To Mr. Bill Hyder
Scott’s Valley, California
I’ve got something to vent about.
Your article in the January/February 2019 issue of the Token and Medal Society’s TAMS Journal (“Merchant Token Ephemera From Wiley, Kansas”) makes me feel like I’ve been asleep for the past 15 years as a writer and researcher.
Thanks a lot! Just when I was starting to feel like I knew something about numismatics.
Seriously, though—this excellent article should be required reading for everyone who collects U.S. coins, especially those of the 1700s to mid-1900s. The concepts you spell out are vital to understanding American coins and paper money, day-to-day commerce, credit, and what life was like for millions of Americans for many generations.
The real-life case studies you present, and sharing interesting stories from your own family history, make it a fun read as well as educational.
“As we move further away in time from firsthand experience with the use of trade tokens,” you write, “we lose touch with the mechanics of their use in local economies.” If coin collectors don’t have that knowledge, they’re missing a big piece in the puzzle of American numismatics.
This reminds me of conversations I had with Ken Bressett years ago. We were struggling to make room in the Red Book for listings of the Mint’s expanding programs of commemoratives, silver, gold, and platinum bullion, and other modern coins. Near desperation, I was tempted to dramatically condense the “Private and Territorial Gold” section. I’m embarrassed now, in retrospect, that this was my reasoning: “How many people actively collect these pieces? Hundreds? Maybe a thousand?” (out of the hundreds of thousands of readers who buy a Red Book every year).
Ken set me straight, reminding me that for a good amount of time, in a large section of the United States (or what would eventually become part of the Union), during a significant era of national expansion, these private and territorial gold pieces were extremely important to American life—they were how business got done.
Thus it is with trade tokens. And your article, like Ken’s shared insight, is a valuable reminder of, and education in, the huge importance of America’s non-coin “coins.”
Thank you for writing it, and thank you, as always, for sharing your wisdom.
P.S. Anyone who wants to be inspired, learn what’s going on in the vast and fascinating world of U.S. tokens and medals, and read great articles in the TAMS Journal, can join the membership rolls of the Token and Medal Society at www.tokenandmedal.org.
Dennis Tucker is the publisher of Whitman Publishing; numismatic specialist in the Treasury Department’s Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee; and author of
American Gold and Silver: U.S. Mint Collector and Investor Coins and Medals, Bicentennial to Date. He is a past governor of the Token and Medal Society.
Apr 24, 2019 | News, video
Numismatic Personality: Chester “Chet” Krause March 2011. VIDEO: 13:06
David Lisot, Interviewer, CoinTelevision.com
Chet talks about his retirement, how he spends his time, his accomplishments on the ANA Board, his travels, how he had a headache for two years, and much more.
Another great numismatic video has surfaced that will be posted on the Newman Numismatic Portal. In 2011 at the Whitman Expo itimore David Lisot interviewed CHET KRAUSE. Chet had retired from from his leadership at Krause Publications and talks about his new days with the daily grind of being in charge of the printing megalith he had created.
The entire interview is available on the Newman Numismatic Portal at https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/multimediadetail/522852
An excerpt of the video is available for viewing on the Coin Television YouTube Channel at: https://youtu.be/8o3qPGJ1uYk
Apr 20, 2019 | ANA, News
Twenty exhibitors displayed 27 impressive competitive exhibits at the 2019 National Money Show, held March 28-30 in Pittsburgh. The American Numismatic Association recognized each exhibit winner on March 30 during the Exhibit Awards Presentation & Reception, along with two noncompetitive exhibitors who also displayed material.
Michael Kodysz received the Steven J. D’Ippolito Award for Excellence in Numismatic Exhibiting (best of show) for his display, “Halley’s Comet: A Visual Record on Coins of Elagabalus.” Second place was presented to Thomas Havelka for “A Numismatically Illustrated History of the Organ.” Third place was awarded to Nancy Wilson for “Postage Stamp Scrip Notes.”
The Radford Stearns Memorial Award for People’s Choice, determined by votes from convention attendees, was presented to W. Thomas Corey for “Swedish Plate Money: The Genesis of Modern Bank Notes.”
The theme for National Coin Week 2019 is “Discover the Past, Envision the Future,” and the National Coin Week Award was presented to Matthew Campbell for “How America’s Coins & Currency Reflect a Diverse & Changing Nation.” He will receive a full scholarship, endowed by John Albanese, to a future ANA Summer Seminar. National Coin Week exhibits are intended to be suitable for display in libraries and schools, so there is a $250 limit on the value of the materials in this competition. Second place was bestowed upon Cindy Calhoun for “Discover the Past: Apollo Space Missions on Elongated Coins.” Third place went to Paige Price for “Through the Canadian Woods in $1.91.”
