2020 Numista holiday gift exchange

In the past I participated twice in the Numista holiday gift exchange and I enjoyed it! Unfortunately there wasn't any exchange last year. I really missed it. I'm beware of that there are many more serious matters and problems than coin collecting around the world currently, but I guess a exchange would be a good opportunity to celebrate our hobby and make somebody else a cheer.

Send one coin/banknote (well, I'm sure no one will be upset if you send more than one), as well as a postcard from your city or something else to share some local flavor with our fellow collectors.

There will be three options to send and receive:

1) A coin of any sort, with a value of "a few" (i.e., 2-5) dollars, Euro, etc.

2) A silver coin, with a value of 5 to 10 dollars/Euro/etc.

3) banknotes

Please register in this thread by the end of November and tell to which option(s) you add yourself. The list of all the people participating will be shuffled and then each person will send a coin/banknote to the next person on the list (receiving a coin/banknote from the previous person). I will randomize the list on December 1st and post the resulting order. I feel that the international friendship aspect of this exchange is important, so I will attempt to keep as many coins/banknotes as possible travelling to other countries around the world.

NOTE: If you live in a country that has restrictions (that are enforced) on sending and receiving coins/banknotes only from certain countries, please let me know! Once the list is posted, please contact the person to whom you are sending in order to get their address. If their collection is open for public viewing, you should try to pick a coin that they don't have. Otherwise, take a look at their collecting interests for inspiration.

The following people have already registered for the holiday gift exchange:

option 1):
aephi
allexis
ashlobo
BluHawk
BramVB
cobrapel
ElectronJohn
GiannaReggio
Grinya
iiruig
jelle
Koin72
Leitwolf
magicznyleszek
mkruse
ngdawa
oynbcn
pearcem12
Prewitt
raduga7
Salaction
smvdbrink
SpuDy
Stomac
Subha Barua (told me via private message)
viorel.iosub
zakaye

option 2):
allexis
BluHawk
BramVB
cobrapel
ElectronJohn
Grinya
Ian P
jelle
Leitwolf
magicznyleszek
makarije
mkruse
Moneytane
Myeackle
ngdawa
pearcem12
raduga7
smvdbrink
viorel.iosub
zakaye

option 3):
allexis
BluHawk
BramVB
ElectronJohn
Giobruno
Ian P
iiruig
Koin72
makarije
mkruse
ngdawa
Salaction
SpuDy
zakaye

Here the threads for 2018:

https://en.numista.com/forum/topic75523.html
https://en.numista.com/forum/topic75955.html
https://en.numista.com/forum/topic76041.html
https://en.numista.com/forum/topic76042.html

Nice idea Leitwolf. This will definitely spread some joy & cheer.
Please include my name for both categories 1 & 2.
We have something similar at my workplace - Secret Santa.

Please include me in both lists.

And thank you for you initiative for organizing this!

May I ask something?

In my country there's a bureacracy to send coins without risk of getting caught and coins returned, that's why I send only banknotes. And because of that I have zero experience in sending coins (and properly packing them).

So, may I participate with banknotes only?

I want to participate on 1.
thank you!

Interested on 1 !
Thanks for the initiative!

Quote: "Giobruno"​May I ask something?
​
​In my country there's a bureacracy to send coins without risk of getting caught and coins returned, that's why I send only banknotes. And because of that I have zero experience in sending coins (and properly packing them).
​
​So, may I participate with banknotes only?

​I don't know if there are enough interested members for exchanging banknotes, but I've just added it as a third category in my first post.

Hey

I saw this thread earlier and I found it very exciting, so I would like to participate on category 1.

This sounds like fun! Sign me up for all three!

Quote: "Leitwolf"I don't know if there are enough interested members for exchanging banknotes, but I've just added it as a third category in my first post.

​Then count me in for #3.
But I must inform that the local mail is not accepting postages to some countries. I can send letters to US and Europe, other countries I'll have to check (You know, the air routes were nearly shut down during the lockdown and the minor routes are yet to reopen).

Hi Leitwolf,
Please add me for all 3.
You just need to update the banknote option.
Thanks for spreading the cheer

I'm keen for all three!

I want to particpate 3 too

Hey there,

Great initiative, thanks for organizing it.

Sign me up for option 1 and 3.

