Looking around for something interesting I was thinking about putting together a type collection. I was looking for an interesting type collection. Rather than a type collection by coin types, how about by a theme. How about a Buffalo Type Collection.
The American Buffalo, or more accurately called the American Bison, was once king of the American Plains. Until the 19th century, it roamed freely until they were almost hunted and slaughtered to extinction. Still, the buffalo represents the United State’s expansion to the west and the growth of the nation. It is just an All-American symbol.
Putting together a Buffalo Type set could be easy, depending on the coins you choose, but it can get expensive. If you choose all proof coins, it could get very expensive. In any case, you can put together a nice collection of coins with buffaloes on them.
Looking at a buffalo type collection, we have to start with the Buffalo Nickel. Designed by James Earle Fraser, the Buffalo Nickel was struck by the U.S. Mint from 1913 to 1987. The obverse of the coin features a Native American that Fraser said was a composite design of three chiefs and the reverse is a buffalo that Fraser was modeled after Black Diamond, an American bison he found at the Bronx Zoo. Both claims by Fraser has been controversial since several American Indian Chiefs claimed to have been Fraser’s model and Black Diamond was housed at the Central Park Zoo. In either case, it is a wonderful coin and a great start to a collection.
For the type collection, there are two varieties of Buffalo Nickels. Variety 1 is the original where the buffalo is standing on a mound that was only issued in 1913. After finding that the lettering that said “Five Cents” and the mint mark wore off easily, the U.S. Mint hollowed out the mound making it look like a line that the buffalo stood on. The second variety was used until the last Buffalo Nickel was struck in 1938.
To start this set, I can purchase a nice 1913 (P) Type 1 Buffalo Nickel for $35-50 and a 1938-D for $25-40. These would be attractive uncirculated coins but not top of the grading scale.
Keeping with nickels, the first issue of the 2005 Westward Journey Nickels had a bison on the reverse. Not only did it have a bison, but it featured an attractive portrait of Thomas Jefferson by artist Joe Fitzgerald. That portrait of Jefferson has the most character of any presidential portrait that has appeared on a coin. Too bad they U.S. Mint issued it only in 2005. Since this is an easy and inexpensive purchase, I think I would add both the P and D business strikes along with an S mint proof coin.
Two more easy coins are the 2005 Kansas State Quarter and the 2006 North Dakota State Quarter. Both quarters are highly available in uncirculated grades making it easy to collect P and D mint coins. The question then is whether to collect one proof or the clad and silver proof. Since both are readily available, I am going to add both to the collection.
<UPDATE> Originally, I forgot about looking at the National Park Quarters for buffaloes. One of the reasons is that I have yet to see one in pocket change. But the 2010 Yellowstone National Park Quarter does feature a buffalo standing in front of Old Faithful erupting. Like the state quarters, circulating coins were struck in Philadelphia and Denver. There were also clad proof and silver proof. It is probably costs the same to collect these sets as with the State Quarters, so we will add all four coins to this collection. </UPDATE>
Moving from circulating coins to commemoratives, the first coin is the 1991 Mount Rushmore Golden Anniversary Half Dollar. While the the obverse has a nice image of the Gutzon Borglum masterpiece carved into the Black Hills of North Dakota, the reverse uses a classic design of a buffalo. Since there were so many of these coins struck, both the 1991-D (uncirculated) and 1991-S (proof) are available as inexpensive additions. So let’s get both for our type collection!
A little more expensive addition is the 2001 American Buffalo Dollar. Struck as uncirculated in Denver and proof in Philadelphia, this coin has been in high demand, which shows in its price. Although the coin was criticized for not being as faithful to James Earle Frasier’s original design, the buffalo on the reverse is well done while being proportionally smaller than it should have been. Even though both the uncirculated and proof coins can cost between $150-200, I think I will stick with the proof. I think proof coins are better looking.
