Utah token catalog gets an update

The field of numismatics, collectors often complain, is becoming too oriented to the prices of silver and gold.

There is something in this criticism.

I find myself writing about bullion frequently.

The Mint suspended proof silver Eagles in 2009 so it could use the blanks to supply the investor market.

You get the idea.

Pure collecting is more about rarity and condition as well as the history of whatever piece is being considered.

If you want to find a niche that is not buffeted by trends in the world’s financial centers, H. Robert Campbell has the references for you.

I have known Bob for many years.

He is a former president of the American Numismatic Association.

Now he is announcing an update to his 2013 second edition catalog, Utah Trade Tokens.

The prior work has already won awards.

This latest revision is called “Second Edition – Supplement #1.”

It contains 80 pages of vital information for collectors of mostly trade tokens that were issued by merchants during the Utah territory period as well as after it became a state in 1896.

This particular booklet has information about all new trade-issued tokens since the release of the main catalog in 2013.

It also focuses on something Bob considers to be the greatest threat currently to the Utah trade token market.

It is a shame to have to think that there is no area of collecting that is not threatened by something.

In the case of Utah tokens, Bob said he has taken numerous photographs depicting original token dies that have entered into to marketplace.

Their existence means someone potentially could strike more tokens from these old dies.

This catalog makes the first attempt in tracking these dies entering into collectors’ hands.

It is Bob’s hope that publishing this information will avert the threat of people making replica examples of old tokens that could infiltrate the marketplace and cause rarities to become common and prices to decrease.

This supplement puts all people on alert status and makes this information available to everyone to watch out for any possible spurious examples.

Bob has evaluated the potential prices from token dies from which no tokens are known at the present time.

Their potential prices if they were to show up are now calculated and are logically evaluated.

The story of the newly found Occidental Saloon trade token from Oasis, Utah, and a market analysis round out the valuable information in this token supplement.

Cost is $19.95 postage paid.

The main second edition on Utah Trade Tokens (480 pages) is also still available at a substantially reduced price.

Contact Bob personally at All About Coins, 1123 East 2100 South, Salt Lake City, UT 84106.

Telephone number is 801-467-8636.

Email is info@allaboutcoins.com.

Mail checks payable to All About Coins.

Credit Card orders need to be handled over the phone.

Buzz blogger Dave Harper won the Numismatic Literary Guild Award for Best Blog for the third time in 2017. He is editor of the weekly newspaper "Numismatic News."