Robbery Update: Insights Gained
Artist
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As I shared here when it happened, on October 17 of last year, my house was robbed, and among the things stolen was my coin collection. At the time, I received a lot of help and advice from different friends — including from some of you here. Thank you.
A particular insight shared that helped me, was the idea of “forced perspective” — being robbed is terrible, not something you would choose — but you’re here now — avoid being lost in bad feelings, and you might be see things you could never have come to any other way. It is in this spirit that I am revisiting this subject with you all tonight.
Truly, I remain grateful it was not worse. My daughter and I were not home when it happened. Our 7-pound toy poodle was there, and surely underfoot the entire time, but the thieves did not harm him in the slightest. Loss can certainly make one appreciate what they still have and love! In the end, what was stolen was just “stuff”.
But as I am sure you all can relate, some coins, with the history they hold, and the meaning they can have in our lives, can sometimes feel like more than just “stuff”. Towards this end, I resolved to recreate my coin collection — the thieves may have gotten my coins, but I was not going to let them take what I had built in my mind.
Over the past few months, something I have found very interesting, is that the coins I truly miss the most are not at all the ones I thought I would! If you had asked me to describe the emphasis of my collection prior to being robbed, I’d have said it was the uncirculated gold coins I owned. As a kid I collected mostly silver coins because that was what I could afford — as an adult, I never gave them too much thought. I like toning okay, but I’d never pay a premium for it. To me, wear was nothing more than the absence of design. And I could not have cared less about collector slabs! But in reality, these things each are what render a coin to be more unique than any perfectly pristine, generic counterpart.
The night I was robbed, staring at the whole in my bedroom patio door that led out to the black night sky, a particular coin I lamented losing was my 1923 Mercury dime that went on to grade MS65FB across the street. As a kid, this was the first “nice” coin I ever bought.
Another item I soon really came to miss, was a 1958 double mint set, with the most amazing original toning. The silver Philly coins are all orange and green on one side, while the Denver coins are all blue and brown. The nickels are fade from blue to green, and the pennies fade from blazing full mint red to electric fuchsia. And on the other side, the coins are white, except for tight rainbows ringing their edges. This set is worth what? $200-$300? I had a pair of Saints worth much more, yet they are much easier to replace.
The focus of my collection had been on coin design, 1900 to 1950, and towards this end, I had been working on a 1900 year set. The first coin that would greet me in my box was a 1900 Indian cent, MS65B in an old, small ANACS slab — correctly designated as brown, but it had a faint red warmth radiating from underneath. Worth less than $100? But where would I find another coin like that, in a holder like that, so that my collection would still start the way it always had?
Similarly, I had 1900 Morgan in MS65 in an old, NGC fatty slab. Blazing cartwheel luster, and lovely blue and orange rim toning on both sides. I have probably bought and returned a half-dozen 1900 MS65 Morgans, and returned them all, because they just could not compare to the coin I lost.
Now, very thankfully, these coins have all been recovered! As I shared here at the time, a month after the robbery, I discovered that some of my coins were being sold by store in Pasadena. To date, I have recovered 11 individual coins, my 1958 mint set, and a complete set of gem uncirculated silver dimes 1946-1964-P-D-S.
None of my gold coins have been recovered. My belief is that they were all likely melted. That being said, whenever I am ready to pay for one, finding one is usually not that hard.
If I could have one gold coin back? Easy! My 1834 Classic Head $5 in PCGS FR-02. I had a lot of nice gold coins in my collection, some that were worth multiples of what this one cost, but I simply cannot find another. If any of you have one to sell — or a $3 in P1-FR2 — please let me know!
I would never have guessed that these would be the coins I’d miss the most — now, going forward with my collection, I have come to really appreciate how value for me has more to do with what is in my heart than with what may be written on a price sheet. I still wish I had not been robbed, but this is an insight I am very happy to have gained.
Comments
Interesting write up. The point you make are worthy of consideration. Some rare coins are pretty easy to find and certain common coins can neve be found when you need them. Certainly those with sentimental connections sting the most. I’m glad you got some back. That doesn’t always happen.
IT is only money.... coins can be replaced ....... all safe is the best
I'm very glad you recovered some of your collection! I completely understand your perspective. An 1834 Classic Head $5 in MS would be great to have but in FR02? For me, absolutely. The well circulated version didn't just live during history, it participated in history! I like to imagine how it was spent, what it was spent on, was it someone's wage for a week of work?, etc.... As unhappy as you (and I) are about it being stolen, this is the newest part of it's long history. Maybe it's not the first time it was stolen! I sincerely hope it comes back to you along with all of it's history. Good to hear you're still collecting!
Great transactions with oih82w8, JasonGaming, Moose1913.
Glad to hear of the partial recovery, Charlie.
Awesome you got some of your coins back, sounds like the coin shop didn't cooperate too much. It's pretty prevalent for thieves to smash sliding glass doors to gain entry as most people only have an alarm that indicates when it is slid open.
I know there was somewhat decent pics of the thieves but it doesn't sound like that led to an arrest. I wish the best for you and your family but you seem to be making the best of it, you're that kind of person.
Glad to hear they did not harm the dog that would of been bad. I dont know what it would be life without my little companion pictured here. She has been a true friend every day day in and day out. I just noticed the little guy chewed on my gum through my netting of my lunch bag. Priceless!
WOW!
I'm glad that you, your daughter and your little doggy are all OK.
Things like this just make me so mad. I just might be out of control if this happened to me.
Wow I'm so happy for you no one was harmed and you actually got many of your coins back!
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Artist said: "I have come to really appreciate how value for me has more to do with what is in my heart than with what may be written on a price sheet."
I could not have said it any better.
Pete
...it seems like you are making the best of your situation...your OP must have been tough on you while writing it...Thanks for sharing your expirence as it’s interesting to see how human beings get back up after they get kicked down hard, and you stood up Strong are handling it Well IMHO...Salute
Careful with gum, lots of gum contains xylitol which is toxic to dogs.
I'm sorry to hear about your lost. So glad that you and your family are safe. Thank you for your post as it gives me a diffent perspective on my collection !!!
Love is in the air. But then again, so is smog. Perspective is the key, and yours is treasured.
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@Artist ....Excellent post... glad to hear you recovered some coins. Your attitude is excellent and one that many people never achieve. Those that wallow in bitterness over a negative life event, really have been traumatized twice.... the ongoing effects will, eventually, be more damaging than the original event. Good luck with further recoveries. Cheers, RickO
All the above posts fit what I would say to you perfectly.
Superb post . . . on a topic that would be tough for all of us . . .
Drunner