N.O.W. News

28 Pages·1991·1.5 MB·English

by  Numismatists of Wisconsin

WISCONSIN
NUMISMATISTS
OF
VOLUME 29 NUMBER 2 JUNE 1991
ONE HUNDREDTH
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NUMISMATICS
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ANNIVERSARY
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Buy Sell
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Appraisals
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Stamps
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vv Mint Errors - Coin Books
Len Roosmalen
LES BURZINSKI Jy
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COLLECTOR OF Hilldale Shopping Center
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POTTY COINS 702 N. Midvale Blvd, B-10
2105 Oakridge Avenue • Madison, Wl 53704 Madison, Wl 53705
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608-244-7314 [phone]
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,UV . SELL COINS * STAMPS AMATEUR HISTORIAN - FREE LANCE WRITER
BASEBALL CAROS
Madison Coin and Stamp ^ercz/d <S.
1123 South Park St 1921 CHASESTREET
Madison. Wl 53713 WISCONSIN RAPIDS, WISCONSIN 54494
( Phone 608 237 ©698
TOKENS
BOB LEE JIM GEISE COLLECTOROF OFWISCONSIN
1
SMITH
E. V.
*i.:.
481 E. DIVISION STREET
FONDDULAC,WISCONSIN54935 LES BURZINSKI
COLLECTOR OF
STAMPS & COINS COMMUNION TOKENS
J
BoughtandSold
2105 Oakridge Avenue • Madison, Wl 53704
NOW APS ATA 608-244-7314
ANA. C N A CSNS GABY
L M 1888 16790 L M 201 1 Collectibles Fax A8008A--22578S--8MM021
Peter W. Phillips
Peter D. Gaby
3329 Wells Ave
Madison, Wl 53714
[phone]
SilverArtBart•TokensA Medals FrankfinMint
MedallicAn•CoinsAStamps•SportANon-SportCards
GamblingTokensAChips•PrisonTokensARelatedItems
NOW ILLNA MOON N A MCC PO Box 4822 Mad.son Wl 53711
| 1
NUMISMATISTS
OF
WISCONSIN
NUMISMATISTS OF WISCONSIN CONTACT'S
HAVE A PROBLEM OR QUESTION WITH YOUR NUMISMATISTS OF WISCONSIN MEMBERSHIP?
Area of concern: Person to contact:
NOW NOW NOW NOW NOW NOW NOW NOW NOW NOW NOW NOW NOW NOW NOW NOW NOW NOW NOW
General questions, complaints Michael Tramte
and suggestions 1019 Alpine Drive
Green Bay, WI 54311
NOW NOW rWW NOW NOW NOW NO-/ NOW NOW NOW NOW NOW NOW NOW NOW NOW NOW NOW NOW
Fiiture Convention Bids Randy Miller
Local Show Co—ordmator P.O. Box 254
Oshkosh, WI 54902
NOW NOW NOW NOW NOW NOW NOW NOW NOW NOW NOW NOW NOW NOW NOV NOW NOW NOW NOV
Dues payment Ron Calkins
New Membership Applications P.O- Box 155
Request for Membership Brochures Mazamanie, WI 53560
Membership Cards
Failure to receive NOW NEWS
NOV NOV NOV NOW NOW NOV NOV NOW NOW NOV NOW NOW NOW NOW NOW NOW NOV NOW NOW
NOW Advertising Rates Peter Phillips
NOW Advertising Billing 3329 Wells Avenue
NOV Advertising Deadlines Madison, WI 53714
It) place a NOV ad
NOV NOW NOV NOV NOV NOV NOV NOW NOV NOW NOV NOV NOW NOW NOW NOW NOW NOV NOV
Letters to the Editor Peter Phillips
To submit a NOV article 3329 Wells Avenue
Coin Club Calendar Listings Madison, WI 53714
News of Local Club Activities
Business Card Ads
NOW NOV NOW NOW NOW NOW NOW NOW NOW NOW NOV NOW NOW NOW NOW NOW NOW NOW NOW
PRESIDENT’S OPINION
As you will see elsewhere in this issue
the auction of material donated by the
Oshkosh Coin Club to NOW was extremely
successful. NOW made approximately
$500 from the auction in addition to
the cash that was previously donated by
the Oshkosh Coin Club. It is to bad
that the OCC disbanded but they were
very generous to NOW in the donation of
their assets. In total there were
seven bidders, with five submitting
winning bids.
think blinked and missed Spring. The weather has gone from the 30’s and
I I
40 's to the high QO's over the weekend. My body needs some time to adjust to
the warmer weather and as usual we didn't get any. Unfortunately the nearest
coin show was in St. Louis and the conflict with Mother’s Day led to staying
in Green Bay and working around the house.
