Trying to fix the date of my introduction to numismatics, I am unable to say exactly when it was but it is safe to say I had a number of type sets in the familiar old blue Whitman albums before silver was withdrawn from circulation a year after JFK's death in 1963, when Marilyn Monroe died (1962) during the deadly Paret-Griffin fight/Cuban missile crises (1961) and back to the time I was in elementary school and a young girl sold me coins from her late Dad's collection, including an 1894-O dime -- for face value. I had a Red Book, looked it up, discovered it was rare, worth $25. in either Fair or Good condition, and offered her more, but she demurred.
As it is against the Law -- and chat board guidelines to refer to members by name, I thought I would share with you, the discriminating collector, how impressed I am with a member here who has compiled a number of top-shelf custom sets, continues to dabble in all manner of coins in seemingly all states of preservation and still has time to devote to assist other members. It is virtually impossible to fix his area of interest or expertise. He exudes the confidence and easy geniality that comes effortlessly to him. If there were an annual award for the member who best represents the ideal hobbyist, his name would come up, hands down.
Man, I love this place! 🤣