The Cabbage Coins Podcast

In this episode of the Cabbage Coins podcast, host Tony Gryckiewicz interviews author William Dokas about his extensive book, 'The History of American Money and Physical Specie in North America.' They discuss William's journey into coin collecting, the motivations behind his writing, the challenges he faced during the seven-year process, and surprising discoveries about American currency. The conversation also delves into the use of various forms of currency in colonial America, including barter systems, clamshells, tobacco, and the impact of counterfeiting. Additionally, they explore Benjamin Franklin's contributions to currency design and the historical significance of the Continental Dollar. In this conversation, Will and Tony explore the intricate history of American money, from the evolution of treasure fleets and the small change crisis in early America to the introduction of fiat currency and the establishment of the Federal Reserve. They discuss significant events like the Crime of 1873, the Confederate money system during the Civil War, and the modern treasure hunt for the Forest Fenn treasure. The conversation concludes with valuable advice for aspiring coin collectors, emphasizing the importance of knowledge and passion in the hobby.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Guest
02:25 Motivation Behind Writing the Book
04:13 The Writing Process and Challenges
10:12 Goals and Objectives of the Book
12:17 Surprising Discoveries in American Money History
14:08 Currency in Colonial America
18:12 The Use of Clamshells and Beads as Currency
21:02 Tobacco as Currency in Virginia
22:55 Counterfeiting Throughout History
25:03 Benjamin Franklin's Contributions to Currency
26:59 The Continental Dollar and Its Impact
29:25 Spanish Gold and Silver Losses
30:14 The Evolution of Treasure Fleets
34:13 The Small Change Crisis in Early America
37:46 The Introduction of Fiat Currency
39:04 The Need for a Central Bank
41:49 The Crime of 1873 and Its Impact
46:22 The Confederate Money System During the Civil War
49:09 The Forest Fenn Treasure Hunt
53:30 Advice for Aspiring Coin Collectors

Where to find Will's book:
https://a.co/d/03nT6tAM

Where to find Tony and Cabbage Coins:
https://cabbagecoins.com/
email: tony@cabbagecoins.com
IG: @cabbage_coins 

How to contact Will:
email: willdokas@gmail.com 

Upcoming Shows:
https://cabbagecoins.com/coinshows/

Thanks for watching!

Intro/Outro Music - "Obverse Fields" by Timothy Gryckiewicz