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Coin News for March 31, 2010
Nicholas 1 Too Preoccupied to Change Russian Coins
Numismaster
There’s something about those Russian coins that induces a form of mania to those whose thing it is. They are like Class A objects of desire. All of you know what I mean, whatever your Class A happens to be. But the Russians, the coins that is, are a separate class of items that inspire a different and very characteristic approach to the coins. There is, dare I say, some level of reverence amongst the devotees. There is, perhaps reverence is the right word, amongst the Russian numismatists. The coins are like the best part of the Russian Empire experience.
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PCGS Secure Plus: Imagine a New Numismatic World
Coin Update News
Could it be, through no fault of his own, that he inadvertently founded a pandemic of designations that may harm the very industry he helped develop? Let’s answer that the way we began, using Hall’s prophetic words: “Imagine a world without coin doctoring. Imagine a world without ‘gradeflation.’ This is the right thing to do.” Here’s what I am imagining: A numismatic world overrun by computers to store megabytes of data and pixels about each coin, with the complexity causing youth collectors to lose interest in the hobby because they cannot fathom all those data. I imagine a digital world that one day will decide plastic cards have made coins obsolete, the way that e-mail is doing now with stamp collecting. What we need is a coin world with more simplicity, honesty and affordability. If we get it, I’ll feel secure.
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PCGS Addresses Eye Appeal With New Guidelines
PCGS
Since the formal “science” of coin grading first began to be widely discussed in the 1980s, one of the most vague and least understood aspects was that of “eye appeal.” Eye appeal (whose components include toning (or color) and luster, is one of the non-technical components of a coin’s grade. It is the most subjective area, and because of that, is one of the most difficult to quantify or objectively analyze since what may be rather attractive to some, may be considerably less so to others. While not part of the “technical” grade, eye appeal is more an “arm’s length” judgment on the overall visual impact the coin has on the typical viewer.
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Exhibitors Recognized at the 2010 ANA National Money Show
ANA
American Numismatic Association member Lawrence Herrera received the Steven J. D’Ippolito Best-in-Show Exhibit Award for his exhibit, “U.S. Counterfeit Coin Detectors, Late 19th Century,” at the ANA’s 2010 National Money Show™, held March 25-27 in Fort Worth. The first runner-up award was presented to Robert Mayer for “1876 Woods” and the second runner-up award went to Mark Lighterman for “Louisiana Lottery of 1888.” The People’s Choice Award, determined by voting of convention attendees, was presented to Josh Wadsworth for “It’s All About the Numbers on U.S. Small-Sized Paper Money.”
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How Do I Start a Coin Collection for My Children?
About.com:Coins
Many people like to start a coin collection for their children, or grandchildren, as a sort of investment for them. These collections are typically held by the parent or grandparent on the child’s behalf, with the intention of giving them to the child at a certain age, or as an inheritance, although sometimes the coins are given directly to the children. Before you start collecting coins on behalf of your kids, you should take a moment to consider a couple of points. First of all, like all investments, collecting coins costs money, so you need to determine how much you can afford to spend each year for this.
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Old Coins Fascinate Teacher
Ventura County Star
Michael Ward may be a scholar of American history, but he became smitten with ancient Roman coins on two trips to Europe a few years ago. Ward, who teaches at Ventura College, spotted the coins in antique shops in London and France but didn’t buy any until he returned to the United States. He started buying them from online sites and eventually acquired a collection that ranges from the Republic to the Empire, with the oldest from around 140 B.C. Now he’s displaying some of those coins in the college library.
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About the Author
Tim Shuck is a life-long Midwestern resident, and started collecting coins after finding an Indian Head cent on the ground at his childhood farm home. Additional encouragement came from looking through a collection of well-worn late 19th and early 20th century coins kept by his grandfather in an old leather coin purse. Current collecting interests include U.S. types from the Civil War era through the early 1930's, and Colonial and Early American coins.
