Littleton Coin Company

Littleton Coin Company is a privately held major American mail order and retail company focused on numismatic collectibles and based in Littleton, New Hampshire. The company focuses largely on U.S. coins and world coins, as well as a variety of paper money and ancient coins. Largely focused on direct mail, Littleton publishes catalogs several times yearly and has a "coins-on-approval" program.

Company History

Littleton Coin Company was started in 1945 by Maynard and Fannie Sundman (originally named Littleton Stamp Company). Prior to establishing the company, Maynard had operated a small stamp business from his home in Bristol, Connecticut in the 1930s. The company experienced steady growth, growing from 4 employees to 40 in 1950. Previously focused on stamps, the numismatic business became significant enough to warrant a name change in 1954 to Littleton Stamp & Coin Company.

In 1974, Sundman purchased Mystic Stamp Company of Camden, New York and put his son, Donald Sundman, in charge of the newly acquired business. Later, in 1985, Maynard passed Littleton Coin Company on to his other son, David Sundman. Today Littleton Coin Company operates out of a 65,000 square foot building that was built to house the growing business.

On October 31, 2007 Maynard Sundman [http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/07/nyregion/07sundman.html?_r=1&oref=slogin passed away] at the age of 92 years old. His son, David Sundman, still remains the president of the company.

Product Line

Littleton Coin Company has been transformed from a stamp and coin company to a strictly coin and paper money company. The company carries a number of coin products, including releases from the United States Mint (such as the statehood quarter program). They also have a variety of older products, ranging from ancient coins to silver dollars to pennies.

Most of their coins come packaged in mylar that has the coin's date, type, mint mark, and the item number. The company says that the packing is safe for long term storage.

Grading

Littleton Coin Company's coin grading is widely respected, because all of the coins they grade are always graded right. Many people sometimes compare Littleton Coin Company to a third-party coin grader. The company however says that they are not a third-party grader.

Coins on Approval Service

Littleton Coin Company is widely known for its "Coins on Approval" which allows people to see the coins before they buy them for up to 15 days. The company often supplies a return envelope and return label.

References

* [http://www.littletoncoin.com Littleton homepage]