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Post by panzerman on Dec 6, 2015 14:48:19 GMT -8
I would like to wish everyone a, "Happy St. Nicholas Day!" A second Christmas in Germany....
John
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Post by mothman27 on Dec 6, 2015 15:49:47 GMT -8
Happy St. Nicholas Day!
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Post by Deleted on Dec 6, 2015 16:09:52 GMT -8
Same to you panzerman. On a side note I know you sold your collection of exotic lepidoptera a while ago to focus on coin collecting. I understand that completely. I am a avid collector of US coins. I realize both can be expensive endeavors. My question is why not collect specimens native to your area? You can have the best of both worlds. Putting together a collection of common species in mint condition can be a bit of a challenge but it doesn't have to interfere "money wise" with your numismatic pursuits either.
Joe
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leptraps
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Post by leptraps on Dec 6, 2015 20:46:04 GMT -8
I began collecting coins when I was twelve years old. Silver was used for dimes, quarters, half dollars and Silver dollars. I even had many gold coins. I amassed a huge collection. Coin collecting was fun.
Then in the 80's all that change. Silver coins vanished as the goverment replaced them with metal slugs.
I had complete sets of Indian Head Pennies, Lincoln Wheat Pennies, Buffalo Nickels, Walking Liberty Quarters, Dimes and Half Dollars, Morgan Silver Dollar and lots of but not all of the late 1800 coinage.
You can not get insurance for a coin collection. Concerned about a break in, you put it in a bank Safety Deposit Box. The only time I saw my collection after 1980 was when I moved. After we moved from Ohio to Florida in 1987 we experienced a break in. Nothing was taken, but our home was turned upside down. We have always assumed they were looking for my coin collection. In 2000 I decided to sell the collection. I sold it to a coin dealer in Texas. All of it except the gold coins.
Paid off our home, bought us each new cars and the rest is part of my retirement income. However, once a coin collector, always a coin collect. Once again I have rolls of new Quarters, Dollar coins and I still manage to find half dollars, including a occasional Kennedy Half Dollar.
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Post by trehopr1 on Dec 6, 2015 21:30:34 GMT -8
No disparaging remarks intended here regarding what others find "attractive" but, I've personally never found ANY man-made object of ANY kind as beautiful as a butterfly !
Mother Nature has evolved 20,000 plus species of butterflies alone for us to enjoy. There isn't enough silver, gold, or man-made stamping that will EVER rival or replace the fragile winged beauty we know as a butterfly....
All the silver, gold, copper, and bronze that I ever need to see --- is present on the wings of our beloved Lepidoptera.
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leptraps
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Post by leptraps on Dec 7, 2015 5:33:08 GMT -8
There are some of us, yours truly included, who collect other things just for the pure pleasure of collecting. Before I married 50 years ago, I collected all insects.I had a huge collection of Diptera. However, it was easier to explain Caterpillars than maggots. I decided to rid myself of all others and collect only butterflies and moths.
I still collect (pick up) beetles, flies and wasps for others. They come to my traps and I would rather give them to someone than to throw them I the ground.
I once lived on 30+ acres and had a 2 acre pond. My family called it Daddy's Out Door Aquarium. And yes, I once kept numerous aguariums with tropical fish (I loved discus and tetras). I retained everything from my traps that I did not want and feed them to the fish in the pond (I could tell you some great stories about that pond and the fish that came to call it home.)
I only collect and maintain a collection of butterflies and moths, mostly North American. I have also collected fossils, rocks and fly rods (The latter has become unbelievably expensive).
Today I only collect Lepidoptera. These are without a doubt some of the most beautiful creatures on the face of our earth.
I still collect Beer and Soda Pop bottles with the contents enclosed (I dislike the taste of beer). I have bottles dating back to the 1930's. I also collect old bottle pre 1900.
An explanation of beer! It is the only substance that exits the body the same color as it entered!!
Unlike some men I know, I have only collected one Wife. I cannot afford anymore.
Most of my wife's family think I am half crazy. One of my wife's Sisters collected 10 husband, 16 children by 7 different men, some of whom she was not married too. Some were even married to her other sisters. When she died in 2005, all of the
ex-husband's and ex-boy friends got into a huge brawl at the cemetary.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 7, 2015 7:29:52 GMT -8
I collect mostly natural history specimens. Lepidoptera, rocks & minerals and fossils. I also collect dead corals and seashells. I enjoy collecting man made objects like US coins and prehistoric indian artifacts. I appreciate all of them for what they are and more importantly the history behind them. I guess for me it's the "thrill of the hunt" as in never really knowing what your going to find next. The more I collect the more I have to study and learn from. So for all the collectors out there keep on collecting.
