Childhood Dream Coins - Now and Then

MrEureka · October 2, 2020 3:26PM

I’m 60 years old. As a young boy, I started out with the same dreams as most collectors. A 1909-S VDB Cent, because it was the key to the album I was trying to fill. An 1804 Dollar and 1913 Nickel, because they made headlines and were (supposedly) the crowning achievements for anyone collecting the entire Red Book, which all kids expect to do. And a few other less obvious things, just because they captured my fancy, but those weren’t for everyone. I think most of us collectors from that era had similar dreams.

Today, I have no idea what young collectors dream of, but I suspect it’s very different than it used to be. Does anyone here have a clue?

neildrobertson · October 2, 2020 3:34PM

I started collecting 7 or 8 years ago. I still don't have a dream coin or a bucket list coin. People seem to be chasing eye appeal more than the coin these days.

silverpop · October 2, 2020 3:37PM

I have stuck with one simple idea to collect what catches my eye, no wish list of coins, no dream coin just collecting whatever gets my notice

Hydrant · October 2, 2020 3:44PM

Interesting question. I don't have a clue.

philographer · October 2, 2020 3:48PM

“Followers”

Raybo · October 2, 2020 4:05PM

I'm 65, and as a youth neither the 1804 dollar nor the 1913 Liberty nickel ever entered my young mind because I had no knowledge or appetites for these coins.
My uncle delivered milk and he ALWAYS got cash for payment.....I was pulling Buffalo nickels and Lincoln cents from his bootie from the age of 9, and the date never mattered.

ThreeCentSilverFL · October 2, 2020 4:15PM

Yes, the 1909-S VDB was the one for me. Also the '32-D and S Washington Quarter Dollars. We filled Whitmans when I was young. It was a great time.

ShaunBC5 · October 2, 2020 4:34PM

I’ve always put the Gobrecht dollar at the top of my list.
The big popular ones in the Lincoln Cents and Mercs were/are in the list, too, but the Gobrecht has always been THE ONE for me. Really the reverse just does it for me. Picked up some Flying Eagle cents early on and that’s as close as I’ve gotten to one.

thebeav · October 2, 2020 5:14PM

The kids that used to come into the store were always impressed with 'gold' coins......"Wow, Real Gold ?"

PerryHall · October 2, 2020 5:25PM

@thebeav said:
The kids that used to come into the store were always impressed with 'gold' coins......"Wow, Real Gold ?"

When I was young kid collecting coins, I felt the same way. Silver coins were just every day pocket change. Morgan and Peace dollars could be obtained from any bank for face value. But, gold coins were magical to a young coin collector. Imagine a coin made out of gold that could be spent for $2.5, $5, $10 or $20. And a dollar had real value back then.

divecchia · October 2, 2020 5:35PM

When I first started collecting coins which was later in life and not as a child, it was the 1909-S VDB and the 1955 Doubled Die that were my dream coins. When I started collecting again a little over 3 years ago that dream became a reality with my first coin purchase which was a 1909-S VDB. Less than a year later I picked up the 1955 Doubled Die.

I don't know what today's kids think is their dream coin(s), but I think it would be interesting to finding out.

Donato

SoFlo · October 2, 2020 6:28PM

I have no idea how the youth of today rationalize anything but, I'll share a funny experience that I had in Old Mexico.
I was walking down the sidewalk on my way to the "Market". Back then you could buy anything from switch blades to turquoise jewelry at the market. Getting it back across the border was your problem.
Anyway, this little girl runs up, grabs my hand and asked if I had any change. I reached in my pocket and pulled out some pennies, a bunch of dimes and a few nickels and held my hand out for her to take what she wanted. She carefully picked out the nickels, smiled and went the other way. I believe she took the nickels because they were bigger and she thought that they were worth more.

Zoins · October 2, 2020 6:35PM

@MrEureka said:
I started out with the same dreams as most collectors.... An 1804 Dollar and 1913 Nickel, because they made headlines and were (supposedly) the crowning achievements for anyone collecting the entire Red Book, which all kids expect to do.