Sala

I am in

Option 2

However my country bans the sending of all currency through the mail, although if I sneak a coin in an international letter - they always get through - its only if it weighs over 100 grams and I have to parcel it. So it will be a single coin from me only and the Postcard will make a good cover with it.

Also my country has a really slow postal service, so the coin may not arrive until January (Probably easier to give me a person from Asia or Australia, rather than USA or Europe).

Hello, I want to participate in option 1.
I have a question about how this works - wouldn't it be nice if we all had the collection open so we can see what we need? It would also be good to be able to know what type of collection does the person to whom we are sending our gift (by type, by years ...), how can we know? Do we get in touch with a PM? Greetings, Oscar from Barcelona, ​​Spain

Quote: "oynbcn"​Hello, I want to participate in option 1.
​I have a question about how this works - wouldn't it be nice if we all had the collection open so we can see what we need? It would also be good to be able to know what type of collection does the person to whom we are sending our gift (by type, by years ...), how can we know? Do we get in touch with a PM? Greetings, Oscar from Barcelona, ​​Spain

​I guess the easiest way would be to ask the person to open his/her Numista collection for you when you ask him/her via PM for his/her address (and to look at the person's Numista profile).

Quote: "Leitwolf"

Quote: "oynbcn"​Hello, I want to participate in option 1.
​​I have a question about how this works - wouldn't it be nice if we all had the collection open so we can see what we need? It would also be good to be able to know what type of collection does the person to whom we are sending our gift (by type, by years ...), how can we know? Do we get in touch with a PM? Greetings, Oscar from Barcelona, ​​Spain

​​I guess the easiest way would be to ask the person to open his/her Numista collection for you when you ask him/her via PM for his/her address (and to look at the person's Numista profile).

​Last time I checked the person's collection and to see if he had a certain coin I was thinking to send him. To me it's more fun to send a coin not in the person's collection than just sending a random coin.

Thank you for starting this up again.
Count me in for option 1 and 3

I will take part in 1
But I prefer not to receive mails from the USA, unfortunately sometimes the customs block the mail and I have to pay customs fees that may be quite heavy with respect the value contained in the mail, and obviously not from Italy

Quote: "ngdawa"​

Quote: "Leitwolf"​

Quote: "oynbcn"​Hello, I want to participate in option 1.
​​​I have a question about how this works - wouldn't it be nice if we all had the collection open so we can see what we need? It would also be good to be able to know what type of collection does the person to whom we are sending our gift (by type, by years ...), how can we know? Do we get in touch with a PM? Greetings, Oscar from Barcelona, ​​Spain

​​​I guess the easiest way would be to ask the person to open his/her Numista collection for you when you ask him/her via PM for his/her address (and to look at the person's Numista profile).

​​Last time I checked the person's collection and to see if he had a certain coin I was thinking to send him. To me it's more fun to send a coin not in the person's collection than just sending a random coin.

​Yes, I totally agree.

This is a great idea. Put me down for all three. Thanks for setting it up.

I want to take part in all 3 please.

option 1 and 2!

Great idea! I would like to take part in all three please!

I'm in for all 3 and an extra cheerful end of the Gregorian year


An extra suggestion to all ... if they still exist in your country, try to use real stamps = extra fun (and the more the merrier)

Sign me up for 2

Matt

1 and 2 please.

Sign me up for 1 and 2

Viorel

Great idea. Count me in for option 2.

Add me on option 3 list as well.

Hi, i would like to be in option 1 and 2.
Thanks

sign me up for 1

Well, I see that everyone is participating. Please, sign me up as well for #1 & #3.

I’ll sign up for #1 too

Cheers

I would love to participate. As I'm new to the community and the collecting in general - could anyone explain to me what the value means. Is it the price I paid for the coin or is it the coin value as seen in the table on coin page? I'm asking as I see that all of the time I input my price it is few times more than average 😅

Quote: "magicznyleszek"​I would love to participate. As I'm new to the community and the collecting in general - could anyone explain to me what the value means. Is it the price I paid for the coin or is it the coin value as seen in the table on coin page? I'm asking as I see that all of the time I input my price it is few times more than average 😅

​Welcome to the site. I would say it is the value you paid or what you normally see as the cost for that coin now. It doesn't matter a bit to me that someone got a great deal 10 years ago on a coin that in my current time (and location) it now costs twice as much.

