I stopped collecting today
Klif50
Posts: 690 ✭✭✭✭
Just sent off the bulk of my collection to Great Collections, the rest to various Ebay sellers and now cleaning up the little dribs and drabs that I'll donate to the Boy Scouts or who ever will take them.
I turn 65 in a couple of months, have lost most of my eyesight so can't enjoy looking at the coins. Had a major heart scare the first of last week that landed me in the hospital for a few days. I got to thinking about what would the wife do with all the stuff I've accumulated. Decided to save her the trouble and I'm liquidating as hard as I can go. The only thing I'm holding on to is my silver hoard and she knows how to get rid of that. The rest requires negotiation and knowing what to send to who.
I never imagined I'd accumulate so much extra stuff but I'll sleep better knowing that everything will be turned into cash. Sames goes for the bulk of my guns (she'll keep a couple of shotguns and the AR 15 since she knows how to use them) and will get her carry license so she can carry my Sig since I'm not so steady on target and not so sure who/where the threat is any longer so I am not longer sure that I should carry a concealed weapon.
Selling off my hot rod (23 T bucket) since I'm having to give up my drivers license due to vision loss.
All my other collectibles are heading out the door except for stuff that I got from my mom and grandmother and that is being passed down to my daughter and her family.
I believe that I never really admitted to myself that this day would come but I am thankful that I get the opportunity to do the culling and selling and not having some stranger going through my stuff trying to decide what kind of rip the can get away with. It's a hard thing to admit to yourself that you are on the downhill slide and with limited time things need to be taken care of and who better to take care of them than the one who accumulated them.
I'll still hang around here. I've never had a lot to say but have been a faithful reader for many years. Large type makes it a little bit easier. Frequent naps take time away from the computer but that just goes with the territory.
I wish you all well and hope that each and everyone have a long time before you have to face the casting of your worldly goods to the four winds of heaven.
I turn 65 in a couple of months, have lost most of my eyesight so can't enjoy looking at the coins. Had a major heart scare the first of last week that landed me in the hospital for a few days. I got to thinking about what would the wife do with all the stuff I've accumulated. Decided to save her the trouble and I'm liquidating as hard as I can go. The only thing I'm holding on to is my silver hoard and she knows how to get rid of that. The rest requires negotiation and knowing what to send to who.
I never imagined I'd accumulate so much extra stuff but I'll sleep better knowing that everything will be turned into cash. Sames goes for the bulk of my guns (she'll keep a couple of shotguns and the AR 15 since she knows how to use them) and will get her carry license so she can carry my Sig since I'm not so steady on target and not so sure who/where the threat is any longer so I am not longer sure that I should carry a concealed weapon.
Selling off my hot rod (23 T bucket) since I'm having to give up my drivers license due to vision loss.
All my other collectibles are heading out the door except for stuff that I got from my mom and grandmother and that is being passed down to my daughter and her family.
I believe that I never really admitted to myself that this day would come but I am thankful that I get the opportunity to do the culling and selling and not having some stranger going through my stuff trying to decide what kind of rip the can get away with. It's a hard thing to admit to yourself that you are on the downhill slide and with limited time things need to be taken care of and who better to take care of them than the one who accumulated them.
I'll still hang around here. I've never had a lot to say but have been a faithful reader for many years. Large type makes it a little bit easier. Frequent naps take time away from the computer but that just goes with the territory.
I wish you all well and hope that each and everyone have a long time before you have to face the casting of your worldly goods to the four winds of heaven.
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Comments
Wishing you the best as life moves forward and I hope you get top dollar and enjoy your memories of collecting!
I've been told I tolerate fools poorly...that may explain things if I have a problem with you. Current ebay items - Nothing at the moment
JH
Proof Buffalo Registry Set
Capped Bust Quarters Registry Set
Proof Walking Liberty Halves Registry Set
Good decision you made and good luck with the sales!
bob
<< <i>Couldn't have been an easy decision and must be difficult to go through.
