GPA for Certified Coins News Blog

Goldbergs Offer Millennia Collection May 26

2008-05-07T04:11:00.005-07:00

Ira and Larry Goldberg will auction the Millennia collection, more than 1,000 high-quality world and ancient coins, May 26.
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1838-O Sale Mystery of 1989 Unraveled

2008-05-07T04:11:00.003-07:00

The 1838-O half dollar is a genuine rarity, with only 20 pieces struck and the fate, 170 years after striking, of just about a dozen known pieces in existence leaves some unaccounted for. ...

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1927 Big Year for Cent

2008-05-07T04:11:00.001-07:00

In the year Charles Lindbergh made his historic solo flight across the Atlantic, the cent was flying high, too.
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South African Coin Doomed From the Start

2008-05-07T04:10:00.003-07:00

South Africa's 2 1/2-cent coin was doomed even before it began circulating. Perceived commercial needs had prompted the decision to mint it, but these had been changing due to inflationary pressures and the impending adoption of a decimal monetary system of which it was planned to be a part.
...

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1913 Overshadowed by Other Good Barbers

2008-05-07T04:10:00.001-07:00

It's not a great rarity, but the 1913 Barber half dollar is still a very good coin. In fact, it's a better coin than many realize in large part because it came during a period when there were many good coins....

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Roosevelt's Interest Encompassed $5s and $10s

2008-05-07T04:09:00.001-07:00

Starting around 1907, it was an exciting time if you liked new coins. The President of the United States had taken a deep personal interest in coin designs, and when Teddy Roosevelt took a deep personal interest in anything that usually produced results.
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Copyright dispute forces Japan to redesign coin

2008-05-02T21:47:00.001-07:00

TOKYO (AFP) — After minting 4.8 million commemorative coins, Japan said Wednesday it must change the design due to copyright infringement.

The original design of the coin, celebrating the centenary of Japanese emigration to Brazil, showed bronze sculptures of parents and a child standing in Santos, Brazil, where the first batch of immigrants landed in 1908.

But the Brazilian sculptor of the work refused to let the design be used for the 500-yen (five dollar) coin, the Japanese finance ministry said....

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Appraisal event turns up valuable coins

2008-05-02T21:46:00.007-07:00

FRANKLIN — Liz Buchanan thought a $5 gold coin necklace she inherited from her great-grandmother might be worth a pretty penny.

In fact, the coin from 1881 is now worth more than $200 and even more in its weight in gold....

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A Short Numismatic History of the United States

2008-05-02T21:46:00.005-07:00

Governments are inveterate despoilers of the freedom, wealth, and lives of their citizens. As consolation, the citizens usually receive little more than lofty words and pretentious sentiments from the political leaders in charge of the looting, murder, and enslavement. Less commonly, governments produce something concrete, such as a marble palace for the ruler or an alabaster temple for the commemoration of some supposedly noble public goal....

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Dealers Report Strong Show Results

2008-05-02T21:46:00.003-07:00

Strong auction results and strong collector demand served to underpin the market at the Central States Numismatic Society convention April 17-19 in the Chicago suburb of Rosemont, Ill.

"Errors are selling like crazy," Doris Bart declared April 18 of her experience with paper money. The Roseville, Mich., dealer was at the Bart, Inc., table.

"Yesterday was strong," she said. "Dealer-to-dealer was very strong. Today was a bit slow with the public, but we're hoping tomorrow there will be more public sales."...

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Coin counterfeit suspect arrested in Polk County

2008-05-02T21:46:00.001-07:00

POLK COUNTY, FL -- Polk County Sheriff's office is looking for anyone who may have been a victim of buying rare coins only to find they are counterfeit....

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140 million coin collectors near complete set

2008-05-02T21:45:00.001-07:00

KUSA - The 50 State Quarters program at the U.S. Mint is in its final production with the last three states getting their commemorative quarter-dollars by the end of the year...

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State Museum to show its 'mettle' soon

2008-04-26T14:42:00.003-07:00

Hyderabad, April 26: THE Andhra Pradesh State Museum located in the cool, green environs of the Public Gardens will show its ‘mettle’ by the year-end.

It will house an impressive numismatics gallery with coins from various dynasties in a wide range of metals, throwing light on economic and political conditions and artistic achievements down the ages....