<UPDATE> Another commemorative that includes a buffalo is the 1999 Yellowstone National Park Commemorative Silver Dollar. Struck to commemorate the 125th anniversary of the park’s establishment by Ulysses S. Grant in 1872, the proceeds given to the Yellowstone National Park and the National Park Foundation to help maintain the U.S. national park system. The obverse is shows Old Faithful, one of the park’s main attractions, erupting. The reverse is an adaptation of the National Park Service’s official agency logo. Since there is little difference in the price between the uncirculated and the proof, I will add both for somewhere in the $35-40 range, each. </UPDATE>
Now for the higher end is the American Buffalo 24-Karat Bullion Gold Coin. Since the program started in 2006, the U.S. Mint has been producing a one-ounce 24-karat gold coin with a very faithful image of James Earle Frasier’s Type 1 design. The textured fields on the obverse of the coin adds character to the large gold disk and makes it a very attractive coin. Fortunately for me, I own a 2006 proof American Buffalo coin from when the spot price of gold is almost half of what it is today. But if I was starting this collection today, I would only purchase the proof coin since it looks much nicer than its uncirculated cousin.
In 2008 and 2009, the U.S. Mint struck fractional gold American Buffalo coins in ½-, ¼-, and 1⁄10-ounce coins. If you can afford the one-ounce coin, I would suggest buying one. But if you cannot, the 1⁄10-ounce proof coin is worth the spot price of its gold content ($159.41 as I type this) plus 10-15 percent. Having the option to purchase the fractional gold coins makes this set more affordable.
For extra credit, how about adding one currency item to the collection? In 1901, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing printed the $10 Legal Tender Note (Fr.#114-122) with an image of a buffalo surrounded by portraits of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. Aside from being my favorite note, it is ranked sixth in the book 100 Greatest American Currency Notes, by Q.David Bowers and David M. Sundman. It is possible for find a nice specimen in Fine and Very Fine condition for $500-800 depending which issue you purchase and where you buy one. Higher grades can push the price over $2,000! Adding one to this type collection would be wonderful.
This would make an attractive type set consisting of:
2010-P Yellowstone National Park Quarter, uncirculated
2010-D Yellowstone National Park Quarter, uncirculated
2010-S Yellowstone National Park Quarter, clad proof
2010-S Yellowstone National Park Quarter, silver proof
1991-D Mount Rushmore Golden Anniversary Half Dollar, uncirculated
1991-P Mount Rushmore Golden Anniversary Half Dollar, proof
1999 Yellowstone National Park Commemorative Dollar, uncirculated
1999 Yellowstone National Park Commemorative Dollar, proof
American Buffalo Bullion Coin, one-ounce proof
1901 $10 Legal Tender Note (Fr.#114-122)
It is such a good idea, I might just put together a set!
Buffalo Nickel, Buffalo Dollar, and Mount Rushmore Commemorative images are courtesy of The Coin Page. Westward Journey Nickel, Yellowstone National Park Dollar, and American Buffalo Gold images are courtesy of the U.S. Mint. $10 Legal Tender Note image is courtesy of Wikimedia. Prices confirmed with NumisMedia.
While surfing around YouTube, I came across an interesting video of a segment of the old television show What’s My Line? In this segment (of Episode #478 airing on August 23, 1959), J.A. Conlon (James A. Conlon), the Assistant Chief of the Currency and Stamp Production department at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing appeared on the show attempting to stump the panel. Watch how he does…
At the end of the segment, Conlon gives the panel members samples of the new 4-cent stamp with multi-color printing. The stamp features the flag with 49 stars since it was designed before Hawai’i became a state and the 50th star that was added to the flag on July 4, 1960.
J.A. Conlon became the Director of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing in 1967 serving until 1977.
It has been said that the dog days of summer is when it is very hot causing a period where there is a lot of inactivity or stagnation. There has been little of the dog days here in the nation’s capital. Aside from a lot of work to do, severe storms can wreak havoc with electrical lines—which causes computers not to work. July has been an interesting month and I hope August is more like the dog days without the same heat and humidity!