Winners in the following six classes received the Radford Stearns Memorial Award for Achievement in Exhibiting:
Class 1: History and Politics (historical or political events)
- First—Michael Kodysz, “Halley’s Comet: A Visual Record on Coins of Elagabalus
- Second—Bryce Doxzon, “They Also Ran: Select 19th-Century Political Medals of Defeated Presidential Candidates”
- Third—Patrick McBride, “Military Payment Certificates: Notes from ’Nam”
Class 2: Economics (monetary and financial systems or economic events, such as panics and inflations)
- First—Patrick McBride, “Byzantine Coinage: Major Denominations”
- Second—Simcha Laib Kuritzky, “Tan Seng Yong’s Tiger Commemoratives: Singapore, 1986”
- Third—Michael Hicks, “United States Fractional Currency: 5th Issue (1874-1876)”
Class 3: Geography (natural or cultural assets, the distribution of populations, or exploration)
- First—Michael Hicks, “Lumber Scrip from South Eastern United States”
- Second—Loretta Schultz, “A Sampling of Life in Europe in the Middle Ages & Renaissance”
- Third—Richard Crosby, “Pittsburgh Charge Cards & More”
Class 4: Common Elements (material linked by common themes and designs, such as Queen Elizabeth II, elephants, bridges or world’s fairs)
- First—Simcha Laib Kuritzky, “Expo ’70 Fair in Osaka, Japan: Progress & Harmony for Mankind”
- Second—Matthew Campbell, “The Carnegie Hero Medal: Three Major Varieties”
- Third—Dawn McBride, “The Ultimate Service Pin: A History of Nursing”
Class 5: The Arts (any aspect of fine or applied arts)
- First—Thomas Havelka, “A Numismatically Illustrated History of the Organ”
- Second—Roderick Frechette, “Sing a Song of Sixpence”
- Third—Simcha Laib Kuritzky, “Chaim Gross’ Ten Commandments Sculpture Medals”
Class 6: Science (theoretical or applied science, including the technology of manufacturing numismatic items)
- First—Nancy Wilson, “Postage Stamp Scrip Notes”
- Second—Jeffrey Rosinia, “One Giant Leap: The Flight of Apollo 11”
- Third—Cindy Calhoun, “Discover the Past: Apollo Space Missions on Elongated Coins”
The application deadline for exhibiting at the 2019 ANA World’s Fair of Money®, which will be held August 13-17 in Rosemont, Illinois, is June 15. For an application form or more information, phone 719-482-9849; e-mail exhibits@money.org; or visit money.org.
The American Numismatic Association is a congressionally chartered, nonprofit educational organization dedicated to encouraging the study and collection of coins and related items. The ANA helps its 25,000 members and the public discover and explore the world of money through its vast array of instructional and outreach programs, as well as its museum, library, publications and conventions. For more information, call 719-632-2646 or visit www.money.org.
Apr 19, 2019 | News
April 18, 2019 – Three lucky Florida residents, one in New Smyrna Beach and a husband and wife in Orlando, are the latest winners in the Professional Coin Grading Service (www.PCGS.com) Quarter Quest to discover specific West Point Mint quarter dollars and be the first to submit them to PCGS for authentication and grading.
“They were the first to send in examples of the just-released 2019-W Northern Mariana Islands’ American Memorial Park quarters. That’s the latest design in the United States Mint’s America the Beautiful series, and only the second circulating quarter series to ever have a W mint mark,” explained PCGS President Brett Charville.
The encapsulated Mariana coins now are being returned to the submitters with special inserts for each that indicate a pedigree of “PCGS First Discovery 1 of 2.”
“We offered a $2,000 bounty for the first Mariana coin, and the almost simultaneous submitters have agreed to split the reward; $1,000 to the Port Orange submitter and another $1,000 to the Orlando couple,” said PCGS Director of Marketing Heather Boyd.
The latest fortunate finders of 2019-W quarters are identified as Brandon M., a church pastor from New Smyrna Beach, Florida whose Mariana American Memorial National Park coin is now graded PCGS MS65, and Kevin and Sheila G. of Orlando whose coin is PCGS MS64.
Pastor Brandon’s wife purchased a box of quarters from a local Wells Fargo bank.
“When PCGS announced their bounty on social media I decided to look through some bank rolls. I did not realize the Marianas were even out. I was not expecting to see the W on a non-Lowell (National Historical Park) quarter,” he said.
Kevin and Sheila are variety hunters who began searching through coin rolls a year ago as a retirement hobby. They, too, learned about the PCGS Quarter Quest through social media and the PCGS website, and also purchased a box of quarters from a local Wells Fargo bank.
Sheila recalled: “I was in the other room and I just heard him shouting, “Coin day! Coin day! Coin day!’ That’s our thing when we are coin hunting. It’s coin day instead of hump day.”
“It has been a wonderful and exciting hunt!” exclaimed Kevin. “We just got another box of quarters and I can’t wait!”