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What do you get when you buy a few coins? A $10,000 lawsuit

2008-04-26T14:42:00.001-07:00

A Seattle native, Steve Shellhorn, recently purchased a few coins off eBay and little did he know that those few coins would turn into a $10,000 lawsuit. Yes, $10,000 all because of a few measly coins. He was sued because he left “neutral” feedback, and the seller didn’t like that, and promptly sued him for 10,000 big ones.

Basically, Shellhorn wanted to get som...

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Girl finds double-headed coin

2008-04-26T14:41:00.001-07:00

EL PASO, Texas - An El Paso girl came across a quarter that is worth a lot more than 25 cents. Angelica Workman discovered the rare quarter in her piggy bank Saturday. The coin, which has been authenticated, has George Washington's image on both sides. It is rare for a U.S. Mint to make an error, so the coin is very valuable.

Workman said it was fate she found the coin, because her birthday...

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Happy National Coin Week!

2008-04-26T14:30:00.003-07:00

Strong auction results and strong collector demand served to underpin the market at the Central States Numismatic Society convention April 17-19 in the Chicago suburb of Rosemont, Ill....

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Mulberry business owner arrested for making counterfeit coins

2008-04-26T14:30:00.001-07:00

A Mulberry man was arrested for the second time in two years after making and selling fake antique and rare coins.

John H. Green, 47, the owner of AAA Coin & Jewelry in Mulberry, was arrested and charged with three counts each of cheating and grand theft. The charges were filed by the State Attorney's office. He was last arrested in December 2006 on fraud charges....

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Rare coin found in garden

2008-04-26T14:29:00.007-07:00

A GAME of garden football ended with an historic find by North Devon grandmother Sylvia Nutton.

While moving a plant out of harm's way when her three young grandsons started their game at her home in Knowle, Sylvia uncovered a small silver coin. Investigations with the help of Barnstaple library and the Museum of North Devon have revealed that it could be more than 450 years old. The coin is believed to be a Queen Mary I groat dating from 1553-54....

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1919-D Quarter Date Not to Be Overlooked

2008-04-26T14:29:00.005-07:00

It is easy to overlook some Standing Liberty quarter dates. There are simply too many of them. The 1916 is in a class by itself with a mintage of just 52,000. Some of the most costly are the 1918/17-S and 1927-S.

With those few special dates it is easy to forget that the Standing Liberty quarter is a set full of dates with mintages of less than 2 million. With a mintage of 1,944,000, it is hard for the 1919-D to stand out....

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Canadian Mint Opening Delayed by Politics

2008-04-26T14:29:00.003-07:00

Celebration of the centennial of the Royal Canadian Mint in the summer of 2008 may cause numismatists to reflect on the years of diplomatic wrangling and political infighting that surrounded its establishment. Now one of the most successful and modern mints in the world, its founding in 1908 was the culmination of nearly two decades of argument among Canadian parliamentarians, and negotiations between officials in Canada and the United Kingdom....

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A rare collection of collectible you need to auction!

2008-04-26T14:29:00.001-07:00

Rodolfo moreno jr, 21 April 2008 ( Live-pr ) An auction is practice of buying and selling goods by offering them bids, taking bids and giving away the item who wins the bid. The auction may also refer to a mechanism, trading rule for exchange of goods. Many companies conduct the auction. The goods at auction may be anything. They may be of any used or non used materials. They are many auctioning techniques; it may in the limits set on the prices. The auction may be conducted through phone, internet or in person. The auctioneers generally collect a fee from the seller. Trough auction you can sell your rare items, collectibles, antiques, entertainment memorabilia and some of your rare toys. Through auction you can earn more money than the prices of the goods at which you bought those. History says that the practice of auction started before the age of 500 BC....

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POLISH NUMISMATICS TOPS CHARTS

2008-04-26T14:28:00.001-07:00

NEW YORK – On January 14, a Polish 1621 gold 100 Ducat coin sold for $1.38 Million, setting a world’s record price for a non-U.S. coin. Sold by Stack’s, one of the oldest and most successful rare coin Auction Houses in the U.S., in its Kroisos Collection Sale, the coin was struck to commemorate Poland’s victory over the Ottoman Turks in the famed Battle of Chocim....

