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.

Lincoln Cent 2-Roll Set Sold Out

It appears that due to high demand for the two roll set of Lincoln Cents bearing the log cabin design, the coins have have already sold out!
The sets (which contained $1.00 face value in pennies) were priced at $8.95 plus $4.95 shipping and handling (a price which is well in line with other numismatic issues from the Mint). They were also subject to a five set per household limit. Despite these obstacles the coins sold out less than two weeks after their March 13, 2009 release.
With such a high demand for the Bicentennial Cents already having been demonstrated, I hope that the Mint will consider increasing production for the other three penny designs set to be released later in the year.

Just My Two Cents,
Art Haule
http://squidoo.com/newlincolnpenny

Can't Ever Learn Enough!

The more you learn about a hobby the more fun it is . . . at least that's been my experience. And it seems that no matter how many times I read coin reference books I always learn more. I've decided to start upgrading my Lincoln Cent collection, and I'm returning to the book that I always go back to, David W. Lange's Complete Guide to Lincoln Cents.

This book is really complete in what it covers, although it ends with 1995. I'd love to see a new edition published.

This time I'm looking to fill in a few holes in the collection and to upgrade some of the coins in the teens.

The other thing that I want to do over the next few weeks is obtain several uncirculated rolls of the new Lincoln Cents. I'm not as pleased with the first of the series, depicting the cabin in Kentucky, as I am with the designs which will be coming out later this year, but I'm always excited to see a new design. I'm also looking forward to seeing the new design that will be minted starting in 2010.

http://squidoo.com/newlincolnpenny

http://squidoo.com/lincolnpenny