Collectors Corner^SM: The Collectibles Marketplace

Dennis Weber / Courtesy of Dennis Weber Click image to enlarge.

Dennis Weber began his numismatic journey at the age of 13. That was when his parents gave him a 1961 Proof Set to honor the year of his birth, and he also received a Morgan Dollar that belonged to his grandfather. His interest in coins continued onward into the early 2000s, when he submitted his 1961 Proof Set to PCGS for grading.

“I submitted them to PCGS because their standard has always felt like the true ‘gold standard’ of grading,” he says. Years later, his numismatic eyes turned overseas to England, from where his grandfather hailed. “As a child I was fascinated by the Indian Cents he had. That curiosity led me to explore English and other world coins more seriously.”

Weber’s eclectic numismatic passions are supported by the resources PCGS offers. “From the very beginning, I believed PCGS was the right direction for my collecting goals. Any time I needed a coin that was graded by another service, I would submit it for crossover to PCGS to keep my sets consistent.”

1898 British Queen Victorian Fourpence from Maundy Set Click image to enlarge.

He now has 122 completed PCGS Registry Sets representing nations and coinage from around the world, with 31 of those sets ranked number one. There are too many coins in his collection to pick just one favorite. He cites his English Groats, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth II Hong Kong issues, and circa 1200 Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia coins bearing the portrait of King Levon as highlights. He also enjoys his Austrian Vienna set, British Shillings set, Coronation set, and all of the Jubilee sets for Queen Elizabeth II as other top picks. Then there is the beautifully toned Queen Victoria Maundy Set, a crown jewel of Weber’s world cabinet.

The numismatic jetsetter also holds a special place in his heart for his complete American Silver Eagles, modern commemorative, and Morgan Dollar date sets. “I also enjoy the ‘oddities’ — the 1804 Half Cent; the Liberty Seated set including the 20-cent piece, 2-cent and 3-cent coins; and the 1878 $3 Princess. And of course, the sentimental favorite: my 1961 Proof Set that started it all.”

Part of the challenge for maintaining a collection like Weber’s is keeping international representation hip to the shifting geopolitical winds; his ongoing showcase project is his Around the World set, with a coin from every country. “Some countries have since changed names, so keeping everything current is a fun challenge.”

Regardless of where your collecting desires take you, Weber implores collectors to follow their passions. “Choose coins you truly enjoy and will appreciate for years to come.” It’s a lesson he hopes his two young grandsons, budding numismatists themselves, take to heart. “We periodically go through the coins together, and at ages 7 and 9, their curiosity and questions show they’re off to a great start.”