For something a little different we turn to the technology website CNET. CNET is a long time resource for the consumer technology community that was acquired by CBS Interactive last year. With the commitment of growth from CBS, CNET has been expanding their technology coverage in a number of interesting ways. For CNET, reporter Daniel Terdiman, writer of the Geek Gestalt blog, is taking another road trip. Road Trip 2010 brings Daniel to the east coast where he has visited a few sites of numismatic interest.
While in Washington, D.C., Daniel stopped at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing where he was given a tour Behind the scenes with the next-gen $100 bill. Daniel opens up his trip report by saying, “I’m staring at $38.4 million in cash, and it’s hard not to drool.” It is a nice look behind the scenes at the BEP from the eyes of someone who is not a collector. Do not forget to check out the stacks of money in the photo gallery.
After making other stops, Daniel was in Philadelphia and visited the US Mint. Daniel opens his article talking about the gold-colored planchets that will be struck into dollar coins. Aside from watching the minting process, he spoke with the U.S. Mint’s Chief Engraver John Mercanti about the technology used in creating coins. Daniel spoke with Engraver Joseph Menna about the digital production process—do not forget to watch the YouTube video. When you check out the pictures and when you get to picture 18 imagine the amount of money you could make on the error market if you had access to this bin!
Finally, stopping in New York City required a stop of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Located at 33 Liberty Street in lower Manhattan, it is the branch of the Federal Reserve that distributes U.S. currency worldwide. Eighty feet below the bedrock that the building is constructed on is the gold vault where 36 countries have deposited $255 billion worth of gold. More gold is stored at the New York Fed than anywhere in the world including the U.S. Bullion Depository at Fort Knox, Kentucky. Since photography is not allowed at the N.Y. Fed, they did provide pictures that Daniel used in his report.
Although Daniel did not get much of a tour through the New York Fed, the series of numismatic-related articles are still a good read from someone without a numismatic background. You may want to check out stories on some of his other stops, including the one place I want to visit!
After a busy few weeks, it was that time. It was time to put the plan into motion.
I check the flight schedules to find the plane was on time. This was good with all of the bad weather in the northeast.
I checked the flight path. The plane was to fly around the bad weather. Again, this is good because it was going to be on time.
I checked the traffic. I wanted to get to the airport on time without having to fight Washington’s infamous traffic.
Everything in place, it was time to go. I handed a treat to the dogs and off I went.
Driving to the airport went smooth except for one construction zone that was not on the list I checked on line. A quick detour allowed me to bypass the backup and coast into National Airport.
Parking was easy and close to the walkway over the road and passed the entrance for the Metro Blue and Yellow lines. Down the elevator and I found a seat near baggage claim.
After a few moments the reason I went to the airport arrived. Standing by the entrance to the baggage claim area was my mother-in-law, who flew from the frozen northeast to surprise her daughter (my wife) for her up coming birthday. We drove back and after a minor glitch in the plan—my wife was home walking the dogs and not in her office—we managed to complete the surprise!
Although my mother-in-law lives in Maine, the rest of their family is from Canada. I have not met them and have only had short conversations on the phone since I do not speak French and their English is limited, they do know I collect coins. One relative sent two different coins that my mother-in-law gave me tonight.
The first is a 2009 Canadian one-dollar coin. Instead of a Loony—the reverse with an image of a common loon—the reverse features a commemorative to the one hundred anniversary of the Montreal Canadiens hockey team. The standard Loonie is an eleven-sided smooth edged coin that is 26.5mm in diameter and made from bronze plated nickel. The 2009 Loonies with the Canadiens Centennial reverse was only circulated in Quebec making it a unique collectible.
The other coin is a 2008 Canadian two-dollar coin commonly called the Toonie. The Toonie is a 28mm bimetallic coin with an outer ring made from nickel and a brass inner core. Normally, the reverse of the Toonie is a polar bear during the early summer ice flow. This Toonie commemorates the 400th Anniversary of the founding of Quebec City and the first French settlement in North America.
For a light hearted start to the weekend, how about a little “Dollar Art?” An artist who identifies himself as Rj55.com has taken high resolution photos of one dollar US Federal Reserve Note from different angles and perspectives. Artists call this series a study of the object.
