My Family Thinks Coin Collecting is Geeky!

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Aotearoa
Aotearoa Posts: 1,628 ✭✭✭✭✭
in U.S. Coin Forum

I collect Draped Bust Large Cents. By year. By die variety. By die state.

My 13 year-old thinks that is just the geekiest thing ever. He cringes! He's embarrassed for me! My 15 year-old at least feigns a level of interest but his eyes glaze over when I try to explain/demonstrate the die state concept. As for my wife, the only interest she has is in the cost. To be fair, Fortnite does nothing for me...

I picked up a sweet 1801 S-223 DS-I today. I'm excited even if no one else is!

Smitten with DBLCs.

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Comments

  • Paradisefound
    Paradisefound Posts: 8,623 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    My girlfriends think I am an old soul.....so I told them to grow up ;)
    BTW I am EXCITED for your sweet S :)

  • TommyType
    TommyType Posts: 4,586 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Accept the geekiness! Wear it with pride! ;)

    My wife is just happy I have something to keep me entertained. She has no interest in coins, but once in awhile I can catch her interest. She was amazed that Carson City had a mint....

    It's the little things.... ;)

    Easily distracted Type Collector
  • Kudbegud
    Kudbegud Posts: 4,735 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Fly your geek flag high. Messydesk has the right angle. History and stories of the coins travels are magical. Tie it something that interests them like "in the old days" there were only coin operated games. Good luck. Age may bring them around.


  • coinhack
    coinhack Posts: 1,226 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Everyone thinks coin collecting is geeky. I know people who could swing a million dollars for a coin but would not consider buying one for a hundred dollars. They would rather spend the money on a trip around the world, which one of them just did.

    Now gold or possibly silver bullion, that is a different story.

  • Paradisefound
    Paradisefound Posts: 8,623 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    May I tell you my pick @MANOFCOINS ? ;) I like the smaller duller one :*

  • Aotearoa
    Aotearoa Posts: 1,628 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    My older boy was reading AB Guthrie's "The Big Sky" (set in 1830 and beyond) and I mentioned that the coins Boone had in his pocket probably weren't as old as the 1800 Large Cents I had in my hand. That made a bit of a connection.

    And, in retrospect, the younger boy did think it was pretty cool to hold a handful of Morgan dollars.

    Smitten with DBLCs.

  • Aotearoa
    Aotearoa Posts: 1,628 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @TommyType said:
    Accept the geekiness! Wear it with pride! ;)

    Absolutely!

    Smitten with DBLCs.

  • mannie gray
    mannie gray Posts: 7,259 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Mine does too.
    I don't care.

  • ArizonaRareCoins
    ArizonaRareCoins Posts: 679 ✭✭✭✭
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    Classic coin collecting is like antiquing, it's American history, it's hours of looking at all the details of a coin...........HMMM, I believe that is Webster's defintion of "geeky". At least they didn't call you "nerdy".

  • 3keepSECRETif2rDEAD
    3keepSECRETif2rDEAD Posts: 4,285 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    ...sounds like your Family is normal to me ;)

  • SkyMan
    SkyMan Posts: 9,605 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Just think, in 30 years time they'll probably be collecting something and you'll be able to razz them about how geeky it is whatever they are collecting.

    Toned Franklins

    U.S. Type Set
  • skier07
    skier07 Posts: 4,833 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    When my son was 15 he told me he would sell my coins on eBay if I died. Fast forward 10 years and now at least he has a sense of appreciation for some of my coins, especially the gold ones.

  • Azurescens
    Azurescens Posts: 2,907 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @SkyMan said:
    Just think, in 30 years time they'll probably be collecting something and you'll be able to razz them about how geeky it is whatever they are collecting.

    Miley Cyrus bobbleheads that "twerk".

  • jesbroken
    jesbroken Posts: 11,252 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Where's the pic of your 1801 S-223 DS-I? Would love to see it.
    Jim


    When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, he will either quit being mistaken or cease to be honest....Abraham Lincoln

    Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.....Mark Twain
  • DCW
    DCW Posts: 7,874 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    You are amongst friends here.

    Dead Cat Waltz Exonumia
    "Coin collecting for outcasts..."

  • Azurescens
    Azurescens Posts: 2,907 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @dennis1219 said:

    ...as I was paging through an online coin auction, dog by my side, bourbon on the rocks in my hand, my 20 year old daughter said she hopes she can be as content as me one day in the future.

    Right in them feels. :)o:):oB)

  • PerryHall
    PerryHall Posts: 47,749 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    I never considered geek to be a pejorative term. If someone called me a geek I would thank them for the complement. :D

    Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
    "Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
    "Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire

  • TwoSides2aCoin
    TwoSides2aCoin Posts: 45,216 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Only endeavor where people pay more for something they can get for face value at the bank and others take 11% less on deposit at coinstar. Yeah, that's geekiness to the tenth power.

