The mistreatment of coinage in the 1800s

Alltheabove76

The nineteenth century coin holocaust is not something oft written about but is something we have all seen. When are we going to speak out about our ancestors inhumanity to our beloved coins? What foul wretch of a great grandfather of ours defiled this coin? I bet one of his descendents invented the horrible penny smashing engraving machine often seen at amusement parks!

I wish I had a time machine so I could travel back and find him doing it and try to reason with him that he is doing the wrong thing...

Lest we forget....

ricko

For the vast majority of people in that era (even more than the minority of collectors today), money was for spending, not collecting. Coins were not something to be admired - they were used for commerce/survival. Cheers, RickO

Barndog

<< <i>For the vast majority of people in that era (even more than the minority of collectors today), money was for spending, not collecting. Coins were not something to be admired - they were used for commerce/survival. Cheers, RickO >>



today, I think that people often view coins as nuisance. Coins are relegated to the "change jar" or the bottom of the purse until said purse gets too heavy (at least that's the way Mrs. Barndog handles them)...then they go into the change jar.

astrorat

It's funny how I even catch myself getting annoyed as the person at the cashier starts digging around for change in their purse or pocket and causing the line to wait those extra precious seconds ...

Coinage has become somewhat of an annoyance for many when credit/debit cards are used for so many purchases. I can't remember the last time I saw somebody write a check for groceries.

Alltheabove76

The coin in my post though is a tooled coin. I don't mind the bumps and bruises of everyday life, but to the miscreants that sat around scratching and graffiti'ing, I damn you all!

ebaybuyer

lest we forget those who would fish out the oldest (and highest grade) coin from thier pocket, then ran around the town seeking the largest drill bit they could find .....

Alltheabove76

Here is a great example!

Defaced 1804

JustMe2

Looks like vending machine damage...

ricko

While it may be painful to collectors today, it was, after all, THEIR money and they (and people today) can do with/to it as they wish. Coins are not sacred (well, perhaps to some of us they are).... they are mediums of exchange, nothing more. Frustrating as one may find it, the truth is, only collectors honor coins. Much like any other collectible, those not interested, consider the item nothing more than a convenience, curio or inconsequential. Cheers, RickO

Alltheabove76

<< <i>Looks like vending machine damage... >>



Which vending machines take large cents?

FullStrike

Those early Hobos didn't have Nickels to gouge up.