THE GILDED AGE The Gilded Age for the American $20 gold coin or double eagle began in 1849 when this new denomination was created, spawned by the discovery of gold on the American River in January 1848, which expanded to become a worldwide sensation. With the arrival of the Forty-Niners the next year and statehood […]
Bowers on Collecting: a good way to hold gold
The following is re-posted from the “Bowers on Collecting” column on Coin Update Time flies, and it seems like only yesterday that I, with the help of Robert J. Galiette, created what turned out to be a very popular book: Liberty Head Double Eagles 1849-1907: The Gilded Age of Coinage. That was back in 2013, […]
Bowers on Collecting: the Pine Tree shilling dated 1652
The following is re-posted from the “Bowers on Collecting” column on Coin Update This week I showcase one of my all-time favorite coin varieties, a specimen of which is fascinating to contemplate in any grade — from well-worn, as usually found, to challenging Mint State. In The Numismatist, November 1909, Howland Wood gave the following advice […]
Bowers on Collecting: let’s go back to 1883!
The following was re-posted from the “Bowers on Collecting” column on Coin Update Apart from certain Morgan silver dollars, the most available issue of federal coins available in Mint State today is the 1883 Without CENTS Liberty Head nickel. In early 1883 there were perhaps 10,000 to 20,000 people who collected coins in a systematic […]
Bowers on Collecting: revisiting the Prairie Flower
Several years ago, I contributed an article to the Civil War Token Journal on one of my favorite tokens. I revisited it and send it along with some excerpts: The Prairie Flower Token Reverse Die 1069 Introduction I start the article with comments on time, patience, and the love for tokens in worn grades—musings about Civil […]
Bowers on Collecting: a favorite coin
The following is re-posted from the “Bowers on Collecting” column on Coin Update While poking around in my safety deposit box the other day, I paused to look at one of my favorite coins. I bought this in the Stack’s Bowers Galleries auction at the Whitman Coin Expo in March 2012, where it was described […]
Bowers on Collecting: focus on Peace silver dollars
The following is re-posted from the “Bowers on Collecting” column on Coin Update I continue my comments to answer reader inquiries received after my May 8th edition. Next is the last of the questions I have received. A.E.W. of New Mexico writes: I have always been curious why the shorter (and more attractive, in my […]
Bowers on Collecting: Let’s go back to the Melish sale in 1956
The following is reposted from the Bowers on Collecting column on Coin Update In April 1956, all of the leading dealers headed for the Central States Numismatic Society convention held that year in Indianapolis. Among other attractions, besides the dynamic market, Abe Kosoff announced he would be selling the Thomas G. Melish Collection. Although it […]
Bowers on Collecting: hobby versus industry
The following is re-posted from the “Bowers on Collecting” column on Coin Update Recently, I have been going through old Coin World columns and other items in connection with writing my autobiography. I came across this, published in Coin World in June 1995 (if you don’t subscribe to this newspaper, you should; plus, you might […]
Bowers on Collecting: The objects of coin collecting
Ask collectors their reason for collecting, and almost invariably, they answer that it is for recreation. For the greater number this is the paramount motive, and as recreation is a necessity as well as a diversion, a collection provides a service of no small value. But recreation is of several kinds, and compensating for mental […]
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