The first few times I visited my LCS as a young numismatist and being helped out by an older gentleman whose methods and means of working with me as a new collector shaped how I would eventually treat other novice collectors (or seasoned collectors looking for a fresh avenue).
He took his time with me, offered fair and reasonable discounts whenever he could. I remember him selling me a BU 1960 Washington Quarter for $2.00 when the tag price was $4.50.
Years later, when I worked in the same shop, anytime I had a youngster in front of me with a limited budget, I would think of that older fellow and treat those kids the same way he treated me.
Custom album maker and numismatic photographer.
Need a personalized album made? Design it on the website below and I'll build it for you. https://www.donahuenumismatics.com/.
My honest answer would have to be the many lifelong friends I have made over the years by participating in this hobby.
Numismatically, I did buy a bunch of coins between 2001 - 2010 that upon reflection were embarrassingly cheap. That was a fun time to be buying.
A great memory was going to our local club's twice a month meetings with my grandparents back in the 1970s and watching the excitement of the PM run up in 1980. Watching your small collection of silver coinage (some Mercury and Roosevelt dimes, Washington quarters, Franklin halves and a Peace dollar) double, triple and quadruple in value as a 10 year old in 1980 made an impression.
I work in Manhattan and so have been fortunate enough to have attended some big auctions. I attended the Pogue auctions which were notable for a number of reasons.
But attending the Cardinal sale that included the 1794 dollar that TDN ended up winning was quite a memory. It was a bitterly cold night but there was still a good turnout. I happened to be sitting behind Pogue. Laura and George of Legend had positioned themselves in different parts of the room so they could see all the other bidders and be in a good position to execute TDN's bids. It was interesting to see Pogue react when the nuclear bid came in.
There is a video somewhere of Cardinal after the sale and you can see Oreville and me talking in the background.
"Look up, old boy, and see what you get." -William Bonney.
@airplanenut said:
I got to pull these 7 coins out of the exhibit cases, put them on the tray, carry them in an unlocked box across the floor of the Smithsonian while the museum was open*, and bring them back into the vault. When I was in high school. It's going to be hard to top that.
Nice!
I’ve got to a write up on that Class III 1804 Dollar, and why I had it in my shirt pocket for 4 hours one time.
Professional Numismatist, Retired. 55 year member ANA. Former ANA Senior Authenticator. Winner of four ANA Heath Literary Awards; three Wayte and Olga Raymond Literary Awards; Numismatist of the Year Award 2009, and ANA Lifetime Achievement Award 2020. Winner of the PNG's 2026 Robert Friedberg Award for "The Enigmatic Lincoln Cents of 1922," Available now from Whitman or Amazon.
@airplanenut said:
I got to pull these 7 coins out of the exhibit cases, put them on the tray, carry them in an unlocked box across the floor of the Smithsonian while the museum was open*, and bring them back into the vault. When I was in high school. It's going to be hard to top that.
Are those coins in any sort of capsule or protective container??? Really, one good sneeze or one bad mis-step ... well, it's too horrifying to think about .....
I’ve had many positive experiences as a dealer (for a short time) and as a collector. However, I’ll share a memorable negative experience. It was during an ANA Summer Seminar in 1990 or so. My new coin buddy and I found ourselves eating lunch with the (then) luminary Walter Been. For the first 30 minutes we were in awe, hearing stories and discussing coins. Then, I happened to mention the recent passing of Roger Cohen, hoping to elicit a story or two. I’ll never forget what Breen said: “good riddance to bad rubbish”. We then knew, reinforced later, what a total … our “hero” really was. Fortunately, we also met many fine people, most of whom are still with us.
On or about Oct. 15th 1962, or 1963, I found this 1909-S VDB Lincoln cent while coin roll searching with my dad.
.
.
.
On Apr. 13th 1973 at !!:55 PM, I found a 1972 DDO Lincoln cent. I got married the next day-Apr.14th 1973 and am still married to the same woman. I just had this coin graded about 2 months ago by PCGS (MS64).
I received a Ruddy Bowers or was it Bowers Ruddy circular in the mail one Friday and saw they had 1909/8 Saint for $99.00, so I called and darn they were all sold. Yes that was long ago.
@breakdown said:
I work in Manhattan and so have been fortunate enough to have attended some big auctions. I attended the Pogue auctions which were notable for a number of reasons.
But attending the Cardinal sale that included the 1794 dollar that TDN ended up winning was quite a memory. It was a bitterly cold night but there was still a good turnout. I happened to be sitting behind Pogue. Laura and George of Legend had positioned themselves in different parts of the room so they could see all the other bidders and be in a good position to execute TDN's bids. It was interesting to see Pogue react when the nuclear bid came in.
There is a video somewhere of Cardinal after the sale and you can see Oreville and me talking in the background.
Is this the video and was that Laura shaking hands with Pogue after the auction? Who is TDN?
@breakdown said:
I work in Manhattan and so have been fortunate enough to have attended some big auctions. I attended the Pogue auctions which were notable for a number of reasons.
