AN INTERVIEW WITH ROBERT HOGE

Robert Hoge was sworn into the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC) on April 26th, 2012. He was appointed as the member specially qualified to serve by virtue of his education, training or experience in numismatic curation. Mr. Hoge is curator of North American Coins and Currency for the American Numismatic Society (ANS), and an award-winning columnist of ANS Magazine. In addition, he is president of the New York Numismatic Club. From 1981 to 2001, he served as curator for the ANA's Money Museum in Colorado Springs and manager of its Authentication Bureau. Mr. Hoge holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in anthropology and history from the University of Colorado at Boulder, and a teaching certification in social sciences.

Mr. Hoge agreed to answer some questions regarding his entry into numismatics, and his thoughts on the U.S. Mint and the CCAC.

What is your earliest coin collecting memory?

At ten years old, I found a coin (it actually turned out to be a token) in the dirt floor of a garage/shed at my family home. This piqued my imagination, and I wanted to identify and learn something about it. The thing appeared to be a $20 gold piece, but was clearly made of brass. It was very badly worn and pitted, but eventually I was able to figure out that it was a circa 1850s spielmark. My parents started supporting my new interest by encouraging me and giving me actual old coins.

How did you start collecting coins?

With some coins initially given to me by family members and friends, I began reading about coin collecting and studying the relationships of numismatics to history and archaeology. I saved all the older or more unusual ones I could find, and was thrilled when other school children showed me different coins that they had found or gotten from their parents. Scouting introduced me to the idea of collecting coins by series. My father had collected U.S. coins years earlier, and started giving me his partially-filled little blue Whitman albums. My mother made note of interesting coins that I happened to have mentioned, and began to hunt for dealers from whom she could get some for me as little gifts. I started seeking magazine advertisements listing coins for sale and upcoming coin shows, started acquiring a few inexpensive coins from dealers, and bothered my parents to help with this. I had a broad interest in the past, and a good memory; consequently, my numismatic proclivity burgeoned.

What coins do you collect?

I do not actively collect anything today, although in the past my numismatic interests have varied fairly widely, to the extent I could afford to make occasional purchases. From my initial fondness for Early American coins, I moved toward ancient and oriental issues as I studied languages and cultures, and I have collected many series -- as long as they contained diverting items that were relatively inexpensive. I never managed to complete any sets of United States coins of any kind, unfortunately, but I suppose I should confess that I do possess examples of coinage of most of the Roman emperors and British monarchs, for example – areas in which I have devoted more focused study.

To read the complete article, see: Interview with Robert Hoge, CCAC Member (news.coinupdate.com/interview-with-robert-hoge-ccac-member-1511/)

Wayne Homren, Editor

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