My first "dream coin" as a kid was an 1814 large cent, probably more or less in Fine. The owner of a shop I went to somewhat frequently to spend my allowance buying whatever was cheap brought "it out of the back" to show me. I had a couple common later large cents (1851 and 53, probably), but this was just way too cool. I couldn't afford it, so when I got home I drew it at the suggestion of my parents. A colleague of my dad owned part of a bakery, and he arranged to have her use it as a decoration for a birthday cake for me. I must have outgrown it, because I still don't have one. Now that I think of it, maybe I'll buy myself one as a tribute to the kind of a coin geek I was 35 years ago.
As a kid i dreamed about girls and sports. I had an aunt that worked for a bank and every birthday and x-mas i would get coins, morgan, ikes, kennedy etc. X-mas in 1975 or 1976 she gave all of us Bi-centennial sets. I ended up with my sisters and brothers sets by trading someting i did not want. I still have all those coins today.
I always wanted a 1955/1955 Lincoln cent. To this day i have still not bought this coin. I am leaving this coin for last.
Mark NGC registry V-Nickel proof #6!!!! working on proof shield nickels # 8 with a bullet!!!!
<< <i>My dream was finding a 1909-S VDB in circulation. This was back in the early 1960's so it was not completely out of the question. I never found one, and I have never owned one. >>
I always thought a Fugio cent was something to dream about actually owning one day, but the "Holy Grail" dream coin was a Brasher Doubloon. There was just something magical about it.
I received a U.S. coin book for my birthday back in the 60's. The one that got my attention was the famous '55 DDO. Many years later I was able to buy a few.
Same as my current dream coin...skinny eagle draped bust half dollar. Although with some finagling and trading about I probably "could" get one now something tells me I never will. Something in me just completely locks up at the idea of paying more for a single coin then I did for my house.
Just because I'm old doesn't mean I don't love to look at a pretty bust.
1955 Doubled Die Lincoln. If I had a penny for every penny I looked through, I'd have a whole lot of pennies.
I used to be somebody, now I'm just a coin collector. Recipient of the coveted "You Suck" award, April 2009 for cherrypicking a 1833 CBHD LM-5, and April 2022 for a 1835 LM-12, and again in Aug 2012 for picking off a 1952 FS-902.
I am definitely emotional about the topic of this thread. Though I collected several series of U.S. coins as a kid, I was enthusiastic about Liberty Nickels and 1894-S dimes at a very young age. I collected them in Fair-02 to VG-08 grades. I dreamed about 1913 Liberty Nickels and 1894-S dimes. I feel very privileged to have had the opportunity to hold and examine (in holders) four of the five 1913 Liberty Nickels, and to see the obverse of the fifth one in a display case. Moreover, I have held most of the known 1894-S dimes. I am delighted to have written about 1913 Liberty Nickels and 1894-S dimes on numerous occasions, most recently:
Also, I recently learned from TDN that he has owned 100% of two different 1913 Liberty Nickels, the Olsen-Hawn and Eliasberg pieces. I had thought of him owning just 50% or so of these nickels. Additionally, I learned that TDN acquired the Eliasberg 1913 from John Albanese, years ago, though I have not yet included the latter point in my writings.
<< <i>My dream was finding a 1909-S VDB in circulation. This was back in the early 1960's so it was not completely out of the question. I never found one, and I have never owned one. >>
You, me, every other kid I ever knew that had a paper route, my dad, brothers........ ------- Remember that TV show 'The Millionaire'? Some mythical early 60's character so rich that he gave away $1 million dollars (tax free!) to deserving people like me'n'u. Of course that was considered big money back then. My point being, if you were say Bill Gates and inspired by that program, you bought 1909-VDB-S pennies and put them into circulation so that 'deserving' individuals could find them! Wouldn't that be a hoot?!?! ----- The other coin we drooled for was the 50-D nickel. The pungency has gone out of that for me however since today it pretty much commands the same price as it did when $10 or $15 was a fairly sizeable chunk of dough to expend upon any such frivolity as a coin. I'd have probably cut your lawn all summer for such a sum. Today it ain't Jack's first name, never mind his last.
Many, many perfect transactions with other members. Ask please.
I used to fantasize over the back cover comic book ads that listed the buying values for the major US rarities. I forget which company - maybe it was Littleton, but I think they were into stamps back then. It didn't want to buy an 1804 Silver Dollar - I wanted to FIND one and then cash it in.