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Spain rejects U.S. treasure-hunters' shipwreck claim

2008-04-26T14:27:00.003-07:00

MIAMI (Reuters) - Spain rejected as "preposterous" on Friday claims by Florida treasure hunters about the origin of a $500 million haul of silver and gold from a disputed shipwreck and vowed to set the record straight next month....

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First Antarctic coin launched

2008-04-26T14:27:00.001-07:00

The granddaughter of an early polar explorer has attended a ceremony to mark the launch of the first Antarctic coin.

The coin has been created by the Pobjoy Mint in Kingswood, Surrey, to commemorate the centenary of the Granting of Letters Patent in 1908 when the UK first claimed the British Antarctic Territory.

The striking ceremony was attended by Philippa Foster Back, chairwoman of the United Kingdom Antarctic Heritage Trust, whose grandfather Frank Debenham accompanied Robert Falcon Scott's Antarctic Terra Nova Expedition to the South Pole from 1910 to 1913....

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Albania to replace its two smallest bills with coins

2008-04-26T14:26:00.003-07:00

Tirana / 14 April 2008 / AE News - Citing lack of durability for its widely used 100 and 200 lek paper money, Albania’s central bank has announced it will replace its two smallest bills with coins by the end of this year....

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The dime of a lifetime

2008-04-26T14:26:00.001-07:00

A couple of weeks ago Jim Shultz of Fermilab’s Visual Media Services was following his usual routine. As Jim puts it, “It was a normal day like any other” including a stop at the cafeteria for his morning coffee....

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Goldbergs offer Millennia collection May 26

2008-04-14T04:38:00.003-07:00

Ira and Larry Goldberg will auction the Millennia collection, a gathering of more than 1,000 high-quality world and ancient coins, May 26.
...

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Final two suspects caught in rare coin heist attempt

2008-04-14T04:38:00.001-07:00

APPLETON — The recent arrests of Menasha and Appleton men complete the roundup of five suspects police think were involved in the Nov. 8 attempted armed theft of rare coins in Ellington....

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Littleton Coin issues April buy list

2008-04-14T04:37:00.005-07:00

Littleton Coin Company has issued an April “Special Buy List.” The list represents prices the firm will pay at the time of publication for what it calls “accurately graded, problem-free” items shipped to its office...

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Canada should not keep evil coins

2008-04-14T04:37:00.003-07:00

Pennies: irritating, annoying, nagging, offending, all smashed together into one circular copper disk of doom. These pennies should be annihilated out of existence. It takes a lot of money to create all that change at factories like the Royal Canadian Mint. If we're just going to throw pennies away, then what's the point of spending all that money making them?...

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ONA 46th Annual Coin Convention coming to Sudbury

2008-04-14T04:37:00.001-07:00

On April 26 and 27, the Nickel Belt Coin Club will be hosting the Ontario Numismatic Association's (ONA) 46th annual convention at the Radisson Hotel.

The Nickel Belt Coin Club hosted the convention in 1971 and again in 2005. The convention is back in Sudbury by popular demand, stated a news release....

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A nickel for your thoughts on penny abolition

2008-04-14T04:36:00.005-07:00

“A penny for your thoughts” and countless other expressions may no longer mean anything if a Winnipeg MP has his way.

Winnipeg Centre New Democratic MP Pat Martin introduced a private members’ bill in the House of Commons last Wednesday that could end production of pennies and eliminate them from circulation, while rounding prices for cash transactions to the nearest nickel...

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Coin collectors offer appraisals

2008-04-14T04:36:00.003-07:00

LEAMINGTON -- Coin collectors can have their treasures appraised by the Essex County Coin Club Wednesday.

The club will hold a free coin information and appraisal night from 6 to 8 p.m. Members will be identifying and showing the listed values of collectors' coins at the Real Canadian Superstore, 210 Talbot St. E., in Leamington....

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PCGS now certifying whole rolls

2008-04-14T04:36:00.001-07:00

Rolls of Presidential dollars and American Eagle silver coins are now being certified by the Professional Coin Grading Service.

The brilliant uncirculated rolls are housed in what are called CrystalVue™ hard plastic tubes.

