The Mount Hood National Park Quarter

It's November 17, 2010. That means it's the day for the release ceremony of the Mount Hood edition of the America the Beautiful Quarters being issued by the U.S. Mint, Oregon's contribution to the series.

I always enjoy it when new coins are released. I believe that U.S. Coinage is wonderful artwork and very educational. I always look forward to getting the new coins and seeing how long it takes the coins to make their way into the change I see in Dallas/Fort Worth. Sometimes it's just days, sometimes it takes forever!

This obverse of the coin retains the familiar George Washington design, while the reverse of the coin was designed by Phebe Hemphill, who has had a hand in several recent releases.

You can get a closer look at the coin, as well as other information at http://www.squidoo.com/americathebeautiful-mthood.

I can hardly wait for the next quarter...Gettysburg.

My Most Recent Haircut -- I Should've Paid in Presidential Dollars

I recently got my hair cut. That would not be of any particular note, except that it affords me the opportunity to talk at length with folks that I don't see daily (or even weekly). The subject of coin collecting came up, and I mentioned that I was doing some work on a Presidential Dollar page as well as writing about the new designs on the America the Beautiful Quarter series.

"I wish the government would stop making all those changes on coins. They're just throwing our money away on nonsense."

I didn't say anything. I just sat there and listened. The diatribe went on for some time, with several folks joining in.

I finally asked who was the fifteenth President of the United States. Responses varied. I listened and nodded, and I asked when the fifteenth President served. Again, responses varied.

I informed the barber that the fifteenth President was James Buchanan. I told the folks who were listening that Buchanan served for four years (1857 - 1861). I was immediately told that wasn't true because Presidents are elected in even-numbered years. I replied that Presidential elections are in even-numbered years, but that the President takes office the following year . . . an odd-numbered year.

I continued with a brief description of the Buchanan Presidency, and told them that Buchanan was featured on a recent Presidential Dollar.

Folks listened, all the while looking at me like I was a pencil-necked geek. (I am, but I generally don't let the way people look at me bother me a great deal.) Then the man who was next in line to head to a barber's chair told me that there was some interesting trivia there, but the dollar coins were still a waste of money.

I pointed out the relative length of circulation between a dollar coin and a dollar bill, along with the costs of producing them.

"You mean that over the long-term it costs less to use the coin than the bill?"

I assured the man that it was indeed the case. I asked why we never heard about those kinds of things during elections, if we are in such bad shape economically. There was no response.

"And what do you think about seigniorage?"

"I think we ought to make 'em take the signs down right after the election. That shouldn't be the city's responsibility!"

I pointed out that "seigniorage" has nothing to do with political campaign signs. Collectors pay fairly significant sums of money to the US Mint to acquire high quality coins directly from the Mint...making collectible coins a profit center.

I got a general, "I didn't know that," from the folks who were listening in.

"So the coins are educational, save money in the long run, and make money in the short run collectibles market. I also almost never have a vending machine reject a coin that it is designed to accept. Have you ever stuck a dollar bill into a machine more than three times before it was accepted?"

A couple of the guys still stared at me when I walked out the door. I'm not sure that I've created any new numismatists, but I've put some ideas into some people's heads.

Coins and History

It's August 18! That's a significant date in our family because it happens to be my wife's birthday (Happy Birthday Kathy Haule!). While that is cause for celebration in the Haule household, it's not the reason most women or numismatists would remember the date.

August 18 is the anniversary of the date that the 19th amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified. What was the 19th Amendment?

The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.
Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

And what does this have to do with coinage? Check out THIS PAGE and you'll find a brief discussion of the Susan B. Anthony Dollar.

Coins are a great way to introduce history lessons! You could use it to introduce the entire idea of citizenship. Discuss the suffragette movement. Tell students about her registering to vote on November 1, 1872, her actual voting 4 days later, her arrest, indictment and conviction for voting. Remember the politics of the thirty nine years between Anthony's conviction and the passage/ratificaton of the amendment. So many topics introduced by a single coin!

A prop is a great way to introduce or reinforce a history lesson! I know that when I work with my coins I often remember the history of the subject and the politics surrounding the introduction of the coin. My daughter tends to view me as a little "different," and she's probably right, but I enjoy it. And knowing the history behind the coin makes me appreciate it just a little bit more.

Errors...How Much Fun is That?

