The E-Sylum:  Volume 7, Number 44, October 31, 2004, Article 13

DEPARTMENT STORE INSPIRES FAMILY TALE

  Roger deWardt Lane of Hollywood, Florida writes: "You
  made me think back to when I started collecting coins with
  my young children.  The SEARS near where I lived had a
  "Coin counter" and we nearly bought them out at twenty-five
  cents each for world coins.

  It was 1966, I was in Dayton, Ohio at NCR computer
  school studying programming in COBOL. Two weeks had
  almost ended; soon it would be time to return home to
  Florida.

  Like a good husband and father, I thought of gifts to take
  home, so when the class let out early one afternoon, I
  walked from the Sheridan Hotel, where the classes were
  being held and where I was staying with about twenty-five
  other hotel industry people, down the street to the local
  large department store. Rikes was the name, and after
  making a jewelry purchase, adding a new gold charm for
  my wife's bracelet, I looked around for a gift for my
  10-year-old daughter. I found a very nice orange off the
  shoulder leather handbag for Andria.

  What should I get my six-year-old son?  The store had a
  rather large stamp and coin department. Andria and I had
  both done stamps, she collecting Israel stamps and I, as a
  teenager years earlier, remounting and adding to my father's
  stamp album. But none of us had ever looked at coins,
  except the usual penny boards that most young boys start
  with, out of pocket change.

  So, I made a six-dollar investment in six modern mint sets
  for my son.  I can now tell you, that this started a hobby
  and lifetime pursuit to become a numismatist.

  My interest in Modern Dime Size Silver Coins of the World
  began over twenty-five years ago, quite by accident best
  told by this little story once used for an exhibit at a coin show.

  "Once upon a time, there was a very busy executive far far
  away on a business trip.  Thoughtfully, before returning to his
  native land he visited a local emporium in search of gifts.
  Gold for his Fair Lady, leather goods for the beautiful
  daughter and foreign mint sets for his young son.

  Now as time went on, this bright young man of seven years
  became an enthusiastic collector with weekly trips to centers
  of knowledge; the local coin stores in search of souvenirs of
  far-a-way lands - all from the junk bowl.

  Dear Old Dad soon started calling himself a numismatist
  and proudly showed off to his friends and neighbors his new
  Crown collection and with his Fair Lady they joined the
  local Council of Collectors.

  Now the beautiful little Daughter wished to join the clan with
  specialization mirroring her father, but being of limited budget,
  spotted the shiny little coins of Dime Size Silver that true to
  the cataloguers adjustment for size were like her Dad's in all
  respects except size and cost.

  Thus the Collection of Dime Size Silver Coins of the World
  came into being.  True to their young ages other interests soon
  replaced the learned endeavors, leaving Dear Old Dad to carry
  on the new pursuit; to study and catalogue Modern Dime Size
  Silver Coins of the World, and they all lived happily ever after".

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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