Quote: "ElectronJohn"​​​Welcome to the site. I would say it is the value you paid or what you normally see as the cost for that coin now. It doesn't matter a bit to me that someone got a great deal 10 years ago on a coin that in my current time (and location) it now costs twice as much.

Ok thanks. Sign me up for the option 1 :-)

Please Add my Name to 2 and 3 and I will see what I can do to Give someone a bit of Good Cheer

I've got some new coins, please sign me up also for 2 😇

I like this! Please sign me up for 1 and 2

I have attended in the past and it was great !!!! thanks for this initiative, please count me for option 1 and 2.

To the one who gets to send me a banknote: I'm missing Morocco.

6 days left to register.

I've just drawn the names (and only changed it manuelly if there were two names in line of same country or other problems with sending to/receiving from certain countries you told me here or via private message).

Please contact the person to whom you are sending in order to get their mailing address. I guess the easiest way to avoid to send a coin/banknote the person already has would be to ask the person to open his/her Numista collection for you when you ask him/her via PM for his/her address (and to look at the person's Numista profile).

I hope there will be much fun - here are the final lists:


Option 1 (general coin/s):

1) BramVB (BEL) → iiruig (USA)
2) iiruig (USA) → raduga7 (ITA)
3) raduga7 (ITA) → magicznyleszek (GBR)
4) magicznyleszek (GBR) → ElectronJohn (USA)
5) ElectronJohn (USA) → jelle (NLD)
6) jelle (NLD) → viorel.iosub (ROM)
7) viorel.iosub (ROM) → smvdbrink (NLD)
8) smvdbrink (NLD) → cobrapel (ITA)
9) cobrapel (ITA) → mkruse (USA)
10) mkruse (USA) → BluHawk (GBR)
11) BluHawk (GBR) → SpuDy (ROM)
12) SpuDy (ROM) → Subha Barua (BGD)
13) Subha Barua (BGD) → Prewitt (HUN)
14) Prewitt (HUN) → Salaction (NLD)
15) Salaction (NLD) → ngdawa (SWE)
16) ngdawa (SWE) → Grinya (RUS)
17) Grinya (RUS) → ashlobo (CAN)
18) ashlobo (CAN) → oynbcn (ESP)
19) oynbcn (ESP) → aephi (CHN)
20) aephi (CHN) → zakaye (NZL)
21) zakaye (NZL) → Koin72 (USA)
22) Koin72 (USA) → Stomac (FRA)
23) Stomac (FRA) → GiannaReggio (ITA)
24) GiannaReggio (ITA) → allexis (GBR)
25) allexis (GBR) → Leiwolf (GER)
26) Leitwolf (GER) → pearcem12 (GBR)
27) pearcem12 (GBR) → BramVB (BEL)


Option 2 (silver coin/s):

1) Ian P (GBR) → ElectronJohn (USA)
2) ElectronJohn (USA) → pearcem12 (GBR)
3) pearcem12 (GBR) → Myeackle (USA)
4) Myeackle (USA) → jelle (NLD)
5) jelle (NLD) → magicznyleszek (GBR)
6) magicznyleszek (GBR) → smvdbrink (NLD)
7) smvdbrink (NLD) → raduga7 (ITA)
8) raduga7 (ITA) → mkruse (USA)
9) mkruse (USA) → cobrapel (ITA)
10) cobrapel (ITA) → BluHawk (GBR)
11) BluHawk (GBR) → Leitwolf (GER)
12) Leitwolf (GER) → Grinya (RUS)
13) Grinya (RUS) → zakaye (NZL)
14) zakaye (NZL) → BramVB (BEL)
15) BramVB (BEL) → allexis (GBR)
16) allexis (GBR) → Moneytane (NZL)
17) Moneytane (NZL) → makarije (SRB)
18) makarije (SRB) → ngdawa (SWE)
19) ngdawa (SWE) → viorel.iosub (ROM)
20) viorel.iosub (ROM) → Ian P (GBR)


Option 3 (banknote/s):

1) Salaction (NLD) → Koin72 (USA)
2) Koin72 (USA) → BluHawk (GBR)
3) BluHawk (GBR) → ElectronJohn (USA)
4) ElectronJohn (USA) → zakaye (NZL)
5) zakaye (NZL) → ngdawa (SWE)
6) ngdawa (SWE) → SpuDy (ROM)
7) SpuDy (ROM) → iiruig (USA)
8) iiruig (USA) → Ian P (GBR)
9) Ian P (GBR) → Giobruno (BRA)
10) Giobruno (BRA) → mkruse (USA)
11) mkruse (USA) → makarije (SRB)
12) makarije (SRB) → BramVB (BEL)
13) BramVB (BEL) → allexis (GBR)
14) allexis (GBR) → Salaction (NLD)