But attending the Cardinal sale that included the 1794 dollar that TDN ended up winning was quite a memory. It was a bitterly cold night but there was still a good turnout. I happened to be sitting behind Pogue. Laura and George of Legend had positioned themselves in different parts of the room so they could see all the other bidders and be in a good position to execute TDN's bids. It was interesting to see Pogue react when the nuclear bid came in.
There is a video somewhere of Cardinal after the sale and you can see Oreville and me talking in the background.
Is this the video and was that Laura shaking hands with Pogue after the auction? Who is TDN?
@breakdown said:
I work in Manhattan and so have been fortunate enough to have attended some big auctions. I attended the Pogue auctions which were notable for a number of reasons.
But attending the Cardinal sale that included the 1794 dollar that TDN ended up winning was quite a memory. It was a bitterly cold night but there was still a good turnout. I happened to be sitting behind Pogue. Laura and George of Legend had positioned themselves in different parts of the room so they could see all the other bidders and be in a good position to execute TDN's bids. It was interesting to see Pogue react when the nuclear bid came in.
There is a video somewhere of Cardinal after the sale and you can see Oreville and me talking in the background.
Is this the video and was that Laura shaking hands with Pogue after the auction? Who is TDN?
For me.....it had to be the auction of the 1927-D MS-65+ Saint belonging to Dr. Steven Duckor at FUN 2020.
My 1st time at FUN or any other "big" coin show......my 1st bigtime auction....a coin type I was familiar with....and Dr. Duckor's collection and contributions were well-known. Wish I had a chance to meet him.
Anyway, the auction ended at just over $2 MM and I found the whole process very sporting-like.
First would be going to the bank with my step-grandmother to view her family collection at age 10 in 1975. I only saw it once and don't know what happened to it later, but it was a large(r) SDB containing US coins back to 1794 (large cent) and most coin types outside of dollars and gold. She was born in 1906 into an affluent family.
Subsequently, it's whenever I find one of the almost never available coins for any of my sets, especially my primary interest. I've found more than a few in some out of the ordinary places. Other times I see these show up in the TPG populations before I see it at auction, so I check it intermittently to see if anything new has been graded.
For me it was my first trip to the Winter FUN Show. It was so long ago that I can't remember the date. Air and hotel cost me about $2000. That was a lot for me at the time. I thought I was a bit stupid until I walked into the show for the first time. That was a WOW moment for me. I was able to meet a lot of forum members for the first time in person. One of those guys was you Mark. You sold me my first Buffalo Proof Nickel.
I remember walking around my hotel the day before the show opened. There was a sign in the lobby about the show. I was trying to understand the bus schedule when this guy named Randy Campbell walked up and ask if he could help. The next day I found out he was a part of the FUN Show.
@MFeld said:
Whether it was the discovery or acquisition of a particular coin for your collection, learning something of great importance, seeing an amazing coin or collection that made your heart go pitter-patter, meeting and having a conversation with your numismatic hero, the sale of a coin or collection at an unbelievable price or other, please feel free to share it.
scrolling the forum
Proud follower of Christ! I love the USA! Land of the Bright and Beautiful! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Dad, more of a looker-atter than buyer, took me to B. Max Mehl's Fort Worth shop in late 1943 or 1944. Must've been 5-6 years old then, remembering the display cases were way tall. Mr. Mehl handed me a "brand-new" cent as a gift. Started bawling because it didn't look like a penny to this kid. To calm the situation he replaced the steeley with a 1938 cent, the whiney kid's birth year.
For me, my most memorable numismatic experience is one of my most memorable experiences in all my life.
This was the day that my then 14-year-old son bought the very first HOF coins at the Baltimore Whitman show where they were first released.
My wife and I decided to pull him out of school (something we virtually never did) so that he could go. Little did we ever expect for him to be the very first in line and to get the very first coins sold. This was widely covered in the numismatic press and on the Whitman web site. In fact, as many of you know, a photo of him on this day was on the Whitman web site for many years. As a huge added treat, the Whitman staff took my son to meet Brooks Robinson. He got photos with Brooks and his coin. We're originally from Baltimore. Brooks was my late Dad's favorite O's player. My father was ecstatic.
That wasn't even all for that day. When my son got the first coins, we wanted more - for me and for our younger son. The Mint said that we couldn't use the same credit card for more. I didn't have thousands in cash on me of course. So, I went to a dealer that I'd known for years. I asked him if he could please loan me the money (several thousand), that I'd sign any note he wished and would pay him a few hundred for the trouble. He immediately gave me the cash, didn't ask me to sign anything and said that he would not accept any additional repayment.
Seeing this, my son asked in astonishment, how he could just hand me so much cash and what recourse he would have if I didn't pay him back. I said that he'd not have much recourse, but that he knew I'd pay him back without question. This led to a discussion on the drive home about the importance of one's word and one's honor, above all else. It was a very powerful demonstration of what it means to be a man of one's word and to be trusted without question by one's peers.
