By David W. Lange – www.coincollectingboards.com …..
For Collectors of Antique Coin Boards
Number 38 — Spring 2016
COIN BOARDS (not) FOR SALE
Though I did manage to purchase seven coin boards during the past quarter, three of these went into my own collection, while three others were placed to a want-list customer. The sole remaining board is unremarkable, and I bought it just to get the deal. Obviously, that’s not enough to warrant putting out a new sale list. I had more luck in getting some nice early folders, but again there weren’t enough to make a presentable offering. I certainly hope that this drought ends sometime soon, but that’s out of my control. In the meantime, information about some of the new board purchases will be found below under other headings.
MARKET ACTIVITY
The past quarter has seen some pretty interesting eBay listings of coin boards, though not all of them resulted in actual sales. A rare Kent Company board for Indian Head Cents, completely filled, was listed at $490 or best offer.
The same seller also posted a nearly filled Whitman First Edition board for Lincoln Cents at $479 obo, and this sold for $379. A single seller offered three First Edition Whitman boards, two for Liberty Head Nickels that sold for $63 and $30, respectively, and a Barber Dime board that was offered at $45 but evidently was sold directly and de-listed.
There were three partially filled Oberwise boards for Lincoln Cents in so-so condition that sold for the value of the coins. Of course, there were the usual listings of common, overpriced boards, and some of these are still available as this is written.
I made a good purchase of seven coin boards at the Long Beach Expo in February. The seller had 11 pieces in all, but the prices were high, even after some negotiation, so I bought only the better ones. Three of these proved to be keepers, and they’re described below under Book Updates. Sold very quickly to a longtime customer were the following: 2322 L1¢Bd.2 F $50, 2324 O5¢Bk VF-NM $45 and 2325 O10¢Ak VF-NM $50. The first of these is a rare Lincoln Printing Company board with the Oberwise overprint, an item on several collectors’ want-lists.
BOOK UPDATES
The only new variety to surface was one of my Long Beach purchases, a new backing to the Oberwise Indian Head Cent board, O1¢An.
I purchased three other boards just to add their delightful vendor stamps to my collection. Also illustrated is a hand-corrected address dating to when Joseph Oberwise moved his store across the street around 1939. This photo was sent to me by collector Chris Buck.
Finally, I’ve included the front cover from the inaugural issue of Krause Publications’ trade magazine, The Coin Dealer, an item I’ve been seeking for some time and was finally able to purchase. Debuting in 1963 and now long forgotten, its first issue depicts a Kent Company board for Lincoln Cents from 1935. No, it’s not a new color variety; KP just took some liberties with the photo to accommodate its two-color printing process!
MY NEW BOOK IS FINALLY AT THE PRINTER!
After more than a year and a half of work, Volume Two of my book series on coin albums is complete and has gone to the printer. This one details the very popular Library of Coins line of albums and its little brother for beginners, the Treasury of Coins. Also included are histories of Capitol Coin Company and its publishing division, The Coin and Currency Institute, as well as a biography of founder Robert Friedberg and his family. This is a deluxe, hardcover book of quality similar to that of Volume One. Among its 144 pages are 64 in full color that illustrate all of the C&CI product line in detail.
Please note the pre-publication price that is valid until May 1, as well as the reduced prices on my earlier books.
ON THE ROAD AGAIN
I’ll be at the Whitman Baltimore Expo March 31-April 2, the CSNS Convention April 28-30 and the Long Beach Expo June 9-11. I anticipate having my new book for sale at the latter two shows.
–Dave
