Thankful for Numismatic Blessings

In 1964, I became a coin collector along with almost everyone on my father’s side of the family. The debut of the Kennedy half dollar that year sparked one of the major surges in the popularity of the numismatic hobby in the U.S.

I have received a number of numismatic blessings over the years. If I were to put them in chronological order, I suppose the first would be whoever conceived of the idea of coins and, later, paper money. The innovation of a medium of exchange accelerated economic growth over the centuries, benefiting almost everyone.

I’m grateful that my grandfather gave me a box of foreign coins in 2x2 holders. None have precious metal content or are of any notable value, but the holders have my grandfather’s handwriting on them. To me, they are priceless.

I spent much of the summer of 1964 living a block from my grandparents. My grandmother had me run errands for her a few times a week, where they lived only a few blocks from downtown. She let me keep the cents and nickels received in change. Many of these coins were used to purchase and then fill holes in my Whitman folders.

There was no local coin shop to visit where I grew up, so I made most of my purchases by mail. I was blessed that my mother trusted me enough to let me regularly go about two months ahead in my allowance to fill more holes in my Whitman folders.

Over the years, I presented my father with a U.S. $2.50 Indian and a British Sovereign of his birth year. About a year before he died, he gifted them back to me.

I was blessed to have a girlfriend who attended Michigan State University, which was close to the Liberty Coins store in East Lansing. I was further blessed, as it turns out, that my relationship with the store’s founder grew over the years to where he spent six months persuading me to purchase his business in 1981 when he retired.

It has been a multiple blessing to have so many amazing co-workers over the years, with phenomenal numismatic knowledge. Without their support, this company would not have grown and prospered. It also would not have been possible for me to do all the things for the hobby and industry that I have done. One of the employees, who started working for me when he was 14 years old, eventually bought the business from me and now pays me to let me hang around.

As for customers, there have been a few dillies. However, I am deeply honored by how many have continuously patronized Liberty for more than 20 years.

Then collectors and dealers from around the world blessed me with their friendship and sometimes transactions over several decades. It seems like we all have our quirks, but that also makes life interesting. And don’t let me forget to recognize those who provide services to numismatists and numismatics that facilitate the hobby and industry.

While there are many other kinds of blessings in my life to appreciate this Thanksgiving, it really is amazing how bountiful my life has been from my numismatic connections.

Answer to the Previous Trivia Question

Last week, I asked: 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?

The answer is that he died in 1896 or 1897 after he posed for the artist and before the Series 1899 $5 Silver Certificates were placed into circulation.

This Week’s Trivia Question

What was the name of the British family that included multiple coin designers, including some from whom George T. Morgan learned his craft before coming to the United States to leave his mark on American numismatics? Come back next week for the answer.

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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).