Blogs

In this month’s article I will explore the vagaries of pricing along with the calls and emails I get whenever I lower the price on a note in “The Standard Guide to Small Size U.S. Paper Money, 1928 to date” (SGSS). This seems to be a common occurrence with each new edition of the SGSS. Interestingly, however, I don’t remember anyone ever calling to inquire about a price that went up! The question and answer exchange below regarding a specific price decrease caught a SGSS reader a bit off guard.

“Scott,

SGSS 10th ed. Front Cover

I attended the William H. Kelly Confederate paper money sale held in conjunction with the FUN show in Orlando. Heritage auctions conducted the sale on Thursday night, January 5, 2012. We (my wife and I) arrived in Orlando Sunday, New Year’s Day to stay with a long time friend and get a jump on viewing many lots in this sale. Heading to Florida during the winter is always a well anticipated event, especially to see these friends and visit this FUN show. The company, weather and event would prove to be excellent, more so than most.

I had the pleasure of attending the FUN show in Orlando, FLA this past week. It was a very fun and interesting show. Very well attended. I shared corner table 1135 with Colonial and early Americana expert John Kraljevich.

January 15, 2012, a date soon to be upon us is actually a very important date. It is the 150th anniversary of the date that President Abraham Lincoln appointed Edwin McMasters Stanton to be his Secretary of war. Stanton replaced Simon Cameron who was dismissed by Lincoln for including in his yearly report the call of freed slaves to be armed and used against the Confederate Army. Stanton was Lincoln's closest adviser during the Civil War. Lincoln described Stanton as “the rock on the beach of our national ocean against which the breakers dash and roar, dash and roar without ceasing.

Edwin McMasters Stanton and January 15

Just as Scott Lindquist disclaims creative writing cred, I am no blogger. But like Tina Turner’s famous ex once said, “I’ll try anything…one time.”

Shawn Hewitt, the patient, resolute slave-driver behind getting this wonderful new site up and at ‘em for the benefit of our members, seems to think that I as President need to say something in blog form. As if anybody really cares what I have to say. And if you do, you can wait a month and a half and read it in Paper Money! As if!

From One Collector to Another

I never claimed to be a writer, and I still don’t even though and I co-wrote with John Schwartz the “Standard Guide to Small Size U.S. Currency, 1928 to Date”. My writing ‘education’ consists of one course in “Free Writing” taught by Professor Nelson at the illustrious Minot State University, where I earned a four year business degree after dropping out of the geology program because my brain was impermeable to higher math. Prof.

Hello and welcome to the Fractional Currency (FC) blog. I am excited about blogging about my favorite series of US Currency. I hope to keep it interesting by adding the intriguing along with the historical. If you have any topics of interest, let me know and we will explore it. This blog is just setting up the series. I hope to have a new one posted dealing with an overview of FC soon.

Fractional Currency--The Beginning