  • Type2
    Type2 Posts: 13,985 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited June 25, 2018 9:04AM
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    @Aotearoa said:
    I collect Draped Bust Large Cents. By year. By die variety. By die state.

    My 13 year-old thinks that is just the geekiest thing ever. He cringes! He's embarrassed for me! My 15 year-old at least feigns a level of interest but his eyes glaze over when I try to explain/demonstrate the die state concept. As for my wife, the only interest she has is in the cost. To be fair, Fortnite does nothing for me...

    I picked up a sweet 1801 S-223 DS-I today. I'm excited even if no one else is!

    I've been called worse. It all started when I was a kid I tried rapping 1st it did not work out so I started coin collecting.



    Hoard the keys.
  • topstuf
    topstuf Posts: 14,803 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    I'd guess most people under 30 consider coins as either something to spend or something to sell.
    And "spend" would be diminishing as they fall under the spell of credit cards.

    :'(

  • Jimnight
    Jimnight Posts: 10,846 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Everyone is entitled to their own opinion.

  • Gluggo
    Gluggo Posts: 3,566 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited June 25, 2018 9:27AM
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    Buy them a few 1 ounce Gold coins toss them into their hands and say here you go! I bet they have a different outlook. Or better yet buy them 20 of the 1 Ounce Solid Silver Bullion and drop them into their hands. Then say go spend it!

    But then you tell them each one of those 1 ounce silver bullion is worth $16 bucks or market. Now your teach them conversion math! Now you got a Math Student for life!

  • PhilLynott
    PhilLynott Posts: 900 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    One thing I've learned is everyone is geeky/dorky in some way or another some just opt to completely hide it.

  • fiftysevener
    fiftysevener Posts: 943 ✭✭✭✭
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    Yes I've ben known to bite heads off live chickens too but I collect proofs mostly. So when I show the kids some cool coins at least they are impressed by the beauty....... Just don't tell them how much they cost !

  • JBK
    JBK Posts: 17,860 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    I think hobbies in general are not nearly as popular as they once were. That is really tragic as they provide valuable "down time" or meditation of sorts.

    Most hobbies also provide for a wide exposure to lots of things that are peripheral to the hobby itself. Most coin collectors, for example, have a much better knowledge of their country's history and some of the dynamics that were occurring at various times. Hobbies make for better rounded people.

    I have friends who are at best indifferent to my various collections, but I watch them waste time on Facebook or video games or endless cable TV watching. A sad existence, in my opinion.

    In any case, if your kids think coins are nerdy, threaten to start a stamp collection.

  • ctf_error_coins
    ctf_error_coins Posts: 15,433 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited June 25, 2018 10:26AM
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    @Kudbegud said:

    Wow geek comes out as the coolest B) to me, I'll take it. :)

  • Aotearoa
    Aotearoa Posts: 1,628 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @jesbroken said:
    Where's the pic of your 1801 S-223 DS-I? Would love to see it.
    Jim

    Probably paid too much but I've been seeking one of these for a while...

    Smitten with DBLCs.

  • NVU
    NVU Posts: 284 ✭✭✭
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    I know some people use money to buy love...
    I just use money to buy money.

  • TommyType
    TommyType Posts: 4,586 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @Kudbegud said:

    I like that diagram. I've been preaching to "Embrace your inner Geek" ever since I decided I would never be "Cool". ;)

    Try to stay in the Geek area, and avoid being a Dork. ;)

    Easily distracted Type Collector
  • ctf_error_coins
    ctf_error_coins Posts: 15,433 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @TommyType said:

    @Kudbegud said:

    I like that diagram. I've been preaching to "Embrace your inner Geek" ever since I decided I would never be "Cool". ;)

    Try to stay in the Geek area, and avoid being a Dork. ;)

    I have always taught my kids that if someone tells them that they are weird, to say "Thank You", strongly back.

  • johnny9434
    johnny9434 Posts: 34,049 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    if thats being geeky then thats another thing i can live with. jmo

  • oih82w8
    oih82w8 Posts: 13,206 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    I was fixin' to say...show us this coin...but you did a couple posts above. Nice one!

