dcg's Bio
In 1955 my father took an old wood cigar box down from his closet. Inside was a true treasure - several hundred Indian Head Pennies! That initiated a lifelong quest. Like most other kids at that time I saved my allowance(.25) to buy a Whitman folder. Contrary to what many would have you believe, Indian Heads were VERY rare in circulation so I directed my efforts toward the Lincoln Cent. My passion has broadened with time; but my love for Lincolns is still everpresent.
In 1957 an uncle bankrolled my search with a $100 loan. At that time the Wells Fargo main branch in downtown Sacramento CA was the depository for the city's parking meter receipts - a penny was worth 12 minutes. The bank manager looked on my youthful hobby with kindness and arranged for me to purchase two 5000 count bags of loose pennies every friday. Times were much different then - I took a city bus downtown after school carrying those heavy bags of pennies to exchange for two new ones. I sold my duplicates to a local dealer to make up the bag shortages.
Then a true hobby changing event happened. A friend's father that knew of my endeavor told me about a collectors club that was forming. My father drove me(I was only 13) to the first meeting of the Sacramento Valley Coin Club.
I was in heaven! Not only did I find a group of knowledgeble mentors but an auction outlet for all those circulated Lincolns that I needed to sell to finance my hobby. In retrospect, I am probably the last surviving original member and I would bet my finds have worked their way into Lincoln collections across the country.
My interest wained when I discovered girls and after college when I had to work for a living - but it never disappeared!
Today I am retired and once again have the time to devote as well as money to finally build uncirculated and proof collections. My interests have expanded but I must admit that the lowly penny is still my first love.