How Did You Start Coin Collecting?

I was about 5 (not sure).
I got a shiny new penny and it had a bigger number on it than the brown ones.
Apparently, I thought bigger numbers meant older. (as in longer ago)
My dad taped several pennies to a piece of cardboard as a way of explaining.

That's what my father later told me started it around 1969.

Jealous of all who enjoyed the experience of collecting coins in the 1960’s or earlier. I’ve actively checked every coin in my change for wheats, buffs or silver since I was a young kid in the early 90’s and it’s amazing how little circulates these days. I’ve maybe found 10 silver Roosevelt’s and a couple Washington quarters. No buffs or Indians or mercury dimes, etc. I’ve probably found 50 plus wheat pennies: a couple nice AU specimens. It amazes me how little silver is out there considering the fact that the average person has no idea that a dime or quarter dated 1964 or earlier is of any value.