Remember back when you were new at this hobby?

I just want to share a story with many of you who remember back when you were new at this hobby. My story begins with several modern 50C commemoratives given to me from my step dad's will. I knew that he was a part-time collector but really never thought much about coins. After looking at these coins I began to really admire the beauty that each coin offered. I also liked the idea that I was honoring my step dad's attempt to collect a set of modern halves. Plus to make it even better, my thirteen year old daughter was also interested. Together we started to look at the coins and I guess better late than never we were off and running. I did my best to educate us through many resources including the Redbook, ANA Grading Standards, Coin World and various coin collecting books. Then one day I decided to look at your forum. I just observed the forum for a few months and really got a great understanding of how much I did not know about numismatics. The underlying message I was reading was that I really needed to learn first before buying. The information all of you have provided my daughter and I have helped us to learn so much. At first I was relunctant to buy any coins. But after visiting some of the recommended sights from this forum we got our feet wet. My daughter and I are taking it slow, I tell her we need to crawl before we walk(her favorite coin is the double eagle Saint-Gaudens, she has expensive taste). By far we have learned the most from all of you, I just want to say thank you and we appreciate all the great threads that you provide on this forum-Bob and Nikki.
Enthusiastic collector of British pre-decimal and Canadian decimal circulation coins.
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Today is an exceptional time to start coin collecting because of all the resources out there.
<< <i>(her favorite coin is the double eagle Saint-Gaudens, she has expensive taste). >>
If she's into art, have her do some drawings or paintings of a Saint or a commem that you both like, or try to design a new coin based on the older ones you like. That would be something cool to look back at down the road to remember the time you shared together.
Plus, its cheap!
Nice story
Great post...someone post a St. Gaudens!!!
Collector of Early 20th Century U.S. Coinage.
ANA Member R-3147111
Thank you
Alan
Connor Numismatics Website
I'll add a welcome, too. As a fellow newbie, I began shifting from confirmed hoarder to minor collector a few years ago. I, too, found this forum extremely helpful, still do. It's amazing, and humbling, to discover one's own state of ignorance, yet:
"He who knows not that he knows not, knows not.
He who knows that he knows not, knows."
Or, at least, that's what I keep telling myself... Now, to go check my 2003 mint sets for a MS70 cent...
I recall riding my banana seat bike to coin shops, and once in the door you could see the dealers shine,shine, shine their coins till they where real pretty. I once saw a dealer clean pennies with ketchup... If you never saw what the acidity in ketchup does to copper try it with a brown circ Lincoln. Rub the penny in your hands with a dab... brown to shiny right from the mint red in a minute!
<< <i>When I was new at this hobby ... I would shine, shine, shine those coins up until they were real pretty. >>
I remember when I was a kid (about 8 years old), my mom gave me a coffee can full of old silver coins (Barber Halves and Quarters). They were dirty, but I found out an eraser took care of that and shined them right up!!!
<< <i>I remember when I was a kid (about 8 years old), my mom gave me a coffee can full of old silver coins (Barber Halves and Quarters). They were dirty, but I found out an eraser took care of that and shined them right up!!!
File that one under "The Crust Bites the Dust."
This forum is good for our hobby. You Sir, and your daughter are an assett to this wonderful thing we call a hobby. Take Care, jws
I still have it today... LOL !!!
Welcome to the boards. It is very informative but sometimes you need a thick skin as these guys can at times be vicious, but usually it is all in good fun
Broadstruck, I am going to have to try that ketchup thing, but only on a low grade circulated common!
And is that Broad-struck or Broads-truck?
E PLVRIBVS VNVM
Heinz 57 Ketchup works best... but wait till I talk to my stock broker before you all try the ketchup copper method.
And is that Broad-struck or Broads-truck?
As to my user name I'm an error collector so it for Broadstrikes... other then that it all depends on how Striking the Broad is and what kind of Truck she's buying me?
P.S. You might want to wear gloves as I recall your hand will turn black, as everything on the penny will be absorbed by your skin... and could take the weekend to wash off?
good post and
<< <i>her favorite coin is the double eagle Saint-Gaudens, she has expensive taste. >>
She also has very good taste as well.
God I feel old....LOL
don't forget that one. It's a lesson in our nations history and coinage.
Very nice story, now go out and abuse this board for knowledge. There is great information on both Saints and Commems and about everything else.
On a sour note...... I have to say Go Yankees!!!!!