The next big exciting event will be the 100th Anniversary ANA Convention in
Chicago-. If you have never attended an ANA convention it is well worth the
time and money to go. The array of material available to purchase and the
displays are outstanding, in addition to the meetings of all the speciality
groups makes for a very enjoyable time. Unfortunately it takes several days
to take everything in and thats where the costs can become prohibitive. There
is an ANA Convention update elsewhere in this issue.
Since January have been able to add several interesting pieces to my
I
collection starting with a 1796 S83 large cent in VG-8, which acquired at
I
one of the local shows. The piece is somewhat rare in that it rates a R5-,
which relates to less than 75 pieces known. I was also lucky to obtain a
Green Bay Civil War Store Card from A. Kimboll (250C-lb) in brass which was an
R9 (2 known) but now is an R8 (3 to 4 known). It seems like a nice selection
of material in Wisconsin CWSC s is available right now.
'
From what I’ve seen at local shows and read in the numismatic press it appears
that the collectors are coming back into the market. That is definitely a
good sign for the hobby. The slabbing of coins, investor market and the
artifical transactions to build up coin prices have hurt the hobby more than
anything in recent memory. Nothing would be better than the hobby going back
to being more collector oriented.
Numi smatical ly yours,
-5-
SHOW
CALENDAR
Show Chairmen are invited to send announcements of upcoming coin shows in
the Wisconsin Area. The Show Calendar is intended to assist collectors
and dealers in planning their show attendance. It is also designed to aid
show sponsors in avoiding date conflicts. Show dates will be listed up to
12 months in advances and show sponsors are encouraged to submit dates for
future shows. Please include the city where the show will be held, official
name of the show, show dates, times and location, as well as the name,
address and phone number of the show or bourse chairman. Send to: Randy
Miller, P.0. Box 254, Oshkosh, WI 54902.
RICE LAKE, WI - JUNE 8, 1991
Barron County Coin Club. Senior Citizen's Center, 12 W. Humbird Street. S.
Peterson, 128 Chamberlain Street, Rice Lake, WI 54868. Saturday.
RHINELANDER, WI - JUNE 22-23, 1991
Rhinelander Northwoods Stamp & Coin Club Show. Nicolet College, LRC Bldg.,
Hwy G. Bill Reardon, Eagle River, WI 54521.
SIREN, WI - AUGUST 3, 1991
Fish Bowl Wooden Nickel Coin Club. Siren Convention Center, 24049 1st
Avenue N. Gary Schauls, Route 3, Luck, WI 54853.
BARABOO, WI - AUGUST 11, 1991
Baraboo Coin Club. Holiday Inn, Hwy 13, Wisconsin Dells. Robert Blaschke,
P.O. Box 420, Baraboo, WI 53919. Sunday 9-5.
CHICAGO, IL - AUGUST 12-18, 1991
AMERICAN NUMISMATIC ASSOCIATIONS 100th ANNIVERSARY CONVENTION WILL BE HELD
AT THE ROSEMONT/O HARE EXPOSITION CENTER. GENERAL CHAIRMAN: JOHN WILSON,
'
P.O. BOX 27185, MILWAUKEE, WI 53227. CHECK THIS ISSUE FOR MORE INFORMATION.
