would be a cool item to buy, and thankfully was able to do so.


Even earlier when I was still living in Chicago, I bought Musante's book on Bolen medals. It's a very well done book, one of the best on a specialized exonumic topic, and I realized I'd want to get one. So later I purchased this 1869 storecard, which happens to be ex-John Ford and FCC Boyd (via a 1985 B&M auction).

coinkat

the pictures in Krause can be alittle underwhelming which is why serious time is required at major shows looking at opportunities...

JZrarities

Recently, the only times I have been getting that feeling is in the darkside area.

It has been QUITE a while for US, and it was in the Colonial area...and a Pattern.

Shamika

The problem with some of this darkside stuff is that it's so difficult to find (or at least I suspect as much). However, there are some really great designs and the prices are remarkably cheap.