Incredibly, it's been 12 years since that day. My son, who was just accepted to medical school, talks about that day, that coin and that lesson to this day.
Sadly, my kids have absolutely zero interest in coins. However, my eldest son still loves looking at his HOF coins from that day, talking about meeting Brooks and the lesson that he learned in witnessing the very kind gesture of the dealer.
This was truly a charmed day. The memories of that day will forever be some of my most treasured.
@Raufus said:
For me, my most memorable numismatic experience is one of my most memorable experiences in all my life.
This was the day that my then 14-year-old son bought the very first HOF coins at the Baltimore Whitman show where they were first released.
My wife and I decided to pull him out of school (something we virtually never did) so that he could go. Little did we ever expect for him to be the very first in line and to get the very first coins sold. This was widely covered in the numismatic press and on the Whitman web site. In fact, as many of you know, a photo of him on this day was on the Whitman web site for many years. As a huge added treat, the Whitman staff took my son to meet Brooks Robinson. He got photos with Brooks and his coin. We're originally from Baltimore. Brooks was my late Dad's favorite O's player. My father was ecstatic.
That wasn't even all for that day. When my son got the first coins, we wanted more - for me and for our younger son. The Mint said that we couldn't use the same credit card for more. I didn't have thousands in cash on me of course. So, I went to a dealer that I'd known for years. I asked him if he could please loan me the money (several thousand), that I'd sign any note he wished and would pay him a few hundred for the trouble. He immediately gave me the cash, didn't ask me to sign anything and said that he would not accept any additional repayment.
Seeing this, my son asked in astonishment, how he could just hand me so much cash and what recourse he would have if I didn't pay him back. I said that he'd not have much recourse, but that he knew I'd pay him back without question. This led to a discussion on the drive home about the importance of one's word and one's honor, above all else. It was a very powerful demonstration of what it means to be a man of one's word and to be trusted without question by one's peers.
Incredibly, it's been 12 years since that day. My son, who was just accepted to medical school, talks about that day, that coin and that lesson to this day.
Sadly, my kids have absolutely zero interest in coins. However, my eldest son still loves looking at his HOF coins from that day, talking about meeting Brooks and the lesson that he learned in witnessing the very kind gesture of the dealer.
This was truly a charmed day. The memories of that day will forever be some of my most treasured.
Thank you for that heart warming story.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
That would be the trip to the FUN show back in January 2019 that I attended with my son. I met up with friends from right here on this forum and had a terrific time. I also bought two gold pieces that I still have.
This beautiful 1911 PCGS 64. I still think this one is under graded.
And this gorgeous 1922 PCGS 64
My son and I at the show.
The bitterness of "Poor Quality" is remembered long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.
My brother asked me to take a look at a small coin collection held by a member of his church. I agreed and we drove out to her home. Most of the coins were common Lincoln wheat cents, some war nickels and Kennedy Half Dollars. She then brought out some silver dollars for me to look at. Like the rest of the collection these were common too, like 1880 & 1881 "S" mint coins and a few 1922 Peace dollars. Then, just as I reached the last silver dollar, I took out an 1883 Proof Trade Dollar. In the context of the rest of the collection, it should never have been there, but it was simply a wonderful and terrific experience to hold such a rarity in my hand. I learned later that she sold the coin to a dealer for a great price.
DisneyFan, thanks for posting the video. Can't believe it's been 13 years! To answer a few questions, I am pretty sure TDN was not at the auction but was on the phone with Laura. I am not sure who she is shaking hands with in the video but it is not Brent Pogue. You can see him in the video briefly at the far side of the room, near the front.
Sad to think both Martin Logies and Brent Pogue have passed away. What great collections they had.
"Look up, old boy, and see what you get." -William Bonney.
@crazyhounddog said:
That would be the trip to the FUN show back in January 2019 that I attended with my son. I met up with friends from right here on this forum and had a terrific time.
Awesome coins...and we need to have more Meet-And-Greets at some of these Big Shows like FUN, ANA, etc.
Some of us aren't in the business as some of you are...others treat this as an on-and-off hobby instead of 24/7 365 days a year....but I think we would ALL like the chance to meet the folks we interact with on forums such as this.
It’s not one event but I collected coins with my Mom from the late 70’s through the early 80’s. We went to flea markets, coin stores and of course going through coin rolls and our change. We must have spent thousands of hours together, learning US history and the Mint in the process. I’ve spent the last two years going through the stuff I ended up with. Nothing too valuable - Except the memories of my Mom!
Casual collector: Morgans & Peace Dollars & 20th Century Type Set. Successful BST transactions with ProofCollection, Morgan13, CoinFinder, CoinHunter4, Bretsan.
Viewing TradeDollarnuts collection of early U.S. Silver Dollars (minus the 1794 which he had just purchased) at a PCGS Invitational.
Assisting in the dismantling of the Lilly gold coin collection at the Smithsonian.