ROCKFORD, IL - SEPTEMBER 22, 1991
Rockford Coin Club. Howard Johnson Motor Lodge, 3909 11th Street, Rockford,
IL. Hwy. 251, South. Ralph Winquest, 1004 C Street, Rockford, IL 61107.
ELROY, WI - OCTOBER 13, 1991
Tomah Coin Club Fall Show. American Legion Club, Elroy, WI 53929. William
E. Rabe, Rt 4, Box 345, Tomah, WI 54660. Sunday 9-4.
OCONQMOWOC, WI - OCTOBER 13, 1991
Cooney Coin Club. Oconomowoc Canmunity Center, 324 W. Wisconsin Avenue. Len
Schact, 731 Browning Circle, Oconomowoc, WI 53066. Sunday 8-5.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 25.
^orlb €xonunua Presents
The Upcoming Auction of
The Robert C. Kraft Collection
of
Wisconsin War Tokens
Civil
Over 540 Different Varieties
Numerous RARE & Desirable Off-Metals
Many UNIQUE tokens. Error Pieces
Complete Merchant Set
Most are "Finest-Known”
This incredible collection will be sold as individual lots in our upcoming September
mail bid sale. Lots will be available for viewing at our June 28-30 Milwaukee
MidAmerica table and our ANA August Chicago Convention table. A seperate
reference book will be published with each piece pictured, articles, and detailed auc-
tion and rarity information. There are no minimum bids, NO BUYER’S FEE. See the
auction catalog for full details and bidding guidelines. Over 2000 lots of CWT, early
tokens, medals, World’s Fair and MORE!
Interested collectors should begin planning now for this fabulous sale. If you collect
Wisconsin, here is the opportunity of a lifetime to purchase the most incredible Civil
War Token collection ever offered at auction. This is the Fuld-Watson-Hartzog-Kraft
collection, the finest and most complete collection ever assembled, with an average
grade of CHOICE UNCIRCULATED. The reference book and auction catalog will be
available by advance subscription only.
"The Kraft Collection of WI CWT” Reference Book
Orders received prior to 31 July $6.50
Orders received after 1 Aug. (Sent UPS or AIR) $15.00
The l&orlfc Cxonnmia Auction Catalog (2000+ Lots!)
Orders received prior to 31 July will include this and the NEXT catalog
(2 sale subscription WITH Prices Realized) $15.00
Orders received after 1 Aug. (Sent UPS or AIR) for this catalog only $15.00
REFERENCE BOOK and two AUCTION CATALOGS $21.50
HJorlb Cxonumia Auctions
Rich Hartzog
POB 4143BFF Rockford IL 61 1 10-0643 [phone]
-7-
Full Circle
WISCONSIN CIVIL WAR TOKENS
By: Gene Johnson (NOW #41), WNWA
The full-page ad in the Spring issue of Wisconsin civil war collection. He
NOW News, advertising the auction of proceeded to pull out a bag full of
540 Wisconsin Civil War Tokens, stirred coppers and let me pick out any I wanted
some pleasant memories concerning the for 3/$1.00. I recall selecting 3 pieces,
but cannot recall which merchant/city
roots and origins of these desirable
were represented.
token collectibles. The auction offering
by World Exonumia of Rockford, now
called "The Robert C. Kraft Collection,"
in reference to owner Bob Kraft (NOW
#1447) of Madison, Wisconsin, is a
fabulous gathering of off-metal, and
extremely high-grade Wisconsin civil
war merchant tokens, each 1000 times
VDB
scarcer than the 1909-S cent. Like
many rare coin and paper money
transactions, the rarer Wisconsin civil
tokens have pedigrees, listing previous
owners, and where and when obtained.
Surprisingly, the rarity of these I later discussed my purchase with
(NOW
friend, Chet Krause #1-L), and
Wisconsin storecards has decreased in
much to my surprise, found Chet had a
recent years, an odd scenario of supply
small collection of Wisconsin pieces
and demand, that thru huge increases in
himself. Chet had obtained some tokens
price has increased the supply of some
thru Bowers and Ruddy, these being
tokens 20-fold!
duplicates from the Hetrich-Guttag
collection that was sold to the Fulds.
Collecting civil war tokens in 1958 was
Other pieces came from an A.N.A.
pretty much like most other token
auction conducted by Harold
collecting, a low profile, almost
Whitekneck. With this unusual bond (at
embarrassing offshoot of Wisconsin
this time), soon afterward, at a hotel in
numismatics.
