Hey all!
So I went out hunting at my local honey hole...and got a great find...A 1895 BARBER QUARTER! WAHOO!
[size=large]BUT WAIT IT GETS BETTER![/size]
While I was digging my new Barber I noted out of the corner of my eye an older gentleman snapping a photo in my direction from a distance. Happy with my new find, I smiled and he quickly stepped away into a nearby gazebo. A few minutes later I noted the same gentleman cautiously walking in my direction. My first thought was "oh great, here is this guy who is gonna tell me to stop digging in the park and he has photos of me digging away." I would then have to respond "hey, the parks department has already told me it's totally fine to detect here...so bug off." But as he walked near, he smiled, so thus I waved as he continued on his way. Well after a few minutes, he returned and asked the inevitable question, "find anything good?" Usually I am pretty quiet about my finds to the locals. The last thing I want is a bunch of yahoo's digging in the park wildly, causing me to loose my privilege. But this time I dug into my pocket and pulled out a couple newly found wheats, 1905 IH and the Barber Quarter. He smiled stating how he remembered as a kid "the indian head pennies." We chatted for a while, he explained his interest in photography, explained that he worked in a bank and asked if I collected coins. I of course responded yes, but explained my collection is more about the history than the "worth." After a few minutes we bid each other a good day and he was off. Well, being close to supper time I slowly worked my way back to my truck, and as I put my E-trac into the back of the cab, the same gentleman pulled up behind me in his minivan. He stopped and said "here, I would like you to have this." Out in his extended hand was a roll of nickels. I responded, "thanks but I can't take your nickels." He smiled and responded, " these are not regular nickels, they are V nickels and I would like you to have them." I again said "I couldn't take your nickels, they are worth some money, potentially quite a bit of money." He said, "life is too short and I want you to have these, please take them." I did not know what to say, totally shocked by his kindness and if I would have been thinking straight I would have offered to buy him coffee or offer dinner to him, but instead I said "thank you" and took the roll. He drove off as I stood there with a large smile on his face.
Most of the V's were from the early 1900's, but there were two 1899's, an 1894 and a 1890...and in total 42 nickels in that roll.
Life is too short...smile and enjoy the true finds of this earth!
So I went out hunting at my local honey hole...and got a great find...A 1895 BARBER QUARTER! WAHOO!
[size=large]BUT WAIT IT GETS BETTER![/size]
While I was digging my new Barber I noted out of the corner of my eye an older gentleman snapping a photo in my direction from a distance. Happy with my new find, I smiled and he quickly stepped away into a nearby gazebo. A few minutes later I noted the same gentleman cautiously walking in my direction. My first thought was "oh great, here is this guy who is gonna tell me to stop digging in the park and he has photos of me digging away." I would then have to respond "hey, the parks department has already told me it's totally fine to detect here...so bug off." But as he walked near, he smiled, so thus I waved as he continued on his way. Well after a few minutes, he returned and asked the inevitable question, "find anything good?" Usually I am pretty quiet about my finds to the locals. The last thing I want is a bunch of yahoo's digging in the park wildly, causing me to loose my privilege. But this time I dug into my pocket and pulled out a couple newly found wheats, 1905 IH and the Barber Quarter. He smiled stating how he remembered as a kid "the indian head pennies." We chatted for a while, he explained his interest in photography, explained that he worked in a bank and asked if I collected coins. I of course responded yes, but explained my collection is more about the history than the "worth." After a few minutes we bid each other a good day and he was off. Well, being close to supper time I slowly worked my way back to my truck, and as I put my E-trac into the back of the cab, the same gentleman pulled up behind me in his minivan. He stopped and said "here, I would like you to have this." Out in his extended hand was a roll of nickels. I responded, "thanks but I can't take your nickels." He smiled and responded, " these are not regular nickels, they are V nickels and I would like you to have them." I again said "I couldn't take your nickels, they are worth some money, potentially quite a bit of money." He said, "life is too short and I want you to have these, please take them." I did not know what to say, totally shocked by his kindness and if I would have been thinking straight I would have offered to buy him coffee or offer dinner to him, but instead I said "thank you" and took the roll. He drove off as I stood there with a large smile on his face.
Most of the V's were from the early 1900's, but there were two 1899's, an 1894 and a 1890...and in total 42 nickels in that roll.
Life is too short...smile and enjoy the true finds of this earth!
I can be there in a couple of weeks and save you a lot of time and frustration wondering just where you kept them....