Working with David Hall at PCGS for 14 years (three as President of PCGS).
There are some great stories here sharing out most memorable moments.
I used to tell the story about holding most of the individual coins from a complete and original Pan Pac set (including both 50.'s) that were housed in the original purple velvet case while visiting a dealer/mentor at a Seattle Coin shop, probably late 1990.
For decades that was certainly one of my most memorable experience (other than the fact I don't remember even getting home thereafter as I was so blown away). That, and also that particular dealer telling me to "buy what I could afford to keep".
I'm not sure either of those hold serve any more.
.
In late 2020 I was invited to the home of a member here on this board, who I had never met in person. Over time we had started to develop a tenuous friendship, and who was helping to mentor/guide me into the world of CBH's. I had taken a long hiatus from coins and I was still tentative as to what to collect next, and trying to see how to enjoy the experience more.
Anyway, I was working at a job site near his home, and he invited me up for dinner. I met his wife and his dogs and we had a lovely dinner they prepared, and it was just wonderful. I brought a single coin in my shirt pocket for show and tell. At the time, it was the most expensive coin I owned (an 1820 CBH in an NGC AU58 holder) that I had just purchased a week earlier.
After dinner we retreated to the study and he brought out several double row boxes of CBH's, having anticipated my visit. I was stunned. The invite. The trust. The gracious gesture and hospitality. Maybe even more so that he took a genuine interest in my coin too, and even photographed it right there in his studio for me.
We talked late into the evening, and I saw some of the most fantastic different varieties and die marriages of CBH's that I had ever seen in one place. Some I had never even seen in hand before. All were very high quality, and all came with "off the top of his head" stories and information and insight.
We talked about coins, our history collecting, grading and the changes we had seen in the markets ... and philosophy and life ... and somehow I sensed when I drove away ... we found the start of a much deeper bond.
.
Sometimes I say he and several other members here pushed me over the edge and down the CBH rabbit hole. That's not really true, even if it is the funnier tale for a story.
The reality is, as I look back with hindsight to that fateful dinner ... and everything that happened in the first year I had (re)connected with him, both here on-line through this board and in person ... I know I waded in, knowingly. Like I was there for a reason, and I just kept going because I knew it was the best way forward.
Coins are about a lot more than just coins and grades and values and rarity. More than about a single focus or series or even just the history. Once I looked at the hobby with those glasses, it became a lot more interesting and sociable ... and a lot more fun.
Thank you Lance @lkeigwin . You certainly helped change my collecting experience and that part of my life ... and feel like I am a better and happier man for it.
“We are only their care-takers,” he posed, “if we take good care of them, then centuries from now they may still be here … ”
Where can I even start! My two most memorable numismatic experiences mean so much to me.
Learning from the esteemed @PeakRarities alongside working with him! As well, just as meaningful to me is meeting the extremely kind and knowledgeable members of the BHNC (too many to tag but they all browse these forums).
Both of these experiences have truly changed my life for the better and I can't be thankful enough to have met everyone in the above paragraph, and I couldn't be happier to call them my friends.
An honorable mention goes out to everyone who I have met in the field of numismatics. I wouldn't be where I am now without them!
Collector of Capped Bust Halves, SLQ's, Commems, and random cool stuff! @davidv_numismatics on Instagram
Cherry picking a well worn Sheldon NC variety from a junk bin, receiving a 1943-S Merc in change from the Junior High School cafeteria, and smashing coins on railroad tracks with dad.
Coins come and go, though to me the most memorable one will always be the 1931-S given to me by my grandfather early on in my numismatic journey. He and I would roll hunt and he would always have something to help me fill an old Whitman album we worked on together. Many years later, I eventually submitted that 1931-S to our hosts where it came back MS62BN and is a fantastic example of PIDT (Progressive Indirect Design Transfer).
What wasn't at the time, but over the years has now become my most memorable non-coin numismatic experience was the time I spent with Stewart Blay back when I was attending college at NYU in the earlier half of the 2000's. He lived relatively nearby the campus on Bond Street and was very gracious and generous with both his time and his educated opinions over a couple years.
What has been your most memorable numismatic experience?
I’ve had a number of exciting adventures in my 50 years in the hobby, and I covered some of the high points (as well as some of my personal bio) in this December 2023 interview.
Collector since 1976. On the CU forums here since 2001.
Professional Numismatist, Retired. 55 year member ANA. Former ANA Senior Authenticator. Winner of four ANA Heath Literary Awards; three Wayte and Olga Raymond Literary Awards; Numismatist of the Year Award 2009, and ANA Lifetime Achievement Award 2020. Winner of the PNG's 2026 Robert Friedberg Award for "The Enigmatic Lincoln Cents of 1922," Available now from Whitman or Amazon.
@airplanenut said:
I got to pull these 7 coins out of the exhibit cases, put them on the tray, carry them in an unlocked box across the floor of the Smithsonian while the museum was open*, and bring them back into the vault. When I was in high school. It's going to be hard to top that.
