Ep.16 - Tony Littlejohn on Collecting Standing Liberty Quarters #numismatics #coin #podcast #money
In this episode of the Cabbage Coins podcast, host Tony Gryckiewicz interviews renowned coin collector Tony Littlejohn, who shares his extensive journey in the world of numismatics. From his early fascination with coins to becoming a top-tier collector of Standing Liberty quarters, Littlejohn discusses the competitive nature of registry collecting, the importance of community among collectors, and the strategies he employs to acquire rare and high-grade coins. The conversation also touches on the challenges of finding specific coins, the appeal of coin shows, and the significance of quality in coin grading. Additionally, the episode features a fun segment where Littlejohn identifies coins from his collection, showcasing his expertise and passion for the hobby.
Takeaways
Tony Littlejohn began collecting coins in the early 60s.
His interest in coins was sparked by the removal of silver from U.S. currency.
He transitioned from collecting to selling coins at auctions.
Littlejohn's engineering background helped him develop an analytical approach to coin collecting.
He started focusing on registry sets in 2016, driven by competition.
Coin shows provide a focused environment for collectors to find specific coins.
Littlejohn emphasizes the importance of quality in coin grading.
The community of registry collectors is generally supportive and competitive.
He shares strategies for competing in registry sets, including keeping his collection hidden.
Littlejohn is also exploring the Susan B. Anthony dollar series and the Everyman set.
Sound Bites
"I was too competitive to not pursue the registry."
"I bought a number of coins, most of them to resell."
"Buy the best coin. That's always been my motif."
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to the Cabbage Coins Podcast
02:56 Tony Littlejohn: A Journey into Coin Collecting
06:16 The Influence of Engineering on Coin Collecting
09:13 The Competitive Nature of Registry Collecting
12:19 Building a Top-Tier Collection
15:06 The Challenges of Collecting Standing Liberty Quarters
17:48 Instinct vs. Research in Coin Acquisition
20:43 Rare Finds: The 1927-S Standing Liberty Quarter
23:25 The Difficulty of Finding High-Grade Coins
25:01 The Community of Registry Collecting
27:25 Strategies in Competitive Collecting
30:40 Bidding Strategies and Auction Dynamics
33:58 Fun with Standing Liberty Quarters
38:00 The Intricacies of Key Dates
43:57 The Politics of Coin Design
47:42 Exploring the Simpson Coin and Its Features
48:31 Identifying the 1918 Coin and Its Characteristics
50:22 The 1930 Coin: A Collector's Perspective
51:56 The 29-S Coin: A Journey to Upgrade
53:13 Diving into the Susan B. Anthony Dollar Collection
56:16 The Everyman Set: A Unique Collecting Approach
58:04 The Challenge of AU58+ Coins
01:03:09 Lessons in Building a Top Registry Set
01:04:38 Legacy and Future of Coin Collecting
Keywords
coin collecting, numismatics, registry sets, standing liberty quarters, coin shows, coin grading, coin dealers, Susan B. Anthony dollars, Everyman set, coin community
Intro Music - "Obverse Fields" by Timothy Gryckiewicz
Where you can find Tony Littlejohn
IG: @TL_coins
Where you can find Tony Gryckiewicz and Cabbage Coins:
website: https://cabbagecoins.com/
email: tony@cabbagecoins.com
IG: @cabbage_coins
Upcoming Shows to Meet Cabbage Coins:
PAN Show
October 16-18, 2025
Monroeville, Pennsylvania
South Carolina Numismatic Association Convention
October 23-25, 2025
Greenville, South Carolina
Baltimore Whitman Expo
November 6-8, 2025
Baltimore, Maryland
Like the content? Consider buying me a Coffee:
https://buymeacoffee.com/cabbagecoins
Takeaways
Tony Littlejohn began collecting coins in the early 60s.
His interest in coins was sparked by the removal of silver from U.S. currency.
He transitioned from collecting to selling coins at auctions.
Littlejohn's engineering background helped him develop an analytical approach to coin collecting.
He started focusing on registry sets in 2016, driven by competition.
Coin shows provide a focused environment for collectors to find specific coins.
Littlejohn emphasizes the importance of quality in coin grading.
The community of registry collectors is generally supportive and competitive.
He shares strategies for competing in registry sets, including keeping his collection hidden.
Littlejohn is also exploring the Susan B. Anthony dollar series and the Everyman set.
Sound Bites
"I was too competitive to not pursue the registry."
"I bought a number of coins, most of them to resell."
"Buy the best coin. That's always been my motif."
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to the Cabbage Coins Podcast
02:56 Tony Littlejohn: A Journey into Coin Collecting
06:16 The Influence of Engineering on Coin Collecting
09:13 The Competitive Nature of Registry Collecting
12:19 Building a Top-Tier Collection
15:06 The Challenges of Collecting Standing Liberty Quarters
17:48 Instinct vs. Research in Coin Acquisition
20:43 Rare Finds: The 1927-S Standing Liberty Quarter
23:25 The Difficulty of Finding High-Grade Coins
25:01 The Community of Registry Collecting
27:25 Strategies in Competitive Collecting
30:40 Bidding Strategies and Auction Dynamics
33:58 Fun with Standing Liberty Quarters
38:00 The Intricacies of Key Dates
43:57 The Politics of Coin Design
47:42 Exploring the Simpson Coin and Its Features
48:31 Identifying the 1918 Coin and Its Characteristics
50:22 The 1930 Coin: A Collector's Perspective
51:56 The 29-S Coin: A Journey to Upgrade
53:13 Diving into the Susan B. Anthony Dollar Collection
56:16 The Everyman Set: A Unique Collecting Approach
58:04 The Challenge of AU58+ Coins
01:03:09 Lessons in Building a Top Registry Set
01:04:38 Legacy and Future of Coin Collecting
Keywords
coin collecting, numismatics, registry sets, standing liberty quarters, coin shows, coin grading, coin dealers, Susan B. Anthony dollars, Everyman set, coin community
Intro Music - "Obverse Fields" by Timothy Gryckiewicz
Where you can find Tony Littlejohn
IG: @TL_coins
Where you can find Tony Gryckiewicz and Cabbage Coins:
website: https://cabbagecoins.com/
email: tony@cabbagecoins.com
IG: @cabbage_coins
Upcoming Shows to Meet Cabbage Coins:
PAN Show
October 16-18, 2025
Monroeville, Pennsylvania
South Carolina Numismatic Association Convention
October 23-25, 2025
Greenville, South Carolina
Baltimore Whitman Expo
November 6-8, 2025
Baltimore, Maryland
Like the content? Consider buying me a Coffee:
https://buymeacoffee.com/cabbagecoins
