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Does Cruel Fate have me destined to have to give up coin collecting? (aka Can I no longer "do
DBSTrader2
Posts: 3,498 ✭✭✭✭
Collecting (especially going thru change and rolls) used to be so much fun and relaxing for me, despite hardly ever coming up with anything notable............
Now, that joy is waning, as my remaining 1 "good" eye (lost any meaningful vision in the other eye to a retinal detachment) becomes less sharp more and more light-sensitive. It's to the point where any flash of glare off a semi-shiny coin can basically ruin the rest of my day.
And, as luck would have it, the box of pennies I just picked-up (after a year-plus hiatus) so far consists of about 98% bright, spanking-new 2012 cents, with just a few Canadian and a Wheat or 2 interspersed every few rolls just to make it interesting.
I can't see well in the dark, but have yet to find either a direction to point the light away towards to spare my eye the painful reflections, or a type of light that might be softer/better for my eye.
It's to the point where I'm no longer having fun or can truly appreciate what little I've accumulated...... and has me thinking about "life after coins"......
Any thoughts?
- - Dave
Now, that joy is waning, as my remaining 1 "good" eye (lost any meaningful vision in the other eye to a retinal detachment) becomes less sharp more and more light-sensitive. It's to the point where any flash of glare off a semi-shiny coin can basically ruin the rest of my day.
And, as luck would have it, the box of pennies I just picked-up (after a year-plus hiatus) so far consists of about 98% bright, spanking-new 2012 cents, with just a few Canadian and a Wheat or 2 interspersed every few rolls just to make it interesting.
I can't see well in the dark, but have yet to find either a direction to point the light away towards to spare my eye the painful reflections, or a type of light that might be softer/better for my eye.
It's to the point where I'm no longer having fun or can truly appreciate what little I've accumulated...... and has me thinking about "life after coins"......
Any thoughts?
- - Dave
0
Comments
-Paul
I don't have an answer but perhaps if you can read your monitor you could attach a
camera to the computer to do your viewing?
Best of luck,
bob
also, put shiny coins in cardboard holders right away. I've found a less harsh glare from them.
Oh
Best wishes,
Eric
<< <i>circulated large cents ...
Here's the solution...start collecting something else, can you find rolls of Ikes to search maybe ?
Back before flat screen monitors a lot of people would put an anti glare filter on the computer screen. It was basically a big piece of polarized glass . Maybe you could use something like that to screen a light source? OR polarized lens eyeglasses? I wore ray ban polarized lens out on the water all the time and they were a big help with glare.
I also wanted to offer another perspective for your consideration. Before I retired, I often spoke to a co-worker who also collected coins. The amazing thing (at least to me), was that he was legally blind! He had a white cane that he used to facilitate walking, and often was accompanied by someone who would lead the way ahead. The firm supplied him with the necessary specialized office equipment that allowed him to do his job (very well, by the way).
He would always talk with me about his latest acquisition, about upcoming coin shows, and about what I'd been able to find. Although I was intrigued about how one could be a coin collector without the seemingly mandatory ability of visual acuity, I never inquired about how he was able to make judicious coin purchases. Perhaps he chose to collect lower grades, where minute differences in condition wouldn't have a tremendous impact on value. Perhaps he had a trusted dealer or friend, who was willing to "lend their eyes." What was perfectly clear, was that he got a tremendous amount of enjoyment from his collecting endeavors. It was a marvelous story and would have made a fantastic Coin World article.
I hope this post offers you hope and is food for thought for the rest us, as to what really makes this wonderful hobby of ours so rewarding.
<< <i>...... and has me thinking about "life after coins"......
Any thoughts?
- - Dave
FarmVille.
The name is LEE!
<< <i>...It's to the point where I'm no longer having fun or can truly appreciate what little I've accumulated...... and has me thinking about "life after coins"......
Any thoughts? >>
Short answer is that if a hobby isn't fun, you shouldn't torture yourself with it.
