My grandfather also collected coins with me and I'm borderline for ASD.

When he passed, my cousin and aunt took any of the coins worth anything and left me with the wheat pennies (they went down before he passed and went through everything without anyone else finding out until after he'd passed). I'm sad that I didn't get the beautiful things, like the walking liberty half dollars, but I still have something to remember him by.

The collection has me collecting now, in a way that's almost like spending some time with my papa again.

The depression hurts now. The collection won't fix it, but it'll be something to grow into the hole again and help you remember.

It won't replace the sentiment, but it'll help you remember it, which can be worth a lot.