History, Coins, and a Good Read

I've decided to become much more informed about coins and the minting process during 2011. This means that I am going to attend more club meetings and coin shows. It means that I am going to spend more time looking through a magnifying glass or a loupe. It also means that more coin books and magazines are going to appear in my house...and that they are actually going to be even more carefully and thoroughly read. I told you that one of my Christmas gifts to myself was going to be a copy of Abraham Lincoln: The Image of His Greatness. It arrived in the mail, and it has already been well-perused. My wife even picked up the book and commented on how nice and how thorough it appeared to be.

My next book will almost undoubtedly be a book not yet published by Whitman, but available for pre-order through Amazon. The Secret History of the First U.S. Mint promises to be a fascinating read. I've already placed my order.

The Secret History of the First U.S. Mint tells the story of "the owner, chronicler, would-be savior, and ultimate destroyer of the first United States Mint." I can hardly wait to get my hands on it!

The Christmas Coin Massacre

My daughter, Adriana, was born in 1996. Three years later my Father-in-Law informed me that he was starting a collection of the State Quarters series for each of his grandchildren. He told me that he had bought a map display board for each child, and would give them the coins once the series was complete. At the time there were four kids, but the crew grew to five as my Brother-in-Law's brood grew.

Mr. and Mrs. T gave the kids their state quarter collections this Christmas Day. Each child got a map and a plastic bag of coins, which needed to be inserted into the slots in the maps.

As a coin collector, I was really happy with the quality of coins that Mr. and Mrs. T gave the kids. These were business strikes, nothing special. This was really important because the kids were not interested in the real numismatic value of their newly acquired collections. They were interested in the pictures on the reverse of the coins and where they went in the maps.

As is typical with folders, from whatever manufacturer, the coins were quite difficult to put into the appointed slots. And unless the coin is soundly snapped into place it is likely to come loose and fall to the floor. Fingers on the coins were something I expected. I was totally unprepared for what happened next.

First, my daughter placed the map on the floor and decided to stomp a coin into its slot. I was horrified, but then I saw the enthusiasm in the kids' eyes. The stomping stopped when they realized they might scratch the coins with grit on the bottoms of their shoes. But the kids soon decided that a butt bouncing up and down on a carefully placed coin might force it into place. Finally one of the kids brought in some screw drivers, and using the rounded butt end of the handles the coins were pressed into the proper locations.

I'm pretty certain there weren't any gems there before the Christmas Coin Massacre. And afterwards I can assure you that had there been any gems they weren't that way anymore. But there are five kids who now have a bit more interest in coins -- and maybe in collecting them.

Thanks

A Coiny Christmas or Numismatic Noel!

Christmas is one of my favorite times of the year. The blessings behind the current Holiday are most important, of course. I love the decorations and the music. And I can't really say that the gifts are a bad thing either.

One of the things that I enjoy about the Season, though, is a little tradition that I have of treating myself to something that I'd like to have, but just didn't want to spend the cash. This year I splurged. Two items entering the Haule household this year, one sensible and informative. One silly and frivolous.


First, I finally decided to buy a copy of the book Abraham Lincoln: The Image of His Greatness. It's not that I've had any doubt whatsoever about the book. I've probably read half of it while standing in the local Barnes and Noble.

I like this book for SO many reasons! First, I am a fan of coins and coin collecting. I am a fan of Abraham Lincoln. American History is one of my favorite things to read about. I read three or four books at a time, and I ALWAYS am working on at least one book from the Civil War. (I'm currently reading a biography of Robert E. Lee and the autobiography of Ulysses S Grant. I guess that's my tribute to the "fairness doctrine.") My first coin collection was Lincoln Cents. And I've written quite a bit about Lincoln Cents. This book is a natural for me.

My second treat for myself is something I'm not sure I'm going to like, but I bought it online, and I'll see what I think once it arrives.

I enjoy talking with people about coin collecting. I call it Numismatic Evangelism. I frequently wear a shirt which proclaims that coin collecting is a "Cents-ible Hobby." It has a picture of a Lincoln Cent on the chest, and it almost never fails to draw some sort of comment.

The Item I bought is a belt buckle featuring 10 Indian Head Cents. My wife proclaimed it "kinda strange, but you're kinda like that sometimes." I guess I'll plead guilty to that, and do so proudly . . . although I tend to like the word eccentric rather than strange. I'll be very interested in seeing what reaction is to the buckle. I already carry a money clip featuring a Walking Liberty Half Dollar, which draws smiles now and then. We'll see what happens once the buckle arrives!

Merry Christmas to you! I hope you have a great holiday, and that you enjoy blessings of the Season.

The 2011 Native American Dollar Design Revealed

The U.S. Mint has revealed the design to be struck on the reverse of the Native American Dollar for 2011.
The Native American $1 Coin Act mandates that the reverse side of the Native American Dollar change annually. Every year a new image commemorating a historic contribution by a Native American individual or tribe. The theme for 2011 is Diplomacy - Treaties with Tribal Nations.
The 2011 Native American Dollar maintains the image of Sacagawea designed by Glenda Goodacre on the obverse, and features an image on the reverse representing a ceremonial passing of a peace pipe following the 1621 treaty between the Wampanoag tribe and European settlers at Plymouth. The hands holding the peace pipe in the image designed by United States Mint Artistic Infusion Program Master Designer Richard Masters and sculpted by United States Mint Sculptor-Engraver Joseph Menna. represent Governor John Carver (representing the European settlers in Plymouth) and Supreme Sachem Ousamequin Massasoit of the Great Wampanoag Nation. Inscriptions on the coin's reverse include UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, $1, and WAMPANOAG TREATY 1621.
I really liked the 2010 design, and was not looking forward to the change. I was happily surprised at the simplicity of the image.
More information about the Sacagawea Dollar can be found at http://www.squidoo.com/sacagaweadollar .