Heart warming holiday coin story
hchcoin
Posts: 4,837 ✭✭✭✭✭
One of my family friends dad died from a long fight with cancer last year. I didn't know him other than seeing him at our kids hockey games a few times in the past. His daughter came up to me about a month ago at a hockey game and said she heard I knew something about coins. She told me that her dad had been collecting coins for the past 60 years and he had boxes of stuff at her moms house and they didn't know what to do with it. I told her I would be happy to look at the items to let them know what they are and an approximate value.
So we arrange for a time when I can come look at the collection. I couldn't wait to see what her dad had collected. Most times I go to help someone out like this, they have a few small boxes of odds and ends they collected from circulation and a few mint products. When I walk into their house and see the collection for the first time, my hands started to shake. There were boxes upon boxes. I took a quick look and saw Morgans, Peace, GSA Morgans, Walkers, Franklins, Washingtons, Mercs, Wheaties, Buffs, Seated stuff, Bust Stuff, Old Dollars, Roman stuff, exonumia galore, boxes of mint products going back to the 1950's (wow that modern mint stuff can add up especially if its silver), tons of silver foreign coins in binders, modern stuff, old stuff and even binders full of old currency.
As I started to take a look through the enormity of the collection I started to talk about her dad. I told her stories about how people take a collection like this to a pawn shop or cash for coins road show and get pennies on the dollar. Her dad would have been happy to know she is not doing this. As we looked in the collection, we started to find hand written notes from years ago. I told her that I wish I could have talked with him about the collection before he passed as it was fascinating. He had left little clues for us to find along the way. For example, he had a box full of all the proof silver eagles up till 2008 when he got too sick to keep collecting. One of the mint boxes had a note that said valuable. He had cut out a small article from Numismatic News about the 2008 reverse of 2007 and put it in the box. He had coins with notes saying how they were found by Uncle..... and brought back from the war from ....
I told his daughter that her dad was probably looking down with a huge smile on his face knowing she was going through the collection and taking the time and care to find out what it was really worth. I started adding up some of the silver values out loud to let her know this was not a small or worthless collection but a lifelong passion from her dad. This is when she broke down and started crying. I heard her mumble, "Oh Pops" and walk out of the room. Her husband and I both had tears in our eyes seeing the raw emotion. As I sit here and write this I can't help the tears starting to form in my eyes. She keeps telling me how her dad would have appreciated how much I seem to care about what he had collected and that I am taking the time to do this. Honestly, I feel priviledged to have the opportunity to go through this great collection.
As I dive deeper into the collection, I keep finding more and more personal notes. I have been sharing them with his daughter as I find them and it is like he is talking to us through his collection. This weekend she is going to her mothers house and will share this with her mom and her siblings. I can't imaging the tears that will be flowing during this holiday.
With all the bad news recently I felt compelled to share what I consider a heart warming holiday coin story. Many of us wonder what will happen to our collections after we are gone. I am experiencing that first hand. A hand written note here, a small momento of a memory there, it is amazing the story that can be told. None of his children were interested in collecting and none of them really want the collection. Her mom wants to sell them because it makes her sad everytime she looks at the boxes. She is going to be amazed at what they are worth considering what she thought prior to my appraisal. What a gift for his family this holiday season. His life long passion and investment along with a lifetime of hand written notes that are priceless.
Since they are personal friends of mine, I told her that I don't want to purchase the collection but am interested in a few pieces. I am merely cataloging what they have and giving them an estimate of retail and wholesale values. I have also lined up some dealers and friends who I know will be fair and honest with them. I don't have any pictures as the collection is now in a safe and secure location until I am done.
So have a wonderful holiday season and remember to hug your loved ones while you still have the chance. Take the time this holiday season to remember those who have passed.
So we arrange for a time when I can come look at the collection. I couldn't wait to see what her dad had collected. Most times I go to help someone out like this, they have a few small boxes of odds and ends they collected from circulation and a few mint products. When I walk into their house and see the collection for the first time, my hands started to shake. There were boxes upon boxes. I took a quick look and saw Morgans, Peace, GSA Morgans, Walkers, Franklins, Washingtons, Mercs, Wheaties, Buffs, Seated stuff, Bust Stuff, Old Dollars, Roman stuff, exonumia galore, boxes of mint products going back to the 1950's (wow that modern mint stuff can add up especially if its silver), tons of silver foreign coins in binders, modern stuff, old stuff and even binders full of old currency.
As I started to take a look through the enormity of the collection I started to talk about her dad. I told her stories about how people take a collection like this to a pawn shop or cash for coins road show and get pennies on the dollar. Her dad would have been happy to know she is not doing this. As we looked in the collection, we started to find hand written notes from years ago. I told her that I wish I could have talked with him about the collection before he passed as it was fascinating. He had left little clues for us to find along the way. For example, he had a box full of all the proof silver eagles up till 2008 when he got too sick to keep collecting. One of the mint boxes had a note that said valuable. He had cut out a small article from Numismatic News about the 2008 reverse of 2007 and put it in the box. He had coins with notes saying how they were found by Uncle..... and brought back from the war from ....
