A few inexpensive coins, and a very valuable envelope with 3 words on it

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airplanenut
airplanenut Posts: 22,763 ✭✭✭✭✭
in U.S. Coin Forum

When my grandfather passed away in September, he didn't leave behind a lot of "stuff." Ten years ago he moved from the house he'd lived in for 50 years to an apartment, and did a major cleanup in the process. His apartment had the photos, art, and other special things, but not the excess that would clutter it. So there wasn't all that much to divide, and when my parents asked if there was anything specific I'd like, I requested the three things that more than anything else said "my grandparents' house" from my earliest memories until my last visit to my grandfather's apartment: a framed drawing from his den, and decorative stuffed birds--a swan and a loon (cloth, not taxidermy)--which were on the floor and the first thing you saw whenever you walked in their front door.

My parents came out to visit a few weeks ago, and with them came these three items, which immediately became prominent fixtures in my house. They also brought a bag of envelopes of coins, which I never knew about. My grandfather loved history, and as long as they were able, my grandparents took grand trips all over the world. Many of the envelopes were sorted by country, and best I can conjecture, their contents were leftover change from their travels.

One envelope, however, was different. It was set aside for me, with three simple words in my grandfather's distinctive (to me) handwriting. From a numismatic perspective, the coins are common: a Peace dollar and a mix of Kennedy halves in 90% and 40% silver plus clad, and a lone buffalo nickel, which happens (I imagine completely coincidentally) to have been made in my grandfather's birth year and birth city. From a personal perspective, it's a reminder that when coins came to my grandfather's mind, I was who he associated with them. He wasn't a collector by any stretch and there was no thought that he left behind a collection of any sort, but even still, the choicest of what he had gathered over the years were, naturally to him, to go to me. And so I will be the steward of this group, and they will, of course, reside in the envelope made valuable by three handwritten words.

JK Coin Photography - eBay Consignments | High Quality Photos | LOW Prices | 20% of Consignment Proceeds Go to Pancreatic Cancer Research

Comments

  • Hallco
    Hallco Posts: 3,727 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    <3

  • OAKSTAR
    OAKSTAR Posts: 8,770 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    And that's what you call a legacy collection. BRAVO!!

    Disclaimer: I'm not a dealer, trader, grader, investor or professional numismatist. I'm just a hobbyist. (To protect me but mostly you! 🤣 )

  • littlebear
    littlebear Posts: 1,600 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Those should be cherished forever! How awesome!

    Autism Awareness: There is no limit to the good you can do, if you don't care who gets the credit.
  • MFeld
    MFeld Posts: 17,131 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Thank you for that, Jeremy. Often, as in this case, coins are only part of a much more meaningful story.

    Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.

  • oldabeintx
    oldabeintx Posts: 3,214 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Thank you for sharing.

  • BStrauss3
    BStrauss3 Posts: 3,905 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    You should get a bunch of airtites and then put the coins and envelope in a Shadow Box just like your photo.

    -----Burton
    ANA 50+ year/Life Member (now "Emeritus")
    Author: 3rd Edition of the SampleSlabs book, https://sampleslabs.info/
  • divecchia
    divecchia Posts: 6,715 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Jeremy,

    That is a beautiful heartfelt story. Thank you for sharing it.

    Donato

    Hobbyist & Collector (not an investor).
    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)
  • Dave99B
    Dave99B Posts: 8,947 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    That envelope (and coins) would be priceless to me. Absolutely PRICELESS.

    Thanks for sharing a bit of your Grandfather with us.

    Dave

    Always looking for original, better date VF20-VF35 Barber quarters and halves, and a quality beer.
  • airplanenut
    airplanenut Posts: 22,763 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @BStrauss3 said:
    You should get a bunch of airtites and then put the coins and envelope in a Shadow Box just like your photo.

    Oh, I like that idea! I like it a lot! That's something I could very easily display. Maybe instead of the Airtites, I could try to find the really thin capsules/containers so the coins wouldn't have to be as spaced out as Airties would require with their extra width relative to the coin diameter.

    JK Coin Photography - eBay Consignments | High Quality Photos | LOW Prices | 20% of Consignment Proceeds Go to Pancreatic Cancer Research
  • golden
    golden Posts: 10,535 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Thanks for sharing your story.

