After about a year and a half, the coin dealer I was working for had to go out of business due to health reasons. During my time there I had met Mr. Graeme M. Ton Jr., of Gulfport, Mississippi,who was one of the leading small-size U.S. note dealers in the country. Mr. Ton not only quickly befriended me, he also gathered me under his wings and started helping mold me into a paper-moneydealer. One day he called to put me in touch with another prominent dealer in U.S. obsolete currency, Mr. Don Fisher, of Decatur, Illinois. Don had a deal of about $1,200 worth of CSA notes he wantedto sell. Mr. Ton told him of me and suggested that I buy them. When Don called me I knew right away it was a great deal for the price. Part of it was 50 consecutive 1861 $50 notes (T-8's) in choicegrade. They were in an original envelope from the French consulate in New Orleans-with writings and the seal attached, in French! After agreeing to a deal with Don where I could sell the notes andpay for them over time, I was off and running.

It was that group of CSA notes, a small group of CSA bonds, and a few other miscellaneous notes that served as my first sales offering to collectors in the spring of 1976. It was a simplehand-typed, double-spaced one-page listing on front and back, with one-fourth of it filled with hot air!

During this early period in my career, I met Mr. Austin M. Sheheen Jr., of Camden, South Carolina. He is well known as being the "King of S.C. Paper Money" collectors. He wrote the definitivereference on this subject in 1960 and updated it with his superb 2003 edition. This relationship sparked my interest in collecting South Carolina notes and it has been a very rewarding experienceover the years. Austin's friendship and guidance has been a cornerstone in helping me during my years of being in the paper money business and hobby.

Another person that became a very good friend early on was Dr. Douglas B. Ball of New York City. Having Doug as a friend and mentor was very beneficial as his expertise on Southern States currencywas always available when I needed it. His untimely passing was a great loss to all in our field.

Shortly after moving back home to South Carolina in 1977, I met paper-money dealer Thomas Denly of Boston, Massachusetts, who had started his business just prior to the start of mine. We becamequick friends and for 30 years he has always been there to share his vast knowledge of paper money and help in any way that he can. (If only he were just a better fisherman!)

All of those mentioned played significant roles in the foundation and development of my career. Their contributions greatly enhanced my being able to write this book and I have very deep feelingsfor all of them.

To read the complete article, see:
The enigma of Southern States currency (http://news.coinupdate.com/the-enigma-of-southern-states-currency/)