I told his daughter that her dad was probably looking down with a huge smile on his face knowing she was going through the collection and taking the time and care to find out what it was really worth. I started adding up some of the silver values out loud to let her know this was not a small or worthless collection but a lifelong passion from her dad. This is when she broke down and started crying. I heard her mumble, "Oh Pops" and walk out of the room. Her husband and I both had tears in our eyes seeing the raw emotion. As I sit here and write this I can't help the tears starting to form in my eyes. She keeps telling me how her dad would have appreciated how much I seem to care about what he had collected and that I am taking the time to do this. Honestly, I feel priviledged to have the opportunity to go through this great collection.
As I dive deeper into the collection, I keep finding more and more personal notes. I have been sharing them with his daughter as I find them and it is like he is talking to us through his collection. This weekend she is going to her mothers house and will share this with her mom and her siblings. I can't imaging the tears that will be flowing during this holiday.
With all the bad news recently I felt compelled to share what I consider a heart warming holiday coin story. Many of us wonder what will happen to our collections after we are gone. I am experiencing that first hand. A hand written note here, a small momento of a memory there, it is amazing the story that can be told. None of his children were interested in collecting and none of them really want the collection. Her mom wants to sell them because it makes her sad everytime she looks at the boxes. She is going to be amazed at what they are worth considering what she thought prior to my appraisal. What a gift for his family this holiday season. His life long passion and investment along with a lifetime of hand written notes that are priceless.
Since they are personal friends of mine, I told her that I don't want to purchase the collection but am interested in a few pieces. I am merely cataloging what they have and giving them an estimate of retail and wholesale values. I have also lined up some dealers and friends who I know will be fair and honest with them. I don't have any pictures as the collection is now in a safe and secure location until I am done.
So have a wonderful holiday season and remember to hug your loved ones while you still have the chance. Take the time this holiday season to remember those who have passed.
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Comments
Thank you for sharing and for being a good person!
Have a Merry Christmas!
"“Those who sacrifice liberty for security/safety deserve neither.“(Benjamin Franklin)
"I only golf on days that end in 'Y'" (DE59)
And a lesson to everyone out there - LEAVE INSTRUCTIONS with your collection on how to sell it.
A collection presents a very special perspective of one's life and passions. So nice he made it even more personal with collector notes for his family.
Lance.
For sharing the story. For having compassion. For caring.
Thank you.
"I saw him play at Wrigley Field (Chicago) 1950 Brooklyn Dodgers Versus Chicago Cubs"
"Jesus died for you and for me, Thank you,Jesus"!!!
--- If it should happen I die and leave this world and you want to remember me. Please only remember my opening Sig Line.It's great when we have a chance to use our knowledge to help people out.
Thanks for sharing.
It's wonderful to hear that a collection would be able to speak to this gentleman's loved ones after he was gone. It is a shame that he did not share his passion with his family while he was alive.
The family is also very fortunate to have you there to help them get a fair price for his collection. So many families end up getting pennies on the dollar because they don't have a clue as to the value of the collection, and don't know a numismatic professional who would treat them fairly.
New collectors, please educate yourself before spending money on coins; there are people who believe that using numismatic knowledge to rip the naïve is what this hobby is all about.
bob
<< <i>great story! >>
I concur. Thanks for sharing.
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I have heard stories about people doing this but this is the first time I have seen one of these coins first hand. Very cool going through this collection with all the hand written notes.
W.C. Fields
The Penny Lady®
Stuart
Collect 18th & 19th Century US Type Coins, Silver Dollars, $20 Gold Double Eagles and World Crowns & Talers with High Eye Appeal
"Luck is what happens when Preparation meets Opportunity"
When the widow and her family brought me the collection they had no idea what it was worth. The widow needed to remodel her stairs and bathroom in her house so they were more accessible based on her age and health. In addition, she was very worried about living on a fixed income. They hoped the collection may be worth a $1,000 or maybe $2,000 if they were lucky which would help with the remodel. To date, I have sold over $15,000 worth of coins. After one sale of over $9,000, the widow had to sit down and started to cry. She stated that she knew her husband was up above still looking out for her. She was so worried about where she would get the money to remodel the house and here he was still taking care of her. That alone makes it worth all the time and effort in selling the collection for me.
I was going through some more items today to get ready for the next sale. I noticed a pint jar with some dark coins that I had not seen before. I opened it up and it was full of dirty old coins. I called the daughter and asked if her dad had a metal detector because she had given me a jar of metal detector finds. She then starts to tell me stories about how her dad would take the metal detector to the dump to find treasures. She remembered as a kid tagging along with him. She couldn't believe that I could tell they were metal detector finds and it brought back some great memories for her with her dad. (Nothing really valuable was left in the jar. I think he pulled out the good stuff to add to his collection.)
I can't begin to express how much fun I have had helping the family sell the collection. It has taken up a lot of time but having the opportunity to go through the collection and get a fair price has been very rewarding. The stories the family has shared with me and the memories that have been stirred up are very heartwarming.
"Everything is on its way to somewhere. Everything." - George Malley, Phenomenon
http://www.american-legacy-coins.com
Larry L.
bob
Taylor
I am a YN and I do not want anybody to question my IQ Level! I don't know everything and came here to learn!
New collectors, please educate yourself before spending money on coins; there are people who believe that using numismatic knowledge to rip the naïve is what this hobby is all about.
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Thanks for the story and the update!
It took me longer to find strong buyers for the currency and sold the last bit tonight. I called the daughter up and gave her the last $3,500 from the sale. What a fun and rewarding sale this has been.
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SeaEagleCoins: 11/14/54-4/5/12. Miss you Larry!
Thank you for sharing.
Dave