Letters to the Editor (June 26, 2018)

Don’t overlook the silver coins in Jefferson set

Anyone who tells you that there is no coin set you can complete from beginning to end has not tried to complete the Jefferson nickel set. The set that started in 1938 and is still being minted today can still be found in change. The complete set may never be worth $50, but I still collect for the fun of finding them and the challenge of working at it. I retired in late 2015 and still am trying to complete the set or sets.

Yes, I agree that it may be difficult to complete, but all have been found for face value. I am missing three coins and, being from Ohio, some Denver and San Francisco coins are just harder to find. Two of them are the lowest minted Jefferson nickels – the 1939 and 1950 Denver-minted coins. Every time I find one dated in either of those dates, I hope that it will be the coin I am missing.

The other coin I am missing is the 1943 silver Denver-minted nickel. I still find many silver nickels in rolls from the bank, almost 2-1/2 rolls in two plus years that I have tried to complete this set. I am not sure that most individuals know that the U.S. Mint even minted silver nickels.

Other than those three coins, I have collected them all minus any varieties. I would like to hear from collectors out West, especially in Colorado and California, if they still collect the Jefferson nickel and how complete their sets are.

You just wonder how many 1938-D and Ss, 1939-D and Ss, and 1950-Ds are still in circulation. My only downside when buying rolls is many people who roll their own coins do not always place 40 in a roll. Many times the rolls are short, especially if they use coin counters. So good hunting, and I hope you find the complete set.

Ralph A. Fuller
Cleveland, Ohio

Sacagawea dollar given as change by real person

Ever since they were first issued back in 2000, I have routinely received the Sacagawea/Presidential golden dollars in change from automated ticket vending machines at my local commuter railroad. But in all those years, I had never received one in change from an actual person. That is, until this past week. While buying groceries at a local supermarket, I received one golden dollar in my change from the cashier. I was very surprised, chuckled, and put the coin in my pocket. After taking a closer look at it when I got home, I saw that the coin was a Sacagawea dollar dated 2006-D (which was never released into general circulation). I find it ironic that the first golden dollar that I ever received in change from an actual person is a coin that I never should have received at all.

Name withheld
Westbury, N.Y.

Cent searches sometimes yield the unexpected

Last week, I opened a $25 box of cents that I obtained from my credit union. I found 17 wheat cents dating between 1944 and 1957, about half “S” mint and “D” mint. There was a 1955-P that was an AU/BU Red slider. Unreal. Only six 2009-D cents were in the box, one log cabin, one seated on log, three statesman and one Capitol. Five Canadian cents were also in the box.

Today I obtained another $25 box, and it contained 50 rolls of BU 2018-D cents. Not quite what I expected.

Name Withheld
Albany, Ore.

Do collectors choose to drive themselves nuts?

Every couple years, I write the same letter basically. The Mint is this horrible monster who exists only to get coin collectors irritated, frustrated, disappointed, or downright ticked off and severely depressed!

A recent dramatic letter claimed it could take years for the Mint to “win back its customers.” I see this as mind- boggling. Been collecting coins for over 50 years. Have Barber coins, Indians, Walkers, Mercurys, Morgans. I have never in 50 years ordered anything from the Mint. How do I survive?

People I read about seem almost brainwashed that they have to order every new product that the Mint throws out there “for their kids or grandkids.” Really? Once upon a time way back in the mid 1960s, I started trying to fill Whitman folders. It was fun. That’s what a hobby is supposed to be… FUN! I could never take the stress that these complaining collectors put on themselves.

Ask yourself, why do I collect? For fun, history, etc., or simply to drive yourself nuts?

Frank Murphine
Millville, N.J.

Money spent buying world coins at Central States

Enjoyed the Central States show a couple of weeks ago, lots of dealers, lots of exhibits, etc. In spite of my collecting coins of France, both royal and feudal, and the time period I like best, 1547-1610, I did find some coins for my collection, a teston of Charles IX, 1562-I Limoges Mint, for one, some miscellaneous of this time period, a siege coin from Groening, probably spelled wrong here, 1672 12.5 stuivers, a really nice Napoleon III 5 franc silver coin, 1856-A Paris Mint.

I did not get around that much at the show, but did see some nice stuff there and talked a lot.

Ray Dillard was there smashing out coins. I also do elongateds you know. I had not been to this show for a few years since it was right after the Chicago International Coin Fair and all the money was gone when this came up.

I hear there will be a number of foreign dealers at next year’s CSNS show. I hope to put together an exhibit by then.

Brad Ream
Rockville, Ind.

Look out for fakes offered by online sellers

Think that there should be more articles about counterfeit Morgans, especially out of China and perhaps coming from Spain (See online seller who is selling an “1878, 8 tail feather, 3rd reverse proof”). From the looks of the picture with a starting bid of $12.50, shipping from Spain, $2 economy rate.

In addition, there is also a seller who clearly states they make coins to custom designs, showing an 1878 Morgan, which has zombie covering part of the Liberty face, with a reverse that looks perfect down to the tail feathers, some with 7 feathers, some with 8 feathers, both 2nd and 3rd reverse series.

Beware of what you buy on the Internet.

Rusty Bracewell
Address withheld

Thanks to all participants at Central States convention

On behalf of the American Numismatic Association, we want to thank the Central States Numismatic Society for providing a table at the 79th Anniversary Convention in Schaumburg, Ill., on April 23-28.

We were able to sign up or renew 21 members for the Association. A special thanks to Dealer John Markis of Trusted Traditions, located in Lauderdale by the Sea, Fla., for donating $100 for the shipment of the coin show kit.

This is the seventh year CSNS has held their convention at the Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel and Convention Center.

The show will be returning to the Schaumburg Renaissance site for the next three years. The convention had 812 registered bourse dealers at 296 booths. These figures don’t include the Young Numismatist area, coin club or different nonprofit tables that were set up. There were 129 Early Birds registered for the event.

David Lisot, owner of coin television, www.cointelevision.com, was also at the convention. David videotaped the educational programs and other events that were featured.

All the major grading services, numismatic press, coin supply dealers, insurance companies, and other industry companies were represented.

Ray Dillard had his elongated rolling machine and made up a special elongated for the convention. The convention had a convention registration fee of $5 per day, with $10 covering the three days. The three-day registered attendance was 2,406. The majority of dealers appeared to be busy for most of the show. Though the attendance on Saturday could have been better, the majority of the dealers stayed until the middle of the afternoon.

The exhibits were once again fantastic, with 35 top-notch exhibitors vying for the gold coin awards with 50 competitive exhibits. CSNS set up 180 exhibit cases. All exhibitors and judges received an American Eagle silver round.

The Best-in-Show went to Mack Martin with his exhibit titled, “Georgia’s Civil War Treasury History 1861-1865.”

Heritage Auctions Signature Sales held multiple sessions in separate ballrooms during the CSNS convention. All their sales during and after the show realized many millions of dollars. Security for the event was great, and we heard of no incidents during the run of the convention.

The official program was also well done, and everyone who attended received a very nice cloth bag, which was donated by Kedzie Koins Inc., located in Chicago.

A YN Treasure Hunt was held on Saturday, and dozens of young collectors stopped at numerous designated tables to answer a question and receive a free coin. A Boy Scout coin collecting merit badge clinic was held on Saturday. Numerous educational programs were held by CSNS. Several of the coin clubs also had educational programs.

John and Nany Wilson
ANA National Volunteers
Ocala, Fla.

More Collecting Resources

• Is that coin in your hand the real deal or a clever fake? Discover the difference with U.S. Coins Close Up, a one-of-a-kind visual guide to every U.S. coin type.

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