It is indeed fascinating, whether you are a coin collector, interested in history, or a starting numismatist. This book is impossible to put down, it is jam packed with interesting rumors and information about the coins of the United States.
Continue reading “Book Review – Fascinating Facts, Mysteries and Myths About U.S. Coins”
I met Michael van den Heuvel through this blog who published a book about square coins. I got in touch with him, because it sounded like a very interesting research. He was very kind to send me an electronic version of the book so I could easily read it. Square coins in general are much easier for me to identify. There is only a few of them, at least compared to round coins, therefore they are very distinguishable. I asked Michael if he would be willing to talk about his book and research on my blog.
Michael van den Heuvel – WORLD SQUARE COINS 1900-2000
I interviewed Michael about his project, below you can read our conversation.
Continue reading “World Square Coins – an Interview with the Author, Michael van den Heuvel”
Recently I got a new coin which is one of my current favorites, a 1994 200 Escudos from Portugal, commemorating the 500 year anniversary of the Treaty of Tordesilhas. I found it interesting that there wasn’t a particular reason for getting this coin aside from the fact that Portugal is probably taking the third place in my heart among countries. In particular, because I don’t really collect commemoratives, though there are more and more exceptions to this rule lately. However, there’s no good reason why I like this coin, I just do, and I think it is part of collecting.
Last week I attended the World’s Fair of Money in Chicago. The primary reason why I went there was because I got an opportunity to make a presentation about collecting coins without sight. However, I thought I’d take the opportunity and spend three days at the show. Only one regret: I could have used more than three days, I was able to cover everything on the exhibit floor I was interested in, but there were way too many interesting presentations.
In this post I will give an overview of my impressions.
One of the greatest things was to meet some of the WINS club members, we took a picture together after my presentation.
When I refer to people, I am not going to use their full names, I have not checked with them, and I’m not sure how would they feel about being called out in this blog. If you recognize yourself, please let me know if you prefer to be further identified, or if you prefer that I make you more unrecognizable.
Also, you can download my presentation here that I’m not going to talk about now.
I talked about learning to take pictures earlier on the blog. The real surprises came when I started using my new found knowledge. A couple of thoughts about my experience.
Continue reading “Taking pictures in practice”
It’s been years that I have been very interested in having coins described in more detail than what you can find in coin catalogs. Today, I would like to announce a new initiative that has a potential, more than ever to make it happen.
Continue reading “Descriptions for the Blind”
The blog is two years old. Nothing about collecting today. Just some reflections.
Continue reading “Thoughts on a birthday”
Taking Coin Photos
I often find that it would be great if I could take pictures of my coins. Not for myself, but to post them on the blog to better illustrate what I’m writing about, or to show certain coins to others. So far, I have restricted it to what I really needed and asked my wife to help me with it. Well, to do it for me. This works, but just like so many things in collecting, I was looking for a way to do it on my own without help. In this post I will document the possibilities and limitations of creating coin photos, and my progress of starting from the idea to taking it to completion.
Continue reading “Taking Coin Photos”
When a blind person walks into your coin shop, you can be sure: it will be a good amount of time spent, and little money made. But keep reading, there is more you get out of it. You get a loyal client, and you can be the one who makes a difference. In this post I will talk about what it means for the coin dealer to work with a blind person, and also show you an example through a great coin shop owner, Dean, who just passed away this year.
Continue reading “Coin dealers and blind collectors – a tribute to Dean”
When you look at a coin, you can exactly see what’s on it. If you can see, of course. If you can’t, you can feel certain details. Maybe a head, a number, an animal. For those who can’t see, much of this information is unavailable.
But even if you see what’s on a coin, there maybe things which you cannot identify if you do not have the understanding of a given country’s culture.
Continue reading “Coin Descriptions for Blind People”