This'll be fun! 😁

Quote: "ngdawa"​This'll be fun! 😁

​Can't wait for you to make me happy!🙂🙂

Quote: "SpuDy"

Quote: "ngdawa"​This'll be fun! 😁

​​Can't wait for you to make me happy!🙂🙂

​oh don't pressure me, mate! when i get home tomorrow i will decide what to send you

Already posted my letter and I've put everything on it: banknote, postcard, and a Christmas card (something nobody mentioned here yet). And stamps as well, but they were sticked by the mail attendee, not me.

And I got a 2020 coin as change in the mail.

Wow, that was quick! I'm just done with 2 of the 3.

Both mine are in the mail, hoping they arrive before Xmas

I sent both parcels, this year with tracks because some of the previous gifts were lost....

Mine was out within hours of this.

Here with NZ Post (A subdivision of snail mail) you need to be on the money. I think my Serbian friend will be very pleased with his package!

I did send it standard mail though as tracked is mega expensive here (Hundreds of dollars and customs notes and soviet style prodding around, give mailing coins is technically illegal here).

All coins are packed and will be shipped out on Monday!

All shipped out today

Just came back from the post office. All 3 are in their way!

Nice not to read here about problems with communication to the next person in line so far. So I hope everybody has already contacted the other one and sent the coin(s) so they probably will arrive before December 24th.

All seems to be going great at Santa Town! I also assisted in getting two letters to a mailbox today, both going to two United countries. Hope they get there on time.

Quote: "Leitwolf"​So I hope everybody has already contacted the other one and sent the coin(s) so they probably will arrive before December 24th.

​I also hope so, but I sent one of the parcels to Canada while my previous parcel to this country disappeared for 40 days after export from Russia and only last week it was tracked again from Egypt

Anyway we have a Christmas celebration here in Russia at January, 7, therefore the deadline for arriving is 2 weeks later))

I've sent mine on the next day Plus already got one on 8th Dec and was positively surprised by the coins I've got. I'm glad I decided to take part :)

A gift for me arrived today from Usa !!!!!!!
I will put the envelope near the Christmas tree and the crib with the other gifts because the beauty of Christmas is the waiting

Thank you santa claus iiruig!!!!!

Shipped my envelopes out today. (Yes ik it's late, I'm sorry haha)

Can't wait to see what I will get ☺️

Merry Christmas Numista!!! 🌲⛄❄️

I got my first gift from Santa! He sent it when he was stopping by in Belgium. So excited! I will try to wait until Christmas to open it, but it is SO hard to wait.

Thank you, BramVB, for sharing my new address with Santa. It was very helpful!

Got my first Santa mail, and it was from the city of Niš.
I did open it as soon as I got it and was blown away. I already sent a personal message to the sender, but again, hvala lepo!

Quote: "iiruig"​​
​
​

​I think I'll need to report that nudity you're posting to the admins!
I guess used reindeer-mail, how else could it have gotten "over the ocean" (please sing along!) in only 8 days! Not with BPost or USPS

Good luck waiting for another week!

PS: I've also received 1 out of 3 ... 1 more week for the rest to arrive!

Quote: "BramVB"​

Quote: "iiruig"​​
​​
​​

​​I think I'll need to report that nudity you're posting to the admins!
​I guess used reindeer-mail, how else could it have gotten "over the ocean" (please sing along!) in only 8 days! Not with BPost or USPS
​
​Good luck waiting for another week!
​
​PS: I've also received 1 out of 3 ... 1 more week for the rest to arrive!

​Damn, I didn't even notice the nudity. Santa is a naughty boy!!
I think it will be better like that then.

Quote: "BramVB"​

Quote: "iiruig"​​
​​
​​

​​I think I'll need to report that nudity you're posting to the admins!
​I guess used reindeer-mail, how else could it have gotten "over the ocean" (please sing along!) in only 8 days! Not with BPost or USPS
​
​Good luck waiting for another week!
​
​PS: I've also received 1 out of 3 ... 1 more week for the rest to arrive!

