Collectors congregate at annual collectible show

t was a collector’s paradise in the Memorial Hall on Saturday.

Dealers from Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Texas, and collectors from across the region came together for the Barton-Jasper County Collectors Association’s 16th Annual Spring Coin, Stamp, Postcards, Sportscard, Beanie Babies, Hot Wheel Collectibles Show. Brad Potter, bourse chairman for the event, said there were 53 tables of items....

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Rarest Cent Not Always Most Expensive

Have you ever wondered where some prices for coins come from? The first answer of course is supply vs. demand. I thought I'd test this notion, so I set out on a sampling of coins for sale on eBay for four months.

Why eBay? I thought it the best cross-country inventory of both dealers, investors and collectors. Now eBay has its shortcomings, but right now I think that it's a good place to start as it would yield the largest inventory. So I set out on a four-month data collection quest, and the results are included in the accompanying table....

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1838-O Branch Mint Proof Reeded Edge Half and Husak Large Cents Lead "Incredible" Heritage Auction

Bidding described as "astronomical," "incredible," "feverish," and "stunning" greeted the long awaited Large Cent Collection of Walter Husak at Heritage's Official Auction - February 14-16, 2008...

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Husak Large Cents Soar Past $10.7 Million At Heritage’s $25 Million Long Beach Signature Auction

he auction room was jammed with hundreds of bidders before the first lot of the Large Cent Collection of Walter Husak was offered at Heritage’s Official Auction at the February 14-16, 2008 Long Beach Coin Expo. When the last of his 301 Large Cents were sold, most every record known had been shattered, with a total prices realized exceeding $10.7 million. Bidders described the prices as “astronomical,” “incredible,” “feverish,” and “stunning....

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The Royal Canadian Mint launches first Olympic 25-cent circulation coin of 2008

OTTAWA, Feb. 20 /CNW Telbec/ - The Royal Canadian Mint today officially
released the first Olympic 25-cent circulation coin of 2008. The sport of
snowboarding is depicted on the coin, which is the sixth of 17 circulation
coins to celebrate the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
"With two years to go until 2010, the Mint is delighted to be launching
its second wave of circulation coins to commemorate the Olympic and Paralympic
Winter Games," said Ian E. Bennett, President and CEO of the Royal Canadian
Mint. "Featuring the dynamic and energetic sport of snowboarding is a
fantastic way to kick off 2008."...

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Plating Can Confuse

Way back when, "plat-ed goods" referred to a counterfeit. English coin. Since then the term has been applied to other genuine coins, and lots of collectors have wound up confused by the term and its meaning. The general public has a poor opinion of almost any plated coin - genuine or otherwise....

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Superior Galleries Realizes Exceptional Prices in February 11-12, 2008 Beverly Hills Elite Auction

DALLAS — DGSE Companies, Inc. (AMEX:DGC), which wholesales, retails and auctions fine watches, jewelry, diamonds, precious metal and rare coin products via traditional and Internet channels, today announced its results for Superior Galleries February 11-12, 2008 Beverly Hills Elite Auction. This 700 lot event continues a multi-decade tradition of Pre Long Beach Elite Auctions. This auction, anchored by the stellar Turtle Rock Collection, realized $1,935,263.00 inclusive of the standard 15% buyer's premium amid active bidding....

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This Presidents Day tell Mint to keep the change

This Presidents Day, the U.S. Mint is releasing the fifth in its new series of presidential dollar coins. Featuring the mug of James Monroe, the Mint is hoping that this coin will finally convince Americans to replace their greenbacks with cumbersome hunks of metal....

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100 kg coin unveiled in Dubai

DUBAI - A 100kg gold coin, “99.999 per cent pure gold bullion”, from the Royal Canadian Mint (RCM), was unveiled in Dubai on Wednesday evening at the Canadian National Day reception...

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New $1 Coins Presented At Ash Lawn-Highland

Charlottesville, Virginia (PRWEB) February 13, 2008 -- Ash Lawn-Highland, the estate of President James Monroe in Charlottesville, Virginia, was the first place in the Nation to obtain James Monroe Presidential $1 Coins, a day before the coins were officially placed into circulation nationwide. The news media and public were invited to the 11 a.m. ceremony and coin exchange on Wednesday, February 13....

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Soaring Gold Prices Create New Rush

As gold prices have soared and the economy has soured, some area pawnshops and gold retailers have seen a steady uptick in customers, some looking to buy, most hoping to cash in – even on their dental work.

Necklaces, coins, rings and, yes, even gold fillings, along with anything else containing the precious metal, have become a hot commodity in recent months....

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PCGS, NGC Restate Policies

Doctored coins have no place in the marketplace, according to two leading coin grading services.

Professional Coin Grading Service and Numismatic Guaranty Corporation have restated their policies concerning the submission of deceptively altered coins for grading.

“We’re seeing more and more coin doctoring than we’ve ever seen, and the methods used to alter the coins are more and more sophisticated,” said Ron Guth, president of PCGS, a division of Collectors Universe, Inc....

