Treasure Hunt from Creators Syndicate

How to Destroy a Coin's Value in Mere Seconds for 02/16/2012

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0800

It's so easy to date myself while writing this column. I suppose that's understandable considering the very topic of collectibles suggests something from the past. For instance, those who grew up in cities and larger towns may well remember the "hobby" sections in department stores. These were wonderlands filled with chemistry sets, stamp, coin books and albums, bug or rock collecting ...

Updated: Thu Feb 16, 2012

Where the Glitter of Gold Is Tarnished for 02/09/2012

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0800

If you're wearing anything gold take a look at it. Where did the metal come from? Sure, it came from in the earth, but where? With gold prices continuing to reach new heights, more and more people are scouring their drawers and old jewelry boxes to find even the smallest amount. At over $1,700 an ounce, even a lone earring can be worth $100 or more.

Adventure seekers look elsewhere. They ...

Updated: Thu Feb 09, 2012

Sometimes, Going to the Dogs Is a Good Thing for 02/02/2012

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0800

We all know there are "dog people" and "cat people." On the rarest of occasions, someone can be both, but that's the exception. An old observation illustrates why. An owner of a dog will feed it, give it water, pet it and play with it. The dog thinks, "Wow! That person can supply me with food and water, nourishment and attention. He or she must be a god." Similarly ...

Updated: Thu Feb 02, 2012

'Owney' Comes in as No. 1 for 2011 for 01/26/2012

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0800

A while back, a reader wrote about the new "Forever" stamps that will always be good for First Class postage. She wondered if because of them we would no longer have different postage stamps. I replied that not only will we continue to have different stamps, but that the variety could even increase.

Last year was a good example. The topics on our stamps were both varied and int ...

Updated: Thu Jan 26, 2012

Bucks in Preparation for the US Being Invaded for 01/19/2012

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0800

Dial the clock back exactly 70 years right now and you'd find the U.S. a very different place. I'm not referring to obvious conveniences such as designer cars, television, jet airplanes, space travel and digital technology, the likes of which was imagined only in comic strips. The massive difference was our then state-of-war mentality, unlike any we had known before.

This week 70 years a ...

Updated: Thu Jan 19, 2012

Reader Wants to Know if the Dollar Is Dead for 01/12/2012

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0800

With the new year comes many a question. Time to answer a few.

Dear Peter: After years of collecting the U.S. dollar coins (or doing my very best to try when I could find them), I've now heard the dollar coins are being discontinued. After the who-knows-how-many billions of dollars I've sunk into this, I can't believe this is true ... or is it? Please let me know if I've wa ...

Updated: Thu Jan 12, 2012

New Chickasaw Quarter Laden With History for 01/05/2012

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0800

How many times do visitors go to a State or National Park and, instead of simply noticing what amenities are available today, consider the years or even the centuries people and animals have been coming there for so many reasons? Not often I'd wager. It's easier to just know where the concession stand, restrooms and swimming area might be.

One of the things the new "America the Beau ...

Updated: Thu Jan 05, 2012

Is There a Modest Fortune in Your Pocket? for 12/29/2011

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0800

Not all of us can be as lucky as the man walking in a field in Ipswich, England or the couple working on a drain in their yard in Millau, France. Those people all recently found hoards of gold coins dating from 40 B.C. to 1789. The coins found in France were buried almost 300 years ago in a yard near what was the old Roman road in the town. The coins in England dated to the Iceni tribe that rev ...

Updated: Thu Dec 29, 2011

Colorful Gifts Could be Worth Less Than You Hope for 12/22/2011

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0800

I grew up under the premise that Santa makes his list and checks it twice. I've come to believe that doesn't happen. Naturally, I believe in Santa. I pretty much have to, given the number of less appealing things I've believed in that have fallen flat. In that respect Santa's always been a winner.

But considering the gazillions of people returning gifts the day after Christmas, the list- ...

Updated: Thu Dec 22, 2011

Publications Can Point the Way to Untold Riches for 12/15/2011

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0800

It's happened again last week. Someone won the lottery. Actually, three people did — all Wall Street money managers. They're supposed to be giving most of the money to charity. That's a refreshing change for the holidays.

That same week, another person found a small fortune. This time, it was both a matter of a little luck and an eagle eye. The latter was a stamp collector skimming ...

