CoinWeek: Collecting Medals in America – a Discussion with Jeff Shevlin – an audio podcast

CoinWeek sits down with So-Called Dollar expert Jeff Shevlin to talk about the ebb and flow of medal collecting in America. For generations, American communities commemorated important moments with the production of medals and tokens. We tell some of those stories and talk about how today’s medals and tokens are different. This is an audio podcast, there is no video.

 

 

Just Released: So-Called Dollar Collectors Pocket Price Guide

The annual “So-Called Dollar Collectors Pocket Price Guide” provides values for so-called dollars and is published in conjunction with the book “So-Called Dollars from the Pacific Coast Expositions”. Eight expositions were held on the Pacific Coast:

• 1894 California Midwinter International Exposition
• 1905 Lewis & Clark Centennial Exposition
• 1909 Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition
• 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition
• 1915-16 Panama-California Exposition
• 1935-36 California Pacific International Exposition
• 1939-40 Golden Gate International Expositions
• 1962 Seattle World’s Fair Exposition

In addition to providing values for so-called dollars from the pacific coast expositions in grades EF-40, AU-50, MS-60, MS-63 and MS-65, the Pocket Price Guide has high quality photos of each type, rarity information and identifies all the various metal compositions they were struck in. There is a check box for each variety with room for notes so collectors can keep track of what they have and what they are looking for. Each year additional so-called dollars will be added to the Pocket Price Guide until all so-called dollars are included.

So-called dollars are historical U.S. medals that commemorate a person, place or event in the United States history. They are 33mm to 45mm in size.

There are dozens and dozens of medals included in the book that were never before cataloged. Using the 1905 Lewis & Clark exposition as an example, the reference book by Hibler and Kappen originally published in 1963 catalogs four different design types and a total of 14 varieties, considering different metal compositions. The new standard reference for the Lewis & Clark Exposition expands from four design types to 16 different design types and from 14 varieties to 30 different varieties.

Collectors interested in medals from the eight expositions held on the Pacific Coast will now have photos and information on medals they probably did not know existed. The Pocket Price Guide and soon to be released book “So-Called Dollars from the Pacific Coast Expositions” authored by Jeff Shevlin and Bill Hyder are a collaborative effort involving dozens of collectors that have shared their knowledge and many years of research. The book tells the fascinating numismatic stories of the eight expositions held on the Pacific Coast and catalogs all of the historically significant so-called dollars struck at those expositions.

The so-called dollar market is strong. There are many factors contributing to the surging interest in historical U.S. medals and specifically so-called dollars. The Mega Red Book, which was first published four years ago, has annually included extensive coverage of these historical medals. Mega Red Book IV, which came out in April of this year, has 16 pages devoted to the so-called dollars from the 1919 Panama-Pacific International Exposition. Shevlin has made two appearances on the television show Pawn Stars selling and promoting so-called dollars, he has given dozens of presentations, written dozens of articles as well as written books promoting the numismatic hobby and specifically U.S. historical medals, so-called dollars.

Values for so-called dollars fluctuate just as values for U.S. coins fluctuate. Many factors influence their values and the Collectors Pocket Price Guide will be published annually to provide collectors and dealers with valuable pricing information. The Pocket Price Guide is $19.95. Shipping is $4.50.

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New Book: So-Called Dollars from the Pacific Coast Expositions

Our latest book is now back from the printers, “So-Called Dollars from the Pacific Coast Expositions” The links below display the 1894 California Midwinter Exposition chapter and the 1905 Lewis & Clark Centennial Exposition chapter.

• 1894 California Midwinter Exposition (pdf)
• 1905 Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition (pdf)

After the incredible success of our first book “Discover the World of Charbneau So-Called Dollars” which was awarded the Numismatic Literary Guild Award for, “Best Token and Medal Book, 2012” Bill Hyder and I have just released our second book “So-Called Dollars from the Pacific Coast Expositions”. The book covers all of the so-called dollars associated with expositions held on the west coast and there are dozens of new medals never previously listed. There were eight expositions held on the Pacific Coast.

Each chapter consists of two components, a story component and a catalog component. The story component talks about the exciting things that happened at the exposition and the catalog component identifies all of the commemorative so-called dollar medals that were struck for the exposition.

Q. David Bowers says in his Preface for the book, “Having the opportunity to view a selection of advanced proofs of Jeff Shevlin and Bill Hyder’s new book was a great treat. I thought I knew a lot about so-called dollars, but now I know much more! And when the book is published, my knowledge will increase exponentially… This new book by Shevlin and Hyder adds three dimensional life to all of the many so-called dollars depicted. I learned a lot from the excerpts I have read and I look forward to reading every word when the book reaches print… I suspect that this will be a dangerous book to own – for it might compel you to collect so-called dollars!”

Hardbound, 8 ½ x 11, 320 page, full color editions are $59.95. A signed and numbered collector’s leather bound edition, limited to 100 copies, is available for $149.95. An exclusive commemorative medal will be encased in the cover of each collectors leather bound edition. Shipping is $4.50 per book.

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Comprehensive Fixed Price List Available

Click on the links below to see the latest comprehensive fixed price list of So-Called Dollars offered for sale, or view them all here:

• Fixed Price List 1/26/2020
• Fixed Price List 1/5/2020
• Fixed Price List 12/1/2019
• Fixed Price List 11/12/2019
• Fixed Price List 10/29/2019

If you are not receiving my fixed price lists and would like to, go to the contact us page and provide your email address.

 

Coin Shows

ANA National Money Show | Feb. 27–29

I will be setting up at the ANA National Money Show in Atlanta, Georgia February 27-29, 2020. If you are in the area please stop by and say hi.

WESTS Token & Medal Show | Mar. 27–29

I will be setting up at the (WESTS) Western States Token Society’s Annual Token and Medal Show, March 27-29, 2020. This is a unique specialty show which the advanced collectors show up for.

PNNA Tukwila Coin Show | Apr. 17–19

I will be setting up at the PNNA (Pacific Northwest Numismatic Association) Coin Show in Tukwila, Washington on April 17-19, 2020. The Northwest always has great shows and I hope you can make it to the show.

Sacramento Valley Coin Show | May 1–2

I will be setting up at the Sacramento Valley Coin Club Coin Show. I look forward to seeing you there, please be sure to stop by and say hi.

Long Beach Coin Show | Jun. 4–6

Bill Hyder and I will be setting up at the Long Beach Coin Show June 4-6, 2020. We will be at corner table # 852. We look forward to seeing you there.

View all the past and upcoming coin shows and other numismatic events we plan on attending on our events page.

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So-Called Book Review

Click here (pdf) to view Eric Schena’s review of the NEW book “So-Called Dollars from the Pacific Coast Expositions”.