Anyone a member of the John Reich collectors society?

LanLord · January 19, 2004 2:23AM

I joined last year (sometime around June or July 2003)

I received two back issues of their journal in a hand addressed envelope

And haven't heard anything since?????

What up with them? Are they history or what? Even their website looks to be not updated in quite some time.

I would have to say I am very diasppointed with them.

darktone · January 19, 2004 9:39AM

ttt

nepbrs44 · January 19, 2004 10:41AM

ttt

Russ · January 19, 2004 10:43AM

No, but I used to be a member of the John Birch Society. They were too liberal, though, so I quit.

Russ, NCNE

northcoin · January 19, 2004 11:01AM

Yes. I joined several months ago and haven't heard anything since either.

ElectricEye · January 19, 2004 11:09AM

Russ, yer killin' me...

EVillageProwler · January 19, 2004 12:08PM

Hmmm... I'm a Life Member (not that that means much) and know a couple of the officers (I know the ED specialists). Perhaps I should make some inquiries.

EVP

Trime · January 19, 2004 1:34PM

I was thinking just yesterday that I hadn't gotten the journal lately. I didn't check to be sure though.
I will also inquire.

EVillageProwler · January 20, 2004 6:31AM

The last issue was from mid-03. The current issue is at the printers right now, and should be mailed out by the end of the month.

EVP

Conder101 · January 20, 2004 6:16PM

The publishing of the Journal is a little irregular but the quality of the material in it is usually pretty good, and they won't ask for dues renewal until you have received all of the Journals you are entitled to, even if it takes more than a year to get them to you.

EarlyHalfBoobu · January 20, 2004 8:45PM

Yes - the production of the Journal seems to be more irregular recently. However, these are excellent reference items for collectors of early bust silver.

BillJones · January 20, 2004 10:52PM

I was a member, but I dropped out.

When I was a member, there were very few issues of the magazine.

I also have a passion for early half dimes. A group asked for descriptions of the coins that members had in their collections. I sent a list is descriptions of what I had (I have all of the Red Book varieties except for the 1802) in hopes that I could learn and exchange information with others. I never heard a word from them, not even after I sent a follow-up email.

I just dropped out because the group did not seem to be doing anything. Too bad, because I love early silver coinage.

Longacre · August 10, 2005 2:40AM

I just dug this up because I was thinking of joining. Has anyone's view of the society changed since this post?

DickyBetz · August 10, 2005 2:41AM

What is the John Reich collectors society?

Pistareen · August 10, 2005 2:49AM

Being a JRCS member is essentially mandatory if you have an interest in pre-1836 silver and gold coins, particularly in die varieties or minting technology.

The members are rivalled perhaps only by EACers and C4 members in their knowledge of the subject matter and their intense academic interest in the series they collect. The articles often break new ground -- how often can you say that about articles in other magazines?

It's $20 well spent.

billboat · August 10, 2005 3:17AM

I'm a member and there have only been two issues (2/05 and 6/5) since July 2004. I just received the June 2005 (Vol 16/Issue 3).

topstuf · August 10, 2005 3:24AM

I will remain a member of the John Reich Society until the last commie rat is driven from the planet!!

Harrumph!!!

Barndog · August 10, 2005 3:41AM

I have been a member for about a year. In addition to receiving the Journal (about twice per year), I have had opportunity to purchase past issues. Some of the past issues contain census reports by die marriage that really helped to give me an idea of true rarity ratings (since the books on dimes, half dimes, and I guess any other numismatic reference are outdated on the day of publication). I have contacted officers in the JRCS a few times and have always gotten the information and assistance that I needed. Of course, I am a capped bust half dime nut, so my opinion and experiences are biased.

tmot99 · August 10, 2005 4:15AM

How do you go about contacting them and joining them? Do you need a referal of any kind?

Longacre · August 10, 2005 4:30AM

I don't think you need a referral. Here is the website:

John Reich Society

Nysoto · August 10, 2005 6:05AM

Insightful and original articles with no advertising. I have been a member for six years, and recently purchased all of the 1986-1999 issues on eBay.

JadeRareCoin · August 10, 2005 6:14AM

Nysoto! I have been looking for those back issues! Do you know of any other complete sets for sale? I asked Brad K. and he is going to try to put together a set, but he is missing some issues.

I have had problems as well with receiving the Journal in a timely manner. Same with membership renewal notices. I believe that our very own Mr.HalfDime (Steve Crain) is the Secretary of JRCS, if I am not mistaken. It is my understanding that your renewal notice is in the last issue of your Journal for the term of your membership. I talked with the officers at the ANA and I am just going to pull the trigger on a life membership. The research performed by JRCS members is fantastic. Really amazing stuff. I love JRCS.

Nysoto · August 10, 2005 6:26AM

Dennis,

Board member Preturb has most of the early issues that are sold out at JRCS. Check the numismatic literature auctions also - Fred Lake, Kolbe. Steve Crain is an officer with JRCS, perhaps he will chime in with more information.

tmot99 · August 10, 2005 6:34AM

My check is going in the mail later today.

Longacre · August 10, 2005 6:36AM

tmot-- please send the referral fee to me, though.

