Actually there are two things to talk about in this letter to the editor.
First, I finally got the last of the Lincoln bicentennial/centennial cent.
I was walking my dog through the neighborhood Jan. 24 and on the ground, by the curb, I spotted a coin and picked it up. I looked at the obverse and saw the date: 2009. Continue reading →

At the Jan. 17 meeting of the Livermore Valley Coin Club, Fremont Coin Gallery dealer Vince LaCariere showed a 1901-S Barber quarter that he had recently acquired. Mr. LaCariere said that he bought the coin from a person who uses a metal detector to hunt for treasure. The coin was reportedly found “somewhere in Nevada.” The hunter did not disclose the exact location of the find. Continue reading →

I’m responding on the Jan. 24 “Viewpoint” that Mike Davis wrote. I agree with most of what he said. I have noticed that ever since 1999 and the state quarter program started many people saw easy money. Before you knew it there were thousands of coin dealers and most of them didn’t know anything about coins. Continue reading →

I agree with the Jan. 24 “Viewpoint” article written by Mike Davis that a once-fun hobby is now a money game. I will buy nothing from the U.S. Mint. In 2009, I purchased two clad proof sets for $32 each.
Now a few years later, I can’t even sell one unless I take about $15 for it. I wished I would have spent my money on an uncirculated Morgan silver dollar. At least that would not have lost 50 percent of its value in just two years. Continue reading →

Neal Wolin, in order to cut waste, is going to create waste, a lot more waste. Ironic that the dollar bill costs $1 in borrowing a $1 in the form of a bond, interest on that bond, and the cost of making that bill. Continue reading →

What a strange and wonderful trip numismatics has been in 2011. All the highs and lows of searching for the last few elusive coins I needed to finish my Buffalo nickel collection and to start my new collection of Seated Liberty quarters. Continue reading →

I would like to make a comment on Michael Zielinski’s “Viewpoint” in the Dec. 20 issue of Numismatic News. I totally agree with his conclusion. What I do not understand is why the Mint was involved with trying to manage a credit card company’s problem to begin with. Continue reading →

I wrote a letter recently stating I was successful at placing my order for one 25th anniversary Eagle set. On Nov. 9, I received an email notifying me that my order was canceled. I called the Mint’s (800) number and was told it was because of my credit card. I called my card issuer and was told the transaction was approved on their end. Continue reading →

I collect coins as a hobby only. Frankly, I am actually surprised at the uproar over the 25th anniversary American Eagle sets. It seems to me that the opinion of most coin collectors is that the U.S. Mint is producing too many coins. They continuously have coins in inventory that will go “off” sale and no longer be available. I guess they will be melted down. Continue reading →

It really seems funny how the Mint, after a big goof, always apologizes for the inconvenience and frustration that its regular customers have encountered because of its very outdated web and phone ordering system. Come on U.S. Mint, you are part of a government that sends spaceships and rockets to the moon and Mars. Continue reading →