  • Namvet69
    Namvet69 Posts: 9,423 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    You were on his mind, that's a beautiful thing. 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

  • bakeandshake
    bakeandshake Posts: 49 ✭✭
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    that was simply awesome, story and write up :)

  • carabonnair
    carabonnair Posts: 1,481 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @airplanenut said:

    @BStrauss3 said:
    You should get a bunch of airtites and then put the coins and envelope in a Shadow Box just like your photo.

    Oh, I like that idea! I like it a lot! That's something I could very easily display. Maybe instead of the Airtites, I could try to find the really thin capsules/containers so the coins wouldn't have to be as spaced out as Airties would require with their extra width relative to the coin diameter.

    I probably still have Kointains that would fit. PM me and I'll check after the weekend.

    Gawain

    Pacific Northwest Numismatic Association
  • cheezhed
    cheezhed Posts: 6,405 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    I love everything about this post.

    Many happy BST transactions
  • crazyhounddog
    crazyhounddog Posts: 14,250 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Those coins would also mean a lot to me.
    Thank you for sharing.

    The bitterness of "Poor Quality" is remembered long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.
  • skier07
    skier07 Posts: 4,833 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Great post and thanks for sharing. I understand the significance of the envelope.

  • Creg
    Creg Posts: 1,736 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    I’m looking for my “Jeremy”.

  • World67
    World67 Posts: 13,098 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Really cool!

  • lkenefic
    lkenefic Posts: 9,518 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Very Cool... and I love the shadow-box treatment for display. Best, Leo

    Collecting: Dansco 7070; Middle Date Large Cents (VF-AU); Box of 20;

    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.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
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    This content has been removed.
  • jesbroken
    jesbroken Posts: 11,252 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Very uplifting story. I've went through very similar moments and treasure them for my lifetime.
    Thank you for sharing, Jeremy.
    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
  • ShaunBC5
    ShaunBC5 Posts: 1,974 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    I’ve got a handful of silver quarters in my truck right now from my grandparents’ house.
    My Grandma passed and my parents wanted me to have them. They weren’t set aside, like Jeremy’s, but they’re special to me.
    That’s a great story, Jeremy. Did you ever display the coins/envelope?

  • airplanenut
    airplanenut Posts: 22,763 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @ShaunBC5 said:
    I’ve got a handful of silver quarters in my truck right now from my grandparents’ house.
    My Grandma passed and my parents wanted me to have them. They weren’t set aside, like Jeremy’s, but they’re special to me.
    That’s a great story, Jeremy. Did you ever display the coins/envelope?

    I did! They're right outside my bedroom door, above a large print that used to hang in my grandfather's den and was something I always associated with my grandparents' house. I see them both many times every day.

    JK Coin Photography - eBay Consignments | High Quality Photos | LOW Prices | 20% of Consignment Proceeds Go to Pancreatic Cancer Research
  • jughead1893
    jughead1893 Posts: 2,196 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited October 10, 2025 7:12AM
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  • dbldie55
    dbldie55 Posts: 7,753 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    The very definition of priceless.

    Collector and Researcher of Liberty Head Nickels. ANA LM-6053
  • steelielee
    steelielee Posts: 1,177 ✭✭✭
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    Very nice. Priceless momentos and memories.

    ************************************

    Many successful BST transactions with dozens of board members, references on request.
  • ellewood
    ellewood Posts: 1,752 ✭✭✭
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    Well, today I tried reaching out to Mitch (Wondercoin) on eBay and he told me to hit him up on the PCGS message boards. I didn't even know they existed as it has been almost 15 years since I've been here! I somehow get my UN and PW sorted, find my old account (I still keep up my annual PCGS membership) and here I am...back in action. This is crazy. Then, I click on a random thread and, WALLAH, I see two handles that I recognize from back in the day, @airplanenut and @WaterSport . We used to run in the same lincoln cent circles around here if I'm not mistaken???? I might have even sold you a lincoln or two when I sold off my lincoln registry set back in 2008? @airplanenut , this story of inheriting these keepsake coins is awesome BTW! Thanks for sharing! See you all around!

    image

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