An interesting thing at the Pharmacy today....(pics added)b

AnkurJ

So I was at the register today rining up an elderly gentleman for his prescription copay. The total was $2. He flipped around in his pocket and pulled out a ratty dollar bill, 2 quarters, and a half dollar...

When I held the coins in my hand, I realized that the half dollar was a.....................BARBER HALF!

I looked at him and asked..."Do you know what this is worth??"

He replied: "Around $20"

I asked him why he was spending it for face value when it was worth that much? He replied that he did not have enough money for his medications, and had to use some of his old coins. Completely SHOCKED I offered to pay for his prescription, but he would not accept. I then offered to buy the coin for what he said it was worth. So I gave him $20, he looked at me and said thanks. He paid for his prescription, and went on his way.

I look at the coin in my hand and just think to myself how he must be in such a dire situation to have to do this. Sad whats going on in this economy no?

So I ask everyone here....WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

Here is a pic:


Ankur

PutTogether

Exactly what you did. Well done.


You maybe also could have offered to help him sell his other stuff, but I think what you did was more than sufficient, and certainly more than the average person would do.

Again, well done!

Eric

drwstr123

Reminds me of "The Grasshopper and the Ant" fable.

CB2597

Kudos to your good deed AnkurJ. What would i do? I would ask him if he is selling any other coins and take it from there.

notwilight

I would have followed him out and insisted on helping him get fair value for the rest of his stuff. --Jerry

AnkurJ

<< <i>Reminds me of "The Grasshopper and the Ant" fable. >>



It is best to prepare for days of necessity?

I was tempted to ask him about other coins, but I didnt want him to think I was a blood sucker or something and try to steal his coins. I know who he is, and his copays are usually $1 to $5. So hopefully the 20 bucks will last him a little while for his medication at least.

Al21

You did the right thing......wish everyone would.

TennesseeDave

Well done.I'm sure you will see him and some of his other coins next time he need a subscription filled.What was the date and condition of the Barber half.1914 in AU?

AnkurJ

Not anywhere near AU. I think its a 1913 in VG8 or so. Will post a pic soon.
Ankur

pakasmom

"He said that he did not have enough to pay for his medications" - DAMN, THAT'S SAD!... You did good, Ankur. And maybe, since you didn't come on too strong, he'll ask you for help in the future.

TomB

While certainly nice to give him $20 for a coin he would otherwise have spent at face value, a 1913 in VG8 (as per your description) is worth multiples of your buy price.

kaz

Well done, Ankur. That was very generous of you.

Goldbully

<< <i>Well done, Ankur. That was very generous of you. >>

savoyspecial

TomB, my hunch is that it has a mintmark if in fact dated 1913......Ankur, you did a good thing

AnkurJ

I think its a 1913 s. I still havent looked it up, I just gave him what he said it was worth.

astrorat

Ankur-

You are a credit to our profession! What a great story.

My wife, also a pharmacist, was touched by your story.

Lane

DBSTrader2

Ankur:

What you might want to do is offer to give him fair value for the rest of his coins & promise to hold on to them in case he ever gets back on his feet enough to want to buy them back. That way, he gets a fair value for his coins now to tide him through, but doesn't feel like he's lost any shot at them somewhere in the future...............

- - Dave

Stew

Good Form

messydesk

Does this guy seem lucid and stable? This could be more complicated than just falling on hard times.

Going forward, since you know the man from his frequent visits, prepare a written note offering to help him liquidate his collection at market value. Offer to meet him at his bank and let him know that the hotel buyers and most storefronts will likely not give him what they're worth. Let him know how to contact you should he decide to enlist your help.

RWB

Well done! You might have bought the coin, but the gentleman kept his dignity - that's more important.

RBinTex

You did the right and honorable thing.

Got pics?

doh

Well done AnkurJ. You're a stand up guy

fc

bravo!

coindeuce

<< <i>Well done! You might have bought the coin, but the gentleman kept his dignity - that's more important. >>

TennesseeDave

<< <i>Not anywhere near AU. I think its a 1913 in VG8 or so. Will post a pic soon.

Just joking AJ,sounds like you did the right thing.

PaleElf

That is a very sad story, but I think you did good... AnkurJ

Bear

You bought a little sunshine

to an old man's rainy day.

Well done indeed!

edix2001

It may be a sad story, but mostly since it's lots of folks' current situation, which isn't going to improve anytime soon, actually more likely to get much worse.
That said, this bodes ill for coin values.

Blackhawk

Good show.

SlangNRox

Good job on helping him out. If he comes in again when you are around you might want to help him sell some of his coins or like someone else here suggested buy and hold them for him. Glad you stopped one of his coins being used at face value. Hopefuly he hasn't to spend too many of them.

lathmach

I know where the old guys coming from. My medicine is over $900 a month.

Ray

Gemini

You were acting in the capacity of a Pharmacist and not a Coin Dealer. What you did was very fair and commendable in my book as he was willing to let the half go at face value. What if the coin turned out to be a deceptive Chinese fake? Would we go awww... poor guy then?

timber100

The story is very sad but it was nice that you helped out. If he trusts you, take him to a local fair B&M and have him sell his coins so he will not have to take face value in the future. Or buy the rest of his coins if he now trusts you.

AnkurJ

Well there was a guy a few years ago who spent 7 morgan dollars in VF to UNC for a pack of cigarettes...

ksammut

Good for you.

Maybe next time you can start up a conversation and see if he will let you help him with his other coins.

BaronVonBaugh

Way to go!!!

wikyva

What a great story! You did a very good thing! It is sad that folks are struggling but encouraging that other folks are willing to lend a helping hand.

Chris

PawPaul

this type of scenario takes place at coin dealers shops across the country on a daily basis...............

you made the outcome a pleasant one ;

but most dealers rip the old folks blind

maybe the elderly feller felt more at ease spending it at face value rather then being raped by some dealer

curly

"So I ask everyone here.....WHAT WOULD YOU DO??"

I'll tell you what this old man would do brother, I'd shake your hand if I ever run into you at a show.

Walkerguy21D

Well done Ankur, and a great story to share with this forum!

SaorAlba

Very nice of you to give the value of the coin, if not a little more, to the guy. Good deeds repeat themselves and will pay you back, whereas otherwise the inverse will come back and bite your conscience.

These are hard times, and lots of stuff is coming out of the woodwork, I am seeing stuff coming into my banks all the time lately.

mach19

Well done my friend. This will come back to you three fold

Mar327

It's great knowing there are people like you out there. Wish there were more.

Well done; I hope he comes back to you again.

Swampboy

<< <i>Well done! You might have bought the coin, but the gentleman kept his dignity - that's more important. >>









Well done AnkurJ.

collegecoincollector

cool story! i wonder if he bought any other groceries or items before he left the pharmacy .......