Koenings History

In 1954, at the age of 12, I searched through my father’s change one night and found a 1906 V-Nickel. It only graded G-4 or so, but it was enough to start me collecting coins. In the mid 1960’s, I developed an interest in Capped Bust Dimes and at one point had all of the 1968 Red Book varieties except for the year 1822. I believe I sold them in 1971, not knowing if they were rare or not. In 1977, I became interested in half cents and joined “Early American Coppers”. However, my interest ended in 1982. There were simply too many other copper collectors. Then a Life Changing Event occurred in October, 1984. At the Long Beach Coin Show, I purchased 3 Capped Bust Dimes with holes in them for $5. They were 1811, 1814 and 1824.

I soon discovered there were different die varieties and searched for a reference book. My answer came in the January 9, 1985 issue of “Coin World” when they announced the new book “Early United States Dimes 1796-1837” by David J. Davis, Russell J. Logan, Allen F. Lovejoy, John W. McCloskey and William L. Subjack (EUSD). This led to an organization called the John Reich Collectors Society (JRCS) and I became JRCS #048. The 3 holed Capped Bust Dimes also led to my interest in holed U. S. coins.

In 2009, I purchased Jules Reiver’s ” Variety Identification Manual for United States Reeded Edge Half Dollars 1836 – 1839″ on ebay and that led to my current interest in Reeded Edge Half Dollars. – Jim Koenings