I'm glad one of us was able to make this dream come true

What's even more amazing, is that these weren't the highlight of the collection, which is the 1794 dollar.

Zoins · October 2, 2020 6:38PM

While I had coins as a kid, my most memorable experience with money as a kid was creating a "bank" and issuing play money. I haven't done that yet!

scubafuel · October 2, 2020 6:38PM

If you want to find the best performing collectibles 30 years from now, find out what smart, nerdy 10-14 year old boys are coveting now. So it’s an interesting question. My guess is that for coins it’s not the 1909-s, etc.

scotty4449 · October 2, 2020 6:43PM

I can't remember what I dreamed about when I collected as a kid. When I started collecting again after a 30 year break, it was a beautiful DCAM trade dollar proof that sparked my interest. One day I hope to have enough "disposable cash" to buy a coin like the one I saw.

Zoins · October 2, 2020 6:53PM

@scubafuel said:
If you want to find the best performing collectibles 30 years from now, find out what smart, nerdy 10-14 year old boys are coveting now. So it’s an interesting question. My guess is that for coins it’s not the 1909-s, etc.

Given the move away from collecting physical things, I'd venture it may be something like collecting stocks.

Jimnight · October 2, 2020 7:04PM

I don't think I had one.

coinbuf · October 2, 2020 7:24PM

I grew up in a very remote area on part of one of the Indian reservations, we had one TV channel (somedays) and little contact with the greater world in general. So I did not form an interest in collecting until I was older into my late teens and early twenties. And that interest was competing with girls and collage so I never had dream coins until later in life.

daltex · October 2, 2020 7:27PM

1943 Copper?

7Jaguars · October 2, 2020 7:48PM

I wanted a 50 dollar slug.......Guess that won't come to be.

My son who is 11 has absolutely no interest in coins, not even shiny ones, or gold or platinum or....

Walkerguy21D · October 2, 2020 7:58PM

Flowing hair halves and dollars were, and I guess still are, at the top of my dream list. I’ve also added a Chain cent to the dream list.

Raybo · October 2, 2020 9:00PM

@ShaunBC5 said:
I’ve always put the Gobrecht dollar at the top of my list.
The big popular ones in the Lincoln Cents and Mercs were/are in the list, too, but the Gobrecht has always been THE ONE for me. Really the reverse just does it for me. Picked up some Flying Eagle cents early on and that’s as close as I’ve gotten to one.

I'm a big "no stars" fan no matter the denomination ....is that what you are referring to Shaun?

Raybo · October 2, 2020 9:01PM

ShaunBC5 · October 2, 2020 9:21PM

@Raybo I'm talking about the early seated dollars that have the soaring eagle on the reverse and his name big on the obverse.
Some have stars on the obv, and some on the rev. I’d take one with or without the name, and big or small name.
And yes, the one you posted is a great example.

SiriusBlack · October 2, 2020 9:42PM

1877 Indian cent, 1909S VDB, and a Chain Cent. They’re basically all still on my list

MrEureka · October 2, 2020 10:01PM

I'll make one crazy prediction for the next generation's iconic rarity: The Cheerios Dollar.

I figure small dollars are the most diverse and interesting series of circulating modern coins, and they'll catch on with kids when and if the denomination ever makes it to prime time, which I expect it will. The Cheerios Dollar has a great story, and can probably still be cherrypicked. It will be the new King of Coins.

Baley · October 2, 2020 10:09PM

1793 half cent and cent, 1796 quarter, 1797 half dollar, 1795 half eagle and eagle, Gobrecht dollar, high relief saint, a few others

Coin Finder · October 2, 2020 10:32PM

$20 St Gaudens gold piece was my dream coin.. I have owned and sold a few now... I still admire the beauty of this coin and cannot believe they were in circulation....

jrrgd · October 2, 2020 11:31PM

Im old like OP and wanted same '09-S VDB...1877 Indian penny. 1955 DD. they were all out of my reach

the question is important tho...what are young people interested in?

MrEureka · October 2, 2020 11:38PM

@jrrgd said:
Im old like OP...

It's "I'm as old as the OP", thank you very much.

amwldcoin · October 3, 2020 3:21AM

Hmmmm, when I was a young collector I didn't have a favorite coin because I wanted them all!