“It gives collectors a safe, effective method of protecting their coins for future generations while guaranteeing the authenticity and brilliant uncirculated grade of an entire roll,” said Ron Guth, PCGS president...

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Scrap the penny

2008-04-14T04:34:00.005-07:00

The penny has circulated in this country for 150 years, but this humblest of coins has come to outlive its usefulness.

Its purchasing power has eroded so far that there is almost nothing that can be obtained for just 1 cent. One study shows that a nickel today buys about what a penny did in 1972. So there seems little point in retaining the lowly copper, especially since it cost the mint $130 million to produce 1.2 billion pennies last year....

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Winning design for coins unveiled

2008-04-14T04:34:00.003-07:00

The winning entry in a public competition to design the first new British coin series for nearly 40 years has been unveiled.

Matthew Dent, 26, from Bangor, North Wales, will have his work stamped on billions of coins for decades to come.

His designs, which feature parts of the royal coat of arms, have been picked to feature on the "reverse" of the 1p through to the £1. They will partner the familiar Queen's head image on the other side...

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World Coin Hot List

2008-04-14T04:34:00.001-07:00

As part of my job, I get the pleasure of being flooded with lots of great coin images from around the world. Sometimes they arrive in my inbox, other times they appear as promotional videos on YouTube or in press releases and catalogs. Either way, I always find something surprising. Here's a quick list of three coins that raised my eyebrows, and are sure to enjoy growing interest in the coming months....

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Coins worth more than their weight in gold

2008-04-14T04:33:00.005-07:00

THERE are two stories about gold coins, no matter how you look at it.

There are the bullion coins linked to the rocketing gold price. Then there is the price of numismatic or collectable coins, which are not directly linked to the gold price but which are outperforming...

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Half dimes trace roots to pre-Mint workshop

2008-04-14T04:33:00.003-07:00

It would be difficult to pick out one coin of the United States as being the most historic. After all, you have the first 1793 Chain reverse cent, which ranks as the first coin made inside the brand-new U.S. Mint, or the first dollar of the United States, the 1794. There is an awfully good case to be made, though, for the 1792 half dime, normally called the half disme...

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Walking Liberty Half Scarcer in Top Grades

2008-04-14T04:33:00.001-07:00

The 1919-D Walking Liberty half dollar has emerged as one of the most interesting coins of the past century. It is also one of the toughest coins of the past century, at least in MS-65.

In going back to 1919 to try to determine what caused the 1919-D to become so tough in top grades, we find no clear reason beyond the fact that the 1919-D was a Walking Liberty half dollar and there were very few collecting them at the time....

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Collecting makes cents

2008-04-14T04:32:00.005-07:00

As the U.S. economy hits the skids and Americans start hoarding their change, coin dealers are seeing a rush of interest from first-time collectors and even investors looking for rare, history-rich assets that gain value at a steady rate...

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Court says no to depositions

2008-04-14T04:32:00.003-07:00

Litigation between the government and the Langbord family over 10 1933 double eagles continues in Philadelphia in United States District Court.
The latest skirmish was an attempt to depose a number of former government officials on the issue of what they were thinking at the time that they agreed to allow the King Farouk specimen of the 1933 $20 to be sold at public auction...

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Kennedy Halves Quickly Released to Public

2008-04-14T04:32:00.001-07:00

I'm told that the Kennedy half was one of the speediest pieces of government action in history. Can you review the time span?

President Kennedy was assassinated on Nov. 22, 1963. President Johnson proposed the coin to Congress Dec. 10, and on Dec. 13 the first trial strikes reached Washington. Congress authorized it on Dec. 30, and proof dies were ready Jan. 2, 1964. The first circulating coin was struck at Denver Jan. 30, and joint ceremonies were held to mark the first strikes at Denver and Philadelphia on Feb. 11. The first 26 million were shipped to the Federal Reserve on March 24, and they were released to the public in the following days...

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Mint director to hold coin forum in Albuquerque

2008-04-06T16:19:00.001-07:00

ALBUQUERQUE—The director of the U.S. Mint views America's coins this way: They're a piece of public art that people get to see every day.

Ed Moy said they also can be educational, with presidents' pictures or the program to honor each of the 50 states on the backs of quarters...

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Wales short-changed by new coin designs

2008-04-06T16:18:00.001-07:00

A DECISION to snub Wales in the design of a new set of UK coins has been described as a “two fingered salute” to the nation.

