‘Coins’ Responds to Variety Hunters

Editor’s Note: For nearly 70 years, the feature-rich pages of Coins magazine, Numismatic News’ venerable sister publication, have tracked the history, fun and the growth of this great hobby, while also attracting new collectors to pursue what was once deemed the “hobby of kings.” Dusting off these time-aged issues, from the early 1960s and beyond, each installment of “Past Times with Coins,” written by its former longtime editor, explores what nuggets of interest they contain.

The 1960s seems to be the era of people eagerly checking their pocket change for minor varieties and anomalies. This if the early issues of Coins magazine are to be believed in that regard.

Advertisers with products that appealed to dedicated coin hunters took advantage of this burgeoning interest in our small change. Items covered in prior “Past Times” columns, including the Numiscope, which could check