Antiques Roadshow...have they ever featured a US coin?

WoodenJefferson · October 16, 2006 1:02PM

I watched the premier episode of Antiques Roadshow tonight on PBS. It is their 10th year, with 500,000 apprasials...so sayeth the host. Maybe this has been discussed here before, I don't know. I was wondering why the Antiques Roadshow has never featured any (I've never seen any) US coinage. Is their even a numismatic appraisal booth on their traveling quest to find peoples treasures. Why don't they have coins...for instance, they always have some sort of Civil War memorbilia, how about the coinage from that era. ~mussing ideas~

OKbustchaser · October 16, 2006 1:12PM

No, they specifically do not do coins or currency. About the closest they have come is a Jefferson Peace medal.

AmericanCopper · October 16, 2006 1:13PM

I believe the Antiques Roadshow won't accept coins because there are enough readily available resources to authenticate and appraise rare coins, whereas less common collectables have a limited number of appraisers availabe for more esoteric items.

xbob · October 16, 2006 1:16PM

They don't allow coins.

Per their posted rules they also don't allow Japanese art but I've seen it featured on the TV spots. So go figure.

I remember starting a thread about this way back saying I think they should do a special show for ONLY coins. How could that not be a hit? Even a one time special would be awesome.

Someone like Heritage should produce their own version of a TV appraisal traveling show. They could film at coin shows! That would be a great name even "The Coin Show".

I also remember someone saying that they have had medals, such as an original Peace medal, featured before. But never a U.S. Coin. I've never even seen a show with a cool medal featured.

ziggy29 · October 16, 2006 1:18PM

<< <i>I remember starting a thread about this way back saying I think they should do a special show for ONLY coins. How could that not be a hit? Even a one time special would be awesome. >>

I know Coin Vault would be a big sponsor of that. Showing people finding out that old coin from "Grandpa's attic" was worth $15,000 would go a long way toward helping them sell ICG MS-70 SAEs for $400.

robertpr · October 16, 2006 1:23PM

I find it somewhat odd that they don't do coins being that one of the auction houses they are associated with now is Heritage. However, if coins were allowed 99% of their show would be about grandma's hoard of old silver dollars (g/vg 1922 Peace dollars).

I did see a great episode where one guy had his rather extensive collection of war medals, it was a very cool collection and made for a great episode. I have been to one of the roadshow's exhibits in the Seattle area back when I lived out that way.

michael · October 16, 2006 1:56PM

no coins or japanese swords

seanq · October 16, 2006 2:18PM

I remember seeing the episode featuring the Jefferson Peace Medal, it was slightly damaged but genuine, and appraised at $50,000. Shortly thereafter an example (not the same one) sold in a numismatic auction for over $90,000. The show originally aired in 2004, and I remember being very surprised that the appraiser didn't mention that the reverse design from the medal was currently featured on the reverse of the five cent coin.

On a totally separate but related note, the owner of the company where I work recently consigned some Americana items to Sotheby's, and after a meeting in New York I accompanied him to their showroom to see his items being previewed. As we walked in none other than Leslie Keno came up and warmly greeted us, followed shortly by the President of Sotheby's U.S. (I believe his first name was Bruce). They must have thought their consignor brought me to view his items for a reason, as they were both very friendly and chatty with me as well. Finally, Mr Keno asked me "So, do you collect?" I was able to answer with a straight face, "Oh, yes, but not Americana." That more or less ended our conversation.

Sean Reynolds

cladking · October 16, 2006 2:30PM

I've seen some pretty neat exonumia.

CaptHenway · October 16, 2006 3:05PM

I have always suspected that the reason they do not do coins is because it is so easy for people to double check their numbers in the Redbook or whatever, and it makes it hard for them to quote a fabulously high number that the viewers can ooh and aah over. Let's face it, if they say that a black and white striped Indian blanket is potentially worth a half a million dollars at auction, how many people can dispute their expert?
MOO
TD

BigAl · October 16, 2006 3:07PM

i remember seeing currency on one epsiode. A civil war note signed by someone famous - the autograph was worth more than the note.

Dentuck · October 16, 2006 8:50PM

What's the reasoning behind nixing Japanese swords and artwork?

Steve27 · October 16, 2006 8:57PM

After standing on-line at the Jacob Javits Convention Center behind a couple hundred people, I can understand why they don't allow coins. Otherwise, there would be 10,000 people with "rare" 1943 steel cents clogging the line too.

pontiacinf · October 16, 2006 9:34PM

<< <i>After standing on-line at the Jacob Javits Convention Center behind a couple hundred people, I can understand why they don't allow coins. Otherwise, there would be 10,000 people with "rare" 1943 steel cents clogging the line too. >>

good point

jdsinva · October 16, 2006 9:40PM

<< <i>

<< <i>After standing on-line at the Jacob Javits Convention Center behind a couple hundred people, I can understand why they don't allow coins. Otherwise, there would be 10,000 people with "rare" 1943 steel cents clogging the line too. >>

good point >>

That, and everyone with their hoard of silver dollars, you know the ones with Ike on them. . .

Antiques Roadshow...have they ever featured a US coin?

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