Redbook Prices
Regarding the discussion on how Whitman Publishing derives prices for A Guide Book of United States Coins, James Higby writes:

Thoughts from Joe Boling
Joe Boling writes:

ANA Numismatic Theatre
Brad Karoleff writes:

Seldom-Seen Denominations
Granvyl Hulse writes:

On a related note, Colin Gullberg writes:

PUT YOURSELF in Mike Bolesta's place. On the morning of Feb. 20, he buys a new radio-CD player for his 17-year-old son Christopher's car. He pays the $114 installation charge with 57 crisp new $2 bills, which, when last observed, were still considered legitimate currency in the United States proper. The $2 bills are Bolesta's idea of payment, and his little comic protest, too.

For this, Bolesta, Baltimore County resident, innocent citizen, owner of Capital City Student Tours, finds himself under arrest.

Finds himself, in front of a store full of customers at the Best Buy on York Road in Lutherville, locked into handcuffs and leg irons.

Bolesta was then taken to the county police lockup in Cockeysville, where he sat handcuffed to a pole and in leg irons while the Secret Service was called in.

"At this point," he says, "I'm a mass murderer."

Finally, Secret Service agent Leigh Turner arrived, examined the bills and said they were legitimate.

To read the complete article, see:A tale of customer service, justice and currency as funny as a $2 bill(articles.baltimoresun.com/2005-03-08/news/0503080089
_1_bolesta-pole-baltimore-county)

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:NEW HAMPSHIRE MERCHANT GETS ATTENTION WITH SELDOM SEEN DENOMINATIONS(www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v13n28a23.html)

Charities Mail Coins With Donation Pleas
Joel Orosz writes:

A growing number of charities across the USA are taking a nickel-and-dime approach to encourage donations by mail, despite some evidence that including coins in solicitations turns off potential donors.

Paul Bobnak, director for "Who's Mailing What!" a service that collects data on direct mail operations, says the company's records show the use of coins in charity mailings is increasing this year after several years of decline.

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society did a mailing in April 2010, some with coins and some without, says Bruny Lynch, the national director of direct response fundraising. The envelopes with nickels earned 75% more than the others, Lynch said.

"Generally speaking, our coin package outperforms things we test against it two to one, " says Nick Ellinger, vice president of strategic outreach for Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

Kristi Kirschner, a mother of four from Springfield, Va., remembers being surprised to see a nickel attached to a UNICEF letter. It said 5 cents could save a child's life and asked her to return the coin with a donation.

"I think it's sort of a guilt tactic," Kirschner said. "I don't know how many nickels they send out, but that's got to add up to a lot of money." She said, "It wasn't my nickel, so I sent it back" � without a donation.

To read the complete article, see:Charities mail out coins, hope for larger return(www.usatoday.com/news/sharing/2010-07-14-charity-coins_N.htm)