Yesterday the Royal Mint unveiled new designs to feature on the reverse of seven of the United Kingdom’s coins, from the 1p coin to the £1....

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Rare, Eight-Sided 1915 San Francisco Gold Coin at Santa Clara Expo

2008-04-06T16:17:00.001-07:00

A rare, eight-sided San Francisco gold coin from the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition will be displayed during the Santa Clara Coin, Stamp & Collectibles Expo, April 10 - 13, 2008....

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Prices dampen jewelry, coin sales

2008-04-06T16:16:00.003-07:00

Historic highs in gold trading, a byproduct that usually accompanies a weakening dollar, is changing the local landscape for jewelry and coin dealers encountering more than their usual share of customers looking to sell their precious metals for a small profit....

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$1 million in coins on exhibit in Niagara Falls

2008-04-06T16:16:00.001-07:00

More than $1 million worth of collectible coins is in Niagara Falls this weekend for the second annual Gold & Silver Over Niagara coin show, as hundreds of coin dealers from around the country display their rare coins, stamps and currency....

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Collectible Lincoln Varieties

2008-03-24T17:23:00.001-07:00

Minting varieties are the coins that the Mint didn't intend to make. They're the Mint's mistakes that somehow made it past the quality control inspections. Although disliked by the Mint, they're adored by many collectors.

However, not all collectors of a given series are interested in minting varieties. Many collectors consider the error coins unnecessary for a complete collection. For example, although the 1955 doubled-die Lincoln cent is widely popular and has enough demand to push the price to dizzying heights, few Lincoln cent collectors consider their set incomplete if they don't have one. Lincoln cent varieties, of which the 1955 doubled die is one of the best known, are the subject of this article. My aim is to discuss the best known of the Lincoln cent varieties, their histories, and their values, with an emphasis on wheat cent varieties. I'll begin with A Guide Book of United States Coins varieties....

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Precious Metals, World Coin Connection

2008-03-24T17:22:00.003-07:00

High precious metal prices usually make for strange happenings in the world coin market. One such occurrence cropped up in Ethiopia near the end of 2007 and has been unfolding over the last few months. Some schemers ripped off the National Bank of Ethiopia to the tune of 26.8 million dollars through a plot involving gold plated steel bars....

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1948 Commemorative Coin Brings Memories of State Ferry Operations at St. Ignace

2008-03-24T17:22:00.001-07:00

Clayton Bennett of St. Ignace has a 25¢ coin that reminds him of his youth. It is a 1948 silver anniversary coin commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Michigan State Ferries....

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Coins mark 2008 Beijing Olympics

2008-03-24T17:21:00.001-07:00

Athletes won’t be the only ones in pursuit of Olympic gold and silver this summer.

Coin collectors will be able to acquire proof gold and silver commemorative coins issued by the China Mint in honor of the games it will host Aug. 8-24....

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Coin show held in Liverpool

2008-03-17T13:28:00.003-07:00

ONONDAGA COUNTY, N.Y. -- You could find thousands of rare coins on display in Liverpool Sunday. The Onondaga Numismatist Association held a coin show at the Ramada Inn.

Some collectors were looking for something to add to their collection, while others were looking to see what their coins are worth. One collector tells us what interests him....

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Assay Members May Have Saved 1876-CC

2008-03-17T13:28:00.001-07:00

The story I heard is that the 1876-CC 20-cent coins that have survived in uncirculated grade were souvenirs saved by the members of the 1876 Assay Commission. Is this true?

Possibly true, but there is no written evidence to support the belief, which I have seen quoted. You might say, "A likely story."...

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For some folks, all that glitters nowadays is gold

2008-03-17T13:27:00.003-07:00

MILFORD - Gold prices blew past $1,000 an ounce, and those peak prices for the precious metal brought plenty of customers to Steve Allen's Old Milford Coin Shop.

"At one time, I had seven or eight people standing in line," said Allen, 58.

After hearing that gold was trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange for as much as $1,009 Friday - a trading record - people were eager to know how much their jewelry was worth....

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The rising value of gold leads to a seller's rush

2008-03-17T13:27:00.001-07:00

As the economy falters, gold glistens.

