E-SYLUM'S BEST: MOST IMPORTANT EVENTS IN U.S. NUMISMATICS

Joel Orosz writes:

In response to last week's question, Brad Karoleff writes: "My nominations for events that dramatically changed the face of numismatics over the last 100 ( or so ) years would include the following: ( in no particular order )

1. The publishing of The American Numismatist in 1888, later to become The Numismatist. The house organ of the American Numismatic Association, the bond that kept collectors in touch with what was going on in numismatics over the last century.

2. The formation of The American Numismatic Association in 1891.

3. The beginning of commemorative coinage in 1893 for the Columbian Expo.

4. The redesigning of our coinage with the influence of St. Gaudens.

5. The issuance of Pennyboards to get the average citizen interested in collecting coins.

6. Publication of the first Redbook, eventually replacing Raymond's Standard Price Guide as the leading pricing reference for coins.

7. Silver being removed from our coinage after 1964.

8. The BU Roll investment craze coupled with the 1955 double die cents and the 1960 small date cents being released. The average citizen could make serious money looking through change.

9. The Silver Certificate run.

10. The writing of the ANA grading guide and the formation of ANACS. Collectors now had somewhere to turn to see if their coins were authentic. The precursor to slabbing as photocertified coins were easily traded based on their assigned grade.

11. 1980 gold and silver rush. Many a fortune was made and lost in the bullion and rare coin markets.

12. Slabbing by PCGS and later NGC became all the rage. Coins were now the "same as a share of stock" and tradable sight unseen.

13. COIN WORLD was started. The largest circulating weekly in the hobby.

14. B. Max Mehl publishes the Star Rare Coin Encyclopedia and sells it to the general public who hopes to find the rare 1913 Liberty Nickel and get rich.

15. Publication of Early American Cents by Sheldon. The first modern variety identification guide written for the most popular coin to collect by variety- the large cent.

16. The formation of EAC and the publication of Pennywise. The first specialty club for collecting a specific type of coin with a journal to exchange information with other club members. The club and journal that formed the basis for all the others who have come after.

17. The Carson City Dollar sale by the government in 1972.

To read the complete original E-Sylum article, see: MOST IMPORTANT EVENTS IN U.S. NUMISMATICS (coinbooks.org/esylum_v03n26a07.html)

Wayne Homren, Editor

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