About Me
I've been collecting coins and tokens for over forty years. I've written articles for Coin World, Coins Magazine, and the Numismatist; plus I've been editing the PATCO Journal for the Pennsylvania Area Token Collectors' Organization since the mid-1980's.

My main collecting interests include Classic & Modern Commemorative Coins, Sacagawea Dollars, and Pittsburgh area trade tokens; along with smaller interests in type coins, encased cents in small celluloid buttons, Independent Brewery tokens, tokens & medals depicting Niagara Falls, engraved coins smashed by presidential funeral trains, and filling unusual Capital Plastics holders.

My avatar depicts my latest counterstamp acquisition, which is an 1854 Seated quarter countermarked with the phrase "USE GOODWIN'S GRAND GREASE JUICE FOR THE HAIR. G.G.G."
Recent Updates
  • article cover image
    United States Mint Product Survey For Silver Medals
    This week, the U.S. Mint sent me an email asking if I would complete an online survey about their "exciting" new silver medals planned for 2025. As an avid collector of the Mint's silver medals, such as the armed forces and Presidential silver medals, I decided to complete the survey. Unfortunately, these new proposed products turned out to be silver medals depicting current pop singers and DC...
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    Ten Tips for Anxious Beginners
      Most veteran numismatists won’t hesitate to help new collectors learn about our hobby and I’m no exception. I frequent a lot of coin discussion boards on the Internet and have witnessed the struggles and frustrations of the so-called “newbies” as they begin their journeys into this complex and intimidating past time.  From my observations, one of the...
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    Suggestion for future U.S. Mint Silver Presidential Medals
    Although I have a complete set of silver Presidential Medals in NGC/PCGS holders that state Coin and Chronicles on the labels, I still think the U.S. Mint should distinguish these medals when they're issued again as part of the current Presidential Silver Medals program. Below is the text of a letter that I sent to U.S. Mint Director Gibson concerning the matter: 11/19/23   Mint Director...
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  • The 38mm clay gambling tokens below won a second place exhibition ribbon at the ANA's Worlds Fair of Money earlier this month in Pittsburgh. The exhibit was titled, "Gaming Chips of Pittsburgh's Max Klein."

    I'm curious whether any MyCollect members attending the convention saw the exhibit (the exhibit also contained many other Max Klein artifacts, such as bottles, whiskey glasses, playing cards, advertising trade cards, etc.).

    Major Max Klein was the leading wholesale liquor dealer in Allegheny, Pennsylvania (now known as Pittsburgh's North Side) during the late 19th Century. He was born in Rhenish Bavaria in 1843 and emigrated to the U.S. in 1859.
    In 1861, Klein enlisted as a Private in Company F of the First Iowa Calvary. He was honorably discharged five years later as a Major, serving under General Custer.
    In 1870, he established residence in Pittsburgh and started a wholesale liquor business at 52 Federal Street. He shipped his products, including Silver Age Rye, extensively to the East, West and South, according to the 1892 book "All Sorts of Pittsburgers," by Arthur G. Burgoyne.
    There were also a lot of illegal gambling halls in Pittsburgh at the turn of the century and Klein did not hesitate to exploit this additional vice. In addition to personalized playing cards, Klein issued gaming tokens in four colors (red, white, blue, and tan).

    The 38mm clay gambling tokens below won a second place exhibition ribbon at the ANA's Worlds Fair of Money earlier this month in Pittsburgh. The exhibit was titled, "Gaming Chips of Pittsburgh's Max Klein." I'm curious whether any MyCollect members attending the convention saw the exhibit (the exhibit also contained many other Max Klein artifacts, such as bottles, whiskey glasses, playing cards, advertising trade cards, etc.). Major Max Klein was the leading wholesale liquor dealer in Allegheny, Pennsylvania (now known as Pittsburgh's North Side) during the late 19th Century. He was born in Rhenish Bavaria in 1843 and emigrated to the U.S. in 1859. In 1861, Klein enlisted as a Private in Company F of the First Iowa Calvary. He was honorably discharged five years later as a Major, serving under General Custer. In 1870, he established residence in Pittsburgh and started a wholesale liquor business at 52 Federal Street. He shipped his products, including Silver Age Rye, extensively to the East, West and South, according to the 1892 book "All Sorts of Pittsburgers," by Arthur G. Burgoyne. There were also a lot of illegal gambling halls in Pittsburgh at the turn of the century and Klein did not hesitate to exploit this additional vice. In addition to personalized playing cards, Klein issued gaming tokens in four colors (red, white, blue, and tan).
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