Boosibri · October 3, 2020 3:41AM

I have always collected things...action figures as a young kid, baseball cards for years, comic books...I paid for my university by getting autographs and game used bats at baseballs game and selling them. I didn't get into coins until my mid 20's and have been in it (deep) for 12-15 years now.

As such, my first dream coin is probably an 1861-D $5

BigMoose · October 3, 2020 4:26AM

The two coins which fascinated me from my early 60s Redbooks were the 1795 Ten Dollar Gold and the 1794 Large Cent in Unc., which I learned years later was the Sheldon 28, 29 obverse( which I was able to procure a top notch example of in 1994 ).

ricko · October 3, 2020 4:38AM

I do not know what kids of today are seeking - I would have to spend time on Instagram and see what products are hot... If there were coin shows going on, that would be a good place to check. When I was a kid, IHC's could still be found in circulation... not common, but they would show up. I saved all I found back then. I had a paper route, so that helped me to see a fair amount of change. Cheers, RickO

CaptHenway · October 3, 2020 8:12AM

I am ten years older than the old fart, er, original poster, and my dream coin was the 1804 Dollar, which still listed a $10,000 auction price from one sale. Since my chief source of income at the time were 2 cent pop bottle deposits the thought of some day having $10,000 together at one time was daunting, but I did eventually get to carry the Linderman Specimen in my shirt pocket for an hour or two!

Along · October 3, 2020 10:26AM

@coinbuf said:
I grew up in a very remote area on part of one of the Indian reservations, we had one TV channel (somedays) and little contact with the greater world in general. So I did not form an interest in collecting until I was older into my late teens and early twenties. And that interest was competing with girls and collage so I never had dream coins until later in life.

Looks like girls won versus collage!

Along · October 3, 2020 10:34AM

I think that if they killed the Lincoln penny or Roosevelt Dime, young collectors would be more interested in collecting those two series

Zoins · October 3, 2020 10:46AM

@Along said:
I think that if they killed the Lincoln penny or Roosevelt Dime, young collectors would be more interested in collecting those two series

What do YNs like these days? I see Silver Eagle Dollars, Franklin Halves, and Liberty Seated Dollars but from just a few people. I’m curious what’s common among YNs.

Catbert · October 3, 2020 10:51AM

The Fugio was my kid dream coin. The influence of Ben Franklin on the design, the beginnings of Federally approved coinage, and the interlocking chain on the reverse we’re all of interest to me. I have one now.

Of course the Lincoln 55 DDO was a dream too but have never owned one.

johnny9434 · October 3, 2020 11:50AM

I still have to get an 1909 a indian head cent in high grade. Some day

jesbroken · October 3, 2020 12:01PM

Yes, at 72 years old, I can remember vividly the search for the 1909 S VDB Lincoln Cent. Always that slim chance of finding one in the hundreds of rolls of lincolns that I went through. I had a 126 customer paper route at 11 years old, and had to divide it into thirds on Wednesday and Sunday and hide them in bushes to be able to carry them and not get the inventory from being stolen. Once a week I would go to the bank and get change for whatever green I had left. Mostly pennies and dimes(yes I called them pennies and still do). The bank would give out dime boards to fill in and I would write dates under them and they became my albums. Wish I still had them.
Jim

Added: God I would hope some yn would have the same level of suspense and excitement with each roll of coins I would open or the pennies I would pick up off the street. I wonder if any do?

scubafuel · October 3, 2020 12:10PM

I’m hoping every kid will be super into bust quarters, but that may be a stretch.

BillJones · October 3, 2020 12:17PM

Although I started with Lincoln Cents, the series never grabbed my imagination. The Indian cents were my focus, and once I got done filling the easy holes from the 1890s and early 1900s, my attention turned the tough shuff. The Civil war era interested me, and those coins were fairly cheap in the circulated grades.

The big coin because the 1877 Indian plus I get bit by the gold bug so I did a type set, first the eight piece, and then the 12 piece. I got lucky and acquired a Type II gold dollar early on. The Three Dollar Gold piece was always the stopper because it sold for over $300 in AU which was a grade that looked okay beside the other coins in my set.