Are those coins in any sort of capsule or protective container??? Really, one good sneeze or one bad mis-step ... well, it's too horrifying to think about .....
Well, 22 years later, I'm happy to report that no, I didn't sneeze or trip. The coins were raw, though the box was filled when they were being moved so there was nowhere for them to go.
Completing a raw Indian Head Cent Whitman folder that my great-grandfather started well before I was born! Then doing another set in higher grades, then doing it again with graded MS IHCs. Im back to building a set MS65RB or better now.
Next was cherrypicking a Judd-300 pattern from a coin shop that had it marked as a normal 1863 PF....it ended up grading PF65. Fresh patterns don't turn up often!
I answered this on another board, but in honor of Collectors Universe locking me out for an entire week because it would not recognize my login information; and now letting me back in. Here goes. The most memorable experience for me as a collector occurred in the late 90"s. I had obtained a copy of Breen's Encyclopedia, plus discovered the wonders of the internet at the same time.
I had always assumed a bunch of old guys had salted away the vast majority of interesting coins. I couldn't have been more wrong. It is true i only had Breen to work with at first, but I will never forget discovering my first "variety" of Seated Half Dollar.
This experience changed my entire approach to coin collecting. I have lost track of how many different Seated, (and now Barber) coins I have had slabbed as an identified variety. It is not a money thing. It has to do with the thrill I get anytime I find a coin and can take a deeper dive into it's existence. That first coin changed everything for me. James
Not much but exciting for me:
1. Finding a 1972 DDO Lincoln from circulation in 1973 after searching through thousands of cents;
2. Finding an 1838 Large Cent while metal detecting in 2002; and
3. Receiving a invitation to the PCGS 40th Anniversay Registry Set awards at the Pittsburgh ANA.
Comments
The first few times I visited my LCS as a young numismatist and being helped out by an older gentleman whose methods and means of working with me as a new collector shaped how I would eventually treat other novice collectors (or seasoned collectors looking for a fresh avenue).
He took his time with me, offered fair and reasonable discounts whenever he could. I remember him selling me a BU 1960 Washington Quarter for $2.00 when the tag price was $4.50.
Years later, when I worked in the same shop, anytime I had a youngster in front of me with a limited budget, I would think of that older fellow and treat those kids the same way he treated me.
Custom album maker and numismatic photographer.
Need a personalized album made? Design it on the website below and I'll build it for you.
https://www.donahuenumismatics.com/.
My honest answer would have to be the many lifelong friends I have made over the years by participating in this hobby.
Numismatically, I did buy a bunch of coins between 2001 - 2010 that upon reflection were embarrassingly cheap. That was a fun time to be buying.
A great memory was going to our local club's twice a month meetings with my grandparents back in the 1970s and watching the excitement of the PM run up in 1980. Watching your small collection of silver coinage (some Mercury and Roosevelt dimes, Washington quarters, Franklin halves and a Peace dollar) double, triple and quadruple in value as a 10 year old in 1980 made an impression.
Indian Head $10 Gold Set Album
I work in Manhattan and so have been fortunate enough to have attended some big auctions. I attended the Pogue auctions which were notable for a number of reasons.
But attending the Cardinal sale that included the 1794 dollar that TDN ended up winning was quite a memory. It was a bitterly cold night but there was still a good turnout. I happened to be sitting behind Pogue. Laura and George of Legend had positioned themselves in different parts of the room so they could see all the other bidders and be in a good position to execute TDN's bids. It was interesting to see Pogue react when the nuclear bid came in.
There is a video somewhere of Cardinal after the sale and you can see Oreville and me talking in the background.
"Look up, old boy, and see what you get." -William Bonney.
Nice!
I’ve got to a write up on that Class III 1804 Dollar, and why I had it in my shirt pocket for 4 hours one time.
Are those coins in any sort of capsule or protective container??? Really, one good sneeze or one bad mis-step ... well, it's too horrifying to think about .....
I’ve had many positive experiences as a dealer (for a short time) and as a collector. However, I’ll share a memorable negative experience. It was during an ANA Summer Seminar in 1990 or so. My new coin buddy and I found ourselves eating lunch with the (then) luminary Walter Been. For the first 30 minutes we were in awe, hearing stories and discussing coins. Then, I happened to mention the recent passing of Roger Cohen, hoping to elicit a story or two. I’ll never forget what Breen said: “good riddance to bad rubbish”. We then knew, reinforced later, what a total … our “hero” really was. Fortunately, we also met many fine people, most of whom are still with us.
On or about Oct. 15th 1962, or 1963, I found this 1909-S VDB Lincoln cent while coin roll searching with my dad.
.
.
.
On Apr. 13th 1973 at !!:55 PM, I found a 1972 DDO Lincoln cent. I got married the next day-Apr.14th 1973 and am still married to the same woman. I just had this coin graded about 2 months ago by PCGS (MS64).
I still coin roll search up to this day.
