One of the things I love most about collecting, besides the coins themselves, is the fascinating history and the people involved. It’s no wonder that columns like “coin finds” in Coins magazine have recently had to expand their page count – everyone enjoys hearing about the exciting adventures of coin collectors! We love those intriguing stories and unexpected discoveries, and secretly, we all hope for our own thrilling finds 😉

One of my goals for this blog is to regularly feature other collectors and learn about their journeys as well. And since I’m currently the only reader (haha), I’ll start things off with my own story.

If you’re interested in being featured, answer these questions and let me know! Extra kudos for sending pictures (though it’s not a requirement).

Here are my answers as of today (2/25/14):

A “hobo nickel” I inherited from my grandparents (pictured on the right). I wish I could have asked them about it when they were alive because it’s such an amazing work of art, carved from an old buffalo nickel (like the one on the left). Unfortunately, I never got the chance. However, I did manage to have it authenticated by a hobo nickel specialist at my first coin show. He advised me to keep it due to its sentimental value (which it is), but he also offered me $150 for it 😉 He said it was likely worth around $250 since it’s an original from many years ago, unlike the modern versions out there today. What a great find!

(Quick tip: Always see a specialist when you have a coin that’s unusual – not everyone knows their value or appreciates them. The first person I showed it to had never seen anything like it, and another offered just $5, claiming they were common.)

Growing up, I spent time at yard sales and antique shops with my mom, which sparked my appreciation for old things. But it wasn’t until I inherited my grandparents’ modest collection that my interest really took off. It included that hobo nickel, some Morgan dollars, Walking Liberty halves, and various other fascinating coins. My passion truly ignited after meeting a fellow collector at a flea market two years ago. I started buying several coins from him every other weekend, and we eventually became friends. I devoured every magazine and book I could find on the subject. Now, here I am with my very own website dedicated to coins! It’s funny how life works out.

A Kennedy half dollar with a cross etched on his head! (And a dollar sign engraved on the bird’s tail feathers.) I found it while sorting through a roll of halves from the bank, and I was both scared and thrilled to see it 🙂 I haven’t been able to find any information about it, so maybe it was just random? Still, it’s one of my favorite pieces in my collection.

Exactly $1,964.95 – for a 1 oz. Gold Buffalo proof from the Mint. Unfortunately, I bought it at the peak of gold prices in March 2012, and I paid a premium since it was purchased directly from the Mint 🙁 At least I was assured it was authentic… (I have since sold it.)

I’ve got two great bargains for you. Interestingly, neither of them is specifically coins! The first was an accidental find at a yard sale, and the second was a stroke of luck at an online auction. Here’s how they happened:

Best Bargain #1: About four years ago, before I knew much about coins, I stumbled upon a yard sale mainly selling kids’ items. While rummaging through a bag of toy coins (I’ve always found money intriguing), I noticed it was unusually heavy. I found a genuine silver coin in there, which I bought for just 25 cents! (At the time, silver was worth about $13 per ounce.)

Best Bargain #2: My second bargain came with a 2nd edition Red Book that I snagged for only 19 cents! I stumbled across it during a late-night online auction and placed a maximum bid of around $20, just for fun. I knew these could be worth a few hundred dollars because of a list featured in modern Red Books, but I didn’t expect to win! The next morning, I discovered I was the highest bidder and my total cost was a mere 19 cents. Unbelievable.

TIP: Always search for coins and coin books in non-coin-related auctions! It’s a great way to find deals without competing against hundreds of collectors or experts who know their values.

Yes, of course! Sometimes quite literally 🙂 Luckily, I’m still relatively new to collecting, so I usually don’t spend large amounts of money yet. However, I do get taken advantage of more often because I’m still learning.

Once, I recall being duped when I purchased a 1923 large-sized $1.00 Silver Certificate at a museum gift shop (mistake #1 – you always overpay there!). Weeks later, I realized it had rips and was taped all over! How did I overlook that? I would have chosen a different bill had I known. I think I paid $35 for it, though it’s likely worth $15-$20 at most… In mint condition, these can go for $140+. I’ve since replaced it with a non-ripped version.

Old U.S. coins! Preferably from the 1700s and 1800s, though I’m not too picky 🙂 I’m also starting to appreciate old foreign coins; they seem more elegant than many of ours.

When hunting for deals, keep an eye out for items that seem out of place. While the Red Book is a “book” that fits in a book auction, the auction wasn’t targeted at coin collectors; it was for old book enthusiasts. Similarly, the silver find was just grouped with toy coins in a sale, but it was clearly different, and most people wouldn’t have given it much thought. You won’t always find great bargains this way (otherwise, I’d have hundreds more to share! ;)), but it’s a useful habit. Think: “look where others aren’t.”

Oh boy… Two stunning coins come to mind. But if I had to choose, it would be the 1915-S Panama-Pacific Exposition $50 gold commemorative – the octagon version. It’s incredibly COOL! Back in 1948, according to that very 2nd edition Red Book, it was valued at just $475 🙂 A far cry from the $50,000-$180,000 it’s worth today, but I would be thrilled to own one. No need for million-dollar coins here! I’m perfectly content with a $100,000 one 😉

(My second favorite coin, which is more attainable, is a Saint-Gaudens gold double eagle from the early 1900s. It’s still one of the most beautiful coins I’ve ever seen.)

Send me your answers to these seven questions, along with any photos you’d like to include, and you could be featured next 🙂 Whether you’re a longtime collector, a newbie, a casual fan, or even a coin dealer, we’d love to hear your stories!

Reach me at j(at)cointhrill(dot)com or through the contact form here.

Looking forward to connecting with everyone!