How I Finally Tracked Down the Exact Year I Started Collecting Coins (And How You Can Too)

I Ran Into This Exact Problem – And Solved It

For years, I had this nagging gap in my coin collecting history: I couldn’t remember exactly when I started. Was it 1989? 1990? Those childhood years just blur together. I’d tell people, “Oh, about 35 or 36 years,” but it always bugged me that I didn’t know for sure.

After months of digging and piecing things together, I finally figured it out—and I want to share exactly how I did it so you can find your own starting year, too.

The Memory Triggers That Solved My Mystery

1. First Significant Purchase Method

I began by retracing my earliest coin-related memories:

• I dug through old family photos hunting for any coins or folders.
• I called up relatives to ask if they remembered giving me any coin gifts.
• I tracked down my very first Whitman folder—turned out it was the 1989 edition.

Pro Tip: A lot of collectors lock in their start year using their first major purchase, like proof sets from 1976 or those Sacagawea dollars from 2000. These make perfect markers.

2. The School Year Calculation

Since many of us start collecting as kids, I:

• Matched my coin memories to what grade I was in at the time.
• Pulled out old yearbooks and school records to confirm dates.
• Even lined things up with coin releases I remembered, like the 1995 DDO cent.

Advanced Verification Techniques

When the basics weren’t enough, I tried these more detailed approaches:

1. Bankroll Archaeology

I pieced together my early habits by:

• Searching through old coin jars to see what was inside.
• Looking up mintages for coins I used to hunt for.
• Checking when those coins actually entered circulation.

2. Family Financial Forensics

If you started young, your parents’ records might help:

• I found old check registers with entries for coin supplies.
• There was a receipt from my first coin show—summer 1989.
• My mom even kept notes about upping my allowance for “coin money.”

The Ultimate Verification Checklist

Once I had a system that worked, I turned it into this step-by-step guide:

1. Jot down every early memory related to coins.
2. Look for physical evidence—folders, first coins, receipts.
3. Match those memories to big life events, like moving or changing schools.
4. Check against major coin releases from those years.
5. Ask family or friends what they remember about your early interest.

Conclusion: My Verifiable Starting Year

After following this process, I confirmed it: I started collecting in June 1989. That’s when I got my first Whitman folder as a birthday present and began searching bank rolls that same week.

This method really works. Other collectors have used similar strategies to pinpoint their start year using things like:

• Their first proof set, especially the 1976 bicentennial.
• A special childhood gift, like an 1884-O Morgan.
• Local coin shows or events that stuck in their memory.

No more guessing—now I know exactly how long I’ve been collecting, and you can find your start year with confidence, too.

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