Here’s a show report from Chris (aka wikyva) from our coin collecting forum. Thanks for the great information Chris! If you have show reports, articles or other information you’d like to share, let me know by emailing me or posting in the coin forum. Here’s Chris’ report.

As promised, I went to the Whitman show in Baltimore, MD yesterday. I had never been to a show this big before so I was not really sure how best to handle it. My plan for the show was to pick up some coins for my Dansco 7070 and to see if I could find something really unusual. Of course, I also love Peace dollars and Jefferson nickels so I had my eyes open for those as well. I also brought along my 1991 ¹⁄₁₀ ounce Gold Eagle to try and sell. Finally, I brought eight presidential dollars with me because I have heard that people get strange questions or have difficulty using them in commerce. So I thought I would see whether I ran into any problems with them. (This is strange I know but I was curious.)

It took me over three hours to get to Baltimore and I arrived at about 11:30. On the way, I stopped for coffee and used one of the presidential dollars without any problems or questions. When I arrived in Baltimore, the first thing that struck me was the parking problem. I could not park near the convention center and I had to walk quite a long way to get to the show. It would not have been so bad had it been a warm day but it was cold and breezy. But I had finally arrived.

I thought the convention center was a great place to have the show. It really is a nice facility. Upon entering the convention center, I registered and was given a name tag to wear. The guy next to me was complaining to the people working the show about everything. He thought the parking was really bad, he didn’t want to have to show photo id, he thought that Baltimore was crappy etc. He also complained that one of the guys working the counter was wearing a cowboy hat and “didn’t belong here.”

Before entering the bourse, I noticed that Whitman had a little store set up in the lobby. They were selling many of their publications and coin supplies. They were not selling anything for any discount but I looked around a little and headed for the bourse.

As I walked in, I was amazed by the size of the bourse. As I said earlier I have never been to a show that size before and it really was overwhelming. I walked up and down the row of dealers for a while not really looking at anything in particular. The show was fairly busy and there seemed to be all kinds of items available. Foreign coins, paper money, coins and even things like rocks, artifacts, fossils and even some knives. As I walked though the bourse, I suddenly realized how little about collecting coins I know and I seemed to forget anything I did know.

After a quick breather, I decided to forge ahead and look for some of those 7070 coins. I found some dealers with some books of coins and I began to look through them. I found a great 1963 Franklin half and a great looking 1957-D Lincoln Wheat penny which will definitely upgrade my 7070. Later I found a couple of commems for my 7070. One was a Washington half dollar and the other was a 1986 Statue of Liberty Silver Dollar. Thanks to the guys at Wayne Herndon who helped me with the Statue of Liberty by pulling one out of a stash they were sending to another dealer. I felt they had the collector’s interests at heart.

Later in the show, I found a very nice looking 1935-P Peace Dollar. That leaves me with only 5 holes in my Peace dollar album. I also found a couple of Jefferson war nickels. I have to say that the BU war nickels are just beautiful. I had some circulated examples that I think are fairly unattractive so I am searching for beautiful BU examples of each coin. So far, I have four of them - seven to go!

I also held several coins in my hands that were just beautiful. However, they were beyond my price range. One of the coins was a 1950-D nickel graded MS-67, 5FS. It had a beautiful tone to the coin. The dealer said he wanted $2,000.00 for it. Even if I were prepared to drop that kind of money on the coin, I do not think that would have been the coin. I also held a beautiful proof Jefferson in my hand. It was, if I recall correctly, a 1953 graded PF-68 CAM. It was probably the most beautiful Jefferson nickel I had ever seen. At $450.00 I was very tempted. I knew, however, that that coin purchase might lead to divorce so I had to pass. :)

In all of the excitement, I never tried to sell my coin. I did use the rest of my presidential dollars without any problem or questions. Overall, I thought the show was a great show. Next time, I am going to have a better plan in mind. It is hard to remember price information for every coin. So next time, I will identify specific coins I am looking for and bring with me price information with me. It seems that almost any coin you would want you could find at a show like that.

Here is an article from the British Royal Mint about an upcoming change to their coins.

This year, for the first time since decimalisation, the legal tender coins of the United Kingdom will undergo a major design change. In Spring, the Royal Mint will reveal to the nation, the new designs on its coinage, from the 1p to £1. The new reverse designs are a contemporary take on traditional heraldry reflecting the nation’s rich history.

To mark this major numismatic milestone and to commemorate the reverse designs that have served Britain for many years, the Royal Mint has produced three magnificent limited-edition coin collections. Prior to the launch, we will take a look back at the coinage to which we have all become accustomed too.

Decimalisation

On 1 March 1966 the Chancellor of the Exchequer, James Callaghan, announced that the centuries-old system of 12 pennies to the shilling and 20 shillings to the pound would be replaced by a decimal currency system in which the pound was to be divided into 100 units. Recognising the enormity of a change that would affect every business and household in the country, the government proposed a five-year preparatory period before the official changeover. The introduction of the new decimal series of coins was no easy task 40 years ago. From settling the dimensions of the coins, to the creation of the designs and their production by the Royal Mint it was a mammoth undertaking. Not only did the different denominations need to be readily distinguishable by sight and touch from each other, they also needed to avoid being confused with existing coins of the pre-decimal system.

