Summary: Even to this day, Nate still checks his change for those collectible state quarters. Angst warning.

(This story is in this collection because 25 - 0.25 - quarter[fraction] - quarter[coin])

Collection

Even to this day, Nate still checks his change for those collectible state quarters.

From 1999 to 2008, the United States Mint issued quarters that honored each of the fifty states. The coins all had the familiar profile of George Washington that adorns the face of every normal quarter, but the backs had the name of the state and a design that represented the state. The coins were manufactured at two locations, Philadelphia and Denver, designated 'P' and 'D,' respectively, on the fronts of the coins. Each design was in circulation for only a short period of time, and supposedly will never be manufactured again.

They're quite easy to get a hold of, so many amateur coin collectors collect them.

Sam had collected them.

Nate had encouraged him when Sam had announced that he would begin collecting the state quarters. It was a relatively inexpensive hobby, one that might end in profit should Sam complete his collection of all 100 coins.

All the other kids on the block were collecting them, but Nate knew that most of them would likely give up within the first year or two of collecting.

But not Sam Ford.

Being born to two such people as Nathan and Maggie Ford meant that Sam had hated loose ends and unfinished projects, and did his research meticulously before beginning.

Sam would complete his collection, Nate knew.

So he encouraged him. He hadn't given Sam all the state quarters he came across, like many parents would have, but he put them aside and traded him for them - one 'normal' quarter or a hated chore for a state quarter.

When Sam had gotten sick, Nate had tried to keep his spirits up by giving Sam all the state quarters he could, especially the 'P' ones that were less common on the west coast than the east.

Sam had died before the collection was complete.

Still, Nate collects them, sorting through his change for those special quarters.

The others notice his fascination with quarters. They don't all quite get it, but sometimes he comes into the office to find a roll of quarters sitting on his desk with no note attached to tell him who left it there. They're just quarters, not all the special ones, but he finds a few of the ones he is missing that way.

It's a few weeks after the newest, and last, designs come out that he finishes the collection, all 100 coins - 50 states, two minting locations. He pops the last silver coin into the little cardboard holder and smooths his hand over all the coins laid out before him.

"It's finished, Sam," he whispers, "It's done."

He feels a deep sense of sadness - god, how he misses his son - but there's satisfaction, too, that he has finished what Sam started, that his little boy is really at rest now.

When the District of Columbia and U. S. Territories commemorative coins come out, he briefly considers collecting them, but he desists.

It's done. Sam's project is done. The fabric-backed cardboard coin holder sits in its place of honor in Nate's bookshelf on his boat. He doesn't open it again, but he knows it's there.

And surprisingly...surprisingly, it's alright. He's okay with that.