To hear most coin collectors tell it, the “good-ole-days” were back when they started collecting. It was a time when scarce coins were easy to find in circulation, prices were incredibly low, and bargains abounded at virtually any coin show.

Nowadays, of course, the same collectors will tell you that none of the above are true. Prices are “through the roof,” you can’t find anything in circulation, and bargains at coin shows don’t exist.

Obviously, if I agreed with these collectors, then I would have nothing more to write about in this article. Not only would the editor of this magazine think that I had lost my mind, but, as I’m paid by the word for my submissions, the pay for this submission would also be a check that wasn’t worth cashing.