As part of the study, the artist compares elements between the reverse of a 2007 or 2009 Presidential Dollar on top of the note to compare elements. In one photo, the national motto is compared to the the national motto on the note. It is a very interesting picture.
On a different page, the artist presents Pennies on the Dollar. In the context, the page contains high resolution images of pennies on top of dollar bills. As a numismatist, the last image is the most interesting. It shows a 1966 cent next to a 2009-D cent. The first thing I notices is a difference in the rim. Then if you compare the portrait, there is a significant difference in the relief and its size. It might be interesting to do a study of the Lincoln Memorial Cent to watch the changes as the US Mint adjusts their dies.
Just for fun, here is the artist’s conception of a colorized Eye of Providence with dramatic music in the background:
Do you tweet? Tweeting is what you do when you post a message on Twitter, the popular social networking website where messages are limited to 140 characters. Twitter hosts many very active communities discussing everything from politics to sports to news to technical support and everything in between. Interestingly, breaking news spreads faster on Twitter than on many news organization’s websites!
Rather than reading every tweet on the single timeline, you would read your timeline which includes your tweets and the tweets of the people you follow. This way, you can create your own community and just watch the tweets of the people you are interesting in reading.
Those who run Twitter has let it evolve into its own culture with conventions that users adhere to communicate community of interests. The primary convention is one built into the Twitter software is using the “at symbol” (@) to identify a user name. By using the at-symbol in front of the user name, it allows the software to recognize the tweet as a message to or about that user. Direct replies to a user begins with the user name. For example, I use the username coinsblog for numismatic tweets. I would see references made as “@coinsblog” as part of my timeline.
Another convention using the user name is the re-tweet. A re-tweet is a message from another user that I am replaying for those users that follow me. If I tweet something you like and want your followers to read, you would send a message that begins with “RT” followed by the at-symbol prefixed user name followed by the message. This way you give credit to the original tweeter.
One useful way to use Twitter is to point to something on the web that further explains your tweet. For me, I will post something to the blog and tweet about it. However, URLs of the post may be too long to fit with the message in 140 characters. In order to fit the URL into the message, I would use a URL shortening service. A URL shortening service is a website that takes the long URL and shortens it to a few parameters. Two popular URL shortening services are tinyurl.com and bit.ly. Both will take a long URL and provide a shorter one that will be expanded when you click on the link. For example, the URL to my last post was shortened to http://bit.ly/2Nqyaw.
The final convention that I will talk about is the use of hashtags. Hashtags are keywords that begin with the pound or number symbol (#) to indicate that those interested in the keyword can use to search for similar tweets. Hashtags are created by the community. There is no organization managing these hashtags, which can cause interesting conflicts. So far, there has not been a problem with hashtag “squatting.” Currently, I am not aware of the use of hashtags for numismatic tweets but I am thinking of defining a few.
Today, I will be using the hashtag #followfriday, which is used on Fridays to announce who you follow that other people who share your interests should also follow. Users named on the #followfriday tweet will be prefixed with an at-symbol so that the software will recognize the user names.
Is the user from beautifulcoins.com. I like reading the blog which features very interesting non-circulating legal tender (NCLT) coins from around the world.
Matthew Hinçman is what some people call a guerilla artist. Guerilla Art, sometimes called Street Art, is unsanctioned art that is developed and displayed in public places. Guerilla art is more than graffiti. It is art designed to surprise and make the public think and sometimes participate.
One of Hinçman’s newest projects is the creation of Pomme de Terre (French for “Potato“) and Pomme en l’Air (“Apple in the Air“) tokens. Hinçman describes them as “loosely based on mid-19th century Hard Times Tokens.” He had 1,200 copper tokens minted and will drop them on the streets of Boston by the end of the year.
Those in the Boston are may want to follow Hinçman on Twitter @metchew for clues as to where he drops the token.
Hinçman also had 50 silver tokens minted but has not announced plans for those tokens.
