Discovered My Grandfathers Coin Collection

[Avago]

Discovered My Grandfather's Coin Collection

Hey TNet, thought I should share a story. I was visiting the parents a few weeks ago and I mentioned that I had taken up coin collecting as a hobby. I showed them eight silver dimes that I found in some old loose change that I accrued with my grandfather. They said he might have put them in there on purpose since he was a coin collector himself. Unfortunately, he passed away in 2008 before we got a chance to share in the hobby together... we were very close when I was growing up.

My parents then mentioned that his old coin collection has been sitting in the basement for the past five years and they had no idea what he had. Wanting to spend some time with his collection, I waited until this past weekend when I was home again for Thanksgiving with my girlfriend to really sit down and look through what he had. He had a lot.

First of all, he had Whitman books, but I could tell that they were OLD Whitman books. For example, his Franklin half dollar Whitman book listed an open ended mint date range, 1948- ?, which meant that he had been doing the collecting before the Franklins were discontinued in 1963. I was able to determine that he did the bulk of his collecting between 1955-1961 with additional purchases up through the 1980s. It was really a pleasure to make this connection with him, even after his passing, and to know that coin collecting is in my blood!

I've compiled a list of everything below for your enjoyment. I haven't had a chance to take pictures, but hopefully I'll be able to document everything in photos around Christmas and will share everything here!

Edit: Pictures are posted on the next page.

Whitman Folders

Indian Head Cents 1856 - 1909 > Started
Lincoln Cents 1909 - 1940 > Nearly complete
Lincoln Cents 1941 - ? > Complete (unsure of end date)

Liberty Head Nickel 1883 - 1913 > Started
Buffalo Nickel 1913 - 1938 > Nearly complete
Jefferson Nickel 1938 - ? > Started (unsure of end date)

Barber Dime 1892 - 1916 > Started
Mercury Dime 1916 - 1945 > Nearly complete
Roosevelt Dime 1946 - ? > Nearly complete (unsure of end date)

Barber Quarter 1892 - 1905 > Two out of set
Barber Quarter 1906 - 1916 > Two out of set
Standing Liberty Quarter 1916 - 1930 > Started
(2) Washington Quarter 1932 - 1945 > One complete set, one started
(2) Washington Quarter 1946 - ? > One complete set, one started (unsure of end date)

Barber Half Dollar 1892 - 1903 > One out of set
Barber Half Dollar 1904 - 1915 > Three out of set
Walking Liberty Half Dollar 1916 - 1936 > Nearly complete
Walking Liberty Half Dollar 1937 - 1947 > Missing one for set
Franklin Half Dollar 1948 - ? > Nearly complete, up through 1959

Wayte Raymond

Jefferson Nickel Album 1938 - 1958 > Complete

Proof Sets

Sealed Box, 5-Coin (Philadelphia)
(1) 1954 (Square box)

Sealed Envelope, 5-Coin (Philadelphia)
(5) 1955
(8) 1956
(1) 1957
(6) 1958
(6) 1959
(22) 1961
(8) 1964

1971-S Eisenhower Silver Proof Dollar in box
1972-S Eisenhower Silver Proof Dollar in box
1976 Bicentennial Silver Uncirculated Set

1986 5-Coin Proof Set
1986 Prestige Set w/box & COA
(2) 1987 5-Coin Proof Set
1987 P & D Uncirculated Sets
1987 Prestige Set w/box & COA
1988 5-Coin Proof Set
1990 5-Coin Proof Set
1991 5-Coin Proof Set

American Silver Eagles

(2) 1986 American Silver Eagle Proofs w/box & COA
1987 American Silver Eagle Proof w/box & COA
1988 American Silver Eagle Proof w/box & COA


As a photo teaser, he also had lots of random foreign, including these Canadian silver quarters and dimes:

 

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[maine_Jim]

Any key dates with the indian head cents?

Maine_Jim

 

[Avago]

I'm not sure of specific dates for coins in the Whitman albums. I'll be sure to photo-document the open albums when I'm back. Others on here could certainly analyze cent and nickel values better than I could, I have no idea with those.