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U.S. Mint Begins News Program

The State Quarter Program ends in 2008, however the United States Mint will issue six more quarters for the District of Columbia and United States Territories Quarter program in 2009.

"The 50 State Quarter program is a 10-year initiative [1999-2008] commemorating each of the 50 United States," according to the United States Mint Web site.

Beginning in January 1999, the United States quarter has changed five times every year, honoring each individual state in the order in which they were admitted into the Union. ...

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Buy the Coin or the Note, Not the Holder

Third-party grading is here to stay. But, it doesn't provide a slam dunk appraisal for you. You need to take responsibility, as well and learn to grade independently of third-party offerings.

Why? Because, some graders are better, or worse, than others. Because, ultimately, value comes from the numismatic item, not a holder. If you study auction results you'll notice that different brands of "slabs" bring different prices, sometimes very substantial differences....

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U.S. Receives Coin of the Year Honors in Berlin

The U.S. Mint took home three Coin of the Year awards at the ceremony held Feb. 2 during the World Money Fair in Berlin, Germany. Ed Moy, U.S. Mint director, was on had to accept the awards.

Here is how the U.S. fared:

- A commemorative silver dollar depicting Benjamin Franklin as an old diplomat won the Most Historically Significant category. The coin was struck to commemorate the 300th anniversary of Franklin's birth.

- The Nevada state quarter won judges' votes for two categories: Best Trade and Most Popular. Best Trade refers to circulating coins, and Most Popular often boils down to mintage numbers. The quarter showcases galloping mustangs, the wild horses native to the state....

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Collectors stay current on currency

Philatelists and numismatists - stamp and coin collectors for those who aren't in the know - gathered at a recent collectors show in Timonium....

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Ukraine Coins Depict Endangered Katydid

The last time I eliminated a voracious grasshopper from my tiny back yard vegetable garden, it did not occur to me there may be members of the insect Order Orthoptera (grasshoppers, katydids, crickets, cockroaches, mantids such as the "praying mantid" and walking sticks) in danger of becoming extinct and therefore in need of protection. As a matter of fact, there are numerous endangered and threatened insects in the United States on the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service list, but more about this later....

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Gold, Coins Belonging To Browns Auctioned Off

Federal officials auctioned off silver and gold belonging to federal tax evaders Ed and Elaine Brown on Thursday....

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Soaring gold price sparks area investors' interest

As U.S. financial markets move like a Yo-Yo, some local investors are cutting risk by embracing the golden rule: He who has the gold, rules....

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Where to Begin - Suggestions for a Better Approach to Coin Collecting

How do people get started collecting coins? Probably there are as many different ways to begin as there are collectors, but all the ways undoubtedly fit into just a few categories.

For example, one thing that often creates a coin collector is the receipt of an unusual coin or two (or maybe a whole collection) from a friend or relative. Perhaps this is how you started: Your father (or grandfather or uncle or other relative) died and left you his collection/accumulation of old coins. And you were hooked. ...

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U.S. government sells $575,000 of seized gold coins

The government has sold 743 gold coins seized at Savannah's port for $575,000, months after they were found in a tractor tire inside a cargo container from the Dominican Republic, authorities said.

The one-ounce coins - 361 U.S. Gold Eagles, 380 South African Krugerrands and two Australian Gold Nuggets - were forfeited under a Sept. 19 court order covering merchandise illegally introduced into the United States as proceeds exchanged for a controlled substance, U.S. Attorney Edmund A. Booth Jr. said Wednesday....

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Record Gold Price Creates Sellers' Market

Feb. 3--With fuel prices high and the stock market wobbling, people selling high-priced gold have added weight to America's new reputation -- as the Great Smelting Pot....

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Dollar needs mint freshener

The superpowers of China, Russia, and the United States may without knowing it be racing towards reopening their mints to the monetary metals. The governments of these countries are like the heroes of Greek tragedies: they are drawn to their fate by destiny. There is no way for them to avoid Kismet, regardless of what they do. This leads to the question of what is meant by opening the mint to the unlimited coinage of gold and silver free of seigniorage...

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Siouxlanders Profiting on High Gold Prices

With a volatile stock market and fears of recession, precious metals are actually increasing in value.

A ribbon of receipts on the counter of J & J Coin and Collectibles shows a new surge in business. "There are a lot of people just taking advantage of the profits," said John Jackson, Owner. He's talking about profits in the gold market with prices at historic highs. ...

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World's largest gold coin weighs 100 kg

ABU DHABI: The largest gold coin in the world, weighing 100 kg and with a face value of $1 million, was displayed at a show in Abu Dhabi by the Royal Canadian Mint. ...

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Packaging, Price Impact New Issues Sales

I learned two important things at the World Money Fair Feb. 1-3 in Berlin, Germany. Sure, there was more, much more, but there are two issues that will have an impact on the U.S. market and on the collectors who are actively buying and selling U.S. Mint new issues.

