Holding History in Your Hands

A fun part of numismatics is holding a coin or note in your hands and being able to dream about who might have touched it at one time. That is not something you can experience by looking at pictures in books or online.

An even better part of being able to hold history in your own hands is that you don’t necessarily have to put out funds to own it. I have had the privilege of holding in my hands multiple coins that have sold or are insured for more than a million dollars, including the 1787 Brasher doubloon with “EB” stamped on the eagle’s breast, an 1804 Bust dollar and the unique 1844-O proof $10 Liberty. Some of these coins are so notorious you can view pictures of them in reference catalogs. I also now own some distinctive West African Kissi pennies that my father received in change when he worked in Liberia in the 1960s (as I wrote last year).

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It is unlikely that you will see rare and valuable coins and notes passing through your hands in everyday commerce. While traveling to foreign countries, you will see different money, but only relatively recent issues.

Part of the fun of going to a coin show is the possibility of being able to hold in your own hands coins and notes that you don’t have to purchase to have the experience. It is the largest show where you are more likely to see some extraordinary pieces in dealer inventories or in the exhibit cases.

Major auctions are another means by which you can hold in your hands some great numismatic treasures. At many coin shows, especially the larger ones, there are auctions held in conjunction with them. If there isn’t an associated auction, there might be booths where you can inspect pieces coming up for sale in future auctions. There are no fees to examine lots during auction lot viewing opportunities. But you will probably have to register and show identification to obtain a bidder number, even if you don’t plan to enter any bids.

But, once you have held in your own hands one of the great numismatic pieces of history, you will be forever able to brag about the experience.

As a side note, you can enjoy examining coins and notes that are outside of your current collecting interest. While I do not personally collect ancient coins, I have developed a deep appreciation for them from all the specimens that have passed through my hands over the decades. So, if you are at a coin club meeting, visiting a coin store, show, or auction, leave time to enjoy expanding your horizons.

You may also like: One Small Coin, No Small Furor

Answer to the Previous Trivia Question

Last week, I asked: One of the most prolific currently active coin designers, with more than 40 credited coin designs, obtained a Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of Michigan. Who is it?

It is Emily S. Damstra, who designed one or both sides of 12 U.S. coins plus more than 30 coins for the Royal Canadian Mint. Her most recent U.S. Mint product is the 2023 Edith Kanaka’ole American Women quarter, but she is better known for the new reverse design that began appearing on American Silver Eagles in 2021.

This Week’s Trivia Question

The U.S. Series 1899 $5 Silver Certificate depicts the bust of Hunkpapa Sioux Indian Chief Tatoka-Inyanka (Running Antelope in English), though sometimes erroneously called Onepapa. The headdress he is wearing on the note is a Pawnee war bonnet, which he refused to wear while posing for this artwork. As a compromise, this Native American chief was allowed to wear his own headdress, and then someone else posed for the artist wearing the Pawnee version. Why didn’t Tatoka-Inyanka complain when the note was placed into circulation? Come back next week for the answer.

Patrick A. Heller was honored as a 2019 FUN Numismatic Ambassador. He is also the recipient of the American Numismatic Association 2018 Glenn Smedley Memorial Service Award, 2017 Exemplary Service Award, 2012 Harry Forman National Dealer of the Year Award, and 2008 Presidential Award. Over the years, he has also been honored by the Numismatic Literary Guild (including twice in 2020), the Professional Numismatists Guild, the Industry Council for Tangible Assets, and the Michigan State Numismatic Society. He is the communications officer of Liberty Coin Service in Lansing, Mich., and writes Liberty’s Outlook, a monthly newsletter on rare coins and precious metals subjects. Past newsletter issues can be viewed at www.libertycoinservice.com. Some of his radio commentaries titled “Things You ‘Know’ That Just Aren’t So, And Important News You Need To Know” can be heard at 8:45 a.m. Wednesday and Friday mornings on 1320-AM WILS in Lansing (which streams live and becomes part of the audio archives posted at www.1320wils.com).