One of the enjoyable
things I do each year as research director for Whitman Publishing Company (my
other hat, next to my Stack’s Bowers Galleries cap) is to help update the Guide
Book of United States Coins.
There are always many
changes. A year or two ago who would have dreamed of 2016-dated Mercury dimes,
Standing Liberty quarters, and Walking Liberty half dollars struck in gold?
They arrived last year in a blaze of glory and excitement and in time sold out.
For the Guide Book where should they be listed? Under dimes, quarters,
and half dollars? Or under commemoratives? Or with special gold issues such as
the Buffalo coins? You will find out when the 2018 edition is launched in March
or April, probably at the Whitman Coins & Collectibles Expo in Baltimore.
Speaking of the Expo, it
is bound to be as exciting as ever—what with the great bourse, our spectacular
regular auction, and our additional auction of the D. Brent Pogue Collection
Part V. The Pogue sale will be held at the Evergreen House, a part of the Johns
Hopkins University. If there is an American Temple of Numismatics, this mansion
is a good candidate.
As we head into February
it is a good time to think about adding a new specialty to your collecting activities.
A good way to do that is to spend an hour with the current Guide Book. Start
by reading the text in the front. This is a good course or overview on American
numismatics—and provides a good understanding of why certain series were made,
of why the importance of metal changed (once essential to the coinage system;
now in 2017 not relevant), and more.
The Pogue V catalog will
be published this month. Spend an evening reading it. You may not be a
candidate for the Hines 1799 cent (the finest known), the famous Dexter 1804
dollar, or even some of the Liberty Seated silver coins from the late 1830s,
but you will enjoy reading about them.
Of course, if you can
afford one of the Pogue gems your name will be added to the pedigrees—and your
accomplishment will be remembered forever.
All good wishes.
Enjoy your week!
Dave Bowers