I went to the coin show in Grapevine TX this last weekend. The usual dealers were there, and I got the chance to talk with some acquaintances that are well on their way to becoming friends. I didn't buy anything, but the show was definitely worthwhile for several reasons. I'll talk about one today, then add to my list over the next few days.
Several months ago I had the chance to meet Robert Wilharm, the noted expert on Error Coins from Irving TX. Nice Guy. VERRRRRY Knowledgeable.
I saw Robert Saturday at the show, and we had a chance to chat. While we were talking, a man came up to us carrying a stack of coins in flips.
"Just the man I wanted to see!!!"
The three of us shook hands, and he began talking to Robert. He'd bought some "scrap coins" for their silver content. Mercury Dimes for the most part. It seems that as he was going through them he found several coins that just didn't look right.
Two coins had repunched mint marks, and one had been struck through a layer of grease. Robert confirmed the errors, and I was reminded that no matter how old the coins, how bad the condition, what you pay for them, etc., etc., etc., you can still come up with interesting coins straight from circulation. I just wonder how many people looked at those dimes since 1935 and never noticed a thing!!!

Don't Leave Home Without It

Any time I get the chance to talk about Coin Collecting I take it. I've always considered coins "fine art for the common folk," and I have often discussed just that point with people I didn't even know. I'd love to be able to carry my coin collection with me, but as forgetful as I am (at least according to my wife and 13-year old daughter), I'm probably better off leaving my actual collection safely at home. But I have figured out a few ways to bring up coins in conversation without the risk of losing something valuable, and over the next few weeks I'll post something about some of those ideas.

One thing that I like to do is have an image or two of coins I enjoy with me. If I can display them somehow, people always seem to talk about them. For me it's especially fun if the coin is not one that is commonly circulated today.




The image of a coin on a keychain is one neat way to bring coins to the fore. This is especially fun with kids. And it's always best if you know some interesting trivia about the coin!

What I like about keychains is that they are appropriate everywhere. A t-shirt won't work in most office settings. But I need to pull out my keys half a dozen times a day. At the fast food restaurant or the local mega-mart...folks see my keychain. When I sit at a table at the library, I leave my keys on the table next to my books. Unobtrusive. But an effective way to get folks involved in the greatest hobby in the world. And for under Three Bucks, it's something I can enjoy even if nobody else is around.

Coin Show This Weekend -- Woo-Hoo!

I enjoy going to coin shows. And this weekend there is going to be a show in Grapevine, TX. That's just 9.6 miles from my house! That's great news for me!
How do I prepare for a show? Before the show I will have decided what types of coins I will concentrate on. (This time it will be Lincoln Cents, Indian Head Cents and Mercury Dimes.) I read up on them so that I know what to look for, and I know if a dealer is being honest. They almost always are. The addage, "Read the book before you buy the coin," is great advice.

I like going to the shows early. If I get to the venue within the first half hour of the show's opening there are usually not many people there. The aisles are clear. The dealers are ready to sell, but don't have anyone to do business with yet. That's great because most of them are willing to chat.
I usually try to talk with dealers who are knowledgable and friendly. I talk about coins that I don't know very well. I tell them that I don't really know what I'm looking at, and they are almost always willing to spend some time with me. I'm amazed at the depth of knowledge that some of these dealers have! They usually don't make big sales with me, but you can be sure that I remember who it is that treats me well. And you can be sure that if they treat me well, they have a much better chance of getting future business from me.

What do I take with me?
1. A list of coins I am looking for.
2. A magnifying glass.
3. A pad on which I can take notes.
4. An attitude which says, "I don't have to buy anything here today." Too many people rush in and buy something from the first dealer they see, whether they want the coin or not. And too many people just can't walk out the door without a new coin in their pocket. The world will not end if you don't spend your money. Make wise decisions!

I promise, I'll try!

Thats-My-2-Cents
Art Haule
http://www.squidoo.com/icollectcoins
http://www.violinstudent.com/

Coin Book List Started! Is Your Favorite Here?

The adage in the coin sorld is "buy the book before you buy the coin." That's good advice! With any collectible you need to do your research before you buy the product. I'm starting to put together a list of coin books which can be found at Squidoo's Coin Books Lens. If the book is available on Amazon I'm including a link there as well. I hope to hear from collectors about books that I am not yet aware of so that I can add these to the list as well.