When I got to my 20s, my interest in Indian Cents faded, and I became mostly a type collector.

Nap · October 3, 2020 12:24PM

As a kid I always dreamed of finding a 1931-s penny. I didn’t have a 09-s VDB or 1914-d but I figured those would be extremely unlikely to find. I thought I would have a chance with the 31-s. No such luck.

I think my dream coin as a kid when I got my first Red Book was the pan pac $50. Maybe it still is though I never seriously thought of trying to get one.

jmski52 · October 3, 2020 12:26PM

I used to drool over the advertisements on the back of comic books about the dealer (Littleton?) who wanted to make me rich when I found an 1804 Dollar or a gold Stella so that I could sell it to them. I had no idea how to go about finding either of them, though.

I was transfixed by my dad's Whitman books that were full of Barber dimes, quarters & halves which he had accumulated working in my grandfather's hardware store as a young adult. I wanted an 1894-S dime pretty bad. Or a 14-D cent. And especially a 1950-D nickel.

I settled for a 1963 Proof Set and a roll of BU 1963 cents.

ttown · October 3, 2020 1:12PM

This is what I consider my first coin (collectible) brought at a flea market for .65 cents. It’s flipped in the original holder over the years, so I may have to send it back into PCGS for re-holder. I know it’s way under graded as it should be a PCGS 70+.

You could get a lot of stuff in circulation back then, I wasn’t worried about what coin series or the condition, it was bang for the buck to find the oldest for my money (cost to benefit I guess ). I was really a Franklin guy but looked for flaws as FBL wasn’t that important (fbl was the original first strike).

My dad had a penny collection in a blue Waltham folder I may finish.

Funny how times change. Up to 3 years ago I walked the streets of downtown Tulsa doing health checks on some homeless friends at. 4 or 5 AM. There’s still no hand to hand fighting at the Iron Gate with the whites,blacks,Indians, or Mexicans they have bigger issues. I think most are tired of the deluxe camping trip package.

The national media hyped 1 million at on end and their opponents (they saying ) at the other 5 blocks apart . Man I’d hate to see maybe the biggest Art Deco building’s in the US damaged, along with a frank loyd Wright. We have some special people but if that started I pity the fools. We need a big no trespass sign.

Anyway to the poor side of town while the old lady visits some friends all week while she’s on vacation both black and white or Heinz 57 as me if you prefer.

I just had a #stop hate’n shirt printed with an American Flag.

This Hambone first blood stuff getting old😳

[ht https://youtube.com/watch?v=HTTAPCUtbc8//]
I

jdimmick · October 3, 2020 1:17PM

When I was younger, always wanted an 1877 indian head cent in UNC and a nice 01-s quarter. Both of those accomplished.

later in life, always wanted a nice Chain (still have not broken down to buy one)
and 1873-cc No arrows quarter (which I never will obtain due to cost)
I would also love to have a 1799 Large cent in AU (that wont happen either)

in fact, Probably wont accomplish any additional as I am on the way out as we speak.

Swampboy · October 3, 2020 3:12PM

My guess is the current generation's dream coin weighs 2.2 pounds and is made of gold.
JK.

Mine was a $2.50 gold coin in the case of the local book seller/coin dealer.

Ike1964 · October 3, 2020 10:52PM

My dream coins as a kid were the key dates: 1877 IHC, 1909-S VDB, 1955 DDO, 3-Leg nickel, 42/1 Dime, 32-D Quarter. That is still my primary focus today, PCGS certified high grade key dates and hopefully CAC as a bonus. Eye appeal very important. I have a 10 year old grandson that I have been giving coins to as presents and took him to a coin show. Not sure at this point if he has the interest yet, but I haven't given up.

SilverProofQuarter1883 · October 4, 2020 11:19AM

Wanted this one since I was 8 years old, I always wanted a big gold coin since I was just starting out. Now at 18 years old after saving up and trading, I final got my dream coin that I wanted since I first starting in this hobby

Childhood Dream Coins - Now and Then

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