I'm back! I didn't kick the bucket yet! ...and a couple of additions to my MS V nickel collection
dsessom
Posts: 2,469 ✭✭✭✭✭
It's been a little while since I posted here, although I still lurk pretty often. Sometimes life throws a wrench into your plans, and last July I had a heart attack (Ventricular Tachycardia of 250 BPM) and ended up needing a stint in my heart. Four months later, I had another one, and had a third VT while in the hospital to implant an ICD (internal defibrillator) .
Staring death in the face tends to change your perspective on a lot of things! I believe I am on the mend now, but I am not allowed to drive for 6 more weeks, so I am kind of under house arrest. The time off from work has been welcome and my cardiologist suggested a hobby. Well, I already have one! I have collecting coins seriously since around 2007. In the last couple of years, my focus has drifted more toward currency, but I still love coins as well. Those who know me are aware that my specialty series are V nickels. I have been assembling a Registry set for over a decade. I almost sold them a year ago, but changed my mind.
Since I am going to have the rest of the year off, I have decided to complete my set. I was only lacking four coins; 1885, 1886, 1890, and 1898. Last night, I located a pretty decent 1886 as well as an very nice 1898 and wanted to share my progress with all of you here. I found these at Coast to Coast Coins, so shout out to them! Both coins are in Gold Shield holders and have CAC green beans as well.
If you would like to see the entire set, it's right here --> https://pcgs.com/setregistry/alltimeset/71874
It's 93.94% complete now. Only TWO coins to go!
Thank you for looking, and I hope you are all doing much better than I am! I feel like I got my rear end beaten down in a bar fight!
Unfortunately for you all, you will probably be seeing me around a lot more!
-Dwayne F. Sessom
Dwayne F. Sessom
Ebay ID: V-Nickel-Coins
My V Nickel Registry Set - https://pcgs.com/setregistry/alltimeset/71874
Comments
Good luck health wise and collecting wise too. I have done several stints in the home health prison. For what it is worth, the internet is overrun with online coin reference books and the Newman Portal has all kinds of coin related journals. Insanity is just a small slip from boredom so do your best. james
Welcome back and its GOOD to see ya with some nice additions 🙏
Glad to hear that you’re still around and were able to add 2 more special coins to your V nickel collection. Two more to go, and then completion. Congrats. So what would be your new collecting endeavor once this series is finished? Any thoughts. Best of luck. Zack.
Happy for you that you're feeling better and on the mend, doesn't sound like the last year was great for you. And congrats on acquiring your two newps, love your set.
My Collection of Old Holders
Never a slave to one plastic brand will I ever be.
They look like nice coins and best wishes for your continued and complete recovery.
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
We’ve been friends for a long time buddy. I have been thinking positive thoughts for you and some prayers sent your way.
As always I wish you the very best and god speed to recovery. I love your set of coins and your notes. Stay at it👍
Welcome back Dwayne. I wondered what happened to you. Still Rockin'?
Thank you so much! It's a reality shift when something like this happens. It certainly is a reminder of how short this life is, and to do the things you want to do ASAP. I am the king of procrastination, so I am working on changing that!
Dwayne F. Sessom
Ebay ID: V-Nickel-Coins
My V Nickel Registry Set - https://pcgs.com/setregistry/alltimeset/71874
I am simultaneously working to complete my Basic US Type set. It's more like an Everyman US Type set because the grades of those coins are kind of all over the place.
I am also working on a Basic US Gold type set as well. I just started that one! Hopefully gold won't tank now that I'm actively buying - because that tends to happen with stocks. I start a position with a stock, and it immediately goes south! Or I short a stock and it gains 50% overnight. (This has actually happened recently)
Dwayne F. Sessom
Ebay ID: V-Nickel-Coins
My V Nickel Registry Set - https://pcgs.com/setregistry/alltimeset/71874
Thank you so much! Indeed, 2025 has been a mixed bag. Not complete shite, but the lows have certainly been extremely low!
Dwayne F. Sessom
Ebay ID: V-Nickel-Coins
My V Nickel Registry Set - https://pcgs.com/setregistry/alltimeset/71874
Thank you so much, Tom. I am truly happy to be here!
Dwayne F. Sessom
Ebay ID: V-Nickel-Coins
My V Nickel Registry Set - https://pcgs.com/setregistry/alltimeset/71874
Thanks Joe! You have been a very good friend to me and I will be forever grateful! True friends are far and few between, but I am proud to include you in my small circle of trusted friends!
Dwayne F. Sessom
Ebay ID: V-Nickel-Coins
My V Nickel Registry Set - https://pcgs.com/setregistry/alltimeset/71874
We're all headed in that direction whether we know it or not. They usually put up with me so I'm sure we can tolerate you.
