My dad's coin jar from 1998 versus my own from this year is a totally different story

He kept a big glass jar for ten years and just threw in whatever change he had. I've been doing it for exactly 18 months now, but I sort every coin by year and mint mark. The difference is wild. His jar was just a pile of money, but mine is a real collection with a full set of state quarters and a few wheat pennies I found. I think the internet made it too easy to learn about what's actually valuable, so now I can't just toss a coin in without checking it first. Does anyone else feel like collecting got way more specific once you could look everything up online?

3 comments

3 Comments

bell.felix11d agoProlific Poster

Actually that sounds like it takes all the fun out of it. The whole point of a coin jar is the mindless habit, just dumping your change at the end of the day. Turning it into a research project feels like work. Your dad's jar was probably worth more in pure cash anyway, without the stress of checking every single coin. Sometimes not knowing is better.

wesley_adams10d ago

Finding a rare coin in the mess is the real payoff for me.

lunaf6711d ago

Sometimes not knowing is better" is so true. My grandma had a jar of buttons that was just a beautiful mess, but now I'd feel like I had to sort them all by age and material.