Interestingly, this is the second time I found an artist making a statement about or with money using art. Rather than the existing bureaucracy, maybe we should include more of these artists in the process. They seem to come up with better ideas.
The rear door to an armored truck failed after hitting a bump causing three $500 bags of quarters to spill on the road south of downtown Dallas.
The police were called to close the street too keep the nearby homeless population away so that the guards and city workers could pick up the quarters. Workers were seen using shovels and vacuum cleaners to pick up the coins.
The video of the scene is amusing and something that I hope will help brighten your Friday.
While attending the Whitman Baltimore Coin and Currency Show, I was privileged to have a conversation with American Numismatic Association Vice President and Presidential candidate Patti Finner. Finner was in her usual location, the Kids Korner at the show. While talking about various aspects of numismatics, I asked about keeping people interested during that period after being a Young Numismatist and rediscovering the hobby later on.
I understood the problem when I returned to the hobby in my 40s after aspects of my life settled. I was collecting state quarters out of change and placing them in a colorful folder before diving back in. When I returned to numismatics, I continued the traditional collecting as I did when I was younger. I found old folders and albums, updated them to new materials, and started to buy coins from local dealers, online, and coin shows. I was filling albums, buying lots, and selling off the excess so that the proceeds could be used to support my new habit.
Over the last few years I have filled up many albums, purchased some key coins, and created a nice collection of series by date and mint mark. While there was something satisfying about this, I wanted more.
More came in the form of registry sets, bullion silver with different designs, as well as medals and tokens that have meaning to me. I then discovered that collecting this exonumia was not only fun but it was not expensive. But I was having a difficult time figuring out how to make this interesting to an average collector. Then I spoke with Ms. Finner.
Finner’s idea is to create a personal album of coins. Regardless of how you organize the collection, her idea is to document where you received the coin, how much it is worth or you paid for it, when it was acquired, and any other facts about the coin that is important to you. She told me how some were creating databases or writing it on paper and placing it between pages, and a few other ideas.
When I returned home after the show, I opened a three-ring notebook containing paper currency and saw the two 1912 Russian notes that belonged to my late grandfather when his family arrived in the United States from Lithuania. The notes were given to me after my grandfather passed away. While thinking about what Ms. Finner had said, I typed information regarding their provenance: who they belonged to, how I obtained them, and other information about the notes including estimates of their value. The page I created was inserted into the binder behind the note.
I thought this was a great idea that I started to create pages for the notes and other items in that binder. For example, I have ticket stubs from the 1986 National League Championship Series and World Series. I created pages for those items including box scores that I found online. Documenting a collection like this takes it from a series of coins to a personal collection. It adds history and provenance to the collection.
After telling this to a friend, he created his own album. My friend had taken the coin boards that the US Mint has been producing the first three years of the Presidential Dollars and created pages to hold the boards and a sheet of paper where he could document the history of the coins. He used a one-pocket mylar page creating a pocket using a food sealing machine. He created two binders for each of his children and is considering doing the same for the 50 State Quarters.
For those 20- and 30-somethings who are establishing themselves in their careers and with families, this is an opportunity to create a family collection and tell a story that documents the family history with the coins. For those with children, it is also something you can do together.
This can be done using coins, tokens, currency, medals, or anything collectible. Make it a project. Share the project. But the most important thing to remember is to make it fun!
In the more than three years I have been writing this blog, I keep finding interesting things to write about. The problem is finding the time to write about what I find or my thoughts. But sometimes, I find something that I thought was going to give me one story but turns into something else. Let me explain…
The other day, I went to my bank’s ATM to withdraw money. As I was counting the notes the machine delivered to me, I noticed one was stamped with something. Since I was in the car, I put the note in my pocket to look at it at home. I was thinking that the last time I saw a stamp on a note, it was for the “Where’s George” website.
Where’s George is a web-based project to track the circulation of US paper money. The project was started by tracking the movement of one dollar notes and expanded to other bills. People are prompted to visit the website when they receive bill stamped with the information. Website visitors are asked to enter some basic information (denomination, serial number, series, and location) to the where your note has been and to register its current location. When I find a well circulated note with the Where’s George, it is interesting to follow the note’s trail. Registered users can track the progress of the notes they enter.
