NEW DVD

Collecting Error Coins

by Ray Lockwood

NEW DVD

Photographic Numismatics

by Nicholas M. Graver

NEW DVD

ANA Coin Collecting Basics

with Jane Colvard and Christopher T. Connell

NEW DVD

Counterfeits, Fakes and Phonies

with Michael Marotta

   Money, Shillings, Shekels, Pounds and Pence, Pieces of Eight.  Dollars, Dinero, Lucre, Dough re me.  Cash. Coin of the Realm,  Gravy, Bread, Bank notes and Bills, Moolah.....Money provides a unique and fascinating insight into art, culture, religion and politics.  James Earl Jones guides you through a numismatic history lesson illustrating the coins and lives of Jesus Christ and Julius Caesar, Alexander the Great & Abraham Lincoln, Hercules and Daniel Boone.

Lansing Update, The Michigan Quarter (30 mins)

   The Michigan Quarter, Episode 14 with Rep. Steve Bieda

   Membership in the American Numismatic Associations opens the door to the exciting world of coin collecting!  Shot on location at ANA Headquarters and Money Museum in Colorado Springs, CO.  You will see and learn about:  the Hall of Nations, galleries and displays in the Money Museum, Odd and Curious items with Yap stone money...US Paper Money and the famous 1913 Nickel & 1804 Dollar, and much more.

Star Coins of History

from the Smithsonian Institution (75 mins)

    Elvira Clain-Stefanelli is a distinguished numismatic author and lecturer as well as Executive Director of the National Numismatic Collection at the Smithsonian Institute.  She presents a brief history of the Smithsonian, its founder James Smithson and the NNC since its inception in 1840.  Ms. Stefanelli show an awesome array of the most impressive coins in the National Collection including a Saint Gaudens Ultra High Relief, a Brasher Doubloon, the 1825 Russian Ruble of Constantine, a gold piece of Ferdinand & Isabella and many more. 

The Money Story  (33 mins)

Produced by The US Mint & Bureau of Engraving,

 a teaching guide for intermediate grades.

Pennsylvania’s Currency Signers, 1723-1785 (37 mins)

1991 Coinage of the Americas Conference, Joseph R. Lasser presenting. Colonial Williamsburg received Joseph R. Lasser's collection in 1997.  

   Learn which coins are the most difficult to find in top grade, how to avoid paying too much for your collection.  Larry Shepard  explains the mistakes most collectors make and outlines why you can pay top dollar for certain coins and still make a profit when they are sold.  Mr. Shepard shares why he picked commemoratives to collect and shows examples of some of the outstanding highlights from his collection and comments about each one.

Bank Notes: An Inter-Disciplinary Study (31 mins)

   The link between various collector items can be fascinating for collectors.  Coins and maps are found on bank notes as well as various other collector themes.  You will explore these related areas and will see ways to expand your perspective and collection by comparison of examples of these different items.

   Michael Hodder presents dramatic and possibly controversial conclusions regarding the authenticity, die manufacture, metal content date of issue and other aspects about this intriguing coin.

   Learn what designs and symbols on a modern small size bank note mean.  How different bills are printed, different ways paper money can be collected.  Tips on how to display and exhibit your collection and the benefits of belonging to a collector organization.

   The issues of the 1652 Pine Tree and Oak Tree Shillings and how much information about them remains unknown, the practice of bending a coin to “ward off witches” and how this was thought to have been done to Massachusetts coinage.  Examples of the roller presses, their development, difficulties of use, and the coin dies used with this striking process.  Conclusions that indicate that roller or rocker presses may have been responsible for part of the Massachusetts issue of Pine Tree and Oak Shillings. 

   You will be intrigued with colorful stories from the world of international bank notes.  Some of the tales include stories of the Chinese bank note engraver who ridiculed Japanese forces in World War II until his message was discovered and he was beheaded, the story of Idi Amin on the paper money of Uganda and much more.

   American paper money is extensive, in this video you will learn the difference in printing by engraving or typesetting and the advantages and disadvantages of each one, how notes printed with two colors were registered.  Examples of the different seals on Colonial paper money, the different symbols used on paper money to help the illiterate and much more.  

   Learn how to care for paper money and start a collection, also includes interviews with Paper money experts: Tom Denly, Len Glazer, Harry Jones, Dana Linett, Vernon “Ossie” Oswald and Hugh Shull.

   The Bust half dollar was the primary coin from 1806-1839 when no silver dollars were issued.  Learn about this challenging series from one of America’s leading experts, Sheridan Downey.

