The Official Publication of the OKLAHOMA NUMISMATIC ASSOCIATION Vol. 35, No. 1 Jan., Feb., Mar., 2011 ONA OFFICERS President Gary Parsons - 405/426-9044 [email protected] Vice President Dale Schaffer 7101 S Yale #199 Tulsa, OK. 74136 918/496-3008 Secretary/Treasurer Shane M. Cornell PO Box 277 Jenks, OK. 74037-0277 [email protected] The Mint Lusteris the official publication of the Oklahoma Numismatic Association. It is published quarterly in July, October, January, and April. The Mint Lusteris mailed to all current dues paying members of the ONAwhich includes all ONAlifetime members. This Publication is dedicated to improving the communication among ONAmembers. To cor- rect any subscription problems, please contact the Secretary as there may be an incorrect address in the ONAdatabase or your dues may have expired. Advertising copy must be received by the editor 15 days prior to the first day of the pub- lishing month. The editor reserves the right to revise copy to fit the requested space. All adsarepriced on a PAID IN ADVANCE basis. EDITOR ADVERTISING RATES Brian Miller Full Page $40 per issue/$120 per year (405) 773-4816 Half Page $25 per issue/$80 per year [email protected] "Business Card" Ad $15 per issue/$50 per year Sixth Page $10 per issue/$35 per year Forward advertising inquiries and all other material to Editor at the phone, or email listed above. Editor’s Notes I am very excited to be taking over as the Mint Luster editor. I have a lot of ideas in place and slowly I will start to work them into the newsletter. Brian Miller - Editor I was told I should write a little intro- duction about myself to all of you, so he has just started his own penny col- here it goes. I started collecting pennies lection. We enjoy attending the OKC when I was about 7 years old and Coin Club meetings each month and quickly expanded into other denomi- we really enjoy the “show and tell” nations. I now collect every series from part of the meetings. large cents to Peace dollars, but unfor- Ihope all of you enjoy the new look to tunately, all I have left to acquire are the newsletter and if anyone has any the really tough dates, but I still try to suggestions please feel free to contact buy 3 or 4 coins per year. I am married me and let me know. and have a 7 year old son and a 3 year old daughter.My son has just recently became interested in collecting too and New Members Brian Miller, Oklahoma City Robert Borland, Sr., Richardson, TX 1 Letter from the President P lease join me in welcoming Brian Miller as the new editor of MINT LUSTER. Brian is an active member of the Oklahoma City Gary Parsons - President Coin Club. He has been a collector of U. S. coins for most of his life. Thank represent their club at the Challenge you Brian for taking on this big job for that will take place at the ONA the association! The MINT LUSTER is Oklahoma City Show in 2011. The our primary means of communication Association will provide a cash prize of with our members. We are always look- $100 to the club that wins the challenge ing for new content, so send your club and $50 to runner up. So get out your reports, articles, and suggestions to Redbooks and start reading. I will be Brian. contacting the club leadership of each October took me to the Border Town participating club soon with details Coin Club show in Ft Smith. It seemed and to schedule visits. to be well attended and I visited with lots of friends from Arkansas and The health of the hobby and coin mar- Texas. I also bought some neat coins ket seems to be outstanding as we near and notes. You should plan to attend the end of another year.With gold and this show if you haven’t been. Their silver commodity prices near record next show will in March, 2011. The levels at $1400 per ounce and $27 per Lawton show is days away as I write ounce respectively, prices for collectible this and I’m planning to attend. coins and currency seem to be firming and going up in some areas of market. The Association recently approved my 2010 was a great year for ONA with proposal for a coin club competition; many new members joining, a new I’m calling the Redbook Challenge. club in McAlester, and two successful Multiple choice examinations will be shows. Lets all pledge to work hardto administered at the club level to test make 2011 even better. Your member knowledge of the Redbook in clubs that wish to participate. Prizes Association and clubs will only be as will go to team members that prevail at good as we want to make them. the club level. The scores attained at Volunteer your time and talents to the club level will be averaged and a make things better for all of us. Your club score for all the clubs will be com- ideas are always welcome but your pared. The two clubs with the highest willingness to work to make your ideas average scores will pick members to areality is even more appreciated. 