Weekly World Numismatic News for July 24, 2022
In the run-up to the World’s Fair of Money, several releases have announced the display of rarities and different collectibles relating to numismatics that will make an appearance. The announcement that excited me was the Brian Hendelson Collection of Presidential Appointment Documents.
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- Signed by George Washington as President and Thomas Jefferson as Secretary of State, this 1792 document appointed David Rittenhouse as the first Director of the United States Mint. (Photo courtesy of Brian Hendelson.)
One of the appeals of numismatics is the history coins and documents represent. The documents range from the document of George Washington’s appointing David Rittenhouse as the first Mint Director to President U.S. Grant’s appointment of Chauncy Noteware as Carson City Mint Director.
Historical documents can be as important as the coins because they represent the journey that led to the issuing of the coin. Although collectors would like to collect the 1907 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle, I find the letters between Augustus Saint-Gaudens and Theodore Roosevelt more fascinating.
Most people will not geek out over historical documents, but I would love to see more original documents relating to numismatics. It would be an exhibition I would find fascinating and keep me off the bourse floor.
And now the news…
July 19, 2022
→ Read more at european-views.com
July 21, 2022 → Read more at atlasobscura.com
July 22, 2022 → Read more at smithsonianmag.com
Weekly World Numismatic News for April 10, 2022
Over the last few weeks, I received emails from people finding quarters celebrating Maya Angelou on the reverse in their change. When I reply by explaining the Women on Quarters program, the writers are surprised that this program exists.
A woman wrote and asked if I would confirm that Sally Ride would appear for a quarter. When I confirmed that the quarter was next in the series, she wanted to know where to find the quarters so she could give them to her daughter, who wants to be a rocket scientist.
I have never seen this type of reaction to a coin program. Students are talking about the coins as they relate to history. Parents are talking about using the coins to influence their daughters.
The unsung design element that numismatists appreciate is the adaptation of Laura Gardin Frasier’s portrait of George Washington. Frasier, the wife of James Earle Frasier, created an acclaimed design that the Committee on Fine Arts picked twice in a competition of artists. Unfortunately, Treasury Secretary Andrew Mellon, a known misogynist, rejected the design and selected the art of John Flannigan instead. Laura Gardin Frasier’s design has taken its rightful place on the coin’s obverse.
A coin that makes everyone excited. That’s a winning combination!
And now the news…
April 10, 2022 → Read more at phys.org
Weekly World Numismatic News for April 3, 2022
The love of a dog can never be measured. When you bring one into your home and heart, the bond is instantaneous and enduring. Bring in two, and it is a house full of barking, messes, love, and affection. My wife and I raised two puppies, a brother, and a sister, from different litters.
When the youngest has been with you for 13 years and 7 months, it may be a long time, but it feels like yesterday. We raised Tessa from a puppy from the day we picked her up in November 2008.
We used to say that if Tessa was human, she’d be a party girl. Tessa was a fun-loving dog who was very intelligent but would rather play. She did not have a short attention span, but it was short when she was not playing.
Aside from annoying her (late) brother, Boomer, Tessa’s favorite pastime was eviscerating toys. Any stuffed toy would not last more than a few moments, and she would attack, and the stuffing would be all over the house. If the toy had a squeaker, Tessa would chew it until it stopped squeaking.
Tessa slowed down a lot over the last two years, and age was catching up with her. Amongst her ailments, Tessa had arthritis in her hips. We bought a doggie stroller to bring her around the neighborhood. Since I had some time off on Monday, Tessa and I went for a long walk. The image on this post is from that walk. It was the last time we had quality time together.
On Saturday, Tessa went into respiratory failure, and we rushed her to the veterinary hospital. For a while, it seemed that she was stable and could get better, but she took a turn for the worse. We had no choice but to help her end this journey and lead her on to her next journey across the Rainbow Bridge.
I hope Tessa finds her brother Boomer, and they are running around like they did so many years ago. Sweet dreams, my baby-baby sweetheart. You will be missed.
And now the news…
March 29, 2022 → Read more at gizmodo.com
April 1, 2022 → Read more at usatoday.com
April 1, 2022 → Read more at nbc4i.com
April 2, 2022 → Read more at the-sun.com
April 2, 2022 → Read more at livescience.com
Change hunting at the local grocery store
2022 Maya Angelou Quarter
After putting my items on the belt, I asked why there were looking at the coins. One looked up and said they were looking for the Maya Angelou quarter, and another said that they were reading about Angelou in high school when their teacher talked about the quarter.
One looked at me and asked if I knew that the next quarter would honor Sally Ride and started to tell me about Dr. Ride. After I told them that I watched the shuttle launch on television, they thought it was neat that these quarters were in circulation.
