Thanksgiving is an occasion everybody looks forward to. It is a special event when families reunite and friends get together for a meal representative of thankfulness for all the blessings that have come the whole year round. Comparatively, Thanksgiving does not tend to the same level of decorating as Halloween or Christmas, holidays for which decorating has become so much a part of the celebration, but there are still wonderful Thanksgiving decorations to make your home more festive. And some of my favorite decorations are Thanksgiving vintage collectibles.

Most Thanksgiving collectibles tend to revolve around the foods we eat during the season, whether used as images on paper items such as Thanksgiving postcards or decorating food serving items such as trays and dishes. Pumpkins, corn and of course, turkeys are on top of the list.

The popularity of these collectibles is prompted by historic reasons. Originally, Thanksgiving Day is an occasion to symbolize the thankfulness of early American settlers for a bountiful harvest season. Through the years, the occasion has evolved and has become more symbolic in nature. Now, people gather in Thanksgiving to express thankfulness for all the blessings and good tidings accumulated in the past year.

Because the celebration of Thanksgiving revolves around the traditional Thanksgiving dinner, items that symbolize that meal gathering have become the objects that symbolize the occasion. Among the popular collectibles are Thanksgiving mementos made of paper, fabric, and wax; such as cards, tablecloths, and candles. You would also notice that Thanksgiving collectibles are mostly display and dinner pieces, usually ceramic or porcelain. These are collectibles that serve a functional, as well as decorative purpose, especially items like dinner plates, bowls, casseroles, platters, gravy boats and salt and pepper shakers.

In the 1800s and throughout the 20th century, manufacturers have produced Thanksgiving decorations. Most of the vintage items are still very much functional today, though some collectors may prefer to keep them for display purposes only so they’ll be protected from any mishaps. I would hate to spill gravy or wine all over a vintage tablecloth.

Some other popular vintage Thanksgiving collectibles available are soap and food molds. As usual, these items are usable and can be very helpful in making food presentations during the Thanksgiving meal more appropriate, lively and decorative. Vintage candy containers are also readily available online at sites like Ebay. There are many fun turkey-shaped candy containers manufactured during the first half of the 20th century that can add to the Thanksgiving atmosphere.

Crystal Doorknobs are a wonderful way to show elegance and detail in your home. Crystal doorknobs first became popular in 1917 during World War I when metals (such as iron, brass and bronze) that had previously been used for doorknobs were needed to manufacture planes and other supplies. By 1920, crystal and cut glass doorknobs were widely manufactured and remained popular until the 1950’s.

These sets of doorknobs are timeless and a welcome addition to any home. This style of doorknob exemplifies simplicity and beauty.  Crystal doorknobs are available in clear and colored crystal and in a variety of finishes including polished brass, oil rubbed bronze, polished chrome, antique brass and satin nickel to coordinate with any decorating style. Typically crystal or glass doorknobs have six, eight, or twelve facets.  

Door knob sets are produced today – allowing you to easily incorporate their patterns into your home. It is a simple way to create a common theme throughout your entire house. These crystal doorknobs can transform a boring home into a showplace – but be sure to follow a few simple steps. First, use crystal or glass doorknobs throughout the doors on your home, this will tie the look together. Second, create a common theme by using glass cabinet knobs on your cabinets and furniture. Glass light fixtures are also available which will further help to incorporate your theme. You can also ask an interior decorator or other design experts for assistance or look to decorating magazines for additional help. By using crystal doorknobs you can use different shapes throughout your house – you need not use the same shapes on doors, furniture or cabinets.
 
These glass doorknobs are readily available online as well as in many home decorating catalogs. Search for crystal or glass and be sure to ask questions. What size backsets are available for this set? Does this knob come in different styles such as locking and non-locking? Is it available in different colors or finishes? When you replace your older hardware with crystal doorknobs you can be sure that different shapes and combinations will tie themselves together nicely.

