Discovering history

As a coin collector I find it interesting and rewarding to discover the history related to the coins in my collection and more broadly the histories of the countries whose currencies I collect. However, It gets a lot more interesting when the history you discover is your own personal family history. When my father passed away almost 20 years ago, I was delighted to inherit his impressive stamp collection, particularly because he had substantially specialised in the issues of the UK and South Africa. I have not continued to build on his collection since I am not actively collecting stamps any more but as I have built my coin collection, I have specialised in the UK (naturally) and South Africa, without really knowing why, other than my father had done the same with his stamps. I had asked my mother in the past what was the connection with South Africa and she told me she thought it might be something to do with my uncle but other than that she wasn't sure. I wasn't going to leave it at that, though, and recently I went to my (59 year old) cousins wedding and who was the father of the bride standing there in front of me but my late father's older brother - my uncle. Obviously, I was delighted to see him anyway since he is getting on now (88 I think) and I hadn't seen him for some time. I couldn't contain myself though and the first chance I got I sat down and had a chat with him. It wasn't an easy conversation since there was some background noise and he's a little hard of hearing but I was glad I made the effort. It turns out that during the latter part of World War II my uncle had signed up for the RAF and was posted to ... you guessed it, South Africa. He was under strict orders from his mother to write home often (something he and my father continued to do regularly, once a week, until my grandmother died) and because my father was ten years younger than my uncle and still living at home, he must have collected the stamps from the letters my uncle had written. As my uncle was recounting the tales of his time in the war he chuckled and said that he hadn't actually been much use to the war effort because by the time he had trained and qualified as a pilot the war had ended and he arrived back in England on VE day   I'm sure his parents were grateful for that and I for one was glad that I got to find out the history behind my stamp and coin collections.

That's an awesome story! I really enjoyed reading it, thanks for sharing! =]

Citeer: charliebestThat's an awesome story! I really enjoyed reading it, thanks for sharing! =]

Agree
I wish I could figure out something like this about my Roman coins  

That's a lovely story.

They say that coins (and stamps too) tell history. Well it's even better when the history goes back to your roots.

How long did this "discovering history" take?

Citeer: SmartOneKgHow long did this "discovering history" take?

My father passed away in 1993, rather 'memorably' on November 11th. It was only earlier this month that I found out from my uncle about his time in South Africa, so it's been almost 20 years.

I'd like to say thanks to everyone for their kind comments and just as a kind of epilogue to the story, I thought I would add a couple of photos from my fathers South African stamp collection:

         

It's got me wondering now - which ones was it that Dad started collecting from the letters that his brother sent home to their Mum?

Ah, so it's been a long while!

If you start looking back at your grandfather's story, who knows where he's been.

Now, as for the stamps, the larger ones, especially the 10/- one on the bottom, number two... they're worth a lot of money, except for the Mining ones on page two on the left, -/1 1/2. They're worth a great deal and, if they were paired, they'd be worth at least $20 each.

Citeer: radrick007

Citeer: SmartOneKgHow long did this "discovering history" take?

My father passed away in 1993, rather 'memorably' on November 11th. It was only earlier this month that I found out from my uncle about his time in South Africa, so it's been almost 20 years.

I'd like to say thanks to everyone for their kind comments and just as a kind of epilogue to the story, I thought I would add a couple of photos from my fathers South African stamp collection:

         

It's got me wondering now - which ones was it that Dad started collecting from the letters that his brother sent home to their Mum?

Are you interested in swapping his duplicates? I can offer you coins as well as stamps.

Citeer: dptashnyAre you interested in swapping his duplicates? I can offer you coins as well as stamps.

Hello dptashny and thanks for your interest. I have sent you a PM to see if we can negotiate a trade

thank you radrick007

Great story ! Thanks for sharing.

That's really interesting !

the History of the coins and countries is very fun to learn about, but to learn about your own family, very rewarding!
  Thanks for sharing

It was a pleasure for me to share my story and I'm delighted that you guys are still enjoying it

I think one of the reasons you and I get along so well is we share a real feeling for the story a coin has to tell. It's not just a piece of currency, it's almost electrifying when you hold something in your hand that has passed through the pockets of the humble, the famous or the infamous.

A George V penny from 1914, was it once held by someone killed at the Somme? A late Victorian coin from say 1888, did Jack the Ripper admire it's well struck, new countenance?

As an interesting aside note, Jack the Ripper had something of a coin fetish. He would place coins, mostly farthings taken from his victims around the body at regular intervals. I've written two articles on the man and his victims and always intended to publish this as the third part of the trilogy as it gives a real clue to his identity as it was clearly not a poor person who would have taken the coins. (If y'all ask me nicely I can tell you who he was).

I digress. I inherited two full sets of WWI medals issued to my ancestors (one posthumously) and my grandfather's WWII medals and a large silver medal for Literature at Stonyhurst College. Although he is long departed I can almost feel him beside me when I hold them.

It's not something you could ever explain to a bullion collector whose coins are mere commodities - but for those who understand.... well no explanation is neccesary.

You can see why I take so much pleasure from this most wonderful pastime and enjoy the company of those similar.

I visited home (I grew up in Boston, MA) a week or two ago because my grandma was turning 90, and it was my first chance to go through my coin collection there since the bug had bit me again here on the West Coast. Some items I remembered, but some I had no idea about. At the bottom of my box, in a brown envelope was a 1905 British penny, along with a halfpenny and a half crown from the 1940s. I asked my mom how we came to have these, and she said they were probably brought back by my grandfather, who died before I was born. One of the first coins in my collection was a 1970 Isle of Man crown in a plastic case (high quality, so no green gunk, don't worry) which also came from my grandfather. He had been stationed there during WWII. They are both very special to me, as they are the closest I can get to him. Maybe I inherited my love of coin collecting from him!