I received a Ruddy Bowers or was it Bowers Ruddy circular in the mail one Friday and saw they had 1909/8 Saint for $99.00, so I called and darn they were all sold. Yes that was long ago.
INYNWHWeTrust-TexasNationals,ajaan,blu62vette
coinJP, Outhaul ,illini420,MICHAELDIXON, Fade to Black,epcjimi1,19Lyds,SNMAN,JerseyJoe, bigjpst, DMWJR , lordmarcovan, Weiss,Mfriday4962,UtahCoin,Downtown1974,pitboss,RichieURich,Bullsitter,JDsCoins,toyz4geo,jshaulis, mustanggt, SNMAN, MWallace, ms71, lordmarcovan,JWP,dantheman984,olah_in_MA,USMC_6115
Bowers & Ruddy
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
Is this the video and was that Laura shaking hands with Pogue after the auction? Who is TDN?
TDN is @tradedollarnut
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
Let's hear it from the horse's mouth. @tradedollarnut
https://pcgs.com/setregistry/showcase/2819
For me.....it had to be the auction of the 1927-D MS-65+ Saint belonging to Dr. Steven Duckor at FUN 2020.
My 1st time at FUN or any other "big" coin show......my 1st bigtime auction....a coin type I was familiar with....and Dr. Duckor's collection and contributions were well-known. Wish I had a chance to meet him.
Anyway, the auction ended at just over $2 MM and I found the whole process very sporting-like.
First would be going to the bank with my step-grandmother to view her family collection at age 10 in 1975. I only saw it once and don't know what happened to it later, but it was a large(r) SDB containing US coins back to 1794 (large cent) and most coin types outside of dollars and gold. She was born in 1906 into an affluent family.
Subsequently, it's whenever I find one of the almost never available coins for any of my sets, especially my primary interest. I've found more than a few in some out of the ordinary places. Other times I see these show up in the TPG populations before I see it at auction, so I check it intermittently to see if anything new has been graded.
For me it was my first trip to the Winter FUN Show. It was so long ago that I can't remember the date. Air and hotel cost me about $2000. That was a lot for me at the time. I thought I was a bit stupid until I walked into the show for the first time. That was a WOW moment for me. I was able to meet a lot of forum members for the first time in person. One of those guys was you Mark. You sold me my first Buffalo Proof Nickel.
I remember walking around my hotel the day before the show opened. There was a sign in the lobby about the show. I was trying to understand the bus schedule when this guy named Randy Campbell walked up and ask if he could help. The next day I found out he was a part of the FUN Show.
would love to hear some stories on some of the winchester ny coin show from back in the day, just saying
scrolling the forum
Proud follower of Christ! I love the USA! Land of the Bright and Beautiful! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Dad, more of a looker-atter than buyer, took me to B. Max Mehl's Fort Worth shop in late 1943 or 1944. Must've been 5-6 years old then, remembering the display cases were way tall. Mr. Mehl handed me a "brand-new" cent as a gift. Started bawling because it didn't look like a penny to this kid. To calm the situation he replaced the steeley with a 1938 cent, the whiney kid's birth year.
Of recent, this is mine. Being able to acquire 2 now known counterfeit 1797 draped bust dimes for in-hand evaluation.
For me, my most memorable numismatic experience is one of my most memorable experiences in all my life.
This was the day that my then 14-year-old son bought the very first HOF coins at the Baltimore Whitman show where they were first released.
My wife and I decided to pull him out of school (something we virtually never did) so that he could go. Little did we ever expect for him to be the very first in line and to get the very first coins sold. This was widely covered in the numismatic press and on the Whitman web site. In fact, as many of you know, a photo of him on this day was on the Whitman web site for many years. As a huge added treat, the Whitman staff took my son to meet Brooks Robinson. He got photos with Brooks and his coin. We're originally from Baltimore. Brooks was my late Dad's favorite O's player. My father was ecstatic.
That wasn't even all for that day. When my son got the first coins, we wanted more - for me and for our younger son. The Mint said that we couldn't use the same credit card for more. I didn't have thousands in cash on me of course. So, I went to a dealer that I'd known for years. I asked him if he could please loan me the money (several thousand), that I'd sign any note he wished and would pay him a few hundred for the trouble. He immediately gave me the cash, didn't ask me to sign anything and said that he would not accept any additional repayment.
Seeing this, my son asked in astonishment, how he could just hand me so much cash and what recourse he would have if I didn't pay him back. I said that he'd not have much recourse, but that he knew I'd pay him back without question. This led to a discussion on the drive home about the importance of one's word and one's honor, above all else. It was a very powerful demonstration of what it means to be a man of one's word and to be trusted without question by one's peers.
Incredibly, it's been 12 years since that day. My son, who was just accepted to medical school, talks about that day, that coin and that lesson to this day.
Sadly, my kids have absolutely zero interest in coins. However, my eldest son still loves looking at his HOF coins from that day, talking about meeting Brooks and the lesson that he learned in witnessing the very kind gesture of the dealer.
