Coins are getting too expensive. I think I'll start collecting numismatic business cards

notlogical · June 15, 2008 10:50PM

Does anyone collect numismatic business cards? I think it might be kind of a cool collection. Get them autographed and in a neat organizer. Plus, they wouldn't cost that much.

The problem collecting them from the "biggies". Do you think they'd take the time to do it?

mrpaseo · June 15, 2008 10:54PM

I bet each business card would cost little more than a postage stamp and a letter requesting one. I don't think there is much profit in the collection but it would be interesting to see once complete, what parameters are you thinking of? What is considered a "Finished set"? Will there be a "Brick and mortar" requirement or will running through the bourse floor count for another hundred cards?

This could be a HUGE project; many companies have many different employees all with their own business cards... I bet you could get a nice collection just from the folks here on the boards.

Sounds fun, good luck and keep us in the know,
Ray

ricko · June 15, 2008 11:04PM

Certainly a unique idea.... there is a list of 'dealers' thread here somewhere.... the project could certainly provide you with ready access to a wealth of consultation resources... Cheers, RickO

STONE · June 15, 2008 11:05PM

Yes, I started collecting Numismatic Business cards about 2 years ago, and so far I only know of myself as doing that, until now!!!

I think I have over 200 different places, some with unique types (one is a pocketknife!!! - Bob Campbell's)

Good luck with your quest and there are an infinite amount out there.

NeoStar · June 15, 2008 11:12PM

Brilliant!!!

Are you going to collect them by type?

MrEureka · June 15, 2008 11:13PM

The vintage cards will present a more interesting challenge, and probably more enjoyable. The strategy would be to talk to dealers and collectors to see if they'll part with cards they've saved over the years.

Longacre · June 15, 2008 11:15PM

Great idea! I am sure if you sent a SASE, you would be able to get tons of them. I also like the Coin Hound's idea about vintage cards.

STONE · June 15, 2008 11:18PM

BST: Business Card Request

I found my old BST request for business cards. It was fairly successful and some forum members sent me a dozen or two that they had.
It didn't cost me much and helped to inspire me to creat the Master List of Dealers and other Numismatic Websites.

MrEureka · June 15, 2008 11:18PM

BTW, if you were to publish the collection on a website to let people follow your progress, contributions could flow in. And you could even turn it into a business at some point. Perhaps you could charge for providing links to dealer websites under the dealer's card, etc.

halfnut · June 15, 2008 11:22PM

This could be fun just think how we collect coin's, You find one that has a nice printing but flawed with a tiny ink dot and will you just have to find the one out there that is better, spending hour's on the browse floor looking at a dealer's cards to try to find the one that has a dot above the I verses the non dot I. Sub set's, strike ( full Ink ) on and on. sounds fun you have discovered a new hobby. Start a grading company first thing.

Dan

MrEureka · June 15, 2008 11:24PM

Check out lot #5 in this Auction Catalog (PDF).

notlogical · June 15, 2008 11:28PM

Thanks everybody! i'll be in touch!

ebaytrader · June 15, 2008 11:37PM

As an aside, Grover Criswell used to sell his autogrpah for $1 on his check to you for $1.

ambro51 · June 15, 2008 11:39PM

Too bad merchant tokens went out of style...you could have the best of both worlds.

Broadstruck · June 15, 2008 11:46PM

notlogical, PM me your address I have a Aluminum Type One SLQ token business card from a dealer on the east coast, and a Aluminum Off Center Morgan $1 token business card from Fred Weinberg which are yours if you want them?

notlogical · June 15, 2008 11:57PM

Thanks for the great links!

Broadstruck · June 15, 2008 11:59PM

The SLQ Aluminum token business card is from Tom Culhane "The Elusive Spondulix"... now say that 3 times fast in a row!

