Born 1956, Gathering 1963, collecting 1965. Mercenary 1965, Part Time1978, full time 1981
J.P. Martin
50 yrs in Coins, 40 yrs Certifying/Grading, 30 consecutive years teaching ANA Summer seminar, 1998 Numismatic Ambassador award, 1998 Doctorate in Numismatics, Glenn Smedley Award, ANA Governor 200/2011, Author/ Host of ANA's best selling video's, courses on grading & counterfeit detection. Taught over 1,100 paying students, Secret service agents, San Diego to Boston, Anchorage to Miami, including 2 coin cruises. Free presentations. NLG book and video awards. ANA photographer, SEM operator, Appraiser, Contributor to Redbook, Numismatist, Coin World, Numismatic News ANA Grading Guides, 40,000 Volumes in my Library, Founder ANAAB, ICG, 1995 ANA collector services appraisal/conservation, First full service Ancient coin grading service. OD Navy 75-77, WIU 77-81, Coin dealer 1981-1984, 60 year Collector U.S./ 50 Year Ancient coins. 2011-date ANA Advisory Committee. Lifetime member ANA, ANS
Semi-retired Professional Grader(ANACS) and married, Father to 3 teenage boys in Denver area.
February 1969.
I always collected something: rocks, bottle caps, sports cards, and my first love - butterflies & insects.
What better thing to collect than old money.
@Walkerfan said:
As a child in 1974 (stamps too) with US Constitutional and Whitman folders and also some foreign silver and copper. Then began again in 1993 after a long hiatus.
Almost exactly my story as well......Started just a couple years earlier, around 1972 with coins and stamps.....Then long hiatus, and started back again seriously in 1993!
My best guess is when I was going into kindergarten around 1972.
I was gifted Whitman Penny Books by Santa, and each year I asked for a few more dates for my birthday and Christmas to help fill the holes.
Over the years it's gotten to be something that I couldn't have predicted and for some reason Santa doesn't show up like he used to.
Just wish I had someone close to me to be able to share the enjoyment with.
1980-1982, (5 or 7) my grandpa collected from change and kept most of it in a jar. He got me a tri-fold whitman folder and helped me poke as many wheats as he had different dates and mints in his jar. I still have it. He died when I was still young and grandma sold his coin collection to help keep her afloat. I'm glad they were able to help her. He was a WWII Vet.
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Born 1956, Gathering 1963, collecting 1965. Mercenary 1965, Part Time1978, full time 1981
J.P. Martin
50 yrs in Coins, 40 yrs Certifying/Grading, 30 consecutive years teaching ANA Summer seminar, 1998 Numismatic Ambassador award, 1998 Doctorate in Numismatics, Glenn Smedley Award, ANA Governor 200/2011, Author/ Host of ANA's best selling video's, courses on grading & counterfeit detection. Taught over 1,100 paying students, Secret service agents, San Diego to Boston, Anchorage to Miami, including 2 coin cruises. Free presentations. NLG book and video awards. ANA photographer, SEM operator, Appraiser, Contributor to Redbook, Numismatist, Coin World, Numismatic News ANA Grading Guides, 40,000 Volumes in my Library, Founder ANAAB, ICG, 1995 ANA collector services appraisal/conservation, First full service Ancient coin grading service. OD Navy 75-77, WIU 77-81, Coin dealer 1981-1984, 60 year Collector U.S./ 50 Year Ancient coins. 2011-date ANA Advisory Committee. Lifetime member ANA, ANS
Semi-retired Professional Grader(ANACS) and married, Father to 3 teenage boys in Denver area.
I’ve messed with coins since the early to mid 1980’s, but I got back into the hobby in 2007, my current collection started in 2012
My YouTube Channel
Started collecting Lincoln cents in 1955 when my Grandmother bought me the Library of Coins albums and 2 rolls of cents for my birthday.
In earnest, about March 64 when the Kennedy Halves first hit the street.
Disclaimer: I'm not a dealer, trader, grader, investor or professional numismatist. I'm just a hobbyist. (To protect me but mostly you! 🤣 )
In the last century. My first real purchase was at a local coin store in town. Still have that coin.
February 1969.
I always collected something: rocks, bottle caps, sports cards, and my first love - butterflies & insects.
What better thing to collect than old money.
Almost exactly my story as well......Started just a couple years earlier, around 1972 with coins and stamps.....Then long hiatus, and started back again seriously in 1993!
My best guess is when I was going into kindergarten around 1972.

I was gifted Whitman Penny Books by Santa, and each year I asked for a few more dates for my birthday and Christmas to help fill the holes.
Over the years it's gotten to be something that I couldn't have predicted and for some reason Santa doesn't show up like he used to.
Just wish I had someone close to me to be able to share the enjoyment with.
1980-1982, (5 or 7) my grandpa collected from change and kept most of it in a jar. He got me a tri-fold whitman folder and helped me poke as many wheats as he had different dates and mints in his jar. I still have it. He died when I was still young and grandma sold his coin collection to help keep her afloat. I'm glad they were able to help her. He was a WWII Vet.
1966 (age 7).
Every Friday night my Dad brought home the 'money box' which contained a small handful of Canadian change.
This often contained very worn quarters (Fair to Good) from the late Victorian years to the Edwardian years (1890 to 1910).
I used scotch tape to secure my coin collection in a notebook.
It worked so well, that I decided to use the scotch tape method on my stamp collection too!
"“Those who sacrifice liberty for security/safety deserve neither.“(Benjamin Franklin)
"I only golf on days that end in 'Y'" (DE59)