
My First Ever Emotional Moment During a Coin Roll Hunt...
I had another topic in mind for today...but then this happened... I found my first "W" quarter yesterday!!! It was in a Loomis roll of highly circulated quarters so I'm even extra stoked about the amazing condition it's in!
So why was that such a big emotional deal for me?! Thanks for asking! :-) Let me tell you...
I grew up hearing truly incredible stories from my Grandpa who even experienced actual hand to hand combat...he ended up missing in action twice during WWII and got two Purple Hearts for it. The explosions which wounded him knocked him out, tore off most of his clothes, including his dog tags and they didn't know who he was until he came to a couple days later...both times!
He was in D-Day, he was also a German translator among a whole lot of other action. He did this for us all and never regretted a moment of it.
I was genuinely thinking about him yesterday morning after speaking with my Dad. Grandpa Jerry was His Dad and one of my true heroes in life!!!
I have never had a genuine emotional moment during a coin roll hunt...but my eyes were instantly...leaking. It caught me off guard actually. That connection to history we all talk about so often when it comes to coins. But this time it was way more than that. It was a connection to me, directly! And it hit me hard, in a beautiful way. I'll never sell this coin. I will get it graded. My son here in the states or my brother's family will end up with it in Tokyo. As a side note, my brother fell in love with Japan decades ago after Grandpa and Grandma also fell in love with it after the war long before we were born. My little brother has now lived in Japan his whole adult life. He married a wonderful Japanese woman and they have 4 kids. For all intents and purposes my brother is now Japanese, he even sometimes forgets English words lol!
Most of us here already know that the West Point Mint created purposely rarer "W" Mint mark National Parks Quarters for 2020, the "W" National Parks Quarters include special "V75" Privy Marks inside an outline of the rainbow pool of the National World War II Memorial in Washington, DC which memorializes the 75th anniversary of the allied victory in WWII.
In 2020 The West Point Mint only created 2 million of these special coins for each of 5 National Park Quarters, only 10 million total. https://www.govmint.com/coin-authority/post/united-states-mint-producing-2020-w-national-parks-quarters-with-V75-privy-marks
In 2019 The West Point Mint created "W" mint marked quarters for the first time in U.S. history (without Privy Marks). Sometimes the mint director and team really does come up with wonderful ideas to re-excite coin collectors (and even non coin collectors). This initiative was to create new excitement about coin collecting by introducing rare coins into circulation, allowing anyone the opportunity to collect these quarters from their pocket change. https://www.usmint.gov/news/inside-the-mint/mint-releases-first-ever-w-quarters-into-circulation
I will never forget my Grandpa's physical and even mental wounds...he and millions of others experienced that, for us to have better lives. It all comes full circle for me...having myself just survived Covid19 and having some 'wounds' from it...here in America we have now lost more relatives, friends, and neighbors in just one year than we lost in all 4 years of heavy fighting during WW2. Let's not let any of their sacrifices or memories be for nothing either!
Like past wars, this has been one too...we are learning, we are changing, we are genuinely understanding why we can care for each other even when opinions differ. Grandpa and Grandma absolutely fell in love with the people, cultures, and countries where Grandpa had to go to kill people from those places... Love wins. It really does.
Stay positive! Much Love to all! Enjoy the hunt...for coins :-)
Comments
CoinHunter
Level 5
Let us know what grade it gets! I'll bet it will get a MS65!
Kurisu
Level 4
I think you're about right on the money with that guess! :-)
CopperCollector
Level 4
Wow a V75 W great find. I have only found a regular 2020q quarter.
Kurisu
Level 4
Thanks!!! Took me a couple months of going through quite a few rolls of circulated quarters. But now I'm stories of people finding them in regular change too...so keep your eyes peeled! :-)
It's Mokie
Level 6
A wonderful story and a great find, thanks for sharing.
Kurisu
Level 4
You are so welcome...Felt like I needed to share it, like Grandpa used to share his stories with us :-) Thank you!
CentSearcher
Level 5
I really do appreciate people like your grandfather. Without them, who knew how WWII would have gone. And nice work! I have found two W quarters, but both are 2019. I really hope to find a V75 2020 W soon. Thanks for sharing, and stay safe!
Kurisu
Level 4
You'll find one!!! I'm hoping for a nice 2019 W at some point so lucky you! :-) Positive hunting vibes your way!!!
walking liberty
Level 4
cool
Kurisu
Level 4
Neato and sweet too :-) Thanks!
Kepi
Level 6
Great story! Glad you found something special! Looks like you have lots of coin rolls to search through ; )
Kurisu
Level 4
Thanks so much! Picked up a few more rolls yesterday and have gone through barely half of what you saw in the photo lol!!! I take my time...such a rewarding meditation for me :-)
Longstrider
Level 6
Great story. Nice find made extra nice for you. Boy, your photos show a guy that definitely has the roll hunting bug. Like me. Thanks.
Kurisu
Level 4
Confirmed! Let's see...CRH'ing from 1978 until today...I'm going to have to come clean about my 'bug' at sometime...today is good lol! Thanks!!!
CoinHunter
Level 5
Nice find! I love the pics, thanks for letting us know about this awesome find!
Kurisu
Level 4
Thank you so much!!! :-)
I. R. Bama
Level 5
Thanks for an interesting blog ...
Kurisu
Level 4
Thanks Bama glad it was enjoyed, I truly appreciate the compliment :-)
Kevin Leab
Level 4
Cool find!! Thanks for sharing. I've never found a "W" quarter in circulation....I've searched many rolls and came up empty.
Kurisu
Level 4
That was my first W so stay positive...people are finding them in change and rolls and you will too!!! Thank you :-)
Mike
Level 7
Our thanks to your family for there service to our country. A little known thing about the coin most no one knows. The Privy mark is a replica of the world war 11 memorial pool. That's right . Everyone knows it's a privacy mark but this has meaning . I'm glad you found one. It means allot to you and your grandpa. That's a wonderful story. Now you know what many collectors.don't know. They showed an Arial picture of the pool . It's the same. Protect it. Enjoy it . Find some more. The 2019 are graded on ebay and the prices are low. Thanks for sharing this with us!!
Kurisu
Level 4
Thank you sir...I would love to visit the "Rainbow Pool" one day...! :-)
Stumpy
Level 5
Our family members who fought in WWII hold a special place in our hearts. I'm glad you found this coin and understand the emotional significance it holds for you. Nuff Said!
Kurisu
Level 4
Agreed, well said my friend!!!
Golfer
Level 5
Nice find for grandfather ! Great story and tribute to a man who is a hero! Thanks for a nice story.
Kurisu
Level 4
You are most welcome, I'm honored I got to be in his life and honored by the honor shown towards him :-) Respect to you as well!
TheNumisMaster
Level 5
Oh man... I deeply connected to this blog. Your grandfather sounds like he was an amazing man. My grandfather served in WWII as well.... both of them in fact. Thank you so much for sharing this. This is what numismatics is ACTUALLY about. Not as much about the coins or the beauty, but the connections and emotions that come with it. That being said, I saw the picture of all the coins, and was instantly jealous! My bank is not handing out rolls at all. Wow, what a story! You will remember and treasure that single coin as long as you live. Its a beautiful specimen as well! Thanks for the wonderful blog. NOTE: I recently got one of those space innovation dollar proofs, and it made me think about that blog you put out a while back. It made me feel nerdy haha (-: Cya 'round!
Kurisu
Level 4
Connections from people to coins to (nerdy) people! What could be better lol! Thanks, so glad you enjoyed the topics. :-) Yes...Grandpa Jerry was quite the loving and beloved character!