Nevada Coin and Jewelry

Coin and Jewelry Buyers in Las Vegas

Hobbies on coin collecting

by:coin collectors blog.

  1. Politics: In the last 20-years, the American Numismatic Association and many of the regional organizations and clubs have be overcome by politics. If you are not with the “in crowd” you are welcome to come to the meetings but do not expect the same treatment as those within the inner circle.
  2. Acceptance: A progressions from politics, if you are not the same demographic of the inner circle, usually white male over 50, you have no chance of being admitted into the inner circle.
  3. Elitism: You do not collect something cool like Bust Dollars or Morgan VAMs? What is this, transportation tokens? Gaming Tokens? That is not cool and you cannot be in our club.

We live in a politically charged society where opinions are magnified into binary choices: yes or no, up or down, for or against, etc. There are no shades of gray and common sense is not as common as we would like to think. Things are so bad that it is reported that a woman filed for divorce after 22-years of marriage because her husband voted for Donald Trump!

While I am be guilty of adding politics to the hobby, I believe I have worked in the hobby’s best interest. During my tenure as president of the Maryland State Numismatic Association I told the board that we look too much like an insular club and need to branch out. My final President’s Letter published in the Maryland Numismatist spoke of this.

If your club’s board has consisted of the same people for more than a few years, it is time for you to step down and let someone else take the position. While it may be fun to be the king of the club, adding new people is not only good for the hobby but it will allow newer members a chance to participate. If you are not working to turn over your leadership every few years, then you are helping to destroy your organization through stagnation.

In order to have a lineup of people ready to take over leadership of the club or organization, we have to get more inclusive. This is one of the aspects of the hobby that has bothered me for a long time. If you go to many club meetings, shows, and even ANA conventions, you look out over the crowd and see an overwhelming number of white males over the age of 50. As a white male over the age of 50, I can say there is nothing wrong with that demographic. But it is not the demographic that will sustain the hobby.

Over the years there has been an effort to bring more women into the hobby. Since half of the population consists of women, that is a good start. However, the few women I see roaming the bourse floors are either middle-aged and white or accompanying their children. And given my previous discussions about bad customer service, it is no wonder women stay way from the hobby.

And someone please tell the Girl Scouts that the conditions surrounding the failure of the Girl Scouts commemorative still exist. On many occasions, the Girl Scouts have been accused of being insular and parochial in their attitudes. Maybe, if they step away from their cookie boxes they will better help the girls expand beyond the attitudes these leaders think are keeping women back.

Another problem I have seen in numismatics is the lack of ethnic diversity. Where are the people of color? We work with the Young Numismatist programs through schools and the Scouts appear to reach youngsters of all ethnicities. Why does this stop after the age of 18? Why is there no outreach to non-white adults?

You cannot tell me there are no non-white adults who collect numismatics. One place I have seen a nice mix of ethnicities has been at the FUN shows. And the argument that Florida is more ethnically diverse than someplace like the Chicagoland area where the World’s Fair of Money has been held for too long is not a good argument.

Maybe it is because of the stuck up nature of the hobby. Why does everyone have to create a set that fits nicely into a blue, brown, or green album? Why does everyone have to buy plastic holders with numbers as close to 70 as possible? Why are most of the emphasis and programs surrounding numismatics have to be about coins or currency?

We pay lip-service to numismatics being an all inclusive hobby but the mid-to-lower collector can be made to feel unwelcome. Dealers who are older may have a difficult time relating to younger and, frankly, a non-white demographic. It has created a culture where if you are not white, male, and collecting the thousands of Morgan dollars that are on the bourse floor or the more expensive stuff in the cases, you are a nuisance.

Although there are dealers who do cater to the average collector, the rest treat the books, boxes, and junk bins as a necessary evil. And even if you are a white male over the age of 50 but enjoy searching the junk boxes for that odd item or the rows of tokens for something from your hometown you have never seen before, you are just not the type of person the dealer wants to work with. While this is not true of every dealer, I have experienced a lot of dirty looks while carefully searching through red boxes of tokens and other items in 2×2 holders looking for that cool item from Brooklyn and New York City.

1902 Panama 2½ Centesimos 

EVERYONE needs to be more inclusive or risk the hobby dying. Mainstream publishers may want to consider creating an imprint to support niche publications in order to get that information into the hands of the collectors. And an open note to the members of the Numismatic Bibliomania Society that devoted an edition of The Asylum, their quarterly publication, to electronic publishing of numismatic information, those who worry about maintaining the status quo may want to think about how the status quo is making numismatics look like an exclusive club. Stop hoarding information and make it available to anyone who will appreciate it.

Now that we have identified the problem, how do you we fix it? How do we get the YNs to continue to collect into their 20s and 30s? How do we recruit women and people of color into the hobby? How can we teach the dealers that can barely spell customer service that they need to change their ways or there will be nobody to buy their coins because they chased all their potential customers away? I am open to suggestions!

A check from the First National Bank of Inwood (NY). Inwood is a hamlet on Long Island where I grew up. Even though FNBI was bought out long before I was born, having this in my numismatic collection gives my collection a personal touch.

Penny Penny Pennies everywhere!!!!