This was truly a charmed day. The memories of that day will forever be some of my most treasured.
Thank you for that heart warming story.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
Thank you!
I'm so glad that you enjoyed it.
My kid and I went to and got hold Pogue's 1794 $1 and 1822 $5
Meeting @FlyingAl at the ANA!
That would be the trip to the FUN show back in January 2019 that I attended with my son. I met up with friends from right here on this forum and had a terrific time. I also bought two gold pieces that I still have.
This beautiful 1911 PCGS 64. I still think this one is under graded.
And this gorgeous 1922 PCGS 64
My son and I at the show.
My brother asked me to take a look at a small coin collection held by a member of his church. I agreed and we drove out to her home. Most of the coins were common Lincoln wheat cents, some war nickels and Kennedy Half Dollars. She then brought out some silver dollars for me to look at. Like the rest of the collection these were common too, like 1880 & 1881 "S" mint coins and a few 1922 Peace dollars. Then, just as I reached the last silver dollar, I took out an 1883 Proof Trade Dollar. In the context of the rest of the collection, it should never have been there, but it was simply a wonderful and terrific experience to hold such a rarity in my hand. I learned later that she sold the coin to a dealer for a great price.
This.
Casual collector slowly building a collection....
DisneyFan, thanks for posting the video. Can't believe it's been 13 years! To answer a few questions, I am pretty sure TDN was not at the auction but was on the phone with Laura. I am not sure who she is shaking hands with in the video but it is not Brent Pogue. You can see him in the video briefly at the far side of the room, near the front.
Sad to think both Martin Logies and Brent Pogue have passed away. What great collections they had.
"Look up, old boy, and see what you get." -William Bonney.
Awesome coins...and we need to have more Meet-And-Greets at some of these Big Shows like FUN, ANA, etc.
Some of us aren't in the business as some of you are...others treat this as an on-and-off hobby instead of 24/7 365 days a year....but I think we would ALL like the chance to meet the folks we interact with on forums such as this.
It’s not one event but I collected coins with my Mom from the late 70’s through the early 80’s. We went to flea markets, coin stores and of course going through coin rolls and our change. We must have spent thousands of hours together, learning US history and the Mint in the process. I’ve spent the last two years going through the stuff I ended up with. Nothing too valuable - Except the memories of my Mom!
Casual collector: Morgans & Peace Dollars & 20th Century Type Set. Successful BST transactions with ProofCollection, Morgan13, CoinFinder, CoinHunter4, Bretsan.
It would have to be the 1806 50¢ O.129 discovery fiasco that I shared with @lordmarcovan. Good times indeed.
That was one of the more fascinating fiascos I’ve been involved in.
Since the old club web page about the discovery died, I’ve retold the tale in my own thread on CoinTalk.
https://www.cointalk.com/threads/my-one-that-got-away-story-the-1806-o-129-draped-bust-half-discovery-coin.409380/
Collector since 1976. On the CU forums here since 2001.
Quite the roller coaster ride!
For certain my most interesting numismatic experience…
https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/1082505/1910-10-dollar-indian-any-chance-this-is-a-proof-updated-12-23#latest
When I bought my first Double Eagle (Saint).
Viewing TradeDollarnuts collection of early U.S. Silver Dollars (minus the 1794 which he had just purchased) at a PCGS Invitational.
Assisting in the dismantling of the Lilly gold coin collection at the Smithsonian.
Working with David Hall at PCGS for 14 years (three as President of PCGS).
Ron Guth, Chief Investigator
The Numismatic Detective Agency
There are some great stories here sharing out most memorable moments.
I used to tell the story about holding most of the individual coins from a complete and original Pan Pac set (including both 50.'s) that were housed in the original purple velvet case while visiting a dealer/mentor at a Seattle Coin shop, probably late 1990.
For decades that was certainly one of my most memorable experience (other than the fact I don't remember even getting home thereafter as I was so blown away). That, and also that particular dealer telling me to "buy what I could afford to keep".
I'm not sure either of those hold serve any more.
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In late 2020 I was invited to the home of a member here on this board, who I had never met in person. Over time we had started to develop a tenuous friendship, and who was helping to mentor/guide me into the world of CBH's. I had taken a long hiatus from coins and I was still tentative as to what to collect next, and trying to see how to enjoy the experience more.
Anyway, I was working at a job site near his home, and he invited me up for dinner. I met his wife and his dogs and we had a lovely dinner they prepared, and it was just wonderful. I brought a single coin in my shirt pocket for show and tell. At the time, it was the most expensive coin I owned (an 1820 CBH in an NGC AU58 holder) that I had just purchased a week earlier.
After dinner we retreated to the study and he brought out several double row boxes of CBH's, having anticipated my visit. I was stunned. The invite. The trust. The gracious gesture and hospitality. Maybe even more so that he took a genuine interest in my coin too, and even photographed it right there in his studio for me.
We talked late into the evening, and I saw some of the most fantastic different varieties and die marriages of CBH's that I had ever seen in one place. Some I had never even seen in hand before. All were very high quality, and all came with "off the top of his head" stories and information and insight.
