The American Numismatic Association was founded in 1891 by George F. Heath, a medical doctor who practiced in Monroe, Michigan, and who served several terms as mayor of that town. Heath was an intellectual giant, and to him coins were the passport to the streets of ancient Rome, the English court of Queen Anne, and to a ringside seat at the battles fought by Napoleon. His writings reveal that he could quote Greek and Latin at will, was familiar with classic literature, and was a philosopher. Coin collecting, Heath asserted, provided the possibility for a richer, fuller life, one filled with happiness and satisfaction.

For several years during the late 1980s I researched and wrote The American Numismatic Association Centennial History, a volume commissioned by the Board of Governors of the ANA, and published in two volumes, totaling 1,768 pages, in 1991. In the course of doing this I read through all issues of The Numismatist, the official publication of the ANA, from the earliest numbers down to the present time. Time and time again I read of the rewards of numismatics experienced by those who followed the hobby. While many contributors undoubtedly experienced great financial success, the memory of profits was fleeting. Such aspects as the pleasures of completing a collection, the enjoyment of meeting and knowing fellow hobbyists, the excitement in tracking down historical information pertaining to a newly acquired specimen, the reading of a truly interesting book or catalogue, and the satisfaction of accomplishing something worthwhile seemed to have the best and longest-lasting effect.

American coins touch upon virtually every aspect of history. Crudely struck Massachusetts Pine Tree shillings dated 1652, if bent twice, are said to have been ideal for warding off witches; that piece in your collection may have been in Judge Samuel Sewall's pocket when he presided over the Salem witch trials. That Carson City silver dollar may indeed have been spent in a poker game in Virginia City. President Theodore Roosevelt may have flipped that 1891 Liberty nickel or 1907 Indian cent to settle a bet. The possibilities are endless.

Building a Collection of Morgan Dollars

Earlier, I touched upon the Carson City Mint, the Comstock Lode, and other considerations in connecting with the minting of Morgan silver dollars. Now I will discuss forming a complete collection of dollars of this design. The discipline is representative and simply illustrates a procedure. The illustration could have been of any other series as well. I will try to put myself in the shoes of a client, one who doesn't mind expending some effort. If I were forming a set of Morgan dollars 1878-1921, I would do the following, but I admit that I might be going overboard a bit, and that the typical reader of these words is apt to be more casual: