Von Werner's Bio
I can still remember my first coins and getting into coin collecting. I was roughly in the second grade and my mothers father gave me a bunch of foreign coins (he had been in the navy from WWII TO 1970). My fathers father gave me some wheat cents and a few other old US coins, along with a small cedar box. And then my father brought me to a local coin shop down the street. The owner gave me a few coins and a 1983 Red book! For years, I would go with a friend and spend hours in that shop, leaving with a worn Barber dime or Buffalo nickel. I saved to buy an 1825 quarter and remember buying an 1803 large cent for $.50! Yeah, it’s slick and I still have both. That store stopped selling coins within a couple years. I think he stopped because of me being a pest! I remember my father giving me a 1622 8 reale Atocha coin on Christmas when I was in the 3rd grade. Still have that too. My fathers father encouraged me and brought me to other coin shops occasionally. I remember owning a 1989 Red book so I was still collecting through high school.
During college, I built a large collection, owning every proof set from 1938 up. I owned every US commem, Proof Morgan, Proof Barber half, quarter, and dime. I wish I still had my 1868 proof 63 Red two cent piece. I had complete collections of every series in circulated condition (almost) except Morgan’s. I was lucky to have a great coin dealer who taught me everything, never gouged me, and took me to shows to work them with him. Then 1999. Marriage. Yup, much was sold for a house down payment. And life took me away for coins. I still had a lot put away though. Up until the divorce 13 years later! Then a lot of what was left of value was sold off to pay that debt. My collection was back to my 6th grade level. But my interest was always there. In the last couple years, my involvement in several raffle sites got me into silver and gold. From there, I got into world bullion, and eventually into other collectible coins, mostly world, but I have managed to assemble a virtually complete collection of NGC Roman Emperors, a Set I have definitely put most of my energy into and has come far in 2019. I became an NGC member in June, 2018 and got heavily into NGC certified world coins, primarily because many hit me as beautiful coins, affordable, and many sets are actually possible for me to assemble TOP POP collections at a price point I can handle now. My finances have changed and I’m accumulating more and more higher end coins now. I’m saddened that I have no local shops near me and Coin World in print is gone. But the internet is great for finding specific coins and NGC has been a life saver on many ancients that turned out fake and thanks to NGC, I’ve recovered every cent. For my short time being back into the hobby, I’ve built a nice collection. I won Top recognition in 8 world categories for best set in 2018. Not bad for my first year. I’m on schedule for 15 recognitions this year, 2019. I have grand plans on getting some of my favorites back and completing many more sets. I’m happy to say I still own my original coins that got me into collecting. This is a great hobby and NGC has made the registry addictive! Whoever invented this is a genius!! I still try to collect what I like, KOALAS, many other Australian coins, Queens Beast coins, some Other British Bullion, Pandas, and of course, my Roman Emperors, as well as my custom set of Dinosaur coins. Check out my custom sets. I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished in just over a year! And thank you if you stuck it out and read this bio!