    See what it is like to to dive for sunken treasures and some of the dangers encountered in the water and how a diver deals with the different situations.  The amount of research involved to be able to locate a wreck site and where a researcher must go to find the necessary records, and how a treasure hunt is financed.  Examples of the treasure to be found including coins, muskets, silver bars, pottery, gold chains and more.

   During the 1800’s US large cents were often counterstamped by local merchants as a way to advertise their products and services.  Many of have markings that are very cryptic and hard to understand today unless researched.  You’ll see examples promoting merchants, gunsmiths jewelers, salves, medicines, hotels, politics and others including an in depth study of a Dr. Shattuck’s famous “water cure” counterstamp advertising.

Pirate ships and tales of gold and silver treasure have intrigued people for ages.  The estimates of how much wealth is resting on the ocean bottom waiting to be claimed are staggering.  Find out about the fascinating world of treasure hunting.

The Many Faces of Platinum (7.5 mins)

Produced by Platinum Guild International

   An introduction to the 18th century Token Coinage of Great Britain.  The regal coinage output of Great Britain was at best spotty during the latter half of the 18th century.  Small change, the backbone of the working man’s economy, was nearly nonexistent.  To alleviate this shortage and to pay their laborers many merchants produced halfpenny and farthing tokens.  As soon as collectors of the day showed an interest in these pieces, unscrupulous merchants and counterfeiters manufactured their own fabrications, thus destroying the economic integrity of the other tokens.

   Throughout the centuries, inflation has destroyed currencies and caused the disappearance of many coins.  You will learn the history of coinage from the 1500’s to the present and see how the coins and money of the time reflect the great inflations of each period.

      In this video you will see and learn:  examples of the oldest know Mormon medal from 1850, items from the Deseret Agricultural Society and the various state fairs, specimens of collectible silk ribbons & trade tokens including saloon tokens that show the Mormon Temple, and the most valuable Mormon medal, the Tiffany Badge, give to those who made the 1847 Trek to Utah.

   The Treaty of Versailles after World War I was a disaster for Germany.  The war reparations it was forced to pay were unreasonable and contributed to the extraordinary hyperinflation that occurred from 1919 to 1923.  Many unusual numismatic items came from this time period.  In this video you’ll see:  examples of German money prior to the inflation, bank notes that filled a wheelbarrow to buy a loaf of bread, examples of coins made of leather, coal, and other strange materials.

   The Columbian Exposition held in Chicago was the first world’s fair to take place in America with 14 countries and 38 states involved.  Learn how the idea for a world’s fair began in 1876 with the cities Chicago, New York, Washington and St. Louis competing.   America’s first commemorative coins, the Isabella quarter and Columbian half dollar, were created for the Expo.

   This compelling video presents one of the most profound eras in the history of mankind the transition from Paganism to Christianity, shown through coinage.  Various Christina symbols used on coinage and chronicles the evolution of the Cross.  Coins showing the portraits of Jesus Christ are illustrated as well as the rulers during the changeover of religions.  Anyone interested in ancient coins and the Christian religion will enjoy this important video.

Odd & Curious Money of Paradise:

Papua New Guinea  (53 mins)

   Learn where odd and curious money is found, types feathers and beetles used on ritual headdresses, birds of paradise that are used as money.  Examples of stone axes, cowrie shells, pigs teeth, turtle shells and other forms of primitive money

   Beginning and advanced collectors alike will find this information valuable in building their collection of Roman coins and medals.   This 2 1/2 hour presentation lasts almost as long as the Roman Empire.

   The 20th century experienced some of the worst examples of anti-Semitism practiced at the highest levels of government particularly in Nazi Germany.  Sterling Rachootin is a historian, collector, and retired school teacher.  He traces the development of this intense persecution by showing examples of different collectible items relating to this unfortunate time..

   In this video you will learn:  what the 4th & 5th century represent in western history, the transition from pagan to Christian, how the Roman Empire fill in 476 A.D. and was continued in Byzantium.  The different Emperors’ portraits on the coinage and how they changed overtime, controversies over Roman versus barbarian issues and much more

Most Modern Ancients:

Introduction to Byzantine Coinage (42 mins)

   In this video you will see and learn:  how the Edict of Milan in 313 A. D. Legalized Christianity, the definition of Byzantine and its time period.  Coins that continued to be produced with pagan symbols.  Greek and Roman lettering used on coins, the pay of a Byzantine soldier, the money used, and how it equates with today’s wages, the first image of Christ on a gold coin and the different renderings used