Salt and Pepper Cellar

Glass Salt Cellars are a great way to add an elegant touch to your table and a wonderful (and sought after) collectors item. Salt cellars are used to hold individual servings of salt for each place setting at a table. Although guests would originally use their fingers to pinch the salt out the use of a sterling silver salt spoon for seasoning food became popular around 1910. Salt cellars date back to the Middle Ages and remained popular until World War II when salt and pepper shakers became the norm for dining room tables as the use of salt for seasoning decreased and individual servings were no longer required.

Glass cellars are a timeless addition to any fine tableware collection. Typically cellars are made of glass but they are also available in glass, china, metals or even wood. The primary use of these cellars has shifted from the dining room to the kitchen where they can be used during cooking to hold individual spices in small, easily accessible containers. Glass cellars especially are available in a wide variety of colors from elegant crystal clear to vibrant cobalt blue and ruby red.

Glass cellars are produced today – allowing you to easily incorporate them into your fine tableware collection. It is a simple way to introduce an elegant and attention to detail to your dining room table. Be sure to follow a few simple steps when selecting your cellars. First, use glass cellars for all your place settings. Second, make sure provide sterling salt spoons for each cellar. By using glass salt cellars you can use different designs and colors – you need not use the same salt cellar for every setting.

Glass cellars are readily available online as well as in many catalogs. Search for glass and be sure to ask questions. When you start to collect sterling salt cellars you can be sure that different shapes and combinations will work together nicely. These glass salt cellars can be found online through LookInTheAttic & Company and they also offer free assistance and help.

Front of Morgan Dollar

Getting the most accurate silver dollar price can be difficult. Silver coins have been used in the United States since 1794 and while that was more than 200 years ago,, not all coins are considered to be exceptionally valuable. The United States mint produced a good number of these coins over their lifetime. Today’s silver dollars are not minted for regular circulation but more so for collectors. Still, those who have a shiny silver dollar in their hand often want to know the value of it.

Older Is Better

One factor that greatly affects the value of the silver dollar price is the age of the coin. The oldest coins, the 1794 silver dollars or Flowing Hair Liberty dollar coins, are thought to only have 2000 pieces struck. This makes them rather valuable. The 1795 coins are much easier to find though and the value of them is often considered far less valuable. These older coins could provide more value if they were in good condition.

Rarity Helps

Another factor in the cost considerations for the rarity of the coin. There are many coins considered rare, including the 1794 silver dollars. But, perhaps the most widely known coin valued as one of the most valuable coins in the world is the 1804 silver dollars. These coins are valuable mainly because there were no coins minted dated 1804 until these coins were produced. That may seem odd but what makes these coins odd is that they were actual struck in 1836, years after the Mint found the mistake. Although there were coins were minted in 1804, they were dated 1803, simply because the cost of changing the striking device was too expensive. In 1836, the government decided to produce a very small set of 1804 silver dollars (it is believed there are only 15 of these). These were never meant for circulation and were actually given to foreign leaders and dignitaries instead. One of these coins came to market in 1999 and sold for some $4 million dollars.

There are other silver dollar coins that are considered to be valuable.

• The 1878 CC Morgan Silver Dollar
• The 1891 CC Morgan Silver Dollar
• The 1893 S Morgan Silver Dollar
• The 1928 Peace Silver Dollar

These are some of the more rare coins and the ones that coin collectors are regularly looking for. You can find the values of any of these coins by simply looking at the web. There are various websites that provide detailed information about the value of the coins. Aside from some of the most rare coins as mentioned earlier, most silver dollar price points will range from face value up to a few hundred dollars (if they are considered somewhat rare.)

Although silver dollars were not used heavily in circulation, they are considered to be important pieces for those who collect coins. In fact, they are some of the most sought out of coins today, often because of their larger size and interesting stories. You can find accurate price information online.

Finding the perfect gift for a miniature enthusiast does not have to be as difficult as you might think. Picking your way through the myriad of possibilities can be a bit daunting to those who are not familiar with the world of miniature collectibles. Armed with a little bit of information and the right questions though, you should be able to find a piece that will be the ideal complement to the dollhouse décor your collector has created.