    I always thought that "nerds" were the center of the universe. I embrace my "nerdiness" on a recurring level.

    oih82w8 = Oh I Hate To Wait _defectus patientia_aka...Dr. Defecto - Curator of RMO's

    BST transactions: dbldie55, jayPem, 78saen, UltraHighRelief, nibanny, liefgold, FallGuy, lkeigwin, mbogoman, Sandman70gt, keets, joeykoins, ianrussell (@GC), EagleEye, ThePennyLady, GRANDAM, Ilikecolor, Gluggo, okiedude, Voyageur, LJenkins11, fastfreddie, ms70, pursuitofliberty, ZoidMeister,Coin Finder, GotTheBug, edwardjulio, Coinnmore, Nickpatton, Namvet69,...
  • crazyhounddog
    crazyhounddog Posts: 14,250 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    I haven’t read all of these responses but let me tell ya. It IS geeky and that’s alright :)
    I’ll promise you this. When they grow up they will see the light.

    The bitterness of "Poor Quality" is remembered long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.
  • jesbroken
    jesbroken Posts: 11,252 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Very nice. I like it regardless of the label.
    Jim


    When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, he will either quit being mistaken or cease to be honest....Abraham Lincoln

    Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.....Mark Twain
  • TopoftheHill
    TopoftheHill Posts: 200 ✭✭✭
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    The guys on the "Big Bang Theory" are definitely geeks. In this exchange from Series 9, episode 19, Leonard basically implies that coin collecting is geeky:

    Leonard: Penny says they’re having fun working on the prototype.

    Howard: Remember when her fun was nightclubs and drinking games?

    Leonard: I know. I’m lowering the bar so slowly. This time next year she’ll have a coin collection.

  • No Headlights
    No Headlights Posts: 2,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    To each his own. Most of the world is crazy in love with soccer, including two of my sons. I don’t get it at all. Most boring sport (to me) I have ever watched. A great way to take a nap in my opinion

  • crazyhounddog
    crazyhounddog Posts: 14,250 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Geeks are cool. We all be cool man :)B)

    The bitterness of "Poor Quality" is remembered long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.
  • Swampboy
    Swampboy Posts: 13,255 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    I told my grandson while he looked yhrough a dishbof> @skier07 said:

    When my son was 15 he told me he would sell my coins on eBay if I died. Fast forward 10 years and now at least he has a sense of appreciation for some of my coins, especially the gold ones.

    Kinda reminds me of the old saying "When I was fourteen my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have him around. But when I got to be twenty-one, I was astonished at how much he had learned in seven years.

    "Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working" Pablo Picasso

  • Hydrant
    Hydrant Posts: 7,773 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited June 26, 2018 8:52AM
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    It could be worse.

  • Azurescens
    Azurescens Posts: 2,907 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @Swampboy said:
    Kinda reminds me of the old saying "When I was fourteen my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have him around. But when I got to be twenty-one, I was astonished at how much he had learned in seven years.

    Sent that to my dad. He wakes up in 9 minutes. I bet it will make his day thank you.

  • ChrisH821
    ChrisH821 Posts: 7,147 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Weird Al: White and Nerdy
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9qYF9DZPdw

    Collector, occasional seller

  • Cougar1978
    Cougar1978 Posts: 10,067 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited June 26, 2018 10:04AM
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    Coin Collecting is often used as an example as describing certain savant qualities / fixation on a certain area of interest one of diagnostics for persons afflicted with AS.

    Be careful how u present your numismatic interests with gals u date as they may have been warned from online sources about “non neurotypicals.”

    Investor
  • JBK
    JBK Posts: 17,860 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited June 26, 2018 10:24AM
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    @Cougar1978 said:
    Be careful how u present your numismatic interests with gals u date as they may have been warned from online sources about “non neurotypicals.”

    Best advice of the day/week/month, at least for any YNs here.

    When even @Paradisefound has trouble convincing her gal pals that coin collecting is a legitimate hobby, any young male coin collectors had better tread carefully.

    Maybe say that you are an investor or a precious metals hoarder. The ??? in their heads will turn to $$$ and you'll probably never be alone on a Saturday night again. B):Do:)

  • crazyhounddog
    crazyhounddog Posts: 14,250 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @JBK said:

    @Cougar1978 said:
    Be careful how u present your numismatic interests with gals u date as they may have been warned from online sources about “non neurotypicals.”

    Best advice of the day/week/month, at least for any YNs here.

    When even @Paradisefound has trouble convincing her gal pals that coin collecting is a legitimate hobby, any young male coin collectors had better tread carefully.

    Maybe say that you are an investor or a precious metals hoarder. The ??? in their heads will turn to $$$ and you'll probably never be alone on a Saturday night again. B):Do:)

    Laugh if you will but I have had some great experiences telling pretty girls I was a precious metal investor. They tend to like that :)

    The bitterness of "Poor Quality" is remembered long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.
  • Paradisefound
    Paradisefound Posts: 8,623 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited June 26, 2018 10:49AM
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    LOLOLOLOLOL

    @crazyhounddog said:

    Laugh if you will but I have had some great experiences telling pretty girls I was a precious metal investor. They tend to like that :)

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