One of of the weirdest things about emptying and sorting drawers, cupboards and (next week) sheds, is discovering new things about Anthony via old objects some of which I have never seen before!
Last night our good friends, N and K came over for drinks so that K (a coin collector) could look through the small mountain of coins that we have recently found in every nook and cranny of the farm, even the wash house and sheds! K had a close look through his eyeglass thingy (jeweller’s loop?) at all of the many pennies, and I was fascinated to learn that if we found a 1930 penny, it could be worth $200,000 upwards because only 1200 of these were minted that year.
We didn’t find one.
But K did find a handful of pennies that are now worth a lot more than a penny each so that’s wonderful. Even more wonderful, K is coming back to examine the rest of the pennies, as well as the foreign and miscellaneous coins.
Despite the fact that I hope we find a valuable coin in amongst the hundreds that Anthony either kept or collected in the decades before we got married, I am resigned to the probability that we won’t find that kind of treasure. But there is a different kind of treasure, I guess, in learning about a facet of Anthony’s personality that I didn’t really know about before. I knew he loved coins and that’s why I bought him significant coins for his birthdays, but I didn’t know the extent of his interest until now!
This afternoon, I will do my 3 – 7pm shift in the dementia house with a better focus on the importance of each of the ten women’s past attitudes to money. Interestingly, the Monopoly notes I brought in a few weeks ago have proved to be very popular (and have therefore disappeared into drawers, handbags and pockets!) Last night N bagged up the coins relegated to the scrap metal category so I will take these in this afternoon and spread them over the table and see what happens.
I’ll see Ants before I go on duty of course and I will tell him that his coins are worth a fortune and that we will never sell them. I will also ask him if it’s okay to use the pennies in my job and I predict that he will say what he always says on my work days: “The wheelchair women? The old ladies?”
And I will say yes.
jmgoyder 
We don’t even have the penny anymore as coin currency in Canada. The government did away with them… ahh but I kept some…. but I won’t live long enough for them to gain any worth…. Maybe you will find that rare one… who knows….Diane
I hope we both find one Diane!
Life is a curious and fascinating journey. .I wonder how many of the 200,000 dollar pennies fell through the cracks of time.. c
Haha – you have now got me interested in going under the sheds!
You’re on a roll Julie – you are so busy lately! My dad collects coins and stamps and he actually paid the down payment on our first house by selling a portion of his stamp collection. Have fun with the wheelchair old ladies and tell Ants I think he’s got a great sense of humour! ❤
Diana xo
The on a roll thing is such a bittersweet experience but, well, it was about time! Thanks, Diana – your dad would probably know the value of this and that but alas you guys are too far away! xxx
That he would, and he would enjoy spending hours and hours looking at those coins!
They say we never quit learning about our partners and I think you proved this statement true. What fun it must be to go through life and visit or discover new things.
It is like a child’s treasure hunt Terry!
A fun one also
Those “old ladies” might like penny poker.I like the pattern on the dishes dishes-Royal Albert or Royal Doulton?
Albert (apparently not worth much anymore, alas!)
Old ladies – how gorgeous
Yes, he doesn’t seem to realise any more that he is old too!
The jewellers eyepiece is called a loupe. I have one I take while out walking to examine things like leaves, rocks, shells etc. I have a ‘Hilkinsons Ruper’ and a German Eschenbach 10x one. They are very useful.
The Romans had a settlement in Motherwell and there are the remains of an old Roman bathhouse in Strathclyde Park so I am always hoping to find a coin or other Roman relic in the park. So far I have been unsuccessful. The Romans didn’t stay long in Scotland because it was too cold for them!
Tomorrow I am going to get a loupe! Thanks Jane.
Yes. You will find it useful. When out walking you can look at tree bark, leaves, seashells, flowers ets through it.
After my Dad past when cleaning out all his hoarding spots to make room for more of Mom’s stuff I was astounded at the amount of coins we found in all sorts of places… Mother seemed to know wherre most of them came from like all the foreign coins collected by Dad during WW2, but I have no idea if they are worth anything more than, as you say, scrap metal…. I still have them all in a bag in the hope I will find someone I can trust to tell me if they are worthless or not…
Find someone to check your coins! You might be sitting on a fortune. You never know!
How very interesting, I always enjoy your blog you write so well.
Thanks so much, Susan, for your ongoing encouragement.
My dad was a coin collector. Your story brings back memories. Thank you
Thanks Gerlinde!
Oh, I misread the $200,000 penny and thought you found one. Then went back to give it another look and saw I missed a word or two. But, hey would did have a few worth more than a penny. Love what you wrote about seeing Ants before you go on duty. ❤
I wish I had found one, Paulette!
My father was a coin collector and my son treasures all the coins that were left to him by his grandpa.
You left me a great opening for a pun here. I had to find one that made cents!
I had a feeling you might pun about the cents – ha!
See! You know me so well. We’re a lot alike – that’s why. We’re both centsible and centsitive. We’re centsational! Maybe a little excentric. I better stop before I get anymore centimental!
How fun! searching for treasure amongst the pennies 😀
It was great fun and there are still a lot to check!
😀
Oh I hope you find one Julie!!! And I hope Anthony asks you if you mean the wheel chair ladies, the old ones!!!! I’m pretty sure when you talk to Anthony about his treasures, he already knows he found his treasure. ❤
Sweet!
“Look after the pennies and the pounds will look after themselves.” That’s what we were told when we were young. I think it was an excuse for giving us very little pocket money. I hope that one of your collection brings you many pounds to look after.
Lovely!
We have a nice collection of coins and such that the girls can go through when we are gone
If you have a 1930 penny, your girls will be very lucky!
It’s so interesting that you’re discovering a part of Antony’s life you didn’t know. Fascinating.
It has, and continues to be, a fascinating journey back in time.
to continue to learn about those we love is such an adventure! i worry though, what will be learned from my little treasures left behind? i must push on to go through the rest of my stash:)
sending you and yours love and big happy hugs!
Thanks Sandra – I wish we lived closer and I could help you sort your stash. I’m quite good at it now haha!
Such a lovely post! I can always be sure to find a smile among your words on even the bleakest of my days. God bless you.
Wonderful tidbit & thoughts!