My Redbook fantasy was a $4.00 Stella.
Q: Are You Printing Money? Bernanke: Not Literally
<< <i>My dream was finding a 1909-S VDB in circulation. This was back in the early 1960's so it was not completely out of the question. I never found one, and I have never owned one. >>
That makes two of us, from one IrishMikey to another.
I still have my 1961 folding album - and the S-VDB is the only hole on the first half of the album. I'm missing a few coins from the 80's that I never bothered to get.
Mike Hayes ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Coin collecting is not a hobby, it's an obsession !
I'm with many others here. I guess if you were a kid collecting in the late 50s - early 60s, the allure of the 1909-S VDB outshone more rare or valuable coins. Those three initials at the bottom reverse -- too prominent, so they were moved in mid-year! Had a nice later chapter on this one. In 1986, the first year I had a really good-paying job (which lasted all of two years) I moved to Milwaukee, went to a coin show, and happened on a dealer who told me he'd just bought an S-VDB, not yet inventoried it, and would sell it to me for $50 above what he paid -- something like $400, as I recall. It looked nice, and I bought it happily. Of course, 1986 was also the year PCGS was founded, so the new world of slabs was yet to arrive. Years later, after I'd learned a couple hard lessons about how many "raw" coins had been cleaned or otherwise over-valued, I wondered whether that dealer in Milwaukee had told me a tale and tricked me. Not optimistic, I sent in my first coin for grading, my prized S-VDB to PCGS. It came back 64RD. Whoever that dealer was . . . well, thanks for helping make my adult coin collecting life as happy as the kid one!
But then again, so did the Chain Cent, Stellas, 1804 Dollars, heck, even SVDBs. I recall an actual dream where I found an SVDB. Not in change, but in some old box. Hmmm, guess that makes it technically my "dream" coin.
A Saint. Bought an "uncirculated" one when I finished high school. When slabs became popular, I sent it in and it came back AU53, of course. No big deal, but a good lesson.
Armen Moloian's comment, "Whenever anyone questions the value of a 1909-S VDB relative to its mintage, they should be referred to this thread." struck me as a keen bit of insight. The accumulation in the subsequent three days of other comments about the "S-VDB" further credit his observation. I've seen at least three instances of coin professionals scoffing at this coin as over-priced or over-valued, and it's true that nearly half a million were minted. But a coin's value isn't determined the same way as that of a stock or bond. Certain coins have special significance for many people, and a few coins mean something special because of their place in coin history and in the hearts of kids -- young and old. The experience that I relayed in my comment earlier today had long seemed to me pretty singular. It's interesting now to learn how many variations there have been of the S-VDB experience. Moloian reminds us that, while coins may in part be a business, they're also for most of us a passion.
I always wanted a fugio. And 1793 large cent. Bought fugio last year. Hope to get the other this year. A women last year gave me a wheat collection thinking the coins were worthless. In the 1946 slot was a 1909s vdb.I gave it back to her and she gave me a nice tip.
I remember three coins from the first time I looked through a "RED BOOK" the Bar cent and those two octagons the Humbert and the Pan Pacific. Needles to say I will not be adding any of them unless….
An 1881 Morgan that my grandmother had when I was five years old.
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Mine was the 1876-CC 20cent piece. I was fascinated as a kid to know that 20cent pieces existed and I always wanted one. Still do except now I want one in MS condition.
Stellas were a close second.
Beware of the flying monkeys! Aerospace Structures Engineer
Comments
A 1909 S VDB or a Three Legged Buffalo
Man I looked threw all the change I got while collecting on my paper route
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution
I always wanted a 1955/1955 Lincoln cent. To this day i have still not bought this coin. I am leaving this coin for last.
NGC registry V-Nickel proof #6!!!!
working on proof shield nickels # 8 with a bullet!!!!
RIP "BEAR"
the svdb, 14d, 55ddo, 16d merc, and the 3 legger always stuck with me. and for some reason the 1970 D Kennedy was one i've always remembered haha
half of my attraction to coins is because they remind me of being a kid
Hoard the keys.
www.brunkauctions.com
Betts medals, colonial coins, US Mint medals, foreign coins found in early America, and other numismatic Americana
<< <i>My dream was finding a 1909-S VDB in circulation. This was back in the early 1960's so
it was not completely out of the question. I never found one, and I have never owned one.
