Sometimes things do not go as expected. Especially in the world of banking. As in the present “Nostalgia” feature.

In my most recent Market Report (check it out now here on our website) I reprinted a challenge offered by Stuart Mosher, numismatic curator at the Smithsonian Institution, and printed in the December 1954 issue of The Numismatist. He suggested that readers should count five points for every correct answer. “If you score 70 you [...]

In August 1955, The Numismatist included many features, including coin exhibit categories, strange money of the world, the approval of the motto In God We Trust on United States paper money, aluminum used for coins and other numismatic items, a plea for returning to the gold standard, money of the Chinese communists, and the spelling [...]

Our “Nostalgia” this issue is a letter from Paul E. Stockton published in The Numismatist, April 1958. At the time, coin collecting was not nearly as widespread as it is now in 2010, and “numismatists” were considered to be unusual, as was, of course that word describing our hobby. For many years I kept my [...]

Here is some philosophy by “Collector,” printed in The Numismatist, March 1931. Building a fine collection adds satisfaction and contentment to life—a sentiment that is still true today in 2010.

One of Dave Bowers’ favorite books among those he has written is American Coin Treasures and Hoards, published in 1996. The treasure story below is one of many chapters. Enjoy!

This letter is from John N., of Indiana, nostalgia to the forefront, more on a subject we addressed in this column in early August: Dear Mr. Bowers: re: Coin World, August 2, 2010, and your comments on the year 1955. Although many if not most of today’s “everyday items” were not even thought of in [...]

A few weeks ago your editor wrote a few paragraphs about Morgan silver dollars for inclusion in our Numismatic Sun (now being printed, and scheduled to be mailed in a week or so). However, there were so many things for that issue that the following was left out. So, here we go!

In the 1920s Theodore J. Venn wrote extensively on the pleasures of collecting and investing in rare coins. He loved the hobby and delighted in the sharing of his thoughts with others. The text below was published in The Numismatist in August 1921. Quite a bit of it is relevant today—at least the basic philosophies.

How does one define nostalgia? Remembrance of things past? Visions of “the good old days”? Or? Recently, a correspondent sent a letter (a real letter, on paper with a stamp on the envelope) reminiscing about collecting coins in the 1950s, and what a wonderful era that was. The narrative was fascinating, and I sent a [...]