Milwaukee, Chet introduced me to a
(NOW
My veteran collector, Jim Hannifan
first exposure to the Wisconsin Civil
#1164), who sold or traded Chet a
War merchant token was at the coin shop
NOW handful of Wisconsin civil war merchant
of Hubert Polzer (past #40) of
tokens. Jim Hannifan, who now writes
Milwaukee. After purchasing an NOW
uncirculated 1931-S for my Lincoln cent stories for News, was in 1958, a
man well ahead of his time, already a
collection, ($3.10), Polzer told me that
long-time collector of U.S. and foreign
since my coin collections were nearly
coins, and into tokens earlier than
complete, perhaps I should think about a
anyone I know in Wisconsin.
!
- -
8
Active Wisconsin civil war token from Iowa) were now held by Watson and
collectors in the mid-1960s now Jim Medd of Green Bay. Doug Watson got
included Tom Fruit, Jim Medd (NOW his start in Wisconsin civil war
#15-L), Ray Leitz (NOW #203) and merchants when he traded key and semi-
Doug Watson (NOW #399). Competition key Lincoln cents for duplicate merchant
for Wisconsin civil war storecards was tokens that were part of the Johnson
fierce! collection. Soon after, Doug obtained
many high-condition pieces from an
In 1965, with a waning interest in civil auction in Michigan that featured
war tokens, and again with the urging of thousands of civil war storecards. Jim
Chet Krause, began cataloging Medd's tokens came from around the
I
Wisconsin trade tokens, and sold the state, and some Krause/Johnson
Krause/Johnson Civil War collection of duplicates (including the rare
287 pieces to Gerald Shepherd (NOW Oconomowoc).
#712) of Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Gerald Shepherd (NOW #712) of Cedar
Shepherd built a beautiful competitive Rapids, Iowa, continued to exhibit the
exhibit display using the Merchant Krause/Johnson/Shepherd Wisconsin
storecards, and exhibited often in collection in the early 1970s, and add
Wisconsin, frequently competing against more tokens to this set.
Doug Watson, who also had an award-
winning exhibit of Wisconsin Civil War In 1970, Doug Watson purchased the
storecards. Shepherd actively continued Wisconsin section of the Fuld collection,
to add to the "Krause/Johnson/ adding many new tokens to his set and
Shepherd" collection, often by mail bid making it the largest and finest
and auctions. A classic example was Wisconsin collection in existence. In
adding the ultra-rare Genesee Station this acquisition, Doug added the
token from the auction list of complete sets of off-metal pieces from
Christiansen & Stone. Shep called an Fond du Lac, and East Troy, and
hour before the auction closed and numerous copper-nickel rarities from
stayed on the phone protecting his bid other Wisconsin cities.
until the ladies closed the bids at
midnight. Now that is a token In 1972, the Civil War Token Society,
collector! with Watson spearheading the layout
work, published the "Large Volume" for
Meanwhile, Doug Watson (NOW #399, George and Melvin Fuld, which still is
who was employed by Chet Krause, the standard reference for collecting
published a 51 -page booklet in 1968 civil war storecards. It is called "U.S.
entitled, "Illustrated Guide to Wisconsin Civil War Storecards".
Civil War Tokens". This book would
later be the basis of the Wisconsin In 1976, another Wisconsin civil war
section of the 1972 Fuld "Large Volume". token collector came onto the local scene.
(NOW
Rich Hartzog #33-L), from nearby
The 2 largest Wisconsin civil war token Rockford, Illinois, had built an excellent
collections in the state (Shepherd being collection of Illinois civil war tokens.
-9-
The Johnson collection of civil war
tokens developed slowly, since most At this time there was very little
bourse dealers on the Wisconsin scene interest in Civil War tokens within the
didn't bother with tokens, and didn't state, although Tom Fruit of Green Bay
bring along their "Junk Boxes" to the (NOW #15) assembled a Green Bay
shows. This modest collection received a merchant set and had other pieces, as I
major boost when Chet Krause sold me recall.