My thoughts exactly...
Had I gotten one , I'd have done well.
<< <i>Stella was the coolest thing in the RedBook in my opinion >>
good one. that one stuck with me all my life too.
The one that got my attention was the famous '55 DDO.
Many years later I was able to buy a few.
TOM
I was fortunate enough to be able to pick up my childhood dream coin a few years ago.
I also felt that a coin collection was getting really good once it got a Saint Gaudens $20. I got my first one in 2008.
Recipient of the coveted "You Suck" award, April 2009 for cherrypicking a 1833 CBHD LM-5, and April 2022 for a 1835 LM-12, and again in Aug 2012 for picking off a 1952 FS-902.
Article on the Olsen-Hawn 1913 Liberty Nickel
Understanding the Auction Record For an 1894-S dime - 10/23/07
Which are the finest 1894-S Dimes? 07/31/07
Also, I recently learned from TDN that he has owned 100% of two different 1913 Liberty Nickels, the Olsen-Hawn and Eliasberg pieces. I had thought of him owning just 50% or so of these nickels. Additionally, I learned that TDN acquired the Eliasberg 1913 from John Albanese, years ago, though I have not yet included the latter point in my writings.
The Spectacular Nevada Accumulation and TDN’s Collection of Type Coins
<< <i>My dream was finding a 1909-S VDB in circulation. This was back in the early 1960's so
it was not completely out of the question. I never found one, and I have never owned one.
You, me, every other kid I ever knew that had a paper route, my dad, brothers........
-------
Remember that TV show 'The Millionaire'? Some mythical early 60's character so rich that he gave away $1 million dollars (tax free!) to deserving people like me'n'u. Of course that was considered big money back then. My point being, if you were say Bill Gates and inspired by that program, you bought 1909-VDB-S pennies and put them into circulation so that 'deserving' individuals could find them! Wouldn't that be a hoot?!?!
-----
The other coin we drooled for was the 50-D nickel. The pungency has gone out of that for me however since today it pretty much commands the same price as it did when $10 or $15 was a fairly sizeable chunk of dough to expend upon any such frivolity as a coin. I'd have probably cut your lawn all summer for such a sum. Today it ain't Jack's first name, never mind his last.
My Redbook fantasy was a $4.00 Stella.
I knew it would happen.
Many members on this forum that now it cannot fit in my signature. Please ask for entire list.
<< <i>My dream was finding a 1909-S VDB in circulation. This was back in the early 1960's so
it was not completely out of the question. I never found one, and I have never owned one.
That makes two of us, from one IrishMikey to another.
I still have my 1961 folding album - and the S-VDB is the only hole
on the first half of the album. I'm missing a few coins from the
80's that I never bothered to get.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Coin collecting is not a hobby, it's an obsession !
New Barber Purchases
K
The 1909-S vdb and 1916-D dime. I have owned both. Currently do not own both. I will get them back someday.
But then again, so did the Chain Cent, Stellas, 1804 Dollars, heck, even SVDBs. I recall an actual dream where I found an SVDB. Not in change, but in some old box. Hmmm, guess that makes it technically my "dream" coin.
Empty Nest Collection
"Got a flaming heart, can't get my fill"
https://www.pcgs.com/SetRegistry/collectors-showcase/world-coins/one-coin-per-year-1600-2017/2422
<< <i>The same as today.... a $50, Octagonal Pan Pac.... saw one as a kid, never forgot it. Cheers, RickO >>
Me too, Ricko. I used to dream of finding one in the underbrush... in perfect condition, naturally.
RIP Mom- 1932-2012
At the time I could not afford one. Today I can but my interests have changed.
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
blackman.jake@gmail.com
704-719-6866
14-D cent...Hellooooo Mr. Wilson!
13 Liberty 5c from Hawaii 5-O fame.
Farah Fawcett, not a coin but still a childhood dream.
A women last year gave me a wheat collection thinking the coins were worthless. In the 1946 slot was a 1909s vdb.I gave it back to her and she gave me a nice tip.
Needles to say I will not be adding any of them unless….
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it my taste turned to the old stuff
Stellas were a close second.
Aerospace Structures Engineer
Without a doubt it was a 1909-S VDB. And when I got a REAL job 20+ years later, I purchased one with my first check.