We talked about coins, our history collecting, grading and the changes we had seen in the markets ... and philosophy and life ... and somehow I sensed when I drove away ... we found the start of a much deeper bond.
.
Sometimes I say he and several other members here pushed me over the edge and down the CBH rabbit hole. That's not really true, even if it is the funnier tale for a story.
The reality is, as I look back with hindsight to that fateful dinner ... and everything that happened in the first year I had (re)connected with him, both here on-line through this board and in person ... I know I waded in, knowingly. Like I was there for a reason, and I just kept going because I knew it was the best way forward.
Coins are about a lot more than just coins and grades and values and rarity. More than about a single focus or series or even just the history. Once I looked at the hobby with those glasses, it became a lot more interesting and sociable ... and a lot more fun.
Thank you Lance @lkeigwin . You certainly helped change my collecting experience and that part of my life ... and feel like I am a better and happier man for it.
“We are only their care-takers,” he posed, “if we take good care of them, then centuries from now they may still be here … ”
Todd - BHNC #242
Where can I even start! My two most memorable numismatic experiences mean so much to me.
Learning from the esteemed @PeakRarities alongside working with him! As well, just as meaningful to me is meeting the extremely kind and knowledgeable members of the BHNC (too many to tag but they all browse these forums).
Both of these experiences have truly changed my life for the better and I can't be thankful enough to have met everyone in the above paragraph, and I couldn't be happier to call them my friends.
An honorable mention goes out to everyone who I have met in the field of numismatics. I wouldn't be where I am now without them!
Collector of Capped Bust Halves, SLQ's, Commems, and random cool stuff! @davidv_numismatics on Instagram
Cherry picking a well worn Sheldon NC variety from a junk bin, receiving a 1943-S Merc in change from the Junior High School cafeteria, and smashing coins on railroad tracks with dad.
Coins come and go, though to me the most memorable one will always be the 1931-S given to me by my grandfather early on in my numismatic journey. He and I would roll hunt and he would always have something to help me fill an old Whitman album we worked on together. Many years later, I eventually submitted that 1931-S to our hosts where it came back MS62BN and is a fantastic example of PIDT (Progressive Indirect Design Transfer).
What wasn't at the time, but over the years has now become my most memorable non-coin numismatic experience was the time I spent with Stewart Blay back when I was attending college at NYU in the earlier half of the 2000's. He lived relatively nearby the campus on Bond Street and was very gracious and generous with both his time and his educated opinions over a couple years.
Now, to address the topic in the title.
What has been your most memorable numismatic experience?
I’ve had a number of exciting adventures in my 50 years in the hobby, and I covered some of the high points (as well as some of my personal bio) in this December 2023 interview.
Collector since 1976. On the CU forums here since 2001.
Per @redrocket's request I posted a copy of an article I wrote about the Linderman 1804 dollar in COINage in April of 2000 over in this thread:
https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/1125320/the-recovery-of-the-dupont-linderman-1804-dollar/p1
TD
Well, 22 years later, I'm happy to report that no, I didn't sneeze or trip. The coins were raw, though the box was filled when they were being moved so there was nowhere for them to go.
Completing a raw Indian Head Cent Whitman folder that my great-grandfather started well before I was born! Then doing another set in higher grades, then doing it again with graded MS IHCs. Im back to building a set MS65RB or better now.
Next was cherrypicking a Judd-300 pattern from a coin shop that had it marked as a normal 1863 PF....it ended up grading PF65. Fresh patterns don't turn up often!
I answered this on another board, but in honor of Collectors Universe locking me out for an entire week because it would not recognize my login information; and now letting me back in. Here goes. The most memorable experience for me as a collector occurred in the late 90"s. I had obtained a copy of Breen's Encyclopedia, plus discovered the wonders of the internet at the same time.
I had always assumed a bunch of old guys had salted away the vast majority of interesting coins. I couldn't have been more wrong. It is true i only had Breen to work with at first, but I will never forget discovering my first "variety" of Seated Half Dollar.
This experience changed my entire approach to coin collecting. I have lost track of how many different Seated, (and now Barber) coins I have had slabbed as an identified variety. It is not a money thing. It has to do with the thrill I get anytime I find a coin and can take a deeper dive into it's existence. That first coin changed everything for me. James
Not much but exciting for me:
1. Finding a 1972 DDO Lincoln from circulation in 1973 after searching through thousands of cents;
2. Finding an 1838 Large Cent while metal detecting in 2002; and
3. Receiving a invitation to the PCGS 40th Anniversay Registry Set awards at the Pittsburgh ANA.
https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/gold/liberty-head-2-1-gold-major-sets/liberty-head-2-1-gold-basic-set-circulation-strikes-1840-1907-cac/alltimeset/268163
March of Time - 27 Centuries in Gold
https://coins.www.collectors-society.com/WCM/CoinCustomSetView.aspx?s=36590