Two of the more frequent heard complaints we hear concern (1) the lack of knowledge about which coins exist, and which don’t, (2) the lack of a good system to keep track of the coins one owns. We have decided to address both of these issues here at Mexican Coin Magic.
There are some, if not many, computer programs that you can purchase today for keeping a coin inventory. Some are expensive, others cheap. Some are good, and some aren’t. But one thing they all have in common is that they require many keystrokes on a computer to enter your coins into some type of inventory database.
Some people love to work on the computer. Others would rather go to the dentist to have a tooth extracted rather than work on a computer. It doesn’t matter into which one of these categories you fall, we are going to try to help resolve a dilemma that has existed for far too long.
You won’t have to spend a lot of money, nor hours upon hours working on a computer to do this, either. We’re going to start this project by giving you two free checklists. Later, if you want more, let us know? The first two checklists currently available are:
[907a] The FoxLair Republican 20 Pesos Checklist©
[907b] The FoxLair Republican 2 Reales Checklist©
I hope you have a color printer because we have color-coded much of the information in order to make items easier to find, and to make the information presented on the checklist more useful. Don’t despair if you don’t have a color printer or a colored ink cartridge; you will see various shades of grey. Let’s use The FoxLair Mexican Republic 20 Pesos Checklist© as our working example of how to use this kind of document.
Here is what is in each of the 13 columns in the FoxLair Mexican Republic 20 Pesos Checklist© and what each tells you:
Column 1: How many, if any, scans we have for this variety; there is a total at the end of each mint for the number of scans for that mint by denomination currently found in The FoxLair Reference Collection©
Column 2: Indicates that this coin is a unique DAM (Date/Assayer/Mintmark); there is a total at the end of each mint for the number of DAMs in that mint by denomination
Column 3: Indicates an individual variety; there is a total at the end of each mint for the number of varieties in that mint by denomination
Column 4: Lists the individual two-part FoxLair Rarity Number© assigned to a single DAM, or sometimes a variety
Column 5: Lists the individual FoxLair Unique Number© for each DAM and variety
Column 6: Lists the Date found on that coin
Column 7: Lists the assayer’s initial, or initials found on the coin
Column 8: Lists the mintmark
Column 9: Lists the Major variety information (OverDates, OverAssayers, Die Style, etc.)
Column 10: Lists the Style of Eagle, if known
Column 11: Indicates Special comments about this coin
Column 12: Is blank so you may insert the Grade of the coin you own
Column 13: Is blank so you may insert comments about your coin or other information
Pretty simple isn’t it?
Now let’s talk about the color-coding you will find throughout this report.
· Red: Is always a warning that this item needs special attention; Red can indicate missing or incomplete information, an error coin, a contemporary counterfeit, or unverified coin
· Blue: will alert you to a change occurring on this coin, or it will define a coin to be a Pattern or Trial Strike, and we print most FoxLair Rarity Numbers in Blue except those unverified issues
· Purple: is used to or information, at the DAM level only, in Column 5 and Column 9, or in Column 11 it may indicate a sale, or collection where this coin surfaced or caught our attention
When I started this project many years ago, people called me a fool for trying to do this. In fact, more than a few still do. But I feel that this is a very important and worthwhile project. I started the project with the Cap & Ray 8 Reales and the Hand on Book 8 Escudos because I had amassed huge variety collections of both denominations over 20+ years. Some people think that because of the depth and quality of both collections it will be impossible to have this many coins from these two denominations in one place to study again for decades, if ever.
Now here is what I would like my readers to do for me. Take any checklist you would like (there will be new ones in each issue of MCM as we finish them), and use it to keep track of your collection. But start looking at and studying your coins! No, you don’t have to become a variety collector if you don’t want to. Get to really know your coins: Examine them carefully, study them, and find out what varieties you own. Then, let me know if you find some DAM or variety not on the checklist. Ultimately, if you have a new variety or a DAM that is not on the checklist, I would like to borrow your coin for about a week to study, attribute, scan and add it to the reference collection. This is particularly the case of any DAMs or varieties already on the checklist for which I have no scans.
I know this is asking a great favor from a complete stranger, but you will be helping to build the overall interest in Mexican Numismatics far into the future. And this unselfish act by you could eventually make your collection much more valuable when you are ready to dispose of it. Don’t worry about grades, or the final attributions. We just need to borrow the coins not in the reference collections. We will give you the credit for any new discovers if you wish. If you have security concerns, or are publicity shy, we will not mention your name. The choice is yours.
When loaning us coins to be added to the reference collections you will have no expenses, we will pay postage and insurance costs both ways. We will not disrespect or damage any of your coins while we have them because I know how important they are to you. If you need references, before you feel comfortable sending me your coins, from other collectors who have participated in this program, please contact me. I will give you names and the phone numbers of some of the collectors so they can be contacted, day or night, before you send your coins.
Remember, you are helping Mexican Numismatics grow and reach the next level by exchanging data with other collectors!
No numismatic publication or association wanted our stuff for free. After two years and over 100,000 website hits we have about 2,000 readers that visit the website at least once a month. We have fielded questions from over 200 readers from all over the world. Collectors reading Mexican Coin Magic have bought, sold, and traded over a million dollars worth of coins with each other.
Yes, we now consider Mexican Coin Magic to be a success, even if it is only a small success. Now we can begin the important work we originally set out to do … start a worldwide free exchange of important data among Mexican Coin Collectors about our coins.
In Conclusion
If you enjoy the Mexican Coin Magic website and agree with us about the importance of a free exchange of coin data, why not send us an email? Tell us which denominations you want to see more information about in the next issue of MCM. Until next time, good hunting!
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