​Damn, I didn't even notice the nudity. Santa is a naughty boy!!
I think it will be better like that then.

Just got my first package in the mail today. I opened it right away and I was very pleasantly surprised! (I don't know about you guys but I'm not going to wait until Christmas to open ) I messaged the sender to tell him how thankful I am. 100% going to participate in this next year, so much fun.

I got my banknote yesterday, totally awesome.
Thanks ngdawa for the gift!

I have received both thank you from those who sent them I will be opening Christmas Morning.

To you all have a Happy Christmas and I hope a better New Year than the Last below are two photos of Happier Times but a lot Colder than today .

Stay Safe Ian.
Leigh Staffordshire Winter 1948
My Sister and Brothers Sandon Staffordshire 1956

I got my coin letter from BlueHawk, UK, thank you so much, I love them.

Glad you liked them.
Merry Xmas

Darn, with everything going on this year after no exchange last year, I completely forgot to look for a Secret Santa exchange. I hope everything worked out so wonderfully that we do this every year. I'm looking forward to seeing everyone's new treasures! Happy holidays to everyone!

I opened my two gifts on Christmas Eve. Many thanks to allexis and BluHawk for the coins.

I got some beeeaaauuutiful coins from my UK-Santa commemorating 2020 ... including San Marino 500l 1983
"Depicts the Apocalypse, and the strengthened concept of the tragic destiny which engulfs all humanity, with no way to escape"


And today also a bunch of perfect Serbian/Yugo notes from the Santa from Niš


Now only waiting for a delivery from the Kiwi-Santa ... I guess we need to be patient for down-under silver-letters

Had a great gift exchange so far! Preparing for next year

If it helps, us Kiwis have a really slack Postal service. Not sure if its me or the other Kiwi, but all my secret Santa's went out Dec 2, and on CCF, over 2/3 still have not received anything.

Covid 19 and de regulated and overpriced postal services are going to render Secret Santa into a Valentines Day treat soon.

I got my package today in the mail and couldn’t have been more pleased what a wonderful new addition! Thanks Pearcem12!


Matt

Got my gift from Allexis today (Our postal system does 3 day a week delivery and Public holidays have cancelled out Mondays and Fridays meaning I only got mail Dec 23, 30 and Jan 6th!

Allexis sent me a very beautiful £20 PURE silver coin of the Queen's 90th birthday. Exactly the type of coin I love.



Thank you so much and for Numista organising this secret Santa.

I really hope my one arrives soon, its only been 34 days since I sent it.

Thanks to mkruse for the lovely American coins. Delighted to receive them.

Quote: "BluHawk"​Thanks to mkruse for the lovely American coins. Delighted to receive them.
​
​
​

​Glad you liked them! I found them coin roll hunting recently. It’s hard to believe it took so long for them to get there, haha.

And I got my bills today, thank you, SpuDy!!

I received my first package on Russian Christmas. Thank you, Leitwolf, for the present and once again for organising the exchange!

Delighted to receive absolutely brilliant UNC notes from Phil, plus a lovely coin with an interesting footnote.
Thank you very much.
This has made my Saturday even better

Kiwi mail finally arrived today.
New Zealand Santa was very generous. Thank you Moneytane for the great UK coins. I liked them a lot.

That is great, only took 52 days!

Sorry I did not do a Christmas card, have not sent them out for years and being an non practising Jew, don't really celebrate Christmas.

I am glad those coins will enjoy a new home!

Well, as it happens ... my kiwi was also delivered this week, the last gift ...

"On the 25th day of Christmas
my good friend brought to me
a couple of silver coins"


thanks a lot! I'll be back next year ... or rather, at the end of this one!

Delighted to receive this lovely low mintage Silver coin from Cobrapel.
Vatican City 1958 - very happy to hold this beauty in my gloved hands. Lovely postcard with it.
Thanks

Quote: "BluHawk"​
​
​
​Delighted to receive this lovely low mintage Silver coin from Cobrapel.
​Vatican City 1958 - very happy to hold this beauty in my gloved hands. Lovely postcard with it.
​Thanks
​
​

​Lovely gift and what a beautiful coin!

My lovely gift from Russia arrived today! Thanks Grinya!!

After almost two month, I received my gift from Subha Barua from Bangladesh It was a bit long time to wait, but it was worth the wait :)