Wishing you the best as life moves forward and I hope you get top dollar and enjoy your memories of collecting! >>
+1
Best of luck to you and your family!
Looking for Top Pop Mercury Dime Varieties & High Grade Mercury Dime Toners.
Good luck!
"Got a flaming heart, can't get my fill"
Recently I had my Apartment broken into, 4 times in 2 weeks. I'm living in Detroit as a sort of , dipping my toes in, before jumping in,
type of experiment. Luckily for me I did this because Detroit and its ghetto ratt crime is not a good thing. The Police do absolutely nothing,
even if they bother to show up. Anything the ratts want to do, they do it, and get away free.
I didn't have much in my Apartment, thank God, but the feeling of people busting in and having their way with your stuff is not a good feeling.
So you taking care of business your way was a good thing. One thing you can at least be thankful for.
Now you just need to make peace with yourself and your world and realize many others have followed the path and many more will. Take care
of yourself, my brother. Guess I need to start thinking of things myself.
I'd rather get rid of things my way than have some ratts do it for me.
Is very responsible of you, doing it your way, and on YOUR terms.
Congrats for your willingness to donate some to the Scouts.
I know the feeling, not as ill as you, my old Harley sits in the garage, a few times the wife hinted that I should sell it, as it is difficult to get it started, after I take a little spin, she see's how much joy it gives me, and, I like to work on old bikes.
These young kids fresh from Tech. Training are lost.
You take care, stay active, and, Please, 'stop in' and let us know how you are doing.
God Bless You, and Your Family.
Take Care!
Best Wishes!
George
I think I would rather leave explicit instructions then throw in the towel and sell everything! I hope you have a recovery from the bad stretch of health.
Lord knows that the expression "life happens while you're busy making plans" applies to us all.
Many happy years of drifting in here and seeing this crew !
Drunner
As you intended, you will definitely save your wife a lot of extra heartache and loss by downsizing now, if you go before she does.
The eyesight loss is a bummer, but it did give you this opportunity to take care of this without wondering when a good time for it would be.
The older and very experienced collectors at my local coin club both stated they plan to liquidate their coin holdings themselves before they pass on.
Probably the hard part is deciding when to start. Using a health event to start downsizing is a good choice, I think.
She was appreciative of coins throughout the 47 yr marriage.
I met another lady in 2012 and she is part of the household now.
She and I ...both...enjoy whatever each other likes to do. (almost )
My kids are completely disinterested. In me as well as the collection. But since I am enjoying the hobby again and don't much care what the kids think, I am back IN the race. At 74.
And enjoying it.
Sorry to hear of your health issues.
My wife's death spurred me to make "arrangements" which I hadn't done.
But ...collecting.... hell yes, I'm gonna keep it up.
Kids can be a PITA!
Be confident that life does go on after heart surgery, and with the miracles they perform today you can likely look forward to many more years with your family and loved ones. And although the decisions you made must have been very difficult, you are to be congratulated for having made those decisions now, while you can best direct the disposition of your collection. You can still participate in your hobby, both here on this forum, and also with the friends and fellow collectors you have no doubt made over the years. Think positive, do what your doctors tell you, and enjoy each and every day you experience. Any day spent on this side of the grass is a good day. Live long and happy - you are not alone.
See http://www.doubledimes.com for a free online reference for US twenty-cent pieces
Larry L.
All the best,
Brian
53BKid
Great transactions with oih82w8, JasonGaming, Moose1913.
We all have a limited number of days and it is important to spend those days with what is important to us.
Even though you have given up collecting, you have time to spend with your family which is the most important thing.
Slabbed Gold For Sale
Wishing you many happy days to come!
Sometimes, it’s better to be LUCKY than good. 🍀 🍺👍
My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947):
https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/16292/
I have shifted from the rabid buying phase of collecting to the slow disposition of coins for the same reasons you cite, it's not fair to leave this task to family who are up against some tough odds.