For our friends north of the border, you can visit Where’s Willy. “Willy” is Sir Wilfrid Laurier, the first French Canadian Prime Minister (1896-1911). Sir Laurier’s portrait is on the Canadian $5 bill.
After the ten minute drive home, I looked at the note and found something unexpected. It was a stamp campaigning for Ron Paul for president along with his campaign’s web address. Dr. Paul, a Republican from the 14th District of Texas, unsuccessfully ran for the GOP nomination in 2008.
Dr. Paul is a fascinating person who has a unique approach to governance. While I may not agree with his political philosophy, I respect that he does not make emotional decisions and goes out of his way to educate himself on the issues. Dr. Paul is one of the few members of congress I respect for really trying to govern with integrity.
So if you find this $20 bill in change, follow its path after I spend it sometime this weekend. It has been entered into the database at www.wheresgeorge.com. Who knows, maybe it can find its way to Texas!
Looking at a buffalo type collection, we have to start with the Buffalo Nickel. Designed by James Earle Fraser, the Buffalo Nickel was struck by the U.S. Mint from 1913 to 1987. The obverse of the coin features a Native American that Fraser said was a composite design of three chiefs and the reverse is a buffalo that Fraser was modeled after Black Diamond, an American bison he found at the Bronx Zoo. Both claims by Fraser has been controversial since several American Indian Chiefs claimed to have been Fraser’s model and Black Diamond was housed at the Central Park Zoo. In either case, it is a wonderful coin and a great start to a collection.
Keeping with nickels, the first issue of the 2005 Westward Journey Nickels had a bison on the reverse. Not only did it have a bison, but it featured an attractive portrait of Thomas Jefferson by artist Joe Fitzgerald. That portrait of Jefferson has the most character of any presidential portrait that has appeared on a coin. Too bad they U.S. Mint issued it only in 2005. Since this is an easy and inexpensive purchase, I think I would add both the P and D business strikes along with an S mint proof coin.
Moving from circulating coins to commemoratives, the first coin is the 1991 Mount Rushmore Golden Anniversary Half Dollar. While the the obverse has a nice image of the Gutzon Borglum masterpiece carved into the Black Hills of North Dakota, the reverse uses a classic design of a buffalo. Since there were so many of these coins struck, both the 1991-D (uncirculated) and 1991-S (proof) are available as inexpensive additions. So let’s get both for our type collection!
A little more expensive addition is the 2001 American Buffalo Dollar. Struck as uncirculated in Denver and proof in Philadelphia, this coin has been in high demand, which shows in its price. Although the coin was criticized for not being as faithful to James Earle Frasier’s original design, the buffalo on the reverse is well done while being proportionally smaller than it should have been. Even though both the uncirculated and proof coins can cost between $150-200, I think I will stick with the proof. I think proof coins are better looking.
Another commemorative that includes a buffalo is the 1999 Yellowstone National Park Commemorative Silver Dollar. Struck to commemorate the 125th anniversary of the park’s establishment by Ulysses S. Grant in 1872, the proceeds given to the Yellowstone National Park and the National Park Foundation to help maintain the U.S. national park system. The obverse is shows Old Faithful, one of the park’s main attractions, erupting. The reverse is an adaptation of the National Park Service’s official agency logo. Since there is little difference in the price between the uncirculated and the proof, I will add both for somewhere in the $35-40 range, each.
Now for the higher end is the American Buffalo 24-Karat Bullion Gold Coin. Since the program started in 2006, the U.S. Mint has been producing a one-ounce 24-karat gold coin with a very faithful image of James Earle Frasier’s Type 1 design. The textured fields on the obverse of the coin adds character to the large gold disk and makes it a very attractive coin. Fortunately for me, I own a 2006 proof American Buffalo coin from when the spot price of gold is almost half of what it is today. But if I was starting this collection today, I would only purchase the proof coin since it looks much nicer than its uncirculated cousin.
Loading ...