Long answer starts with you asking your ophthomologist about the light sensitivity, and continues with you exploring paradigm shifts in your hobby. Perhaps you give up actually collecting the coins themselves and turning toward collecting knowledge and information, and then share it with others. I don't know if Roger Burdette has a collection or not, but it appears he doesn't need one to enjoy the hobby. Go to shows to meet people and discuss their collections.
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution
I never thought darkside and currency would garner more of my attention than U.S. Coins, and it's tough to learn but learning something new every day really does keep the fire burning.
``https://ebay.us/m/KxolR5
- - Dave
(P.S. - - I don't think the suggestion about collecting paper money will work........ my wife keeps taking/spending all of it!!
Lolll I am sure she can tell the difference between a graded old paper note and normal note. There is so much to learn and do in that field...it would keep you busy for probably the rest of your life.
<< <i>"life after coins" >>
That's a very tough question and I don't think anyone can truly give you the answer you seek.
I have a similar predicament. EXCEPT I am not losing my eye sight, I am losing my kidney transplant.
I really didn't want to make it public but I feel your desperation and thought this may be a good time to come out with it, as it
may help you and others that collect and have health problems, but don't know how much longer they can enjoy the hobby.
I don't want this to be so much about me rather to try and help you
I always told my boyfriend of 20 years that no matter how bad a situation is G-d has his reasons. Now that I am having such a life situation
I am beginning to doubt my own mantra. But I still keep the faith.....and you to must keep the faith. There really is a reason for everything...no matter how bad it seams!!!
Maybe by going to many different doctors you may eventually find one that will help you with you sight. Keep the faith and keep looking for the
right doctor that may be able to help, not necessarily fix your vision 100% but maybe enough to continue your hobby. If not and there is a possibility
you may not.....for right now as bad as it seams something else may come along and be just as pleasurable or close to it.
Just as I have not given up as I have had several doctors tell me in the last 3 month's that my kidney will not last longer than a month.
Guess what? I'm still here....fighting!!! Going to different doctors and trying many different things. Who knows how long it will last.......
Maybe a month, maybe G-d willing I will be here to pester my fellow forumnites for years to come
So keep the faith, that would be my best answer and keep trying to seek answers from different doctors....even if it takes 20 of them.
Don't give up. And remember whatever happens there is a reason and it will makeitself apparent when you are ready.
I hope this helped in a small way.
Stefanie
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CoinsAreFun Toned Silver Eagle Proof Album
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Gallery Mint Museum, Ron Landis& Joe Rust, The beginnings of the Golden Dollar
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More CoinsAreFun Pictorials NGC
siliconvalleycoins.com
After working at an eye institute with a low vision department I know there is an ample amount of
equipment such as light and magnification aids for folks in the same situation.
As far as repairing the bad eye goes, unfortunately, while surgically re-attached, much of the optic nerve died, and the retinal surface is not smooth, resulting in what is known as "macula-off". Experts have said there's no vision coming back there......
After the surgery/recovery, both eyes developed cataracts. The one in the bad eye was removed/replaced, but not to improve my vision "out" - - rather to improve the eye docs' vision "in" to follow-up on progress. The one in the good eye is progressing very slowly, but, between that & the floaters, I just don't see well or feel as if I'm completely "there" in the moment at any given time. The docs are hesitant to remove that cataract until it gets too bad, since they don't want to put my last bit of sight at risk prematurely.....
Right now, I do my best in front of a PC screen, and have trouble adapting to non-PC reading (book, magazine, or newspaper), seeing well out in wid open spaces vs up-close to the monitor, and am becomming more and more like a "vampire" - - reluctant to go outside during the day for fear of what the bright sunlight or glare will do to my good eye & "ruin" the rest of my day...... VERY frustrating!!
And all this while trying to find a job (unemployed since '11).
I try to keep my spirits up, but sometimes it's very, very hard......
- - Dave
Stefanie: My hopes & prayers go out to you. Thank you for taking the time from your own burdens to try and help alleviate mine!