PCGS earlier paid $2,500 each to the first two submitters of 2019-W Lowell quarters after the two collectors cordially agreed to split the $5,000 PCGS reward when their submissions arrived at almost the same time.
There are still excellent opportunities for collectors nationwide to participate in the W mint mark excitement.
“We’re continuing to offer $2,000 for the first qualifying 2019-W Guam War in the Pacific National Historical Park quarter to be certified and encapsulated by PCGS, and we are excited to announce bounties on the other two America the Beautiful West Point quarters as their anticipated release dates approach,” said Boyd.
Any qualifying 2019 West Point mint mark quarters received within the first seven days after the PCGS First Discovery for each design has been confirmed will automatically receive the First Week of Discovery pedigree.
The qualifying coins submitted after those 7 days and within 45 days of the PCGS First Discovery will automatically receive an Early Find pedigree. Also, there are opportunities for bonus points for W mint mark quarters featuring these special pedigrees listed in the PCGS Set Registry.
PCGS has created an information page for the promotion at www.PCGS.com/2019quarterquest where coin hunters can check on updated bounties, see if a PCGS First Discovery has been graded and authenticated, and review the terms and conditions for the promotion.
For information about PCGS products and services, including how to submit your coins for authentication and grading, visit www.PCGS.com or call PCGS Customer Service at (800) 447-8848.
Apr 18, 2019 | News
The two coins pictured below have been reported stolen/missing. The victim advises the coins were last seen at the Feb 28-March 3,2019 Baltimore Coin show.
Anyone with information contact:
Doug Davis
817-723-7231
Doug@numismaticcrimes.org
Apr 18, 2019 | News
Investigators with the Tecumseh, MI police department are investigating the burglary and arson of Tecumseh Coins which occurred during the early morning hours of April 8, 2018. An Unknown number of suspects entered the building and cut open five safes with an unknown type of cutting torch.
The suspects removed a large inventory of coins from the safes.
Partial listing of stolen coins:
- 29 red trays with coins stacked 2-5 deep
- 1857 flying eagle cents thru 1958 wheat cents complete minus 22P
- V-nickels, buffalos, and Jeffersons including 2 three legged buffalos
- Bust dimes thru mercs (no16D)
- Bust quarters thru Washington
- Bust halves thru Franklins
- Morgan and Peace dollars
- Complete Peace dollar set
- Mint sets beginning in 1951 complete from 1958 to 2018
- 30 early Commemorative halves-Maine, Pilgrim, Stone Mountain,California Jubilee,Lexington Concord, Oregon, Daniel Boone, Long Island
- 15 Modern Commems
- 5 rolls Canadian silver quarters, 4 rolls Canadian dimes
- 2 slabbed PCI 1909S VDB’s
- 5 slabbed gold coins
The coins were housed in either 1.5×1.5 cardboard or 2×2 flips. Labeled with year, mint, grade and price. On reverse would have a cost code. The code would have a letter J in it for the decimal point. Printed in black ink and capital letters. Small cents, nickels and dimes in 1.5×1.5 flips and quarters thru dollars in 2×2’s.
Anyone with Information contact:
Officer Tom Gilbert
517-423-7494
or
Doug Davis
817-723-7231
Doug@numismaticcrimes.org
Apr 16, 2019 | ANA, News
ANA Governors Review Finances and Investments
The American Numismatic Association’s (ANA) 2019 National Money Show® in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, welcomed a total of 3,002 people to the three-day event, held March 28-30 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. “The Pittsburgh convention was very successful thanks to the combined efforts of the great ANA staff and the tremendous support provided by PAN [Pennsylvania Association of Numismatists] and its volunteers,” said ANA President Gary Adkins. “The show was well attended and the venue overlooking the river and skyline was incredible.”
During the show’s opening ceremonies on Thursday morning, President Adkins presented National Money Show Host Chair Pat McBride with the ANA Goodfellow Award in recognition of his service. Adkins also recognized the host club, the Pennsylvania Association of Numismatists and its president, Tom Uram, with the Lewis S. Werner Host Club Award.
The event featured 180 companies buying and selling coins, currency and related items; a wide range of numismatic educational presentations led by notable speakers; a three-session sale by Kagin’s Auctions; and exhibits of priceless rarities from private collections and the American Numismatic Association’s Money Museum in Colorado Springs.
ANA President Gary Adkins addresses attendees during the PAN-hosted dinner to kick off the National Money Show.
A major draw for numismatists and the general public alike were the collector exhibits and the Museum Showcase. On display were a 1913 Liberty Head nickel, one of a mere five struck, and a Class III 1804 silver dollar, one of eight known. Also featured was a1943 Lincoln cent erroneously struck on a bronze planchet, and a world-class case filled with historic Pennsylvania paper money. A 1933 Indian Head eagle (gold $10) on display was a bona fide showstopper.