2 3 Why We Collect W e will continue our discussion of Civil War money. The ANA recently announced that next year’s National Coin Week (April Gary Parsons - President 17-23, 2011) theme will be BLUE, GRAY, and GREENBACKS. In as a result. The stamps are avail- April, 2011, we will celebrate the able and can be acquired in nice sesquicentennial (150 year circulated condition for under anniversary) of the start of the $100depending on type. Encased Civil War. Because the Civil War stamps are rare and expensive. theme of this column has become Most collectors try to acquire a timely, I plan to continue write nice type in the various denomi- on this topic for at least the next nations. two quarters. Because stamps did not hold up This quarter we will turn to well and encased stamps were money/money substitutes creat- expensive to make, the private edby the private sector and indi- sector begin creating what we vidual States to meet the needs of call Civil War tokens as early as commerce due to disruptions 1862. Most were made in similar resulting from the War. By 1862 size and metal as the Federal Federal Coinage was being bronze cent. These were readily hoarded by the public to such an accepted in the market place and extent that merchants lacked quickly become, along with coins to make change in ever day transactions. Postage stamps paper fractional notes, the prima- were monetized by the govern- ry small denomination money. ment in an attempt to meet this Civil War Tokens were made in need. These stamps did not hold huge quantities and eventually in up well in everyday commerce. numerous sizes and metals. For Encased Stamps evolved to pro- this reason common varieties in tect the stamps. Many collectors well circulated grades can be of Civil War money collect both acquired for less than $20. There the stamps and encased stamps are two major types of Civil War 4 Tokens, Patriotics, which are We are all familiar with Federal more generic with standard Fractional notes which I have designs. Store Cards or Merchant mentioned previously. What is tokens included advertising and not so well known is notes were unique designs, which required issued in the private sector and individual dies. These were more by individual states in the expensive to make but also Southern States during the Civil become popular. I collect these War. I will pick up on this topic old tokens and find them fasci- next quarter. IS THIS A GREAT nating and historically signifi- HOBBYOR WHAT !! cant. Consider joining the Civil War Token Society if you decide to collect these old coins. They make a wealth of information available to members through their quarterly Journal and vari- ous books published by the Society or its members, many of which are involved in original research. 5 WWhhaatt IIss AA DDiimmee WWoorrtthh?? I n the June 20, 1958 COIN- WORLD, a dime minted in San Francisco in 1894, one of 24, was sold to an anonymous collector for $3,200. In May 1996, an 1894S, Prf-64, Barber Dime, Irv Brotman from the Eliasberg Sale, brought In a 1964 COINWORLD ad, a $451,000. reputable coin company offered an XF 1798 Sm. 8 Dime for $2,500. The $3,200 deposited in a bank at They noted it was “Extremely 6% would have earned only Rare only 5 to 6 known”. Aquick $29,300. Not too bad for a 38 year bank deposit. But how would a check of my 2008 North really savvy collector who does American Coins and Price Guide his homework do better? indicated 4 varieties, with a Research! mintage of 27,650. The Small 8 6 version in XF-40 is only priced at about 20 years from now bring? $3,600. After 44 years you would Old issues of price lists are a think that this Dime should be must for your research. Example: valued much higher. It is only 1 the same 1964 price list that I of the 4 varieties, and is very eas- used, offered a fine 1942/41 dime ily identified. for only $100, and a VF for $135. Check out those prices now! If you go back to the Eliasberg specimen, it was a PROOF. The 1798 coin in 2008, is listed in MS 60 at only $9,500. NOPROOFS! So, coin collector, what would you think an auction price, say COIN SHOW GUIDE ONA 2011 Annual Show Enid Coin Club April 30 - May 1 Spring Show State Fairgrounds, Oklahoma March 11-13, 2011 City, Hobbie, Arts & Crafts Bldg. Fri. 12PM-6PM, Sat.& Sun. 9:00 AM each day, Dealer Set-up 9:00AM Open, Free Admission 10:00 AM April 29, Early bird - Garfield County Fairgrounds, noon to 6:00 PM - For informa- Pavilion Bldg., 111 West tion, Contact Gary Parsons, Purdue, Enid. For Info contact- show chairman at 405-426-9044 CLIFFORD COOPER (580) e-mail: [email protected] 478-5709 or (580) 233-0007. Border Town Stephens County Coin Club Show Coin Show March 18-20, 2011 February 11-13, 2011 Fri. 3-7, Sat. 9-5, & Sun. 9-3 Fri. 1PM-6PM (dealer set-up) Columbus Acres, Sat. 9-5, Sun. 9-3 Free Hwy 71 South & Broken Hill Dr., Admission, Stephens County Fort Smith, Arkansas. Fairgrounds, Duncan, OK. Contact-TRAVIS MORRIS at (580) 656-2595 or (580) 252-1538. 7 ONA COIN CLUBS All ONAmember clubs may have their information listed at no charge. Send any changes or corrections to the Mint Luster Editor. OKC Coin Club Border Town Coin Club ONALife Member 40 ONALM-234 Meets 1st Tuesday monthly at 7pm Meets 2nd Tuesday of each month St. Lukes Methodist Church Bancorp South - East Branch 222 NW 15th St 7000 Rogers Ave President - Terry Gust Fort Smith, AR Vice Pres - Ron LaSpisa President - Phil Rosar Secretary - Carroll Johnson Vice Pres - Richard Bartlett Treasurer - John Ogilbee Sec/Treas - Dale White Historian - Allan Ramsey PO Box 931 Box 21022 Fort Smith, AR. 72902 OKC,OK. 73156-1022 479-783-5881 Enid Coin Club Indian Territory Coin Club ONALife Member 67 Meets 2nd Monday each month - Meets 1st Tuesday monthly at 7pm 6:30pm Oklahoma Highway Patrol Station Angels Diner, 1402 S. George Nigh 5725 W Owen K Garriott Rd. Expressway, McAlester President - Robert Gregg President - HLDollens Vice Pres - Keith Boltz Vice Pres - Jeff Cecil Secretary - Ronald Forshee Sec/Treas - Gary Parsons 813 W Maine 1232 S Main St. Enid, OK. 73701 McAlester, OK. 74501 (918) 423-9044 Magic Empire Coin Club ONALife Member CC 241 Comanche County Coin Club Meets 4th Thursday monthly at ONALife Member 14 7pm. Meets 1st Thursday of each month - Yale Avenue Christian Church 7pm 3616 S. Yale Lawton Public Library Room 2 President - John Sands President - Sam Feeback Vice Pres - Ron Lawrence Vice Pres - Ed McGill Sec/Treas - Joe Anne Sloan Secretary - Patrick Payne PO Box 580055 Treasurer - Larry E. Campbell Tulsa, OK. 74158 PO Box 6555, Lawton, OK. 73506 8