Lincoln Printing Company
Lincoln Printing Company was established in Los Angeles in 1928 by two brothers: Robert M. Ritterband and Edward P. "Bill" Ritterband. It faltered during the Great Depression, and both men sought alternative employment. Robert revived the business in 1936, and he began producing coin boards the following year. They were all the rage at the time, and it's likely that the idea for joining this potentially lucrative activity came from his coin dealer brother-in-law, Maurice Scharlack. Lincoln Printing Company put out coin boards until 1941, when the onset of World War II called Robert, Bill and third brother, Richard, to military service. Though the company survived the war and operated until the 1980s, Robert Ritterband never returned to the coin supply business. Lincoln Printing Company boards are very plain, and they still suffer in popularity among collectors, despite being quite scarce in nice condition. Though there were just four titles offered, these went through numerous minor varieties and have proved extremely challenging to catalog. The Lange numbers established in 2007 have been revised several times, and a list of updated numbers will be provided to all persons purchasing the coin board book from its author.
Easily the most unusual board issued by Lincoln is the custom printing for fellow Los Angeles businessman Dave J. Malloy, who operated a funeral parlor. He commissioned LPC to print a Lincoln Penny board bearing his name and business, and the back included a notice that he would both appraise and purchase coin collections. Not a bad business model---bury the deceased and buy his coin collection from the grieving widow!
Easily the most unusual board issued by Lincoln is the custom printing for fellow Los Angeles businessman Dave J. Malloy, who operated a funeral parlor. He commissioned LPC to print a Lincoln Penny board bearing his name and business, and the back included a notice that he would both appraise and purchase coin collections. Not a bad business model---bury the deceased and buy his coin collection from the grieving widow!
Robert and Jean Ritterband (left) with Jean's brother, Maurice Scharlack, and his future wife Nessye Levinson in San Antonio, Fourth of July, 1932. The coin board venture was still five years away.
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Lincoln Printing boards included basic facts about the coin series and also a list of the four titles.
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Dave J. Malloy (far right) served as a witness in the trial of Winnie Ruth Judd (foreground) on a charge of murder. His custom-printed coin board is at left.
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