Author Archives: Robert R. Van Ryzin

It’s tempting to think that if there was a serious problem with making change in the West—one that supposedly led to the introduction of a 20-cent piece in 1875—that it could have been solved by use of other small change, … Continue reading →

Thanks to sharp-eyed Coins reader Matthew Joy for noticing Coins magazine in “The Infiltrator.” The movie, released in 2016, tells the true story of Robert Mazur, a U.S. Customs official who went undercover as Bob Musella in an effort to … Continue reading →

Would you get rich if you could lift your weight in gold? In silver? In paper? There is a 1910 newspaper article that speculated on that. The July 12, 1910 article, “The Weight of Money,” in the Evening News, San … Continue reading →

When the gold $3 piece was released, in 1854, its design was generally praised in the press. The Delaware State Reporter, Dover, wrote in its May 9, 1854, issue: “The new gold piece of three dollars value will be issued … Continue reading →

I started collecting in 1976. I had some coins prior to that, but I did not get interested in the hobby until then. It wasn’t what got me started, but it was about the same time as the new $2 … Continue reading →

Shown below is a work by money artist J.S.G. Boggs. He died recently, at age 62. In the 1990s, I wrote extensively about Boggs, having initially found reference to an upcoming exhibit of his work in Tampa, Fla. I called … Continue reading →

In the early 20th century, when gold coins were still in regular circulation, it was a much different world in making change. Though perhaps not widespread, there was always the chance your gold coin had been “shaved” of some its … Continue reading →

If you collect, a major part of the thrill is the hunt. This is true of any collecting field and is especially so with coin and paper money collecting. I regularly watch my change and sometimes pull a silver coin … Continue reading →