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.

Buried Treasure in the Back Yard!

About 6:30 last evening my doorbell rang. When I opened the door I found three neighborhood kids ranging in age from 4 to 8. My daughter was doing her homework, so I told them that Adriana couldn't play.

They didn't come for Adriana, they came for me.

"We were digging in our yard, and we knew you like coins, and . . . "

Out popped the older girl's hand. In it was an 1897 Indian Head Cent.

"What's this worth?"

It only took a momentary examination to see that the coin was nothing special numismatically. I questioned them about where they found it, figuring that it had come out of somebody's collection, but the story was consistent...even with the 4-year old. The coin was too clean to have popped right out of the ground, but they said they had washed it in water. Maybe it was true!

I pulled out a magnifying glass. We sat down and I began to talk with them. The boy was more interested in terrorizing our dog, but the girls sat quietly as I started to tell them about the coin. I talked about the designer. I told them about the obverse of the coin actually being based on the designer's daughter. I showed them the reverse, and told them about the design change on the back of the coin the second year it was minted. We talked for three or four minutes when . . .

Another knock at the door. More kids. They're a couple years older than the ones I already had in the house.

"We've been looking at the Internet and we found it!"

They announced that the coin was only worth a dollar. Pretty fair assessment, but it seemed to bother the little ones I already had in the house that they hadn't become wealthy finding hidden treasure! The older kids left.

I told them to take care of the coin. I told them that they were really lucky . . . I've never found an Indian Head Cent in my back yard! I told them to show their parents (they already had) and that if they found more I'd be glad to help them with their new treasures.

Then I considered breaking out my shovel at about three o'clock in the morning . . . they don't have a dog . . . so maybe if I'm really quiet . . . and I'm really lucky . . .

Art Haule
http://www.squidoo.com/indianheadpenny