 

[BuffaloBoy]

That is awesome! I am looking forward to seeing pictures, it sounds like they knew what to collect! I have an old Whitman dime album that goes up to 1955 as the current year (with no mintages since the album may have been published in late 1954 or 1955.) Neat

 

[LooseChange]

Thanks for sharing that story. Just think, if you hadn't expressed an interest, that collection would continue to sit unappreciated.

Its value is clearly greater than its weight in PM.

I suggest that you discuss your intentions with your parents and then add to it where you can for the sake of making it a "living" collection.

 

[Avago]

That is awesome! I am looking forward to seeing pictures, it sounds like they knew what to collect! I have an old Whitman dime album that goes up to 1955 as the current year (with no mintages since the album may have been published in late 1954 or 1955.) Neat

That's exactly it Buff, your old dime album was probably from the same era as all of these folders. Mid-50's seemed to be the cutoff on them, it was sure cool to see!

Thanks for sharing that story. Just think, if you hadn't expressed an interest, that collection would continue to sit unappreciated.

Its value is clearly greater than its weight in PM.

I suggest that you discuss your intentions with your parents and then add to it where you can for the sake of making it a "living" collection.

Thanks, LooseChange. It would be great to continue adding to the albums! I may need to start searching other denoms to try and fill in some holes. I know that's something he would have loved to see.

 

[Dozer D]

These are the same ideas I have, to leave to the many gran-kids that I have. To leave them something to remember their grandfather 50-years from now. Thanks for the heart felt story, hope you can fill in some of the holes, and eventually pass it on to your kids. HH & good luck.

 

[Rustystcloud]

The Coins will reveal a private story for you from your grandpa and your documentation will tell the story to your whole family. Very cool.

 

[boristhespider88]

A lot of the free Whitman folders my LCS gives away are those that you mentioned, that they have a start date and no end date. They are pretty cool and I get some of them if they are in good shape. It's always funny seeing some of the dates (like how they thought that there would continue to be circulation 'S' mint halves and dimes past the 50s, and 'D' mint 1965, 1966, and 1967 dimes).

 

[bertmaster2000]

Hey TNet, thought I should share a story. I was visiting the parents a few weeks ago and I mentioned that I had taken up coin collecting as a hobby. I showed them eight silver dimes that I found in some old loose change that I accrued with my grandfather. They said he might have put them in there on purpose since he was a coin collector himself. Unfortunately, he passed away in 2008 before we got a chance to share in the hobby together... we were very close when I was growing up.

My parents then mentioned that his old coin collection has been sitting in the basement for the past five years and they had no idea what he had. Wanting to spend some time with his collection, I waited until this past weekend when I was home again for Thanksgiving with my girlfriend to really sit down and look through what he had. He had a lot.

I did exactly the same over the summer while I was visiting my parents and loved every minute I spent going through my Grandfather's (combined with my late, great uncle's) coin collection. Thanks for sharing your experience with us.

 

[bertmaster2000]

A lot of the free Whitman folders my LCS gives away are those that you mentioned, that they have a start date and no end date. They are pretty cool and I get some of them if they are in good shape. It's always funny seeing some of the dates (like how they thought that there would continue to be circulation 'S' mint halves and dimes past the 50s, and 'D' mint 1965, 1966, and 1967 dimes).

It makes me sad to think of all the coins your LCS has popped out of the old (now empty) albums and sold. I realize it is the business they are in, but I still do not like to think about collections being broken up and sold.

 

[Avago]

I'm trying to put together a value for the collection so my parents know how much to insure and/or what to put into the fire safe. For the Whitman albums, would you appraise it as if each coin was split up into individual lots or as a whole partially-completed album? I don't think any of this will ever be sold. The mint sets are easier to get a value on, but the partially completed albums will be more difficult.

 

[BuffaloBoy]

generally a completed album would fetch a little more since people don't have to put in the efforts of completing a set.

