When Chet Krause created the Numismatic News at his mother's kitchen table in 1952, he was an avid coin collector looking for ways to connect with fellow collectors.

This year marks the 60th anniversary of that first coin-collector publication, which eventually spawned Krause Publications and the numerous magazines, books, events and online products it currently produces. Krause was acquired by Cincinnati-based F+W Media in 2002.

After starting the Numismatic News, Krause expanded by buying a second magazine, Coin Press, in 1961, and then in 1964 started a book division with "Confederate and Southern States Currency." He then decided to branch out into other leisure-time periodicals, launching Old Cars Weekly magazine in 1971 and Baseball Cards magazine in 1981. The company now offers more than 40 periodicals and 750 reference and how-to books.

Dave Harper, editor of the Numismatic News, who has been with the company for almost 34 years, said the longevity of the company's first publication is simple.

"People who collect coins always want to know what's out there and what it is worth," Harper said.

Scott Tappa, publisher of Krause's numismatics group, which includes the Numismatic News, said he believes the future of the magazine, along with the other publications in the group, always will be a mix between print and online.

"I don't think we'll see our print product go away. There are people who still want that in their hands," Tappa said. "We have loyal customers, and what they are doing is giving us the chance to evolve and offer them some new products."

Tappa pointed out that the introduction of websites NumisMaster.com and NumismaticNews.com, email, Facebook and Twitter along with its publications help the numismatics group reach some 370,000 people per month. The Numismatic News currently has a paid circulation of about 31,000.

To read the complete article, see:Coin-collector magazine that spawned Krause Publications celebrates 60th year(www.wisconsinrapidstribune.com/article/20120209/CWS03/302090095
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