Ken Potter - Strike It Rich with Pocket Change: Error Coins Bring Big Money

As I pen these words it has been 41 years since I wrote my first article as a numismatic journalist. This article was to be the first of hundreds upon hundredsmore than I can countof articles that would follow for the next 41 years (and hopefully for many more years in the future!).

It all started when I discovered a new variety on a Canadian dollar that hit the front page of Canadian Coin News and in feature articles in Coin World and Numismatic News. But more importantly it hit the pages of Error-Variety News which was then owned and published by error-variety coin specialists John A. Wexler and the late Robert Wilharm. When John got a hold of the press release I sent him he responded by saying (and I paraphrase) that it was so well written that he was going to publish it as a feature article rather than a press release and add my name into a byline.

My worst fears were about to come true or so I thought! I couldnt refuse but in spite of the fact that I had taken some journalism in college I was scared to death to have any of my peers see my ability (or lack thereof) to write a decent article. But to my surprise the feeling of seeing what I wrote in print gave me the warm fuzzies inside. It gave me the confidence I lacked! Johns decision to put my name into a byline and his all-important words well written were burned into my brain and would stay there for the decades to come.

John never had any idea of the impact he had on my life until today when I called to give him a heads-up that he was going to be the subject of my dedication. He said he never knew that but was especially pleased to hear it! Maybe I should have told him sooner, but it seemed like our conversations over the years always focused on coins. So thank you, John! Youre the man!

Ken Potter 3/3/2020