Longacre · June 16, 2008 12:06AM

Doesn't RichURich have a token as a business card?

notlogical · June 16, 2008 12:07AM

<< notlogical, PM me your address I have a Aluminum Type One SLQ token business card from a dealer on the east coast, and a Aluminum Off Center Morgan $1 token business card from Fred Weinberg which are yours if you want them? >>

PM sent.

messydesk · June 16, 2008 12:54AM

Sounds like a cool idea. Starting as a YN, you'll be able to amass quite a history of cards even by just accumulating current ones. Some dealers do use tokens or elongated cents as cards, so you'll end up with some of those in your collection. See if you can get one from the bouncer/armed guard at Stack's. Based on a Longacre post of late, it sounds like you'll be ignored by everyone else there. Let us know how the quest goes.

mrearlygold · June 16, 2008 1:08AM

Don't forget to have them graded

TwoSides2aCoin · June 16, 2008 1:10AM

I can see the next BST thread, Samuel :

Autographed Numismatic Business Cards

holeinone1972 · June 16, 2008 1:10AM

Maybe just print your own.

Go ahead and make one for the first US mint director. LOL

TwoSides2aCoin · June 16, 2008 1:12AM

I meant with that above post :

Wannabe dealers are going to go out and get a business card made so they can capitalize on what they've read here.

Broadstruck · June 16, 2008 1:13AM

<< Don't forget to have them graded >>

And staple a CAC business card to each!

AUandAG · June 16, 2008 1:23AM

Send me a SASE and I'll sign mine and send it back, no charge! Of course I won't be famous until ???

bob

cmerlo1 · June 16, 2008 1:56AM

Here's one I recently re-discovered in one of my old CPG's...I think I sent a coin to JT to look at a long time ago, and the card was in with the coin when he returned it...

Edited to add: PM me with your address, and it's yours...

And, while we're at it, here's mine (shameless plug):

lathmach · June 16, 2008 2:19AM

I made my own business cards from lincoln cents.
They had my name, business name and address and telephone number engraved in the fields on the obverse.
On the reverse is a 5 pointed star in a circle with "Our Word Is Our Bond" between points.
I haven't made any up in a while. I'll see if I have any left and send you one if I can find one.
How much more numismatic can a business card be?

Ray

dcarr · June 16, 2008 2:55AM

My business card:

BECOKA · June 16, 2008 3:01AM

You should start a business card thread and scan all the ones you get in for all to see.

Broadstruck · June 16, 2008 3:14AM

notlogical, would be cool to see your Registry Set once your ready to post it... might be good to get quality images also

BBQnBLUES · June 16, 2008 3:56AM

Q: What did Walter Breen use as a business card ?
.
.
.
.
.
.

A: Bubble Gum trading cards.. hehe

oreville · June 16, 2008 4:39AM

notlogical: I like it.

Just because you collect business cards (you should have one signed and one unsigned for each) does not mean you cannot collect something inexpensive in coins. There are still inexpensive areas left.

By the way, there are some very, very cool business cards with embossed coins on them from some of the dealers. I remember the 1913 Liberty Head nickel from Jay Parrino, the Mint. It was an awesome business card (I believe it was a fold over kind).

pf70collector · June 16, 2008 5:08AM

I keep all mint correspondence.

notlogical · June 16, 2008 6:34AM

From Omaha I wonder if I could still find a business card for J. Hewitt Judd, Aubrey Bebee, maybe even Byron Reed? Did they use business cards in the 1890's?

Thanks again everybody!

CoinHusker · June 16, 2008 9:35AM

Have anyone in mind that you want to start with?

mgoodm3 · June 16, 2008 9:42AM

I bet if you ask nicely you can get one from the King of Omaha Coin Club.

CoinHusker · June 16, 2008 10:00AM

<< I bet if you ask nicely you can get one from the King of Omaha Coin Club. >>

Forget it, that guy is too snooty.

cladking · June 16, 2008 10:22AM

I've got cases and cases of business cards from when I used to collect and trade them.

There are even a few of the calling cards that go back to the turn of the last century. They
aren't very expensive to collect if people know you want them. It might be tough to get nu-
mismatic cards since they are few and far between. My primary cost was postage and some
sort of token or item of some value to induce people to go to the trouble of sending them.

There used to be several monthly trading magazines where people could match up for buying,
selling, and trading. The biggest "The Restrike" quit about four years ago but some of the ot-
hers probably picked up the slack. Look in the classifieds of the coin papers to find them.

njcoincrank · June 16, 2008 10:40AM

I have early 20th century calling cards from Saint Gaudens and Anthony de Francisci. They are great examples of numismatic americana...

njcc

coinkat · June 16, 2008 11:00AM

Expensive is a relative term...

consider collecting coins beyond the borders of the United States

cladking · June 16, 2008 11:27AM

<< Expensive is a relative term...

consider collecting coins beyond the borders of the United States >>

There are tons of very desirable US and world coins that have very
nominal cost. These range from nice unc moderns to circulated world
coins back to ancient times. Indeed there are surprising numbers of
19th century world coins that are hardly pricey. 19th century Austrian
copper is very inexpensive even in high grade for instance.