They showed no interest in the national parks quarters as they looked at the quarters when one found an Ohio quarter. Although it has the hanging astronaut, I asked if they found the Florida quarter with the Space Shuttle on the reverse.
They realized I understood the quarters and asked if there was a reference to the themes on the quarters. After pointing them to the U.S. Mint website, I told them about the Red Book. I showed them some of the quarter designs on my smartphone and then the Native American dollars.
Aside from not knowing that the U.S. Mint struck dollar coins, I showed them the 2015 Mohawk Iron Workers dollar, a personal favorite. One showed interest and asked if they had created a design for the Code Talkers, and I responded “💯percent” and showed them the 2016 dollar.
Three high school students were now working at a local grocery store, looking at the coins in the cash register for designs representing history. They may not be looking for silver coins like I did in the early 1970s, but it’s change hunting looking for something neat.
The more things change, the more they stay the same.
Flat Attendance for the National Money Show
Last week, the American Numismatic Association announced that the National Money Show attracted 3,288 visitors. However, that buries the lead because the attendance figure includes 376 dealers and 69 staff and volunteers, and the actual attendance of the people walking in the door is 2,843.
The first National Money Show in two years attracted only 2,843 visitors.
In 2019, the National Money Show in Pittsburgh attracted 2,504 visitors, an announcement saying the attendance was over 3,000.
The collecting market has improved. In fact, the collecting market remains very hot even though the economy is showing signs of strain. Attendance at other types of collectors shows has increased, as was experienced at a local ComicCon two weeks ago. Unfortunately, attendance for the National Money Show has not improved.
| Year | City | Attendance* |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Colorado Springs | 3,288 |
| 2020-21 | No Show | |
| 2019 | Pittsburgh | 3,002 |
| 2018 | Irving | 2,671 |
| 2017 | Orlando | 2,516 |
| 2016 | Dallas | 2,585 |
| 2015 | Portland | 4,592 |
The United States Mint reports that bulk sales of collectible American Women Quarters are approaching sellouts. Non-numismatic media is publishing reports about the quarters that have the general public looking at their change again, similar to the beginning of the 50 States Quarters Program.
Also, as the Innovation Dollars make their way around the country, the local media outlets report that their readership shows interest in the coins, including how to find them. Some reports note that once their readers discover the program, they purchase more coins and are now collectors.
The success of the Negro Leagues Commemorative Coins has led to an interest in other baseball-themed coins. One person wrote asking about other baseball-themed coins and where to buy them.
If this is what the modern coin collector wants, the shows must evolve to reflect these changes.
It is deja vu all over again. Every time the industry pats itself on the back to show that it is progressing, the reality makes these pronouncements look like an embarrassment.
Modern coin shows are operated the same as they were in the 2000s. In over 20 years, there have been no changes and no evolution, and there has been practically no growth in ANA membership attendance in over 20 years. Is it time to reimagine how to present a coin show?
Weekly World Numismatic News for March 27, 2022
Medals, awards, casino chips, and a Challenge Coin
Medals come in many forms, from those that can be pinned to clothing to something equivalent to a token. They can be shaped, round, or a multilayered object presented to winners, participants, or for significant achievements.
Some people collect medals but may not consider themselves numismatists. Michael Phelps may not consider himself a numismatist but has one heckuva collection of Olympic medals, and Katie Ladecky is building quite a collection.
Challenge coins are a type of award. In its original intent, challenge coins are passed to someone deemed worthy of being honored by the issuer. Collectors take pride in collecting challenge coins like Brian Williams. During a segment of Nightly News, Williams showed off his collection. Over the last 10-15 years, challenge coins expanded beyond military service and civilian agencies. City agencies, law enforcement, and many others now issue challenge coins. It has opened the market to new collectors. Challenge coin collectors do not consider themselves numismatists, but they are as dedicated to collecting challenge coins as a Morgan dollar collector searching for VAMs.
As time progresses, there are new opportunities to collect awards and medals. Collections of medals and awards are now selling in estate sales and auctions. Families do not know what their loved ones collected and are selling below value. It is a tremendous opportunity to join this area of the market.
Awards and medals create an opportunity to expand collections and welcome more collectors to the community.
And now the news…
March 18, 2022 → Read more at infodocket.com
March 21, 2022 → Read more at collectspace.com
March 21, 2022 → Read more at proactiveinvestors.co.uk
March 23, 2022 → Read more at supermanhomepage.com
March 23, 2022 → Read more at smithsonianmag.com
March 26, 2022 → Read more at benzinga.com
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