Letters to the Editor: Jan 7, 2020

End of Year Roundup

Happy End of 2019 Numismatic News crew!

It has been a fun year of Circulation (Circ) finds for me! In February I found my first 1950-D nickel. I’d say it was in Very Good condition (with full rims), considering it appears to have been in circulation since 1950! Also this year, I’ve found two 2009-D nickels(although not “Rare,” merely conversational. I refuse to pay more than 5 cents for one, or a 2009, for which I’m still looking!)

In March, I scored a 1990-D Kennedy half out of a customer roll from a bank that has what, in my novice state, I call a “2:30 reverse die rotation.” It is my first extremely noticeable rotated die coin find. Continuing on with the Kennedy half theme, over the summer I walked into the local Piggly-Wiggly and couldn’t believe my eyes because there in the Coinstar “reject” (a.k.a. Free Prize) bin was a shiny (AU) 1964 JFK! I usually don’t even find pocket lint in that machine!I’ve found hardly any silver in circulation this year, except a couple of war nickels, but I’m up to date on 2019-dated base coinage. I haven’t found any Westpoint quarters from circ, but I’m continuing to look!

I’m not much of a bill (FRN) collector, but in October I was handed a Series 2013 fancy serial ( G27777772H) $1 piece of green cotton, so that was thrown in the collection box.I consider my best find of 2019 happened on Nov. 14. I had some time to look through five rolls of cents that I was merely going to pull the copper from. They’d been in a box in the closet for the last five years, so I forget where they even came from. Happily, I didn’t just throw them in the “To Spend” jar, but decided to look a little closer. I found my first 1999 Wide A-M. I’d say it was in an Extra Fine to Almost Uncirculated condition, with less of the splotchiness and tarnish on it than many of the comparable W.Am.’s on flea-bay (a site I use for research purposes only!)

Thank you all for letting me share my Circ. finds, and I wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Let’s pray next year will be as interesting!

Catch you on the flip side, in 2020!

Jay Woodin
Wiggins, Miss.

Dear U.S. Mint

I am probably wasting my time writing to you but I need to let you know how disappointed I am in your service. On Nov. 14, at 10 A.M. I logged on to purchase one Reverse Proof silver eagle for my collection. Three times I managed to get to the buy button and three times you would not take my order. On the third try, at 10:21 AM I was notified that this item was no longer for sale.

What a sham you people are running. Currently, on eBay and amazon.com there are hundreds of these coins for sale from around $500-$3,000. These are people you must have had previous deals with and sold to them knowing they were not collectors but hackers only wanting to make a lot of money.

So, here is the bottom line. You have just lost a long-time collector. You have destroyed the hobby as far as I can see. You are responsible for not caring for the “little guy.”

Goodbye.

Dennis Clark
Alamogordo, New Mexico

True Coin Collectors

In response to the Nov. 12 issue of Numismatic News.

I was told that if you are interested in breaking into numismatics you should buy a bag of marbles first. Each time you get a new coin, give the seller one of your marbles. When you have lost all your marbles, you will know you are a true coin collector.

Ed Menghini
Cheyenne, Wyo.

Rainbow Grade

As a long-time collector, I have issues with the three major grades. Why do they grade Lincoln rainbows as brown? I am a rainbow collector with blue, purple, green, yellow, and mixed-colors (Lincolns that are definitely NOT brown.) I suggest they add “rainbow” to the grades. Why are they so color blind?

Michael Rains
Sunnyvale, Texas

Today’s Coins are Tomorrow’s Treasures

Who says there is nothing out there to collect? Anyone who has been involved in numismatics for any length of time soon discovers that coin collecting offers virtually endless opportunities. People collect coins for different reasons. Some have spent many years or a lifetime pursuing their hobby. Whatever the reason, numismatics has something for everyone.

While it’s no secret that earlier coins such as Liberty nickels, Mercury dimes, or Peace dollars (just to name a few) no longer circulate, why not consider a collection of modern coins?

As a collector, you have a lot of options including but not limited to: Roosevelt dimes, Washington quarters, Kennedy halves, or Presidential dollars.

What is the advantage of this?

Many of these coins can be acquired at face value! This would be ideal for the young collector or buyer on a limited budget. Keep in mind that what we are currently spending what future collectors may want in 30 years.

Yes, today’s coinage will likely become tomorrow’s treasures!

Mark Switzer
Address Withheld