Even some of the moderns which have soared in unc can be just as
tough in high circulated grades but these have not moved much. Jap-
anese 10Y from the '50's are $100 coins in unc but nice attractive AU's
list for less than a dollar.

If I were a young man one of the collections I'd consider would be a 20th
century aluminum set in unc. These coins can be very expensive in high
grade but all are available in nice attractive condition for very nominal
prices if you put in the effort to find them. Sure, you might only afford
a Fine example of some of these but try finding a nice attractive aluminum
coin in Fine. They're mostly net graded junk. For $2 you get a coin that
lists for $1000 in unc and can be just as rare. Quite a few of the coins
will cost just a dollar or two.

coindeuce · June 16, 2008 11:30AM

M.L. Marshall of Oswego, N.Y. issued a Civil War store card as a coin dealer/sporting goods(fishing tackle)merchant. You should be able to find a nice one for less than $50.

norwegianguy · June 17, 2008 6:47AM

...and when complete, you could extend your collection with error printings, test printings, varieties, different paper types, different printings (first printing, second printing etc.)

Of course you could grade them from mint state to poor, and even slab them or get them slabbed for you.

Soon you will see dealers issue business cards in special printings with extreme quality. eg. laminated, glossy, with holograms etc. especially for collectors, selling them at high prices. Imagine a proof cameo hologram on a business card

WTCG · June 17, 2008 5:41PM

Expensive is all relative, and value deals can be found everywhere. On the other hand, if you can assemble a complete set of business cards containing the name "Robert L. Hughes" then you'll earn my ultimate admiration.

notlogical · June 17, 2008 9:33PM

If you could have one autographed business card by one person in numismatics whose card would you like to have. ?

RWB · June 17, 2008 9:43PM

Cards sent.

Longacre · June 17, 2008 10:19PM

<< 

<< Expensive is a relative term...

consider collecting coins beyond the borders of the United States >>

There are tons of very desirable US and world coins that have very
nominal cost. These range from nice unc moderns to circulated world
coins back to ancient times. Indeed there are surprising numbers of
19th century world coins that are hardly pricey. 19th century Austrian
copper is very inexpensive even in high grade for instance.

Even some of the moderns which have soared in unc can be just as
tough in high circulated grades but these have not moved much. Jap-
anese 10Y from the '50's are $100 coins in unc but nice attractive AU's
list for less than a dollar.

If I were a young man one of the collections I'd consider would be a 20th
century aluminum set in unc. These coins can be very expensive in high
grade but all are available in nice attractive condition for very nominal
prices if you put in the effort to find them. Sure, you might only afford
a Fine example of some of these but try finding a nice attractive aluminum
coin in Fine. They're mostly net graded junk. For $2 you get a coin that
lists for $1000 in unc and can be just as rare. Quite a few of the coins
will cost just a dollar or two. >>

At the local shop that I visited, they had a huge bucket of large Canadian cents that they were essentially giving away. Because none of them were stickered, I passed them over.

MrEureka · June 17, 2008 10:28PM

if you can assemble a complete set of business cards containing the name "Robert L. Hughes" then you'll earn my ultimate admiration.

Then, you can sell it to me for $2000. Yes, that's a real offer.

Longacre · June 17, 2008 10:49PM

<< if you can assemble a complete set of business cards containing the name "Robert L. Hughes" then you'll earn my ultimate admiration.

Then, you can sell it to me for $2000. Yes, that's a real offer. >>

Seriously? What's to stop me from contacting RLH, getting a full set of his business cards, and then wetting his beak with $1,000 for this troubles?

MrEureka · June 17, 2008 10:53PM

Seriously? What's to stop me from contacting RLH, getting a full set of his business cards, and then wetting his beak with $1,000 for this troubles?

Yes, seriously. And don't bother asking RLH. He doesn't have anywhere close to a complete set.

Coins are getting too expensive. I think I'll start collecting numismatic business cards

Comments

Leave a Comment