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| (Top to bottom) 1858 Seated Liberty Half Dollar; 1898 Barber Quarter Dollar; 1902 Liberty Head V Nickel; 1884 Morgan Dollar; 1922 Peace Dollar; 1943 Walking Liberty Half Dollar; and 1963 Franklin Half Dollar |
As with my stamp and comic collections, my coin collection is modest and limited in scope and monetary value. Less concerned with the worth of the specie than with its aesthetic beauty or historical significance, my interest in this leisurely pursuit is primarily nostalgic. The coins are a pleasant reminder of the many quiet evenings I spent with my father scouring piles of change in the hopes of finding something beautiful or of historical interest.
Today, it brings me great pleasure to go through the coinage with my niece and nephews, discussing the history of this ancient art form and learning which ones they like the best and why. As society moves ever closer to discontinuing physical cash in favor of digital currency and a social credit score system, their children may one day view these shiny metallic objects as curious artifacts of a bygone age.
Replete with sentimental value, my paltry little hoard is priceless to me. I have no interest in parting with or profiting from it, and I look forward to one day passing these miniature pieces of history on to my family, hoping that they will appreciate them and find the same joy as me.
~ Giovanni di Napoli, April 14th, Feast of Saints Tiburtius, Valerianus, and Maximus, Martyrs on the Via Appia