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Post by panzerman on Dec 14, 2015 8:06:58 GMT -8
Actually, I STILL HAVE all my African collection (papilionidae) all parnassius, most of IndoAustralian/Oriental papilionidae! Yes, I must agree butterflies/moths are beautifull, also great hobby/investment. For coins/banknotes, the modern stuff (made after 1970) is boring and ugly! For example/ German States/Imperial Cities/Bishophorics/produced works of art before 1918. After that the Weimar Rep./Third Reich to present are bald modernistic designs. The engravers/ moneyers/ mintmasters back in 1200-1800 were masters at producing beautifull coins. Even Roman/Greek/Byzantine/Kushan gold is nicely made.  |
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Post by panzerman on Dec 14, 2015 8:09:34 GMT -8
Actually, I STILL HAVE all my African collection (papilionidae) all parnassius, most of IndoAustralian/Oriental papilionidae! Yes, I must agree butterflies/moths are beautifull, also great hobby/investment. For coins/banknotes, the modern stuff (made after 1970) is boring and ugly! For example/ German States/Imperial Cities/Bishophorics/produced works of art before 1918. After that the Weimar Rep./Third Reich to present are bald modernistic designs. The engravers/ moneyers/ mintmasters back in 1200-1800 were masters at producing beautifull coins. Even Roman/Greek/Byzantine/Kushan gold is nicely made. Attachment Deleted |
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Post by trehopr1 on Dec 14, 2015 15:32:39 GMT -8
Panzerman, it's very nice to hear that you retained your favorite holdings (of your collection) for yourself. Sounds like you have struck a nice balance now between your two favorite passions... I have to say that you posted some of THE finest examples of well prepared material that I've seen on this forum. Your stuff was always top notch and that takes time, money, a certain amount of luck, and a discerning eye for details. I always looked forward to your posts of your fabulous collection.
Your coins are VERY nice pieces and I am sure they have been acquired with the same passionate attention as has ever been given your Lepidoptera collection. Much to enjoy and to be proud of.
Perhaps, sometime you might like to share some photo's with us again of what you have retained as your personal keepers. Best Regards to you in both of your collecting endeavors ! Trehopr1.
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Post by myotis on Dec 15, 2015 6:37:55 GMT -8
I still manage to find half dollars, including a occasional Kennedy Half Dollar. Know anyone that works in retail? (who won't keep the coins for themselves)? Ask them to keep an eye out for unusual coins. When I got out of college in the early 2000s, I worked in fast food and retail and was amazed at what people would spend and would turn up in the cash registers. At one place there was another guy who was also a casual coin collector and we would fight over stuff. One day a girl at the front end says" look at what that guy paid me with" while shaking them in her hand. Both of us recognized the sound of silver and sprinted to beat the other to her (envision the cartoonish pushing each other over and running on top each other). I lost, but they were all Franklin half dollars. Another evening, some kids paid for a large order with a pile of Morgan dollars. However, we were too nice to take them, and sure enough the kids panicked parents came in the following day. Over the course of my time there I obtained a number of old, silver, or foreign coins there. I still ask people I know who work at cash registers to save me anything unusual. So many people pay with cards now, it doesn't happen as often, but every now and then somebody finds something interesting for me. |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 15, 2015 18:03:55 GMT -8
Years ago at a hardware store where I
worked someone paid for something with a walking liberty half dollar. I put 50 cents in the register and converted the coin into $20 at a local coin shop later that day.
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leptraps
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Post by leptraps on Dec 16, 2015 6:54:41 GMT -8
I have a number of stores who keep coins for me. The most productive is a gas station at I-75. I do not see much silver. But I do get lots of half dollars.
However, the best place to get coins is a laundromat. The owners keep all silver and foreign coins for me.
While traveling out west, I saw a guy on the local TV station station (I believe it was Denver, CO.) who collect commodes, talk about a $hitty hobby.
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Post by panzerman on Dec 16, 2015 7:50:02 GMT -8
There are many treasures out there to be found. The recent shipwreck off the coast of Colombia (16+BILLION in gold coins/jewels/bars) South India, a hoard of gold coins/gems found in an ancient temple (10-30BILLION) Of course the Arras Roman hoard found in Belgium tops them all, perfectly preserved late Roman gold coins, all in FDC. They were collected by a Roman aristocrate who received most as gifts from Diocletianus/ Numerian/Maximanus. I won one of these "gems" in CNG Auction "TRITON 5" 1/2 Rome Diocletianus Aureus 286AD Rome Mint "Donative issue" from Arras Hoard FDC 3 India (Mughal Empire) Mohur 1630 Surat Mint Shah Jahan I (Built Taj Mahal) From Akola Hoard FDC 4/5 Chile 8 Escudos 1751-So (Santiago Mint) Fernando VI of Spain "Atocha Shipwreck" FDC (saltwater has no effect on gold!) Sadly, I have never been blessed with any luck, best I ever found was Canada 1900-H large cent, while weeding flowerbed(Iam in lawncare business) Canada, unfortunately is a bad place to live for finding gold/silver coins. In my home Country/ Germany there are still lots of hidden Roman/Barbarian/ Medieval/Renaissance/Baroque and such coins buried away in old homes, forests.... One US story, in 1900 the guy in charge of San Francisco Mint, made off with 25,000 1900-S Double Eagles (all freshly struck) They are still missing! John |
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Post by panzerman on Dec 16, 2015 9:00:45 GMT -8
I mistakenly sent 2 obverse images for Hushan Empire Kanishaka I AV Stater, here is reverse showing Moon Goddess Mao, also some other gems. Also Germany/ Brandenburg-Bayreuth AV Dukat 1642/over 1641 Margrave Christian I struck at an Imperial City Mint (Nuremburg)!!!! Even though Nuremburg was under control of The Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand III, while Christian I was on the other side in the Thirty Years War! France (under English Rulers) AV Salut d'Or ND Henry VI circa 1430 Saint-Lo Mint John |
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