As a collector, or hoarder as I'm referred to after forty-seven years at this thing, there have always been those coins which are only but a dream to one day hold in my hands. The 1804 dollar, the 1870 s quarter and so forth. Then there are those with low mintage totals, the 1916 d Mercury dime or the 1909 s VDB Lincoln, largely out of reach to most.  Even in grades of good or very-good 8 they are quite pricey, unappealing against the others within the series. Over the past few months I've shifted to similar coins, low mintage or low survival figures, that are by definition true rarities. Coins with mintages one-tenth that of the mentioned 1916 d dime for an astoundingly low price compared to that in a grade of about-good.  One coin in particular recently acquired in a perfect proof 70 ultra cameo for $264.00. The 2016 Winged Liberty.              Enjoy!

When people think of the men who built America, as depicted and portrayed in the History Channel program of the same name, likely thoughts instantly turn to Andrew Carnegie, Henry Ford, J.P. Morgan, John Rockefeller or any on a long list of inventive pioneers. While this may be true, and quite deserving, the real credit belongs to those forgotten many who did the labor. Those who, by no stretch wealthy, built things with their hands. True craftsman who's pride echoes long since they passing if those of us look close enough. The token referenced along with the title is this week's subject.         Enjoy!

Recalling the subject of last week's blog, things which the mint got right, somehow the discussion felt incomplete. Like coins themselves having two sides. Rather than harp on all the frustrations brought on lately by the resulting actions of both Mint and Treasury officials, the topic of the week will focus on two major failures of several since it's creation. Both eerily familiar under near exact circumstances, giving meaning to the blog title. The simple failure to learn from history.                                             Enjoy!