The one that started it all
CWT1863
Posts: 316 ✭✭✭✭
The item that started my journey of collecting Civil War tokens is a store card from Cincinnati, Ohio. While it is likely the least attractive piece in my collection, it holds a special place as it was my first ever Civil War token. At the time, I was collecting U.S. coins and had recently completed my album of Lincoln cents. However, I was starting to lose interest in collecting by just date and mint mark. I remember each time I went to the local coin shop I use to visit, I would always ask it they had anything odd or unusual. On one of my visits, they had a civil war token. While I had heard about Civil War tokens, I did not know much about them but purchased it anyway. At subsequent trips to the coin shop, I purchased an additional three Civil War tokens. A couple months later I joined the Civil War Token Society and later that summer attended my first major convention which was the 2016 ANA in Anaheim. That show catapulted my interest in numismatics and as they say, the rest is history. Feel free to post the item that started your primary collecting interest. 
ANA-LM, CWTS-LM, NBS, TAMS, ANS
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This 09SVDB started me on my journey to complete a full date mm Lincoln set; I completed the 09-58 portion three years ago roughly 20 years after I purchased this coin. Still working on the 59-current portion of the Lincoln set, I may never finish it though.
My Collection of Old Holders
Never a slave to one plastic brand will I ever be.
Nice!
That is most definitely a real nice specimen of a key date!
Pete
My coin that started it all was the Large Cent 1847 It peaked my interest immediately! For one, it's size. Never seen a USA coin (Cent) so large. Then, for two, the date. Thinking, what many think, that first start out in coins. "It's so old, it has got to be worth $1000's?" Lol. I found it under an old carpet in a vacant apartment at my old, old job. Also, found some wheaties and I believe a Merc. Dime. It was the Cent that got me!
"Jesus died for you and for me, Thank you,Jesus"!!!
--- If it should happen I die and leave this world and you want to remember me. Please only remember my opening Sig Line.Regarding my current interests, what started it all was an early U. S. Mint medal, purchased from John Kraljevich. The Washington-Presidency Relinquished (Sansom) medal:
This sparked my interest in historical medals and tokens.
RMR: 'Wer, wenn ich schriee, hörte mich denn aus der Engel Ordnungen?'
CJ: 'No one!' [Ain't no angels in the coin biz]
I was about 11, went to a local flea market and negotiated 3 AG/G seated dimes for $15. Here are two of the three.
My CWT story is similar. In 1988, while in college, I attended a show in Buffalo. I came across a store card from a merchant that shared my last name in a box of inexpensive tokens. For $3, I figured I couldn't go wrong. I did some research and bought some mixed CWTs lots from a small classified ad that Steve Tanenbaum used to run in Coin World. Ended up joining the CWTS a year later and was able to win some nice pieces from their auctions. Through the CWTs, I became interested in civil war history and have made a few trips to Gettysburg, Antietam, and Fredericksburg. All that from an accidental discovery, over 30 years ago.
I got started with IHC's...used to get them occasionally on my paper route... or later when selling the extras at the market. I would squirrel them away in my 'watch pocket' of my jeans....The paper was 8 cents and often someone would give a dime (Mercs were not uncommon) and say keep the change...Hey, two cents could buy two penny candies back then...
....next logical step would have been Buffs... but a nickel was a lot to a kid back then, so only kept one or two....Cheers, RickO
This coin started my 12 piece gold set:
My YouTube Channel
That is most definitely a real nice specimen of a key date!
Pete
Like many, I started collecting in the 1960's searching rolls and filling the Whitman books. I have none of those cents left except this one. 1924 D in AG - Fr. Still resides in my 1909 - 1934 MS Capitol plastics board as a reminder of where this all started from.
WS
Menomonee Falls Wisconsin USA
http://www.pcgs.com/SetRegistr...dset.aspx?s=68269&ac=1">Musky 1861 Mint Set
These two $20 double eagles started it all. The 1854 large date was just a sweet original coin that was somewhat crusty and (rare). The saint was hands down better looking than anything that was available. I bought them and later was questioned by an elderly dealer why I was buying generic gold. The funny thing was he wanted the 1854 $20. I was in my glory with my new purchase especially after my cac run that I received a green cac and a gold.
Generic gold! Lolol
The two below coins are the two the started my focus on gold $20’s...
The first coin was the 66-s and I found it online and knew I just had to have it... I ended up winning it pretty easy and got it for a great price as it is a scarcer date Type II...
The 60-s, however was much tougher to acquire as I got in a bidding war with several other collectors that clearly also wanted it! I ended up winning it by a mear $7 dollars... thanks to Crusty for advising me to increase my max bid by $7 just in case! ... If not for that, I would have lost her...
...but, these are the two twins the got me going on my path for Gold CAC Gold!
my first CWT !!!
Top 10 Cal Fractional Type Set
successful BST with Ankurj, BigAl, Bullsitter, CommemKing, DCW(7), Downtown1974, Elmerfusterpuck, Joelewis, Mach1ne, Minuteman810430, Modcrewman, Nankraut, Nederveit2, Philographer(5), Proofcollection, Realgator, Silverpop, SurfinxHI, TomB and Yorkshireman(3)
That is such a cool coin, especially that it’s on an Indian head cent, nice color. Sweet
thanks @Pickwickjr
Top 10 Cal Fractional Type Set
successful BST with Ankurj, BigAl, Bullsitter, CommemKing, DCW(7), Downtown1974, Elmerfusterpuck, Joelewis, Mach1ne, Minuteman810430, Modcrewman, Nankraut, Nederveit2, Philographer(5), Proofcollection, Realgator, Silverpop, SurfinxHI, TomB and Yorkshireman(3)
Love that overstrike!
See http://www.doubledimes.com for a free online reference for US twenty-cent pieces
Hey, I've got one of those Luhrs too! I think it was my first HTT. Great memories. Peace Roy
BST: endeavor1967, synchr, kliao, Outhaul, Donttellthewife, U1Chicago, ajaan, mCarney1173, SurfinHi, MWallace, Sandman70gt, mustanggt, Pittstate03, Lazybones, Walkerguy21D, coinandcurrency242 , thebigeng, Collectorcoins, JimTyler, USMarine6, Elkevvo, Coll3ctor, Yorkshireman, CUKevin, ranshdow, CoinHunter4, bennybravo, Centsearcher, braddick, Windycity, ZoidMeister, mirabela, JJM, RichURich, Bullsitter, jmski52, LukeMarshall, coinsarefun, MichaelDixon, NickPatton, ProfLiz, Twobitcollector,Jesbroken oih82w8, DCW