What Topics in Numismatics Do You Think Are Most in Need of New Research?

RWB · March 9, 2008 8:24AM

I’ve asked this question before, and would be interested if the answers now differ from ones provided a year ago.

Thanks!

Ronyahski · March 9, 2008 8:28AM

Branch mint proofs. Proof or not.

(I'm still planning on that research I discussed with you a few months ago.)

MidLifeCrisis · March 9, 2008 8:29AM

Myddelton Tokens

planetsteve · March 9, 2008 8:30AM

Later date Walkers! (Roger, you've covered their origins pretty well.

)

Thanks btw for your response some days ago on the quality of wartime Jeff planchets.

mgoodm3 · March 9, 2008 8:31AM

I'm researching the ins and outs of the different methods of taking super-closeups of coins.

PerryHall · March 9, 2008 8:35AM

That's a very tough question since most topics in numismatics have already been very thoroughly researched.

jfoot13 · March 9, 2008 8:38AM

<< Later date Walkers! (Roger, you've covered their origins pretty well.

)

Thanks btw for your response some days ago on the quality of wartime Jeff planchets. >>

did a search and couldn't find this thread ????

jfoot13 · March 9, 2008 8:53AM

found it thanks

Aegis3 · March 9, 2008 8:54AM

Pre-1836 proofs and proof-making technology
The 1964 SMS coins, especially documentation
Branch mint proofs, documentation thereof, mint sources and other contemporary sources
A detailed study of federal contemporary counterfeits, showing how made, what denominations, and how these change with time

STONE · March 9, 2008 8:56AM

Silver Trimes by die variety and errors.

I planned on doing some research this past summer, but work and school sidetracked me.
I don't know if I will ever tackle this project, at least not any time soon.

bosox · March 9, 2008 8:58AM

Canadian die varieties.

morgansforever · March 9, 2008 9:00AM

1974 aluminum cents. Where are they? Are they illegal to own?

I read a story that they were handed out to Congressmen for review, and never returned.

SamByrd · March 9, 2008 9:16AM

I think an area of worthy study is mint mark types used on 20th century coinage. There are several different mint-marks used in many common series.

Example Proof 1974 Ikes are known with at least 2 mint-mark types.
1941 S mercury has a large and small mint mark.
1943 S mercury has at least 2 types of mint marks.
1928 S Lincoln has a large and small mint mark.
1941 S Jefferson has a large and small mint-mark

The cherry pickers guides and Breens list some but I would guess there are many more.

There are several Lincolns, Jefferson's, Walkers, Mercury's that have 2 or more mint-mark types used on
a particular date these may be an interesting direction to collect and study.

Coxe · March 9, 2008 9:25AM

I agree on the branch mint proofs and '64 SMS. Also would add Three Cent and Shield nickel die stages: cracks and cuds. I know people think Morgan dollars are overdone already, with e thousands of VAMs, but a scholarly study of the actual working hubs and dies as evidenced in those coins would be useful. I know the 1884 VAM-8 and 1887 VAM-14 repesent a number of distinct obverse dies, as particular examples. Also the Philadelphia Morgan reverses are pracically unresearched apart from 1878 and 1921 (A, B1, and D reverses).

MidLifeCrisis · March 9, 2008 9:36AM

<< Myddelton Tokens >>

I'd like to ammend my original response to say

Myddelton Tokens, Hibernia Rocks Right Halfpennies, St. Patrick Nimbus Farthings, Gloucester Tokens, New York Excelsior Indian / Arms coppers, and other colonial era mega rarities that we almost never hear about.

ahooka454 · March 9, 2008 9:54AM

Im sure there are alot of very good cases, but the ones Id like to see this one...
1909VDB Matte proof Lincoln cent.

Moki · March 9, 2008 10:00AM

In my mind hands down, "The psychology behind collecting."

savoyspecial · March 9, 2008 10:04AM

1) the origin of the 1896, 1900, 1902 (and now perhaps 1901) micro-O Morgan dollars (my personal belief is that they were mint produced)

2) countermarks in general but specifically the "L" and "E" found on 1815 and 1825/3 quarters (what does it stand for? why where they produced? are they post-mint? why only found on these years?)

greg

apoplectic · March 9, 2008 10:07AM

<< 1974 aluminum cents. Where are they? Are they illegal to own?. >>

Seconded, I would also like to hear more about 1784 Ugly Heads

TwoSides2aCoin · March 9, 2008 10:15AM

How the economy ( particularly the metals market) causes a great meltdown of coins. The loss of them, the reduction in their populations and how "common" coins are now becoming scarce coins. I think this has the makings of a good story.

Mystery, intrique, drama, the economy and human psychology all wrapped up into a coin geek

.

fc · March 9, 2008 10:22AM

<< That's a very tough question since most topics in numismatics have already been very thoroughly researched. >>

agree. it seems people are really picking at minute details now.
the bigger stories have been covered.

this all assumes though, that someone does not discover new material
straight from the main source, the mint. a new cache of material.

so my contribution to this thread will simply be finding new sources
of hidden information until now, undiscovered.

NHSBaseball · March 9, 2008 10:25AM

I'd like to see a collection of biographies of some of the major numismatists- Breen, Browning, Eliasberg, Valentine, etc. I would especially be interested in a biography of Walter Breen- I think he must have been a fascinating individual to know, faults and all. Maybe something like this already exists?