Good luck: SAM
Hey Mike! Yessir. Brandon Cramer is actually just finishing up mixing that tune that I recorded in the studio TWO years ago, but Cramer is an outstanding sound engineer who went through a lot of personal issues, so I am not upset at the delay. He is a great guy.
If you want to listen the rough cut, I have it uploaded to SoundCloud here --> https://soundcloud.com/vypervenom/rock-aint-dead-2025-mp3
The vocals aren't recorded yet, and the mix is unpolished. It is coming together though! I hope you like it!
Dwayne F. Sessom
Ebay ID: V-Nickel-Coins
My V Nickel Registry Set - https://pcgs.com/setregistry/alltimeset/71874
Really good to hear you are on the mend. You’ve been through a lot and deserve some good times. Have fun with your coins as David Hall would say.
Very nice coins indeed.
I dont know you but that doesn't mean I can't wish you better health.
Take care of that ticker!
Student of numismatics and collector of Morgan dollars
Successful BST transactions with: Namvet Justindan Mattniss RWW olah_in_MA
Dantheman984 Toyz4geo SurfinxHI greencopper RWW bigjpst bretsan MWallace logger7
Happy to hear that you are mending. Been there quite a few times, and with my coins to accompany my time, I was never bored. A pair of very nice V'S. Great looking set of coins.
Heal well.
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
Prayers for a complete and lasting recovery! Health and family are everything!
glad you're still here
feel free to post all your newps. looking forward to seeing the set as it goes.
Thank you! I need to stick around for my family, and new granddaughter!
90% of what I buy lately is currency. Not sure I can post a bunch of paper notes in a coin forum! LOL
Dwayne F. Sessom
Ebay ID: V-Nickel-Coins
My V Nickel Registry Set - https://pcgs.com/setregistry/alltimeset/71874
Impressive! Perhaps your return was to further motivate me on completing my own run on the series? Need the three keys. That 1886 sure is sweet. Well done.
oh well, perhaps someone into origami can show you how to fold them into coins
Welcome back - love the V nickels! I used to have a set of them myself.
Welcome back! I feel your pain having undergone a triple bypass a couple of years ago myself. Nobody is promised a tomorrow, as the saying goes. So glad you're on the mend!
Cheers
Bob
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.
Thank you so much! That set has taken a lot of time to complete. The 1912-D and 1912-S both came from @drddm Dave Manevitz (I hope I spelled it right!) They are spectacular!
The 1886 looks sort of plain in comparison but it still has a pretty solid strike.
Dwayne F. Sessom
Ebay ID: V-Nickel-Coins
My V Nickel Registry Set - https://pcgs.com/setregistry/alltimeset/71874
like the look of the D
sounds like we know this scene
Nice pickups. Welcome back and the best of health to you.
Hey Dwayne, sounds like a very scary time. Sorry you had to go through all that, but so happy to hear you’re finally on the mend.
I’m also glad to see you still own my old 12-D and 12-S. They were some of my favorites.
It’s great to see you’re adding some more to your set. Your 1886 is quite the looker! So tough to find with a nice look like yours.
Hang in there, buddy!
Dave
Glad to hear you’re on the mend! 6 weeks at home sounds like a perfect opportunity to get a puppy, too!
Wow, very scary. Best wishes going forward. What a beautiful set!!!!
Dave
Holy crap. Keep feeling better!!!
….nice coins too ⭐️
Good lord, 250 bpm? That is scary! Glad to see you’re on the mend. Great additions to the set too!
Welcome back.
Aw, thanks Dave! I was hoping that you were still hanging around here! I have learned so much from my friends in these forums through the years, that I keep expecting a bill from PCGS/CU!
I am truly blessed and thankful to still be alive and that I didn't stroke out or go into cardiac arrest and go offline. (die)
I always tell everyone that I rarely sell anything, and I guess this offers you some evidence of that! I almost DID sell the entire set last year because I was in poor health at that time as well. My thought at that time is that if I passed, I didn't want my son to have to deal with liquidating my collection. However, I now have a solution to this "problem" so it's no longer an issue that keeps me up at night.
I cherish those two coins not only due to their beauty and quality, but because YOU assisted me in acquiring them. I did not have the means back then to buy them outright and you were kind enough to work out payment arrangements that most other folks probably would not have done. So, please know that your kindness is still remembered and appreciated nearly a decade afterward. Thank you for being my friend, sir. I mean that from the bottom of my shorted out heart!
PS: I quit smoking cigarettes over a year ago, and walking about 5 miles per day, and have learned to eat healthier, although I flat out refuse to give up steak and BBQ ribs. I am from the South so I just need to have a nice medium rare ribeye, or plate of barbequed pork ribs once in a while, because if you take all your little "indulgences" away, what's the point in even living?