The Kids Zone offered youngsters a plethora of activities to engage them in coin collecting, including a Treasure Trivia game where they learned about numismatics and earned prizes as they explored the bourse floor in search of answers to trivia questions. A Young Collectors Corner also debuted this year, offering basic information about the hobby.
Former United States Mint Chief Engraver Don Everhart was the guest of honor at the ANA Legacy Series on Thursday afternoon, March 28. During the interview, moderated by Barbara Gregory, editor-in-chief of The Numismatist, attendees learned about his early years, professional challenges, and crowning achievements in the world of numismatic art and design. Everhart elaborated on his decades-long career during his “Money Talks” presentation, “Don Everhart: A Career in Coin Design,” on Friday, March 29. Nearly a dozen free Money Talks presentations were offered at the event, highlighting historically significant events, artistic vision and numismatic objects from around the globe.
Eleven of the 14 individuals who have received the necessary nominations for the 2019 ANA Board of Governors election participated in the Candidates Forum on Friday, March 29 to answer questions and express their views on a number of topics. (Video of the forum can be viewed on money.org/election.) In what can be described as an unusual election, two individuals are running for president, two for vice president and ten candidates are competing for seven governor positions. “This election has the largest number of candidates running that I can remember,” noted former ANA Board President Jeff Garrett. “The election is particularly important this year with so many seats being contested,” he said. “I urge everyone to watch the forum once it is posted.”
The $10 Treasury note from the War of 1812, part of the Joel Anderson Collection of Treasury Notes. The note realized $336,000 during Kagin’s auction at the National Money Show. Photo Courtesy of Kagin’s Auctions.
- $336,000 for a unique $10 Treasury note from the War of 1812 (Friedberg TN-14b) part of the Joel Anderson Collection of Treasury Notes. The 16 lots realized a total of $561,720.
- $180,000 for an 1860 Clark, Gruber & Co. Pikes Peak $20 gold coin with a reeded edge, Rarity 6+, certified Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) “Graffiti [About Uncirculated] Detail.” One of nine known.
- $38,400 for a 1796 “Reverse of 1794” large cent, graded PCGS Mint-State-62 Brown.
- $28,800 for an 1888 $3 gold coin, graded PCGS Proof-65 Cameo.
Pittsburgh Show Attendance
According to ANA Executive Director Kim Kiick, attendance at the Pittsburgh National Money Show was relatively slow on Thursday and Friday, but more than a thousand people registered on Saturday. “Pittsburgh is a working town and as such, most people couldn’t get to the show until Saturday,” she said.
Tom Hallenbeck of Hallenbeck Coin Gallery agreed. “The momentum really picked up later in the week,” he said. “We stayed to the very end and it paid off for us. Our sales were great.”
Total attendance was 3,002, reflected as follows:
- 1,796 general public
- 708 ANA members
- 32 volunteers and staff
- 466 dealers and their assistants, representing 180 companies at 192 tables
Five-Year National Money Show Statistics
| Year |
City |
Attendance |
| 2019 |
Pittsburgh |
3,002 |
| 2018 |
Irving |
2,671 |
| 2017 |
Orlando |
2,516 |
| 2016 |
Dallas |
2,585 |
| 2015 |
Portland |
4,592 |
The next ANA convention is the 2019 World’s Fair of Money® to be held August 13-17 in Chicago (Rosemont), Illinois, at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center. The 2020 National Money Show is slated for February 27-29 at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta, Georgia. The ANA Board of Governors will be selecting the 2021 National Money Show site in May.
ANA Board of Governors Meeting
The ANA Board of Governors met in open session on Saturday, March 30 to review and approve the IRS Form 990 and Fiscal Year 2018 audited financial statement prepared by Waugh & Goodwin, LLP, and to receive an update on ANA financials from Treasurer Larry Baber.
Fiscal Year 2018 expenses were $5,806,161, of which $4,710,294 were directly related to ANA programs (conventions, magazine, education, museum, library) and $1,095,867 were for support services (marketing, fundraising, membership, development, administration).
“Our investment in the Ben E. Keith Corp. had an exceptional year with an increase in value of over $8.5 million,” Baber reported. “With assets of over $84 million we can continue to provide benefits to our members and the numismatic hobby.”
“The ANA has a very strong financial footing,” said President Adkins, “and a portion of the Keith funds can continue to be invested in the future of numismatic education. These amazing resources will be utilized prudently and judiciously to improve the ANA’s mission and strategic goals, while advancing the Association’s continued relevance and leadership.”
The ANA’s Fiscal Year 2018 audited financial statement and IRS Form 990 are available for review online at money.org/financial-reports.
A collection of 26 rare vintage Chinese coins certified by NGC realized $1,361,660 in April 2019 when it was sold by GreatCollections.
