Author Archives: Robert R. Van Ryzin

Gold takes a beating

Posted on April 4, 2014 by Robert R. Van Ryzin

Of course, if you want to own gold, you don’t want gold-filled or gold-plated. Continue reading →

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$10 gets $45,000

Posted on March 16, 2012 by Robert R. Van Ryzin

An 1864 $10 Compound Interest Bearing Note, Fr. 190b, brought a hammer price of $45,000 in Lyn Knight Currency Auctions’ CPMX 2012 sale in Rosemont, Ill. The sale was held from March 8-10 at the Crowne Plaza O’Hare in conjunction with the 18th Annual Chicago Paper Money Expo. Continue reading →

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CPMX gets dealers’ top marks

Posted on March 16, 2012 by Robert R. Van Ryzin

Enjoying what he says was his best quarter of business in the past 30 years, and hoping this trend will continue, dealer Frederick J. Bart of Executive Currency, Roseville, Mich., was upbeat about the 18th Annual Chicago Paper Money Expo March 8-11 in Rosemont. Continue reading →

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New twists at old show

Posted on June 17, 2011 by Robert R. Van Ryzin

Employing the slogan, “If you want to talk paper money, you have to come to Memphis,” the 35th International Paper Money Show held June 9-12 at the Memphis Cook Convention Center proved to be a delight for everyone from the hard-core collector to the novice, with plenty of shades in between. Continue reading →

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Old SF Mint’s lost treasure

Posted on May 26, 2011 by Robert R. Van Ryzin

One of the great rarities in the U.S. coinage series is the 1870-S gold $3. Only one specimen is known to exist. What isn’t known about this coin (and a unique 1870-S half dime) is if it is the specimen … Continue reading →

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Coin collecting a disease?

Posted on March 31, 2011 by Robert R. Van Ryzin

If you’re hooked on collecting coins, it’s understandable. You’re infected, as it’s apparently a disease that started spreading, without a cure, well back in U.S. history. Read the following from the Oct. 5, 1859 issue of The Daily Ohio Statesman … Continue reading →

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Fraser's would-be Indian model

Posted on February 10, 2011 by Robert R. Van Ryzin

I picked up this image of John Big Tree in an eBay auction years ago. John Big Tree claimed he was a model for James Earle Fraser’s Buffalo nickel (1913-1938). The many holes in his story are told in my … Continue reading →

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Spitting image

Posted on January 26, 2011 by Robert R. Van Ryzin

Admittedly the Anthony mini dollar, which portrays famed suffragette Susan B. Anthony, never took off as a circulating coin. Some thought it was too close in size to the quarter to be easily identifiable. Coinage was from 1979-1981 and again … Continue reading →

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That's one big nugget

Posted on January 12, 2011 by Robert R. Van Ryzin

Having an interest in gold and silver mining (and, of course, coins), I was happy to get a chance to view the 100-troy ounce Washington Nugget that was on display at the Florida United Numismatists Coin Show in Tampa this … Continue reading →

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Shorted 1,908 cents

Posted on December 16, 2010 by Robert R. Van Ryzin

When the new Lincoln cents came out in 1909 everyone wanted one. Of course, today it is known that the 1909-S with Victor D. Brenner’s initials on it was one that would prove valuable. However, even by the 1920s, when … Continue reading →

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