Bob Campbell isn’t your average coin dealer. He’s a numismatic detective, a historian, and an educator who has risen to the top of his field—despite humble beginnings. From growing up in poverty to becoming one of the nation’s most respected coin experts, Campbell’s story is as rich as the gold and silver pieces he has spent his life studying.
At his Salt Lake City shop, All About Coins, Campbell shares his decades of expertise with collectors, investors, and even federal agents. Over the years, he has trained members of the Secret Service, FBI, IRS, and Homeland Security in counterfeit detection, testified before the U.S. Senate, and served as president of the American Numismatic Association. But before all that, he was just a kid with a curiosity for history and a knack for spotting something special.
A Humble Start, A Passion for Coins
“My mother was an immigrant. And my father passed away before I was five. She raised four children. She could barely speak English. So I came from a very poor background. So, you know, I wasn’t born with a silver spoon in my mouth,” Campbell recalls.
But that didn’t stop him from chasing his passion. “I started from nothing. Anybody can do it.”
From his early days as a collector, Campbell learned the hard way that knowledge is everything when it comes to coins. “The best way is to buy the book before you buy the coin,” he says. “We call it the coin collecting Bible, and that’s called the Red Book.”
Now, decades later, Campbell isn’t just a collector—he’s one of the experts who contributes to the very book that shaped his career.
Becoming a Leading Expert in Counterfeits
Campbell’s expertise extends far beyond casual coin collecting. He has built a reputation as one of the foremost counterfeit detection experts in the country.
“I’ve taught more federal employees and representatives like Secret Service, FBI, IRS, Treasury agents, Homeland Security, Border Patrol, and the U.S. Mint to tell counterfeit coins,” he says.
One of the most infamous cases of forgery in Utah history—the Mark Hofmann scandal—had ties to rare coins. Hofmann, who became notorious for forging historical Mormon documents and resorting to murder, started by counterfeiting rare coins.
“With coins, he came up with an ingenious method of actually building a mint mark on a coin,” Campbell explains. “He was able to fool people first at the United States government and then fool other people.”
Hofmann’s electroplating process was so advanced that even the federal government initially authenticated his fakes. “He was just a teenager when he figured out how to do this,” Campbell adds. “He’s a very smart person—but in the wrong way.”
The $500,000 Penny & the World of Rare Coins
Rare coins aren’t just for museums—some are still out there, waiting to be discovered.
“Do not toss them out. Do not put them among your change,” Campbell warns, referring to a specific penny that could be worth a fortune.
The 1943 copper penny is one of the rarest and most valuable coins in U.S. history. During World War II, pennies were supposed to be made from steel to conserve copper for the war effort. However, a small number of copper blanks accidentally made their way into circulation.
“We think there’s 21 of them known,” Campbell says. “The first one was actually discovered in 1947 by some kids at school.”
Their teacher, a coin collector, was stunned when they brought it in. “The Mint didn’t even know they existed,” Campbell explains.
The last time one of these pennies sold? $504,000 in 2020. Another, from the Denver Mint, sold for $1.9 million.
Campbell himself owns one. “When I first bought it 35 years ago, I paid $20,000 from another coin dealer for it,” he says. “And the most I’ve ever been offered for it is $700,000.”
Mormon Gold & Utah’s Forgotten Treasure
Beyond U.S. coinage, Campbell has spent years studying and collecting a fascinating piece of Utah history: Mormon gold.
In 1849, during the California Gold Rush, early Mormon pioneers in Utah began minting their own gold coins.
“They made these coins, these Mormon gold pieces here in Salt Lake City, right by the Joseph Smith Memorial Building,” Campbell explains.
Stamped with religious symbols like a clasped handshake, an all-seeing eye, and a Phrygian cap, these coins were meant to symbolize faith and freedom.
“These are some of the rarest coins in existence,” Campbell says. “The $10 piece is the rarest one because there’s only 14 of those known right now. The rest of those were melted down.”
And their value? Hundreds of thousands of dollars.
“I paid $720,000 for one,” Campbell says. “I’ve been offered a million for it already.”
But he’s not looking to sell.
Avoiding Scams: The Dark Side of Coin Collecting
With big money at stake, it’s no surprise that scams are rampant in the coin world.
“I can tell you unequivocally, I’ve never seen anybody get their true value for anything they find online, over the internet, through an infomercial, on satellite TV, in any magazines,” Campbell warns.
He urges collectors and investors to avoid online deals, as counterfeit coins are everywhere.
“Anytime you’re dealing with somebody that you can’t have an eyeball conversation with, you’re going to get taken advantage of.”
One of the most common scams? Fake 1982-D copper pennies.
“People look at a YouTube video, see a picture, and think they have one,” Campbell says. “Almost all of it is misleading or totally false.”
The Best Advice for Coin Collectors
For those interested in coin collecting, Campbell has simple but essential advice:
- Buy the book before you buy the coin. Learn first, collect later.
- Only buy from reputable dealers. If you can’t verify the seller, walk away.
- Don’t believe everything you see online. Scammers prey on the uninformed.
- Understand that coin collecting is not a get-rich-quick scheme. True collectors do it for passion, not just profit.
A Lifetime of Passion—No Smartphone Required
Campbell’s love for numismatics is clear in everything he does.
“I’m not your average coin dealer, but I am a collector and I started from nothing,” he says. “Anybody can do it. But remember, you get rich slowly. You just have to be passionate about what you do.”
At All About Coins, Campbell continues to educate, whether it’s collectors, federal agents, or anyone curious about the hidden world of rare coins. His shop is more than a business—it’s a treasure trove of history, where every coin tells a story.
And in the world of rare coins, sometimes those stories are worth millions.