JANUARY 17, 2017












New Gold Coin

New $100 U.S. gold coin depicts Liberty as a black woman

The 2017 American Liberty 225th Anniversary Gold Coin bears the likeness of a black woman. The coin is worth $100. [U.S. Mint via AP]


The 2017 American Liberty 225th Anniversary Gold Coin shows the woman's head in profile with a crown of stars. It features the year of the mint's founding, 1792, as well as 2017. The mint says the other side of the coin will depict an eagle in flight.

The coin will be released on April 6. The mint says it's the first in a series of 24-karat gold that will also depict Liberty in designs representing Asian-Americans, Hispanic-Americans and Indian-Americans. The mint says the goal of the coins is to reflect the "the cultural and ethnic diversity of the United States."

Rolex Oyster Quartz.

4 Facts About The Rolex Oysterquartz That Will Surprise You

By Paul Altieri
Rolex Oysterquartz 17013

Rolex Oysterquartz Datejust 17013

Yes, even Rolex joined the quartz movement



1. The precursor to the Oysterquartz was the Rolex Date 5100

Rolex Date 1500 Quartz (Image: Rolex Encyclopedia)

Rolex Date 1500 Quartz (Image: Rolex Encyclopedia)




2. It took five years to complete the Oysterquartz movement

Rolex Oysterquartz 17000

Rolex Oysterquartz Datejust 17000


3. The Rolex Oysterquartz was in production for 25 years

Rolex Oysterquartz Day-Date 19028 "Pyramid"

Rolex Oysterquartz Day-Date 19028 “Pyramid”


4. Less than 25,000 Oysterquartz watches were ever produced

Rolex Oysterquartz Day-Date 19018

Rolex Oysterquartz Day-Date 19018


Rolex Oysterquartz Datejust 17013

Rolex Oysterquartz Datejust 17013


The Mint

Congress Votes to Privatize the Mint








Quarters New York





Canadian Penny!

It escaped from Canada!

1966 Canadian one-cent found in pocket change

1966 Canadian one-cent found in pocket change

How could it have escaped from Canada?

We need to build a wall!






The $100 bill might be next to go?

Is the $100 bill the next to go?






Weight of $1 million using U.S. Federal Reserve Notes


Weight of the equivalent of $1 million using euro currency


Sands says:








New Silver Bullion Coins

2016 Wedge-Tailed Eagle Silver Bullion Coin Lands In Australia


The outstanding 2016 Australian Wedge-tailed Eagle 1oz silver bullion coin has been designed by John Mercanti, the internationally renowned coin sculptor-engraver.

John held the position of Chief Engraver at the U.S. Mint from 2006 until his retirement in 2010. His achievements are remarkable – with the coin and medal design process traditionally a competition between members of the in-house team, John is responsible for more successful designs than any other employee in the history of the U.S. Mint.

The Perth Mint commissioned John to create the design for its 2014 Australian Wedge-tailed Eagles. Subsequently appearing on all 2015 coins in the series, the popular design featured a stunning portrayal of Australia’s largest bird of prey descending towards the stump of a tree.

John has reprised the design for 2016 with an image of a Wedge-tailed Eagle that has landed and is perching majestically on a branch. His notable use of exquisite detailing to portray the bird’s feathers is again evident in this noble representation.

Made from 99.9% pure silver and housed in an acrylic capsule, the 2016 coin is available in Australia from 1 February. A superb addition for any silver bullion coin investor, it can be purchased from the Bullion Trading Desk at The Perth Mint, 310 Hay Street in East Perth. Orders can also be placed via the Mint’s dedicated BullionLine on 1300 201 112, and leading bullion coin distributors Australia-wide.

Whats better for investing? Gold Stocks or Physical Gold?

Gold Stocks vs Physical Gold

Gold ingot resting on a stocks and shares graph representing investment or banking

Investors seeking to build a portfolio aimed at growth and stability must make diversification a top priority. Diversification limits exposure in any single asset class and helps deliver more consistent returns over longer periods. And right now, one of the best diversification strategies available is to invest in precious metals such as silver, platinum, palladium, and especially gold.

When investors look at getting into gold, the most common options they have are gold stocks and gold bullion. While both options can provide the kind of growth and stability desired, they do not achieve these ends in the same way. Let’s examine some of the key differences between gold stocks and gold bullion.

Gold stocks

  • Represent shares in a gold mining or gold refining company
  • Value of shares depends heavily on the company’s ability to run efficiently and turn a profit
  • Value of shares may fall even if the spot price of gold rises
  • Tend to drop in value faster and farther than the spot price of gold in a downturn
  • Could lose value due to labor disputes, political unrest, nationalization of resources, and other factors unrelated to the spot price of gold
  • May pay dividends
  • Do not require storage or insurance

Physical Gold

  • Is a physical asset available in the form of coins or bars
  • May be added to Individual Retirement Accounts for growth
  • Serves as a store of value against currency depreciation and economic uncertainty
  • May be used as legal tender
  • Has no credit risk
  • May be bartered for goods or services in a crisis
  • In the form of numismatic coins, may be sold for well above face value
  • Provides investors with a hedge against stock market declines
  • May require storage fees if kept offsite

In general, the decision to purchase gold stocks or gold bullion comes down to your overall investment goals. While both types of assets help diversify your portfolio, they do so in different ways. Gold stocks are a riskier proposition by still being a paper asset, while gold bullion is considered a stable investment that is ideal for retirement funds and long-term profitability.
