The E-Sylum:  Volume 8, Number 6, February 6, 2005, Article 17

FREE RESEARCH IS WORTH WHAT YOU PAY

Dick Johnson also noticed the story, and he writes: "Elongated
cents, and other denomination rolled-out coins -- the step-
children of numismatics -- hit it big time this week with a highly
favorable and accurate article in the prestigious Chicago
Tribune. Not only does the article tell of a Washington couple
who collect these oval objects and even formed their own
museum of ‘em, but also of the collectors, clubs, terminology,
their history, the die engravers, and somewhat of the lore of
these easily fabricated numismatic items.

The fact it was a Chicago reporter, Robert K. Elder, reporting
this story in a Chicago newspaper, under the headline "Penny
Pinchers," does not surprise me. Chicago was not only the
locale for the invention of elongated coins, but it has always
been a hub of this low-cost promotional item. They first
appeared at the Chicago World#39;s Fair in 1892-93, and have
been a staple of fairs and festivals ever since.

As a teenager, I collected elongated cents (along with sales
tax tokens). Lee Hewitt, the Chicago publisher of "Numismatic
Scrapbook Magazine" knew of my interest in elongateds and
occasionally sent me clippings from "Variety" the
entertainment weekly (an avid reader, he was a onetime
showman). He found ads in Variety#39;s classifieds for elongated
rolling machines for sale. It seems at this time (post Vietnam
war) it was the carnival crowd who bought these machines
and rolled the coins at fairs and tourist locations.

I must relate one brief story. The first month at Coin World
where I was editor, I was starved for articles. I wanted to
do one on elongateds. A fellow worker had just purchased
a set of Encyclopedia Britannicas. With the books he received
a dozen coupons where you could ask any question about
any subject you wish. They would research and send you
a report. I pleaded with him to send in one coupon and
ask about the history of elongated coins.

The Britannica#39;s editorial office was in Chicago. They
could not find any published information on the subject,
so they contacted a Chicago coin dealer, Leonard Stark.
Back came the letter to my coworker. He said you will
laugh when he handed me the letter. "We recommend
you contact the following person who knows more
about elongated coins than any other person in America."
The next line was MY name! (I had bought some
elongateds from Leonard and he had given my name to
the researcher.)

Forty-five years later I still buy elongateds. But now
I dole ‘em out to one of my grandsons."

Full Story

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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