An inherited box of coins.

SkyMan

In the latter 1980's I inherited a box from my paternal grandmother filled with an assortment of coins. She had never talked to me about coins previously, so my best guess is that they were predominantly my paternal grandfather's (he died before I was born) topped up with a few coins that she got. Essentially all the coins were common date stuff. There was a pretty good slug of large cents, generally all G-4 or lower, a dozen or so heavily circulated FE cents, a variety of IHC in a Whitman holder (including an 1877 in ~ G-6), a fair amount of trimes worn completely smooth, an assortment of worn nickels, about $70 face value of silver, predominantly Morgans, Peace dollars and Franklins (although including also a slug of Mercurys, Roosevelts, and Washingtons) a few pieces of heavily worn paper money, one counterfeit 1834 half eagle, and two gold coins.

I was just starting collecting coins back in the late 1980's, and at that point in time was not interested in large cents, so I took them all in to a coin shop and sold them for (it turns out) a decent price. Over time I've sold off the smooth trimes and the dimes. Most of the rest of the silver I've kept, although I have occasionally given a silver dollar to someone who was interested in coins. I have also given a few FE cents away to young numismatists. While the box contained nothing particularly special, it was special to me in one way... it was fun to find out that at least one of my forebears collected coins. I enjoy pulling out what I kept every now and then and looking at it. Given the condition of the coins I also enjoy giving the occasional one away to a budding young numismatist to hopefully help give them the coin collecting bug.

I recently sent some coins to Bob Campbell to image. Below are the two gold coins from the box. I think Bob did an excellent job on imaging them.

RYK

Great story, and I love the coins!

DorkGirl

Thanks for sharing.

RB1026

VERY cool story. My experience was much the same. My maternal grandmother apparently collected coins and upon her passing in the late '70's my grandfather disposed of most of her collection (SLQ's, Walkers, Franklins, Morgans, Peace etc pulled from circulation) due to the high silver prices at the time. He gave me a few hundred Buffalo 5c she had saved as well. Nothing of real note, unfortunately, but the passion was lit inside a kid (me) and a life long love affair with coins (and Buffaloes) was born.

Thanks for sharing your story and those are two super coins you have there. Great image work for sure!

BaseballAbs

Thanks for sharing, Bob Campbell is a great guy to deal with.

AUandAG

Very cool.

bob

joeykoins

Touching story. To think how much grandma thought of you and how smart/keen with the eye she was! Nice treasure chest of goodies.

Aegis3

The 1834 counterfeit, do you think it's contemporary or modern, and what is the apparent metal?

SkyMan

<< <i>The 1834 counterfeit, do you think it's contemporary or modern, and what is the apparent metal? >>



I have no idea of whether it's contemporary or modern. Someone dug a bit of a pit in the left obverse field and there is a hint of a different metal at the base of it.

AuroraBorealis

Cool story and some nice gold pieces... Thanks for sharing that SkyMan

AB

Justacommeman

Way cool Sy...............MJ

Aegis3

<< <i>

<< <i>The 1834 counterfeit, do you think it's contemporary or modern, and what is the apparent metal? >>



I have no idea of whether it's contemporary or modern. Someone dug a bit of a pit in the left obverse field and there is a hint of a different metal at the base of it. >>



Have a picture?

Matrix1980

Awesome coins and story!!!