his collection, doubling my holdings in
one transaction! In 1962, a new and easily obtainable 96-
page booklet, "A Guide to Civil War
The "Bible" of civil war token collecting Store Card Tokens" was published
at the time (1958) was "Civil War by George and Melvin Fuld. The booklet
Tokens and Tradesmens Cards" by listed only merchants, but was
Hetrich & Guttag, a very scarce and responsible for a much larger interest in
expensive book that had been published state collecting of civil war tokens. The
in 1924. Fuld book listed 45 Wisconsin towns
that had a merchant issuing tokens, with
By 1960, with most of my circulated U.S. a total of 522 varieties (although they
coin collections complete, Wisconsin were not defined). The Fuld's had
civil war and transportation tokens earlier purchased the reference tokens
became my primary collecting interest. of the Hetrich & Guttag collection.
There were few Wisconsin civil war By 1963 the Krause/Johnson Wisconsin
tokens to be found thru Wisconsin civil war token collection had grown to
collectors, so the U.S. Mail became a national proportions. George Fuld had
lifeline to fellow civil war tradesmen mailed the Wisconsin section of HIS
collectors in other states.. master (national) collection to Wisconsin
Rapids for cataloging and rarity
evaluation. A mimeograph listing was
created, and plans were made for a
"Large Volume" civil war token book to
be published by Whitman Publishing of
Racine. George Fuld was to be the editor,
with Johnson, Robert Hailey, Virginia
Culver and Donald Shamm as co-editors.
In all of this, quietly, but effectively
bridging the national to Wisconsin
communication gap was the
entrepreneur, Chet Krause.
The eastern part of the nation was an
excellent source of Wisconsin's scarcer Shortly afterward, George Fuld became
tokens. Some of the most difficult town seriously ill, and the "Large Volume"
tokens, Beloit, Oconomowoc, Juneau and was put on hold, only to surface 8 years
Ripon, came from New Hampshire and later.
Indiana.
-10-
Having lived in Wisconsin while he Hartzog business known as "World
attended school at Platteville, he "liked" Exonumia". Hartzog continued to
Wisconsin civil war storecards. Hartzog improve the collection, tho making one
heard through the grapevine that the crucial error, since the Wisconsin
AU
300+ Krause/Johnson/Shepherd token collection now was almost completely
collection was available for sale in Cedar and uncirculated, there was one glaring
Rapids, so with a friend, Jon Harris, he problem, the Oconomowoc token was only
traveled to that city to purchase the set. Fine/Very Fine, needing upgrading. It
Although some pieces were "pulled" was sold, and Rich was never able to find
from the set, he sold the majority to a better specimen!
(NOW
dealer, Walter Korsick, #66-L) for
a profit. Interestingly, Kurt Kruger, In 1986, Hartzog, who like Krause,
(NOW #16-L) of Iola, purchased many of Johnson, Shepherd and Watson before
these tokens, including the Oconomowoc, him, had experienced the joy of the
to form a collection, but later was forced chase, known the pride of possession,
to sell the uncompleted set. and the satisfaction of adding to the
"finest" Wisconsin Civil War token
NOW
collection, sold the collection to
Past-President, Bob Kraft, of Madison.
With the enthusiasm born of new
challenge. Bob Kraft added to the already
huge collection, researched rarities, and
loved every minute of his steward
ownership.
Now, in August of 1991, once again,
"THE"
Wisconsin civil war storecard
collection is being offered for sale, much
Later, in 1976, Hartzog, now more than to the interest of newly-retired Chet
ever interested in Wisconsin storecards, Krause of Iola.
heard the Fuld/Watson collection was for
sale. Hartzog journeyed to Scandinavia, Chet, who has one of the best Hard Times
Wisconsin to Doug's home, bought the token collections in existence, Is
collection, and soon after bought a 300+ building a Wisconsin civil war storecard
grouping of high-grade Wisconsin tokens set, using as a base a number of pieces
that had been part of the Colonel Green obtained in Kurt Kruger’s 1990 mail
holdings. sale.
After integrating the now So... what goes around, comes around!
KrauselJohnson/Shepherd!FuldlWatson/ The 33-year odyssey of the building of
Green/Hartzog" collection. Rich sold off this extraordinary set of tokens
the duplicates in a 2-phase auction in continues, in the numismatic hotbed
1977, which was the start of the called WISCONSIN!