Aegis3 · March 9, 2008 11:45AM

Another one:
Just how did the 1873CC no arrows 10c/25c and the 1876-CC 20c appear in numismatic channels. Often they are attributed to being sold to members of the assay commission. And it is known for some years that commissioners did buy coinage examples, as in 1908 WRT the 1907 gold coinage. But what about these years, especially since branch mint coinage has traditionally considered to have been overlooked in those times? IIRC, the early auction appearances of such coins do not suggest being in the possession of any assay commission members. So basically all we have is a rumor which to some extent is believable...

Not a research topic:
Electronic versions (whether online or CD/DVD-ROMs) or 19th-century/early 20th century American numismatic works. It would be great if we could plop in a CD containing the complete old series AJN, or a complete set of Chapman Brothers sales, or a complete set of 19th-century dealer house organs. Thankfully, the digitization of old books by Google &c have included some numismatic works (you can find most of Forrer, Betts, Dickenson, some Edward Cogan catalogs, a good deal of AJN), but searching is not yet that easy (or reliable I've found), and there is plenty missing (no The Numismatist, no Crosby, no Maris, nothing of the Chapman Bros, &c).

RegistryCoin · March 9, 2008 11:48AM

Digital grading.

firstmint · March 9, 2008 11:51AM

savoyspecial -

The "E & L" counterstamps on the 1815 & 1825/3 Bust Quarters are examined in detail in my recent book "Henry Voigt & Others, Involved in America's Early Coinage". To date, this is the only one that has any connection to the U S Mint and the reality of factual history.

Presently, there are at least 6 different theories to choose from. Unfortunately, there is no valid documentation about the reason for these to be found (either in the Mint Archives or out). I know, I've checked.

As for new research, there's plenty of topics that could be brought into a better focus, with offering more detailed background information. The main problem being, is it worth the time, effort, energy, and expense to dig any deeper?

Regrettably, there is no funding available for numismatic research. The only way to continue a scholarly approach to this hobby is to make it pay for the researchers to accomplish the goal of furthering knowledge. Unfortunately, that just doesn't happen in the numismatic realm, even though there is a billion dollars spent in the marketplace each year.

Coinosaurus · March 9, 2008 12:44PM

The archives aren't going anywhere. So I'd say "most in need" would be to capture the stories of the elder statemen before it is too late - Harv Stack, QDB, Newman, Forman, etc. Not to be morbid, but the archives will probably outlast these guys.

Regarding specific issues raised above, some of these defy standard research techniques - rather, these are the kind of questions that tend to get answered when someone is looking at something else and runs across the answer by sheer luck. You can look into something like the 1870-S half dime for years without getting good information - time is much better spent concentrating on high value targets. Get QDB to talk into a tape recorder for an hour and your chances of getting substantive, interesting material are far higher than digging through repositories for information that probably doesn't exist anyway.

Colquhoun · March 9, 2008 12:50PM

<< The archives aren't going anywhere. So I'd say "most in need" would be to capture the stories of the elder statemen before it is too late - Harv Stack, QDB, Newman, Forman, etc. Not to be morbid, but the archives will probably outlast these guys. >>

Agreed, watched the 'Coin Collecting in the Old Days' video last night, and learned a ton. I think atm a oral history project with the surviving great numismatist of the 20th century would be the greatest research that could be done currently, and yes time is running out.

mcheath · March 9, 2008 12:59PM

I'd like to ammend my original response to say

Myddelton Tokens, Hibernia Rocks Right Halfpennies, St. Patrick Nimbus Farthings, Gloucester Tokens, New York Excelsior Indian / Arms coppers, and other colonial era mega rarities that we almost never hear about.

oldcameoproofsguy · March 9, 2008 2:59PM

Territorial gold and Patterns.

The only really good information about either comes from auction archives.

CalGold · March 9, 2008 3:15PM

Another vote for branch mint proofs. In this regard, an 1891-o dime graded as proof is featured in an article across the street. BUT this research has to be done without bias or with full disclosure of bias as to whether a coin struck on a press other than theh Philly medal press can be called a proof.

CG

lordmarcovan · March 9, 2008 3:17PM

I think exonumia is the Final Frontier, at least in American numismatics.

Unknown · March 9, 2008 3:22PM

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TwoSides2aCoin · March 9, 2008 4:00PM

Were the great philosophers, artists, writers, composers, engineers and scientists coin collectors ?

I would be interested in knowing just how many famous people from the past actually had this "numismatic" fever.

BECOKA · March 9, 2008 4:23PM

<< I'm researching the ins and outs of the different methods of taking super-closeups of coins. >>

That's almost funny.

coinkat · March 9, 2008 9:42PM

There is likely an interesting story behind the 1896-o, 1900-o, 1902-o and possibly 1901-o micro o Morgans that were determined to not to be US Mint products...

lope208 · March 9, 2008 9:52PM

<< How the economy ( particularly the metals market) causes a great meltdown of coins. The loss of them, the reduction in their populations and how "common" coins are now becoming scarce coins. I think this has the makings of a good story.

Mystery, intrique, drama, the economy and human psychology all wrapped up into a coin geek

. >>

Good one!

lope208 · March 9, 2008 9:58PM

How bout a good study on milkspotting on ASE's? How to avoid it, what specifically causes it, etc.
I know there are lots of theories on this, but has there been actual research done? Just curious.

What Topics in Numismatics Do You Think Are Most in Need of New Research?

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