Packaging is becoming increasingly important. The world hobby is being flooded by huge numbers of new coin issues. As large as the number of collectors is, their resources are not infinite. It is a dogfight out there among the world's mints to earn the collectors dollars. They are increasingly conducting the battle with specialty packaging....

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Should We Make Cents?

Should we make cents? We're talking about those insignificant one cent pieces in your pocket or purse. It may or may not come as a surprise that it now costs the U.S. Mint almost two cents to make a penny and almost a dime to make a nickel. If the economy of that eludes you, join the club....

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Latest: Rare coins stolen from Osakis home

OSAKIS Thousands of dollars worth of rare coins were reported stolen from a rural Osakis home Friday morning.

The coins date back to the early 20th century and included pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters, half dollars, Susan B. Anthony dollar coins and Sacagawea dollar coins....

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Coin Clinic: Nearly 3 Million Carson City Coins Auctioned

Can you tell me what was in the General Services Administration inventory of Carson City dollars when the auction sales began?...

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Coin of the Year: 25th Awards Presentation

World Coin News presented its 25th Coin of the Year Awards on Saturday, February 2, in Berlin, Germany. Set at the World Money Fair, awards were presented in 10 categories, plus and overall winner and People's Choice Award....

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EU to issue commemorative coin to mark 10 years of euro in 2009

BRUSSELS, Belgium: Europeans from across the 27-nation EU bloc will be allowed to choose the design for a commemorative €2 coin, to mark next year's 10th anniversary of the union's single euro currency....

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Lucky Buffalo: Mint Offers 2008 Celebration Coin

Set to go on sale at noon Eastern Time Feb. 5 from the U.S. Mint is a new product called the American Buffalo 2008 Celebration Coin.

It consists of a 2008 American Buffalo one-ounce bullion coin in special packaging...

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New Antarctic commemorative coin

The Mint has produced 12,500 of the silver $5 coins, which commemorate the fourth international polar year.

Stamped on the front is the brown skua, a bird native to Antarctica.

The background image shows a map of Australia's Antarctic Territory, as well as scientific research stations....

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South Africa: Gold Coin for Cricket Legend Pollock's Last Game

South African cricket legend Shaun Pollock's sterling career will be honoured when he is presented with a commemorative gold coin at the weekend....

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Kennedy Half Unpopular in Second Year

The 1965 Kennedy half dollar, unlike the wildly popular 1964 Kennedy, has not been a well-liked coin.

The situation was unavoidable since there was going to be a decrease in demand under any circumstance. The 1964 Kennedy half dollar was released while the memories of the assassination were still fresh in everyone's mind. In fact, to many it had been a sort of closure to a great national tragedy. People stood in lines for hours to get the first 1964 half dollars, and they cried when they looked at the coin....

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Ancient Coins Buy Lessons

HAMPTON - Rachel Fenske squinted at the smudged, dime-sized coin in her fingers. Tarnish the color of old leather blurred the raised letters and figures. Undaunted, the Kecoughtan High School 10th-grader rubbed the coin and again looked closely at it....

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Submission of Doctored Coins

In recent months, NGC has seen a significant increase in the number of deceptively doctored coins submitted for grading. A doctored coin is one which has been purposefully and unnaturally altered to lend the appearance of a higher grade. In order to protect the collecting public, our authorized dealer network and NGC’s own reputation, we are announcing specific rule changes and new terms and conditions to deal with doctored coins....

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The Truth About Money: 'Golden' Rules for Investing in Precious Metals

As the price of gold began to approach its all-time high, I started getting predictable questions: Should I invest in gold, and if so, how do I go about it?

Yes, gold belongs in your portfolio. And don't stop with gold - include precious metals and minerals as well: silver, platinum, zinc and copper....

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Kansas City Ebay Coin Seller Pays Consumer Restitution

Kansas City man who sold platinum and gold coins on Ebay and failed to refund the payments of consumers who did not receive what they paid him for will pay $18,797 in consumer restitution and another $5,000 to the state under an agreement with Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon. Nixon's assurance of voluntary compliance with John Schaller, former owner of Schaller Salvage Reclamation, was filed today in Cole County Circuit Court....

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"State Quarters" to Cover D.C., 5 U.S. Territories

Starting in 2009, the US Mint, in the style of its State Quarter program, will roll out a new series of quarters honoring the District of Columbia and the five US territories. Along with the DC quarter, the Mint will issue coins honoring Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the US Virgin Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands....

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To Deal Coins or Not

Apparently there's a lot of mystery about being a coin dealer. It usually starts with a question to me, my answer, and then the person goes away mad.

It works like this: "How do I become a coin dealer?"
...

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Burglary ring busted after stolen coins found in wall of Lakewood home

Kevin Hartman stashed $750,000 in stolen coins in a false wall of his friend's Lakewood home, police say.

But his plan for an easy retirement was shattered along with the pink wall, ending a crime spree that officials said stretched through three counties and included nearly $1 million in stolen cash, coins and collectibles.

Parma Detective Marty Comp- ton called it "one of the predominant burglary rings in Northeast Ohio." ...

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