Antique Coin Boards with David W. Lange – www.coincollectingboards.com …..
For Collectors of Antique Coin Boards
Number 49 — Winter 2019
A MAN OF FEW WORDS
Veteran readers of Coin Board News look forward to the Winter issue as the occasion for my annual updates of all of my books and a revised Value Guide for coin boards. Unfortunately, this year’s edition is an abortive one, as I’ve not been well enough to do the work that typically goes into it. In November I underwent two cancer surgeries, and those are being followed by chemo and radiation treatments. I hope to have all of the annual material in the Spring issue and put out a list of either boards or vintage folders.
MARKET ACTIVITY
There was a wide variety of boards for sale on eBay during recent months. Most were common varieties grading Fine or better, but we know from experience that such boards are a tough sell in grades lower than VF-NM. As this is written there are still many rollover lots that will have to be priced lower before they have a chance of selling. The one standout event was an offering of the two-board set for Liberty Seated Dimes that Whitman published in 1939 and printed only once. I’ve never seen these boards heavily worn or badly damaged, but it was still nice to find this pair grading VF or slightly better. The set included about three dozen dimes across a broad range of circulated grades and was priced at $850 USD or best offer. Not needing the boards for my own collection, I offered as much as I could and still make a little profit on the deal, but this was rejected. The boards and dimes sold a week or so later for a negotiated price of $650. It’s hard to say how the buyer broke down the lot’s value between boards and dimes, but it will nonetheless result in a price advance for these rare titles.
One oddity I purchased recently is a homemade coin board of standard size that is neatly hand-lettered to replicate a Kent or First Edition Whitman board for Eagle & Indian Cents. Even the incorrect spelling “NICKLE” is repeated, though this board omits both the rare 1856 cent and a backing.
BOOK UPDATES
CBN 48 announced the discovery of O25¢Dv, and I recently acquired a rare World War II printing of that same scarce Washington Quarter title. O25¢Dx has dates through 1945-S with one spare opening and mintages through 1943. This was one of several boards I bought that all grade VF-NM but were cut down 3/4” both left and right, presumably to fit a small frame. Oh, the humanity!
ON THE ROAD AGAIN
The first quarter of each year is always chock full of major coin shows. I expect to be fully recovered in time to attend the mighty FUN Show January 10-12. Next is the Long Beach Expo, which comes up early this year: January 31 – February 2. Finally, there’s the Whitman Baltimore Expo February 28 – March 3. I’ll be manning the NGC booth, so stop by if you can.
If you’re interested, be sure to stock up on my reference books at reduced prices. For sample pages of the first three titles, please go to coincollectingboards.com. All books signed unless requested otherwise. And please visit my eBay store: Cagemast Coin Boards and Albums
Best Regards,
—David W. Lange, coincollectingboards.com
The author’s desktop, featuring Gramercy coin boards as his computer wallpaper. Photo courtesy David W. Lange