Updated: Thu Dec 15, 2011

Holiday Gifts Worthy of a President for 12/08/2011

Thu, 08 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0800

As nice as traditions may be, over time some tend to diminish while others disappear altogether. For instance, for as long as I can remember the absolute indication that Christmas was finally here was when I saw the Norelco shaver commercial with Santa riding on the razor head down a snow-covered hill. For the past few years, I haven't seen Santa on a razor.

Of course, new commercials ar ...

Updated: Thu Dec 08, 2011

Collectible Ornament Features a Hidden Tree for Your Tree for 12/01/2011

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0800

If Chicago is an indicator, the Christmas season is definitely here. They kicked it off in style last week with the annual Festival of Lights parade on Michigan Avenue. Santa was there as was I. He was there for the parade; I was there for ChicagoPEX. That stands for the Chicago Philatelic Exposition. Like the lights festival, it's been around for quite a while. In fact, this year was the 125th ...

Updated: Thu Dec 01, 2011

100 Trillion Reasons To Be Thankful This Year for 11/24/2011

Thu, 24 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0800

For the past few weeks, I've been offering holiday/Christmas gift ideas that might appeal to a collector you know. Not today. I've found something that, I think, most everyone would enjoy, find interesting and be curious about its history. Most importantly, it could be a gift that — current economic troubles aside — showcases just how good we actually have it. But, let's start at th ...

Updated: Thu Nov 24, 2011

God, War, Money and Christmas -- What Would Andy Say? for 11/17/2011

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0800

"Then pealed the bells more loud and deep,

God is not dead, nor doth He sleep,

The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,

With peace on earth, good will to men."

"I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day" — Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Andy Rooney died a little over a week ago. You can say a lot of things about Rooney's curt and c ...

Updated: Thu Nov 17, 2011

The Gift That Pleases More Than You Might Expect for 11/10/2011

Thu, 10 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0800

The movie "Fargo" isn't a film you would normally connect with the holidays. OK...there's no connection. Lots of snow but that's where the similarities end. The "Fargo" story — true as it was — revolved around a botched kidnapping, multiple deaths and a body being fed into a wood chipper. Not exactly a tale to read to kids on the "night before Christmas.&quo ...

Updated: Thu Nov 10, 2011

Plenty of Time to "Collect" Gifts for the Holidays for 11/02/2011

Wed, 02 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0700

As I reminded readers a week or so ago, the Christmas holidays are closer than most would like — right now less than 60 days away. In actuality, that's plenty of time for most anyone to shop, buy gifts, send out cards, buy a turkey and load a sleigh or two. But throw Halloween, Thanksgiving and however many school or work commitments in between, and it can become daunting.

Every ye ...

Updated: Wed Nov 02, 2011

This Year, Send the USPS a Holiday Gift for 10/27/2011

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0700

If nothing else, business today underscores the adage, "There's no such thing as a sure thing." For proof, just dial the clock back 50 or 75 years. Back then, a job at the phone or electric company assured a steady paycheck and a nice pension. The same was true with being a cop, firefighter, teacher or even a career soldier. Not anymore.

Now, layoffs and job losses are the norm ...

Updated: Thu Oct 27, 2011

‘My Collectibles Are Worth Only What?!' for 10/20/2011

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0700

I'm going to try something that might be impossible — write something that will appeal to both collectors of coins, stamps and similar collectibles as well as dealers of the same. That may not seem difficult, but given the mistrust so many people have for dealers whom they believe will try to "cheat" them when buying or selling coins it could be a Herculean task. Let me try.

...

Updated: Thu Oct 20, 2011

Gold Takes a Back Seat to a Lowly $349,000 Roosevelt Dime for 10/13/2011

Thu, 13 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Whether it's the price of gold and silver or the uncertainty of the global economy, people are asking more investment-related questions surrounding collectibles. Time to answer a few.

Dear Peter: I have to say my eyes are glazing over in regard to gold. Half the people I talk to say "Buy," and the other half screams "Sell!" I know you always say you don't have a cryst ...

Updated: Thu Oct 13, 2011

Gold Unseats Platinum as King of Metals for 10/06/2011

Thu, 06 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0700

If ever there was a time that validated the belief that nothing is permanent, last week had to be it — at least in the world of hobbies and/or investments. In fact, it was astounding enough to make many seasoned investors wonder just what's going on. Let me explain.

For the first time, since I believe, ever, the Holy Grail of metals aka platinum was unseated. That's r ...

Updated: Thu Oct 06, 2011