What year did you start collecting?

Either 1989 or 1990 cannot remember for sure. So 35 or 36 years ago. Cannot believe it has been that long ago.
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Either 1989 or 1990 cannot remember for sure. So 35 or 36 years ago. Cannot believe it has been that long ago.
Comments
1995 or so. I think the 95 DDO cent was one of the things that got me in. I was just a kid at the time.
Collector, occasional seller
1976
Successful BST with ad4400, Kccoin, lablover, pointfivezero, koynekwest, jwitten, coin22lover, HalfDimeDude, erwindoc, jyzskowsi, COINS MAKE CENTS, AlanSki, BryceM
I was in my early 20's and it was 1987 when I actually bought my first coin and started collecting.
Donato
Donato's Complete US Type Set ---- Donato's Dansco 7070 Modified Type Set ---- Donato's Basic U.S. Coin Design Set
Successful transactions: Shrub68 (Jim), MWallace (Mike)
Started as a kid... 1968
Successful BST transactions with: SilverEagles92; Ahrensdad; Smitty; GregHansen; Lablade; Mercury10c; copperflopper; whatsup; KISHU1; scrapman1077, crispy, canadanz, smallchange, robkool, Mission16, ranshdow, ibzman350, Fallguy, Collectorcoins, SurfinxHI, jwitten, Walkerguy21D, dsessom.
+1
On my walk to junior high school, passed by a coin/ antique shop in 1969 as a 13 year old. Bought my first coins from the owner who seemed to a young kid to be 100 yrs. old. Still have that Buffalo nickel (a 1913 Ty.1) Forgot to say that he showed me a circulated 1955 doubled die cent in a cardboard 2x2 and on it was written $450. I was amazed at the sight of it!
I was 5 years old in 1966 when i found a small change purse with old silver coins in it. However, it was Christmas morning 1967 when I got my J C Penny "Let's Collect Coins" kit. Guess you have to decide which is more important. James
1976 as well with the 3 piece bicentenial proof set
1964
While I was on my way home from the agora in Athens after warrior/lion match I found a tiny silver coin with a little owl on it on the ground. From that day I was hooked.
USAF (Ret) 1974 - 1994 - The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of blessings; the inherent virtue of socialism is the equal sharing of miseries. Remembering RickO, a brother in arms.
10th bday 1958. My uncle gave me a shiny 1884 O Morgan and told me how easy it was to collect from change. It was on.
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
1972 when I was 8 or so. Collection was made up of common coins with my best being a F12 seated liberty quarter. But then did nothing for ~ 45 years. While I was on travel for work a few years ago, I was talking with a co-worker about hobbies and started thinking about coin collecting again. Since then, I have been very active and have built my collection.
2012.
1964, age 9. I remember the transition from silver to clad, and my first Kennedy half. I remember squirreling away 1939-P nickels and pre-1940 wheats. And I remember finding a 16-S Walker in a sack of coins having a face value of about 30 dollars. It was AG at best, but still very exciting.
The end of 1959 if pushing "pennies" into a Whitman folder counts. I was 10, but I had been hoarding the new Lincoln Memorial reverse cents before that. I had read about them in "The Weekly Reader."
My uncle gave me the two Lincoln Cent Whitman folder and the 13th ediiton of "The Red Book."
1958 when my history teacher gave me a 1936 buffalo nickel in 8th grade.
Mid 60’s wheats and buffaloes. Dimes were for rich kids.
About 1960 as a kid in Racine Wisconsin. We got our Whitman folders (made locally) and then searched cents and nickels from parking meter change. Was a great activity during the long cold winters. I still have those old sets. In 1961, my parents gave me a 1961 proof set and I was off from there.
Interesting side note. Because Western Publishing Company was local and made the Whitman folders, we had one neighborhood employee that gave out coin folders at Halloween instead of candy. If you really wanted candy, he had that too. I opted for the folders.
“In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock." - Thomas Jefferson
My digital cameo album 1950-64 Cameos - take a look!
U.S. Type Set
1993
Phil Arnold
Director of Photography, GreatCollections
greatcollections.com
I know I had a collection in 4th grade, so I probably started in 3rd grade, which pegs it to 1995/96.
God comes first in everything I do. I’m dedicated to serving Him with my whole life. Coin collecting is just a hobby—but even in that, I seek to honor Him. ✝️
1961.
1989
Somewhere around late 1963 to early 1964.
Life member of ANA
1963
Dec. 25th 1958 when my dad gave me 2 Whitman coin folders and a few rolls of cents to search. I was 7 years old. I upgraded the albums to bookshelf albums but still have all of my early finds.
1976
Coins are Neato!

"If it's a penny for your thoughts and you put in your two cents worth, then someone...somewhere...is making a penny." - Steven Wright
1959
"Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working" Pablo Picasso
Kid in the mid-90s. Mostly whitman folders type stuff with my dad. Didn't get back into until 2018-2019 and COVID really got me into it.
Successful transactions with forum members commoncents05, dmarks, Coinscratch, Bullsitter, DCW, TwoSides2aCoin, Namvet69 (facilitated for 3rd party), Tetromibi, ProfLizMay, MASSU2, MWallace, Bruce7789, Twobitcollector, 78saen, U1chicago, Rob41281
2017 at the age of 50 after realizing the 1965 silver dime I was handed in change and then spent in 2007 was a thing.
1957 buffalo nickels.
glad I'm not the oldest on this thread: 1954,
First paper route., Was tipped a Commemorative Half Dollar. Dad drove me back to return it as it was too big a tip. Fella said the "kid porches my paper every day" let him keep it. I did.
bob
1971
Probably Christmas 1962 when we were gifted Whitman folders and a Dell purse book on coin values. My brother was 11-yo and I was 6-yo. We both were into coins right from the start. My brother hunted rolls and even bought some low-grade coins to fill holes. I checked my parents' change often and found a 1921 dime in G4 when I was 7. It is still the best coin I've found hunting through change, though I did spot an 1876-S dime in AU+ sitting in shallow water at the edge of a pond when I was 8-yo. Both coins have acquired ugly toning over time and are in my 7070.
About 1964 when I was 14. Me and a buddy went through bank rolls daily and sold our finds at a monthly coin show in Detroit at Military Inn. Cool place that had Annie Oakleys rifle in a display case.
@AUandAG . Paper routes. Those were the days. Got a 1921-S Walker in F-15 for climbing 4 flights of steps for over 3 years. james
2010ish, then 2016ish, then 2020 and here to stay
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I got a paper route at 12 and tons of change to go through. I road the bus into town and went to my first coin shop. The lady who owned it was very scary, but took a liking to me and gave me my first Whitman Lincoln Cent folder. I was so excited as I had so many cents, nickels and dimes in a jar under my bed, I thought I would surely fill it right away. Lol
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
2000
2003
graded coins for sale
https://photos.app.goo.gl/SgQaHavtxqMq1uEM9
1943, it was a walking half dollar. 😉
Technically, 1994. Effectivity? 1998
I'm BACK!!! Used to be Billet7 on the old forum.
1978 as a kid, then 2000 as an adult (start of Ebay).
Around summer of 1975 at age of 4 ,my older brother who collected way back then took me to the coin shop between the escalators at sears dept store, got a penny folder and roll of wheats, later, mom took me to first coin show at Sheraton Motor in (long since demolished) here in town at the age of 5, she bought me the 1976 Bicentennial Proof set when they first come out. I still remember the dealer telling her you got to get him one of these.