The coins my grandfather left for me, now on display
airplanenut
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You may recall a few months back when I posted about an envelope of coins my grandfather left for me when he passed away in September (https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/1109223/a-few-inexpensive-coins-and-a-very-valuable-envelope-with-3-words-on-it). I wasn’t really sure what to do with them other than hold on to them, and then @BStrauss3 suggested mounting them in a shadow box, which was an idea I loved. It took me a little while to figure out just how to do it, get the materials, and actually put it all together, but today I finally finished and hung it up.
I chose to hang it just outside my bedroom, right above the framed drawing I mentioned in the previous post, itself one of my best memories of my grandparents’ house. The coins are mounted perhaps a tad bit high—my eye level is with the top mat of the drawing—but the frame is well lit even with the nearby light off (much more so than if I moved the drawing up and put the coins below) and I’ll see it over and over again every day in this spot. These also aren’t coins I need to see up close, so the view is, as my grandfather would always say, veeeeeeeeery good!
I really like how this came out, and I’m thrilled to have a way to appreciate these and remember my grandfather every day, rather than having squirreled away and out of sight.
If anyone’s curious, I got the shadow box on Amazon, looking for one with some depth to the backer (it’s 1/4” thick) so I could mount the coins with something not distracting. For that I used the shortest nails I could find on Amazon that have heads, and I used a sharpie to make them back. I can dig up the links if you want to know specifics. The coins are in Kointains, which @carabonnair was kind enough to offer and send me. I expected they might reflect a fair amount of light, but there’s little if any reflection off them.
Comments
Nice touch! The woodcut is cool too. I am a big Arts and Crafts collector and have several.
That’s a great looking display—nice work!
I agree. The artist is Irving Amen.
Very nice!
Do you think a picture of your grandfather would look better than the envelope?
Super cool, I like the envelope with his writing to you displayed.
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In this case, no. I have photos and they can go anywhere, but much of the meaning behind these coins is that when my grandfather put them away, I--the one collector in the family--was who he thought of. That's encapsulated in the words on the envelope, not to mention it's in his very distinct handwriting. These aren't coins I would normally collect or display, but with the envelope and the backstory, they're priceless to me. The envelope is everything.
Very cool and very well done!
Nice tribute to your grandfather
Sometimes, it’s better to be LUCKY than good. 🍀 🍺👍
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Wonderful!
Coin Photographer.
Wonderful memories of your grandfather! Thanks for sharing.
This is fantastic! It's first class all the way.
Similar to you, I have two large size notes that my grandparents gave to me in the late 1970s framed and hanging in our library. Neither note is worth much, but they saved those bills for decades so I placed them where they could be enjoyed.
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
Well done Jeremy!
I’m sure your grandfather would be pleased that you did this..
See you at the PNNA!
Daryl
Avery moving display. Thanks for sharing.
In the fall 🙂. Can’t make the spring show, unfortunately. But alas, to make it related to this thread, that weekend I’ll have a chance to pull out a quip from my childhood that always had my grandfather laughing with someone who knows the backstory for the first time in 20 years.
Jeremy:
Awesome!
Nice, I like 👍
Beautiful! Displayed memory pieces are that spiritual hug of the day. Have a good day. Peace Roy
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Well done and….Awwwwwww
nicely done
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Not at all surprising - very nicely done, Jeremy!
And I can certainly understand about the importance of the envelope and the three words written on it.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
Really really nicely done! Awesome tribute - I love it!
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Well done.
Equally awesome and priceless!
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This is what it's all about. Thanks for sharing.
That’s great!
Mr_Spud