The most obvious way to find out what they may want is simply to ask, although this method takes away any element of surprise that you may have hoped to maintain. You can find out details by asking some innocent questions that will seem like idle curiosity. The answers to these innocent questions will give you the ammunition that you need to find the perfect gift. Ask about their collection. They will most likely be excited to tell you about it and, with a little prodding, will likely tell you exactly what they are hoping to add to it in the future. Make sure that you casually ask about scale as well, as this will help you make sure that you get the right size piece for their miniature rooms.

As with any gift, it will mean more if there is some shared sentimentality to it. If you can, find a miniature piece that is representative of some shared experience that you may have had. Then the gift will be appreciated on several different levels. It could be commemorative of some serious or life changing experience that you had, or it could be reminiscent of some humorous occasion that you enjoyed together. You may be fortunate enough to find a miniature recreation of a person that you know in common. It could be a representation of a relative or the collector herself. It may be especially meaningful if the miniature is a representation of you.

Some collectors tend to fashion their miniature dollhouse collection around a theme or with a certain style in mind. Try to choose a piece that won’t clash with the rooms or the current décor of the dollhouse. While people always like to receive gifts, if the piece you chose doesn’t fit with the dollhouse collection of the individual, they may not be able to display your gift.

Some individuals treat each piece of a dollhouse as a work of art and display their items outside the dollhouse setting. For these enthusiasts, they consider each item special and are usually happy with any piece they receive as a gift. A good idea is to find out the name of their favorite artisan and buy a piece to add to the collection. Most collectible enthusiasts are very quick to let you know whose work they prefer best, as well as which item would be a cherished addition to their set.

Walking Liberty

Today, it is believed that the first coins were bronze and used in China around 800-1,000BC. Lydia in Asia Minor used coins about 600-700 BC. The Lydian’s coins were called “starters” which was a unit of weight. Starters were stamped with a lion’s head image and made with a gold and silver alloy. Today, as you might guess, the coins that are still remaining are very valuable.

The early Americans did not use coins for money. They made their “notes” from beaver skins, wampum and tobacco. They had their own money system without coins in use until foreign traders came to America and demanded payment for their goods. The foreign coins then started to circulate, but soon Americans started making their own coins from copper in the 18th century. Then after the new American government was born, it started to regulate coinage. The rights to produce their own coins were eventually given to the states. Later, national coinage was produced in America and the first U.S. Mint building started their coining operations in Philadelphia in 1793. The Mint building was actually an old brewery! The cent coin was the first one struck for circulation.

It’s amazing how these ingenious and enterprising early Americans operated their first Mints. They used a screw press that was powered by horses or many strong men! The planchets were squeezed between the obverse and reverse dies to strike the coins. At first, the dies were cut by hand. Sometimes a die cutter would add his own artistic flair to his dies.

Coin collecting has a long and colorful history and was mostly a hobby for the wealthy until more modern times. The Roman Emperor Augustus (63BC-14AD) was the earliest person known to collect coins. He collected them for his own collection and even gave out some as gifts. In the Middle Ages, the wealthy families and royalty amassed amazing collections. Even in the early history of America, only the wealthy could afford to collect coins. Everyone else had to spend the money for necessities such as food, shelter and clothing.

Then in 1858 the American Numismatic Society was formed and in 1891 the American Numismatic Association was founded. (A numismatist is a person who studies, collects or invests in paper money or coins). Because of these organizations, public awareness of coin collecting grew and in the 1930s the U.S. Commemorative coins were struck and became extremely popular with the public. More and more people were starting to collect and invest in coins. The numismatic hobby has been growing every since the 1930s and it is estimated that there are more that 15 million numismatists in the United States today!

Collecting coins is such a popular hobby because the idea of collecting money is exciting! And the money itself is fascinating and informative. Coins can open up your world to other cultures, history, art and economics by just studying them and the stories attached to the coins. There is a satisfaction when a person finds that particular date or mintmark to complete his collection! And since a completed collection is more valuable than individual coins, the excitement grows after each completed collection!

Start your collection today by visiting the many quality numismatic websites on the internet. Some companies even let you preview the coins before you buy them! It really is an exciting and fascinating hobby. Don’t be surprised that when you collect that first coin, you won’t want to stop!