What coin or other item got you interested in the hobby? How did you receive it?
from the August 19 Numismatic News E-Newsletter
When I was 16, way back in the 1970s, my grandfather gave me a 1901 Morgan silver dollar. It was his birth coin. He told me about his grandfather giving him his birth coin. I was hooked then and I still am.
David S. Michigan
Mercury dimes got me interested in collecting and looking for a 1950-D nickel in my change.
Patrick Clark Address withheld
When I was in school in London in 1969, I received a 1941 AR half crown from Southern Rhodesia in change and the rest is history.
Jim Diracles Address withheld
I found a 192-D Mercury dime in pocket change when I was 8 years old. Took it to the pawn shop and got 75 cents for it. The light went off.
W. Morris Address withheld
I grew up in a family that travelled worldwide. Everywhere we lived, I picked up coinage and paper money willy-nilly (I was a kid). In the summer of 1960, I interned at the Smithsonian’s Division of Numismatics, then headed by Dr. & Mrs. Vladimir Clain-Stefanelli, who introduced me to historic coinages of the world which I was to card catalog (this was obviously before the internet). As a professor of history, I got interested in ancient Roman coins. In retirement, I’d like to organize my collection.
John H. Geerken Claremont, Calif.
I received a Morgan dollar from my great-grandmother for my birthday and Christmas every year. Although I could not expand on that date and mintmark collection, I did begin looking at all my change.
Brian Sample Philadelphia, Pa.
My grandmother visited England in 1904 and brought back a set of the three bronzes: 1/4d - 1d, 1889 in uncirculated condition. They passed down to me through my mother. I have been building on them since the ’70s.
Bill Hainsworth Seatac, Wash.
First coin, or I should say coins, were from Mexico. I live in Texas and started collecting these coins. Then expanded my collection to U.S. coins. I am now almost 80 years old and been collecting coins from around the world since about 16 or so years old. There’s a lot more countries since I was that old. I now have 192 of them. Did no traveling but just collected from people that have. I also order from the different mints (proof sets). Also have around 20 of [the Standard Catalog of World Coins] books.
Hope to finish all countries before I, well, you know!
Jim Address withheld
To the best of my knowledge, I was intrigued by the silver dollars I often received as gifts at birthdays and for Christmas as a youngster. When I began delivering newspapers, I couldn’t resist going through my change and the rolls I would ask for at the bank when I deposited my weekly payments for dimes, nickels and cents to fill the holes in Whitman coin folders. I
