The E-Sylum:  Volume 11, Number 7, February 17, 2008, Article 21

MORE ON THE AMOS AND ANDY RARE COIN EPISODE

Nick Graver writes: "I clearly recall the Amos & Andy TV
broadcast about the Rare Coin.  At a key moment I recall
him reaching into his pocket and accidentally using THE
RARE NICKEL to make a crucial phone call, and that ended
his chances of cashing in on the premium value.  I hope
others recall more of the details."

Many thanks to Gar Travis for locating an online video of
the episode from 1951!
Full Video Story

The rare coin?  An 1877 nickel, which a coin dealer offered
$250 for.  John Dannreuther was the only respondent to know
the date of the nickel. He also recalled what I agreed was
the funniest line in the episode: "Henry, I think I's about
to pre-form a nickelectomy."

The Amos & Andy show was before my time, but it's interesting
to see the show from today's perspective half a century later.
Early television had its roots in radio, which in turn evolved
from vaudeville and travelling minstrel shows.  Amos & Andy
spanned all of these genres and media.

My parents came of age in the radio era, where families gathered
around the radio and listened together.  Some adults would read,
knit, do puzzles, or play parlor games.  Children often played
on the floor.  With radio, all the visuals were in the mind of
each listener, and your vision of the Lone Ranger might look
entirely different from your brother's, just like with books.
Nick adds: "Then, TV came in, and things changed.  Everyone
had the identical character to watch. It never was the same
again."

Coming from the minstrel tradition and operating in a
segregated America, Amos and Andy are as far removed from
today's world as the coin-operated telephones that play a
key role in the episode.  But 1877 nickels are still scarce
and valuable, and probably always will be.

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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