The Designs

As for their designs, a new portrait of the Queen by Arnold Machin RA had already been prepared and approved, while for the reverse designs it was announced in November 1966 that a public competition would be arranged. More than 80 artists took part and, from the 900 or so designs that were received, a series by Christopher Ironside was eventually approved, his designs drawing praise for the ‘lack of clutter’, a requirement that had been stressed in the creative brief.

The Coins

Christopher Ironside’s winning designs for the 1/2p, 1p, 2p, 5p and 10p pieces were largely heraldic in theme. The 1p coin features the crowned portcullis, which was first issued on 15 February 1971, the day British currency was officially decimalised. The 2p coin features the Badge of the Prince of Wales, which includes the motto ICH DIEN meaning ‘I serve’. The 5p coin was introduced in 1968 in preparation for decimalisation and the coin’s reverse features the Scottish emblem of the crowned thistle. A smaller version of the coin was subsequently introduced in 1990. The 10p coin was also first released into circulation in 1968 to replace the florin. As part of the ongoing review of the coinage, a smaller version was introduced in 1992, although the reverse design of the crowned lion remained unchanged. The 20p coin, featuring a much-loved reverse design by William Gardner was introduced in 1982 and incorporates a crowned Tudor rose. The 50p piece bears Christopher Ironside’s definition of Britannia, a symbol that has graced British coins for over 300 years. As with the 5p and 10p, a smaller version of this coin was introduced in 1997. The £1 coin, which was first introduced in 1983, bears a design by former Royal Mint Chief Engraver, Eric Sewell, and features the Royal Coat of Arms. The coin also features 100 beads around the circumference of the reverse representing each penny in the pound.

A whole generation has since grown up with decimal currency and the traditional nature of the reverse designs. This year, however, another milestone in the history of the coinage will be reached when the reverse designs of the 1p, 2p, 5p, 10p, 20p, 50p and £1 are to change. For further information on this historic Numismatic event, and for your opportunity to own a complete collection of the last of the old coin designs, visit http://www.royalmint.com/emblems/home.html.

1. A $4 gold piece is given what name?

2. What country uses the denomination ringgit?

3. What medals were given to native Americans by U.S. presidents as symbols of goodwill?

4. From 1950 to 1985, what three years were Proof sets not issued by the United States?

5. What are words and abbreviations surrounding the fields on coins and medals called?

Answers

1. Stella 2. Malaysia 3. Indian peace medals 4. 1965, 1966, 1967 5. Legend

1. Who designed the Lincoln Memorial motif on the cent?

2. What country uses a springbok on its precious metal coins?

3. Name two non-presidents appearing on 1981 Federal Reserve notes from $1 to $100

4. What part of the coin press failed in creating a broadstruck error coin?

5. Name the oldest continuously operating Mint (as of 1985) in the new World

Answers

1. Frank Gasparro 2. South Africa 3. Alexander Hamilton and Benjamin Franklin 4. The collar 5. Mexico City

In previous reviews I’ve summarized the contents of each individual chapter at a time. This book has 36 chapters and weighs in at a hefty 343 pages, so I’ve opted for a shorter review process.

First off, the author, Jeff Ambio, is a professional numismatist who has been involved in the production in many of the largest rare coin auctions that have been presented to the public since the late 1990s.

The intended audience is twofold - collectors and investors. In fact, he even discusses the increased blurring of the lines between investing and collecting that he’s seen recently. The book focuses on United States regular-issue gold series struck from 1795 through 1933. These are the typical gold coins you’re likely to know about if you’ve picked up a Red Book or any other United States price guide.

The book includes a few preparatory chapters discussing the generalities of investing in gold coins: How to Use this Book, Popular Collecting and Investing Strategies, and Considerations before Buying Rare U.S. Gold Coins. These beginning sections are followed by the bulk of the book, which discusses more detailed approaches to collecting the different series of gold coins.

We open with a discussion of popular strategies to collecting and investing. These include a short type set, a complete type set, advanced type sets (rarer issues, major subtypes, or by issuing mint), proof type sets and complete set (by year, date and mint, die variety, proof or issuing mint). These specific strategies form the framework for every type of U.S. gold coin in each chapter.

In the “Considerations before Buying Rare U.S. Gold Coins” chapter, we get into the process of starting your collection. He recommends first finding a dealer you can trust, then sticking with slabbed coins (graded by a third party) and making sure to see the coin firsthand before making a purchase.

The latter chapters of the book then dive into the task of detailing each type of coin, including a color photo, year(s) issued, mints, authorizing acts, designer, weight, composition, diameter and edge type. He then discusses strategies, neatly laid out in colored boxes, to apply each of the various collecting methods discussed in the earlier chapters on the given series.

The book ends with a reasonably complete glossary, bibliography and an image index.

I’m not a collector of gold coins so it’s hard to comment on the accuracy of the book. In addition, he notes himself that much of it includes opinion, and if you were to assemble a group of expert numismatists and have them discuss this subject, you would likely get many varied responses. In short, there’s no one right answer to how to go about collecting gold coins. I like the fact that he discusses various ways of collecting, because it allows you to choose the one you’re most comfortable with (in many cases due to budget constraints).

In summary, if you’re interested in learning more about gold coins and how best to collect or invest in them, this is a useful resource to have.

You can purchase the book on Amazon for $34.95.