Commems and Early Type
I know it's difficult right now, but the fact you are thinking of others tells me all I need you know about you. Pure class. I wish you well....stay safe...stay positive....and keep on truck'in.
Take care,
Dave
Get some new hobbies and take good care of yourself. I'm sure you'll always be welcome here.
My YouTube Channel
No one here or anywhere is immune to Time.
Life has wonderful things to offer every day. Hope you can use your new funds to go relax and enjoy something great
Check out my iPhone app SlabReader!
Successful BST deals with mustangt and jesbroken. Now EVERYTHING is for sale.
Leo
The more qualities observed in a coin, the more desirable that coin becomes!
My Jefferson Nickel Collection
It sound like you've had a rough patch though you're coming out of it and made some tough decisions.
Best of luck to you and I'm hoping you the best in health going forward.
None of us are getting any younger.
Hopefully your eyesight decline is slower than speedy.
Good you're making these moves now.
Take care, and don't be a stranger here.
Happy, humble, honored and proud recipient of the “You Suck” award 10/22/2014
I liked Bear's idea but, as you indicate, it just didn't turn out well. Too bad. I hope Bear did not have any inkling of what was going to happen.
My Mother died on 5/6/15 and we are still attempting to "Disperse" with her belongings and collections. It is a time exhausting effort, not to mention the personal side.
I admire your actions and wish you simply the best of luck in the future and thank you for sharing.
Take care...
Later, Paul.
<< <i>I'm sorry about your circumstances and I wish you good health moving forward.
JH >>
same here and all the best.
A reminder that we all stop collecting at some point. Some get to pick that day, others don't.
Like someone else said, you can still be a numismatist and I hope you continue if you have that desire.
Best of luck.
"If I say something in the woods and my wife isn't there to hear it.....am I still wrong?"
My Washington Quarter Registry set...in progress
I wish you all the best
5$ bills are WOW with the numbers - wanted:
02121809
04151865
Wanted - Flipper notes with the numbers 6-9 or 0-6-9 ON 1$ 2$ 5$ 10$ 20$
Wanted - 10$ Sereis 2013 - fancy Serial Numbers
Let us know how you doing........we care.
OINK
I feel for what you are going through, and wish you only the best.
Several years ago, I suffered a detached retina in one eye, and the start of a cataract in the other. Suddenly, the things I loved to do the most became the hardest things to continue with.
I can no longer look at my coins at length, as the vision is blurred on the best of days, and any chance reflection of light off a shiny coin (or eating utensil, car window/mirror, or bright sunlight thru the blinds, etc) can spoil things for the rest of the day.........
I can't see dates or detail well enough to look for any varieties, etc, or often even their mintmark.
Add to that the fact that my Dad passed away just recently, and I've seen first-hand how hard it is to go thru paperwork & collected accumulations of close to a century of family, financial, etc records maintained by even one of the most well-documented people around, and I've come to see everything from a new perspective.......
Ever since, I have been doing my best to rein-in my accumulations (be they coins or paperwork/records), to a level that hopefully my wife and kids won't find too overwhelming, and that sets us all up for the day my eyesight fails completely. But it's not easy. I'm definitely my Father's Son when it comes to accumulating and documenting - - I just do it mainly via the computer vs handwritten.............
The one "luxury" I have, however, is that my coin collection is not very large or valuable, and hopefully nobody will ever need to sell any of it to make ends meet. To me, collecting has always just been a hobby from youth carried on through all my years..... slowly expanding and filing in the gaps in blue Whitman folders. It's just who I am, and I hope the boys keep their portions and continue to add to them over the years as a remembrance of me and my hobbies long after I'm gone, making for an interesting collection of "history" - - coins of size and heft and artistry that just aren't made/circulated anymore, gathered by a loved one who also isn't around anymore....... if that makes sense.
But when adversity hits one full in the face like my vision issues have, it does make one step back and appreciate what one's had all this time & what will be missed.... and of one's own legacy and meaning/impact on others.
Best of luck and health to you!
- - Dave