Five years on the Forum and a thank you.

Swampboy

This weekend will mark fives years on the board for me.
I’ve been thinking about how much I’ve learned and how much there is left to be learned here.

When I first started collecting coins I was pulling pennies, nickels and quarters out of my newspaper collections money. Back then it was not at all unusual to have almost as many mercs as roosies in my collection envelope. Loads of buffalos, lots of silver war nickels, and every week someone on the route would catch up on payment with frankies or a walker.

I used to ride my bike through the swamps to my route and on Saturdays I’d head into town to pay for my papers. My best friend had a route and an eye for coins. A great eye.
He was working diligently on memorizing the Redbook and would meet with me at school and on Saturday mornings before we paid for or papers. He’d point out the low mintage issues from the more common dates and once he even pointed out to a local bookstore/coin/stamp shop owner the obvious altered 1856 FE a customer was trying to pawn off on him.

I plugged away at my blue Whitman like gang busters for a while until I was distracted by girls and guitars. My friend went on to start up a business buying and selling stamps and coins and to this day enjoys a good reputation.

Fast forward to summer ’06 and I was simultaneously selling License plates and picking up gold fractionals on eBay. I kept seeing slabbed bullion and eventually found my way back to these boards.

One of my first questions was what could be done about all the black mercs in my 45 year old Whitman folder. Forum members posted their advice as if the question was never asked before. You all were and remain friendly and helpful.

I’m currently collecting U.S. type, ancients, and anything that catches my eye. Current goals include a $10 gold Indian and a Fugio copper and I’m sure looking forward to the next five years.

A hearty thanks to PCGS for the boards.

Bochiman

Only 5 years? Seems like more

LanceNewmanOCC

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congratz.
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thisnamztaken

Congratulations and interesting background.

ricko

Congratulations. Your paperboy story brings back fond memories. Cheers, RickO

keyman64

Congrats!

ModCrewman

Congrats Swampboy!

Funny, I always pictured you as a low 20's college student type...from your story, I'm just gonna guess that's not exactly the case.

Wingsrule

Great story. Here's to five+ more!

GritsMan

Cool story. We joined the boards about the same time, and I gotta say, it's been one of my greatest sources of recreation in the last five years--not to mention helping save me a couple of times during the recession!

Cheers to everyone here!

mustanggt

Best of luck reaching your goals....nice story as well.

SaorAlba

Great story, and a valued contributor to the forum.

smokincoin

<< <i>Great story, and a valued contributor to the forum. >>

Walkerguy21D

Congratulations, Gil, and good dealing with you previously.
You are definitely one of the good guys on the forum

JupitarCoins

Congrats on five years on the forum!!!
What!! No give-away!!

HoledandCreative

Congrats! A few more years for me.

melvin289

Gil, my friend,

Congratulations on 5 years and many many more. Great story.

Ron

WoodenJefferson

It's as though we have followed you around for the past 5 years. At any point in that time frame have you ever tried to loose us or took out a restraining order?