Poll Question: How do stories behind coins influence your collecting interests or purchases?

One of the prime reasons I have continued to collect all these years is the history our coinage represents. There have been certain stories that have directly influenced my buying decisions. For instance, I recently bought a nice AU 1836 reeded edge half only because it’s the first coin with a reeded edge vs lettered edges. I would love to own an 1848 quarter eagle with the CAL on the reverse, as it represents a historic coin that first used California gold, but it’s a bit too pricy. The same goes for the 1856 flying eagle, which is such a historic coin. But other coins I have bought, like the 1908-S penny. First branch mint for pennies and 1912-D and S nickels, as they are first branch mint nickels. Also, occasionally, I will let the provenance of a coin influence my buying decisions. When the Garret collection was sold, I bought two coins during the auction.

Roy, Address withheld

The stories I read about coins are interesting, but they do not influence whether I like a coin or if I will buy it. If the price is right, I buy what I like and what fits into my collection.

Name and Address withheld

The stories behind the coins are very important to me as I select coins to purchase - when, where, and how they were minted, how they were used in commerce, etc. The majority of the coins I buy are used for putting together displays and club show-and-tells.

Larry Vann, Arkansas

Collectors can explore the economic, political, and social conditions of the times a coin was minted, researching the stories behind the coin designs and learning about historical figures and events. It was the history of coins and researching the stories for me starting in 1976, and I have collected off and on ever since. 

John, Address withheld

I was greatly influenced by world history, the goings on, and America's actions throughout 1815-1816, which induced me to write a story about the Large Cent. I have since been hunting down 1816 and 1823 dated Large Cents. Currently, I'm working on a story concerning Privy Mark Coins. I have successfully added to my collection from the July 2025 FUN Show with 1853-5 and 1873-4 Dimes, Quarters, and Halves. By definition, a case can be made that these coins are "privy marked," although the Mint does not refer to them as such.

Name and Address withheld

Yes, stories concerning world coins particularly interest me and my collecting.

Name and Address withheld

It is important to me to learn about my coins. Vintage and Modern commemoratives are a favorite part of my collection because of the historical people, places, and events they represent.

I really hate it when I hear stories from coin dealers that simply are not true. Sometimes it’s an honest misunderstanding of the history, and sometimes it’s simply fiction, and that makes it more difficult for especially new numismatists to learn and discern the truth. Sometimes interesting stories are neglected for fear of offending some people…facts and truth should never be controversial or offensive, facts are facts.

One example is through reaching out to experienced numismatists that I respect, searching out source documents and analyzing the data I’ve been able to obtain, I’ve come to the conclusion that ALL 40 percent SILVER Kennedy Halves minted for circulation were struck at Denver. The common presumption that reputable coin dealers promulgate is that the 1965 through 1967 were struck at Philadelphia, but that assumption is predicated on the lack of Mint Marks.

Normally, that is a good assumption for pre-1980 coins and pennies through current issue, but not in those three years. During that period, no U.S.-minted coins bore a mint mark, not even the Special Mint Sets (SMS) that we know were all struck at the San Francisco Assay Office.
Mint marks returned to coins from branch mints in 1968, so we know 1968 through 1970 Half Dollars coins for circulation were minted in Denver and Proof coins were minted in San Francisco.

Between a 1965 Press Release by the Mint for Dec. 30, 1965 that reported the first new composition Half Dollars were struck in Denver beginning on that date, a 2003 Article in the ANA magazine Numismatist that reported all 40 percent Silver Halves for circulation strikes were minted in Denver and the World Coin Almanac Eighth Edition from 2011 published by Whitman also documented the total production of circulating halves from 1965 through 1970 were minted in Denver.

There are interesting stories regarding Peace Dollars, Morgan Dollars, the Liberty Coin Act, obsolete denominations, and vintage designs that need to be preserved for the history of our coins, and I think it’s incumbent on us, older, more experienced collectors, to get the information right and preserve those stories for the generations to come.

Name and Address withheld

It has for me. Many times, I have bought specific coins because they have an interesting story, an interesting place in history.

Jim Burnell, Colorado