I have been involved with coins for over 43 years dating back to my 8th birthday when I was given a tube of wheat cents and one of those old time Whitman blue folders by a family friend. I can’t explain why or how, but that small group of common date coins sparked an interest. I began to look through change to fill the holes in that book.  While searching I began to notice that there were many different coin designs and compositions in every day pocket change. I began to ask for extra chores around the house to help fund my new found interest. During this time I met a man by the name of Herman Schmidt that owned a small coin and hobby shop not far from my home. Mr. Herman, as most people called him, became my early mentor taking the time to talk “coins” and show me numerous examples of early type coins he had for sale.  It would not be unusual for Mr. Herman to swing open his 6ft tall, double door safe and tell me to feel free to look and learn. Imagine what a treat it was for a young collector to have that sort of access to what seemed like a never ending inventory. Unfortunately my parents were not familiar with coins and often wondered if I had a clue as to what I was buying and whether or not I was wasting my time working on collecting coins.  They soon realized that I had caught the collecting bug and, for me, there was no cure. I was hooked and even today I consider myself a collector at heart.