Dwayne F. Sessom
Ebay ID: V-Nickel-Coins
My V Nickel Registry Set - https://pcgs.com/setregistry/alltimeset/71874
I'm not sure how my kitty would react to that! My cat, Mick is an 8 year old orange tom cat who once fought a Bobcat and won! I'm not even joking! I live in a rural community about 5 miles outside the city limits, so we get all sorts of wild critters coming around the house.
I now live with my parents in their ranch house, on a small 5 acre farm. It's a mutually beneficial arrangement and works well for all of us. Dad is 79, a 100% disabled veteran (Navy) and has to get around with a walker, and mom is 75, has her own medical issues but manages to help care for my father and even myself occasionally. I apologize if that's too much information, but I suppose it's therapeutic for me to share my situation with friends.
Dwayne F. Sessom
Ebay ID: V-Nickel-Coins
My V Nickel Registry Set - https://pcgs.com/setregistry/alltimeset/71874
Thank you sir! I have a feeling that finding a nice 1885 that I like is not going to be an easy task, but the hunt is always a big part of the enjoyment of our hobby! This set has taken me about a decade to complete, and I am really picky when it comes to strike and eye appeal.
Dwayne F. Sessom
Ebay ID: V-Nickel-Coins
My V Nickel Registry Set - https://pcgs.com/setregistry/alltimeset/71874
Thank you so much! I am feeling a bit stronger every day!
Dwayne F. Sessom
Ebay ID: V-Nickel-Coins
My V Nickel Registry Set - https://pcgs.com/setregistry/alltimeset/71874
I truly appreciate all the well wishes! The first VT episode was a sustained attack for 18 hours because I had no idea what was happening to me. I have had "palpitations" that lasted 5 or 10 minutes and resolved itself, and I thought it was just palpitations initially, but it would not go away and in fact got worse throughout the evening. I tried to lie down, relax, and calm down, but I eventually started vomiting, then my toes and fingers started going numb. At that point, I knew I was dying and went to the ER where I was found to be in a sustained VT of 250.
The second time it happened, was November 4th, and this time, I called 911 almost immediately. The ambulance arrived and they loaded me into the back. I was fluctuating between 200-240 BPM. This time, the EMT warned me that "You are probably going to pass out, but just relax and everything was going to be okay".
They shot 12mg of adenosine into my IV and I felt my heart stop for 3 seconds before a hard "Thump-thump!" and it restarted and stabilized at 90 BPM and later went to about 70.
I was fully awake and never lost consciousness!!! I remember everything!
My high score was several months later, on the evening of November 6th (10 days ago) when I was in hospital, one day prior to my ICD (defibrillator/pacemaker) being implanted!
After a HOT shower, I went into VT once more and hit 270 BPM! This time a very beautiful nurse (or maybe it was an angel?) shot 10mg of Lidocaine into my IV and cardioverted me back to 122 BPM. That was the most pleasant cardioversion by FAR and I felt awesome afterward!
Here is a picture of my hospital door in the aftermath. I'd never seen nurses use the door as a whiteboard but apparently hospitals doors are specifically made for that!
Dwayne F. Sessom
Ebay ID: V-Nickel-Coins
My V Nickel Registry Set - https://pcgs.com/setregistry/alltimeset/71874
@dsessom . You never know with cats, especially those from the orange spectrum. For more than 22 years my best friend was a ginger named elliot. Elliot knew at least a dozen war songs and no stray cat stayed long.
A little over a year ago I saw a very friendly orange /white kitten in the rescue cage at the vet.
We now have 3 rescue kittens, one a stray adopted by Ollie, and he is friends with every pet in our neighborhood. This includes the German sheppard accross the fence, the Bernease mountaind , dog the barky little dogs across the street; most of all ; Ollie has over a half dozen cat "friends" who visit ona regular basis.
Somewhere out in the cosmic my old friend is not happy. james
Welcome back, Dwayne - I’m so glad to hear that you’re on the mend.
Wishing you continued recovery and enjoyment, both within and outside of your coin collecting world.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
Those are some nice nickels. Great to have a goal for the mind while recovering the body. Wishing you well.
Nothing is as expensive as free money.
Thank you, Mark! I am feeling a little better every day, so that's encouraging. I didn't know that you work at Heritage Auctions! Heritage has become my favorite source of coins and currency, as well as my go-to source for researching historical sales data. I'm definitely a big fan.
Dwayne F. Sessom
Ebay ID: V-Nickel-Coins
My V Nickel Registry Set - https://pcgs.com/setregistry/alltimeset/71874
Thank you! It certainly helps having such wonderful support from friends and family.
Dwayne F. Sessom
Ebay ID: V-Nickel-Coins
My V Nickel Registry Set - https://pcgs.com/setregistry/alltimeset/71874