I was just reading about the 1909 ANA Convention in Montreal and taking a headcount of all of those who attended.

One of the attendees was Chicago coin dealer Theophile Leon.

Leon operated the Chicago Coin Company (not to be confused by today's iteration of the Chicago Coin Company of 6455 W. Archer Ave., the junior dealership was founded in 1955). Others in attendance were E. H. Adams, the Chapman brothers, Thomas Elder, J. M. Henderson, Frank C. Higgins, H.O. Granberg, Elmer Sears, Howland Wood and Farran Zerbe.

I mention him because it was probably an advertisement placed in the back pages of the August 1909 issue that inspired Leon to purchase a price guide by Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based auction researcher C. H. Shinkle entitled U.S. Coin Values and Lists, 1909 Edition (the second of three, and an update of his 1905 edition).

Shinkle's ad described the book this way:

The 20-page booklet contains lists of rare U.S. Coins, Private Gold Issues (including fractional gold pieces known at the time), $50 gold coins, U.S. pattern cents and other information. The cost was $1.00

I know that Leon purchased the book because Kolbe & Fanning are currently offering his copy for sale on numislit.com for the very reasonable price of $35. I'm tempted to buy it and may do just that if one of our readers doesn't pick it up first!

Numismatics is a hobby of connections - of people, personalities and coins.

Oftentimes, taking time to read about yesterday's hobby can be every bit as enriching and exciting as picking up a new coin for the collection.

To read the complete article, see:
Vintage Numismatic Books - U.S. Coin Values and Lists by C. H. Shinkle (www.coinweek.com/expert-columns/charles-morgan/vintage-numismatic-books-u-s-coin-values-lists-c-h-shinkle/)