MrHalfDime · August 10, 2005 7:15AM

I just returned to the office, and thought I would take a look at what might be happening on the CU Forum, when I came upon this disturbing thread about the John Reich Collectors Society (JRCS). Let me try to shed some light on the subject, and answer a few of the questions posed here.

The JRCS is a collector organization whose purpose is to encourage the study of numismatics, particularly of United States gold and silver coins minted before the introduction of the Liberty Seated design, and to provide technical and educational information concerning such coins. Most (although not all) of the coins collected by JRCS members were designed by Johann Matthaus Reich (John Reich), chief engraver of the US Mint from 1807 to 1817.

Like most other collector organizations, the JRCS is staffed purely by volunteers, and has no full time or paid officers or staff members. The President of the JRCS is David Davis, the Vice Presidents are John McCloskey and Brad Karoleff, the Treasurer is W. David Perkins, and I (Stephen A. Crain) am the Secretary. Our website can be reached as follows:

http://www.jrcs.org/

Membership in the JRCS costs $20.00 per year, and anyone can become a member by filling out an application form (obtainable on the website or from me directly). Life Membership is available for $500.00 (25x annual dues), and must be voted upon by the membership.

The annual membership meeting for the JRCS is held at the annual American Numismatic Association Summer Convention, recently held at San Francisco.

I am troubled to hear of members complaints about not receiving their John Reich Journals, and would offer my apology on behalf of the organization. The journals are compiled by our editor, Brad Karoleff, but he cannot print what is not submitted; he is limited to whatever articles are submitted by the membership. At times, many of the members get too busy to write articles, and there simlply is not enough to publish. The JR Journal is a 'quarterly' journal, published three (3) times each year; the most recent issue (Volume 16/ Issue 3) was published and mailed just prior to the ANA, in July 2005.

Although I will not offer any excuses for the shortcomings mentioned in this thread, I will offer a partial explanation. Like any other organization which relies on volunteers, the JRCS has had a few real workers, and many others who do not contribute as much. My good friend Russ Logan, who passed away a few years ago, was one such worker who volunteered untold hours to the organization in many capacities, wearing many different hats. When he died, we never fully recovered, nor delegated his many responsibilities to those remaining. Our Treasurer has been ill lately, and I have just undergone open heart surgery, so we have found it difficult to stay current with some of our responsibilities. We are acutely aware of this, however, and ask your indulgence as we work to provide the service our members expect and deserve.

The JRCS may be reached by snail mail at the following address:

David J. Davis - President
John Reich Collectors Society
P.O. Box 400
Manchester, MI 48158

For questions about membership or letters to the editor, send mail to:

Bradley S. Karoleff - Editor
John Reich Collectors Society
P.O. Box 135
Harrison , OH 45030-0135

...or he may be reached via email at:

jrcs19@adelphia.net

...or anyone may contact me regarding anything to do with the JRCS via email at:

mrhalfdime@aol.com

or simply PM me on this forum.

I had a communication just this morning from Brad Karoleff regarding the responsibilities of updating the website and maintaining the club correspondence. We are aware of some failings in this area, but would like the collecting fraternity to know that we are very much alive and well, and are working to correct these problems as quickly as we can.

Steve Crain - Secretary
John Reich Collectors Society

mozin · August 10, 2005 8:14AM

I have been a happy member of John Reich Collectors Society for about 15 years. As has been mentioned all work is done by volunteers who work strictly without pay and the Journal can only be published after enough members submit articles for publication. I have my copies of every Journal published and always look forward to the next.

Losing Russ Logan was a blow to the society and to all of us who collect the Busties. There is nobody left to replace Russ with all the knowledge he had, and it will take a lot of club volunteer workers to fill in for him. Russ was a major article contributor.

If you collect the series, joining the JRCS is the very best way to learn about the series and I heartily recommend the club.

TomB · August 10, 2005 8:57AM

I'm also a Life Member and believe that the journal is one of the best out there in terms of quality.

grip · August 10, 2005 9:37AM

I was trying to sign up,and received URL,not found?
Al

LeeG · August 10, 2005 9:45AM

Sounds like an organization that I would like to be a member of also.

MrHalfDime · August 10, 2005 9:57AM

Al (grip):

The URL for the JRCS website is as shown earlier in this thread. I just checked it myself, and it is correct. It has not been changed.

http://www.jrcs.org/

I don't know how to post a link on here, but if you just copy and paste it, it should work.

Steve

Barndog · August 10, 2005 10:42AM

LINK TO JRCS HOME PAGE

grip · August 10, 2005 12:53PM

Thank's guys,appreciate it.
Al

EVillageProwler · August 10, 2005 1:38PM

I am a Life Member of the JRCS. It is money very well spent. I love the articles; the recent ones about the E & L punched 25c really piqued my interest in those issues. I found a complete set in one of the numislit auctions and did the best equivalent of a Statue of Liberty to get that lot. Again, money very spent.

Truly there aren't frequent issues, but what do you expect from a quality research mag?

Let there be no mistake - this is an excellent organization to join. While I'm at it, let me offer my apologies to the JRCS membership for not yet finding the time to write an article...

EVP

mrearlygold · August 10, 2005 1:41PM

Great organization and as Pistareen mentioned it's almost mandatory if you are into early coins.

Tom

Anyone a member of the John Reich collectors society?

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