 

[LooseChange]

I'm trying to put together a value for the collection so my parents know how much to insure and/or what to put into the fire safe. For the Whitman albums, would you appraise it as if each coin was split up into individual lots or as a whole partially-completed album? I don't think any of this will ever be sold. The mint sets are easier to get a value on, but the partially completed albums will be more difficult.

It can be difficult to insure coin collections under regular home owner policies. Check with the agent to be sure that you know what coverage you have for the premiums you pay. It is better to know all of that before you pay premiums for years and then have something unfortunate happen and come to find out that you don't have the coverage you thought.

 

[bertmaster2000]

I'm trying to put together a value for the collection so my parents know how much to insure and/or what to put into the fire safe. For the Whitman albums, would you appraise it as if each coin was split up into individual lots or as a whole partially-completed album? I don't think any of this will ever be sold. The mint sets are easier to get a value on, but the partially completed albums will be more difficult.

It is funny you would mention your parents will be putting select coins in their safe, but not all of the coins. My parents have my grandfather's (and great uncle's) collection in a cardboard box in a coat closet! Obviously risky, but I will take care of the situation next I visit them Heck, I admit I have a large fireproof safe, but only a few of my coins in it b/c I have not had the time to bolt the safe to the floor...Risky (aka foolish) business must run in my family

 

[Avago]

It is funny you would mention your parents will be putting select coins in their safe, but not all of the coins. My parents have my grandfather's (and great uncle's) collection in a cardboard box in a coat closet! Obviously risky, but I will take care of the situation next I visit them Heck, I admit I have a large fireproof safe, but only a few of my coins in it b/c I have not had the time to bolt the safe to the floor...Risky (aka foolish) business must run in my family

What's in the safe now is proof sets from 1991 or so onward, so needless to say some of those can be replaced with the more valuable items from this collection instead of just sitting in a plastic tub under a pool table.

Perhaps they could have separate insurance just for the collection which would probably be pretty nominal, or just keeping the bigger ticket items in a fire safe might be insurance enough. I just don't like it all sitting out, vulnerable to theft or fire. Thanks for all the responses guys!

 

[Tnmountains]

Always nice to get a family collection. I had gotten one as well. It is way better than the things I dig. But that is two separate interest. Enjoy what your Grand Pa started.

 

[Avago]

Hey guys,

I was home for the holidays and was able to photo-document the contents and completeness of the Whitman albums listed from my grandfather's collection. All of you cent, nickel and dime guys gather around and give me an idea of which, if any of the specimens are rare or worth noting. I would love to hear any feedback you all have.

From the little I looked at the half dollars so far, it appears the 1921 Walkers are certainly worth noting, but besides that I haven't done much research. Here you go:


Indian Head Cents 1856 - 1909
Lincoln Cents 1909 - 1940
Lincoln Cents 1941 -





Liberty Head Nickel 1883 - 1913
Buffalo Nickel 1913 - 1938
Jefferson Nickel 1938 -





Barber Dime 1892 - 1916
Mercury Dime 1916 - 1945
Roosevelt Dime 1946 -




Barber Quarter 1892 - 1905
Barber Quarter 1906 - 1916
Standing Liberty Quarter 1916 - 1930
(2) Washington Quarter 1932 - 1945
(2) Washington Quarter 1946 -







Barber Half Dollar 1892 - 1903
Barber Half Dollar 1904 - 1915
Walking Liberty Half Dollar 1916 - 1936
Walking Liberty Half Dollar 1937 - 1947
Franklin Half Dollar 1948 -






Wayte Raymond Jefferson Nickel Album 1938 - 1958

 

[boristhespider88]

The 1932-D and 1932-S Washington quarters are keys for the series.

Nice BU looking wheats, Franklins, and early Jefferson nickels you've got there. I'm not sure on the older coins (Barbers and what not).

 

[baddbluff]

Some cool coins there. 1909s cent is a good one. The 1921 dime is a semi-key. The 1932d and 32s quarters are tough dates. I don't see any really rare or expensive coins but still a pretty cool collection.