Fears of a recession, the credit and housing crunch, slumping retail sales, higher energy prices and unemployment have propelled the precious metal's value to new heights.

Gold reached a milestone Thursday, hitting an all-time high of $1,001.50 an ounce in trading before closing at $993.80....

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Second suspect questioned in coin collection robbery

2008-03-17T13:26:00.001-07:00

SPRING LAKE TWP. -- A second suspect in the home invasion and armed robbery of a coin collector has been apprehended and questioned by Ottawa County investigators, who are confident charges will be filed against him....

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Eagle prices reflect gold gains

2008-03-17T13:25:00.001-07:00

Sales of proof 2008 gold American Eagle coins began March 4 at prices reflecting gold’s recent strong gains.

The one-ounce coin is priced at $1,199.95 and will have a production limit of 25,000 individual coins and up to another 35,000 coins in the four-coin set for a maximum total of 60,000 pieces....

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Silver coins of Victorian era found in Halwara

2008-03-17T13:24:00.003-07:00

A Dispute over a booty led to the confiscation of 172 ancient silver coins, which were found buried at Sudhar village near the Halwara Air Force Station on Monday....

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Qatar Museums Authority receives antique coins

2008-03-17T13:24:00.001-07:00

Doha • A local businesssman has donated a collection of antique coins to the Qatar Museums Authority (QMA)

QMA CEO Abdulla Al Najjar received the collection of pre-Islamic and Islamic coins from the collector, Omar Hamad Al Mana at a...

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New coin could revive interest in Cornish site

2008-03-17T13:17:00.001-07:00

The United States Mint has announced it will recreate a $20 gold coin designed by Augustus Saint-Gaudens in 1907, and a curator hopes the new version of the coin will attract more visitors to the famed American sculptor's former estate in Cornish....

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Penny Problem: Not Worth Metal It's Made Of

2008-03-17T13:16:00.001-07:00

The saying goes, "See a penny, pick it up, all day long you'll have good luck."

But these days, the penny itself isn't having much luck. Not only is there nothing you can buy with a penny, it's literally not worth the metal it's made of. ...

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Coin collecting can offer valuable lessons

2008-03-17T13:15:00.001-07:00

Coin collecting truly has become a cool hobby for youngsters since the 1999 launch of the state quarters program.

Frankly, I think it is one of the best ways to introduce young children to money. Not only can they learn about the value of money, how to count and how coins are minted, but the designs, mint marks and other patterns can make history come alive.

The hobby has gone through a "Neo-Renaissance" in the past 10 years, U.S. Mint Director Edmund Moy said....

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Eagle Prices Reflect Gold Gains

2008-03-10T16:13:00.003-07:00

Sales of proof 2008 gold American Eagle coins began March 4 at prices reflecting gold's recent strong gains.

The one-ounce coin is priced at $1,199.95 and will have a production limit of 25,000 individual coins and up to another 35,000 coins in the four-coin set for a maximum total of 60,000 pieces....

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India's Coins Look Alike

2008-03-10T16:13:00.001-07:00

The coinage shortage in India can in part be blamed on the rising value of the metals of which they are composed.

Reserve Bank of India Chief General Manager in Mumbai Alpana Killawalla was quoted Jan. 19 in The Times of India newspaper as saying, "With the rise in international prices of copper and nickel, the intrinsic value of the coins were becoming higher than the actual embossed value. So, it was necessary to switch to a cheaper metal."...

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Monroe quiet over $1 coin

2008-03-10T16:12:00.001-07:00

MONROE - When the new $1 U.S. coin bearing the image of this town's namesake made its debut last month, it came with little hoopla.

There was the man from Springfield who drove the 60-odd miles north and west to get here in Franklin County, thinking the town was minting the coin in honor of the nation's fifth president James Monroe.

It's believed, though, that not even one of the town's just under 120 residents has one of the coins yet. ...

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Young coin collectors learn about money and history

2008-03-10T16:11:00.001-07:00

I remember my coin collection from yesteryear: A handful of silver dollars, some JFK 50-cent pieces, and an assortment of coins from faraway lands that I dreamed of someday visiting....

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The golden years are back

2008-03-10T16:10:00.001-07:00

The price of bullion has hit a new high, so is this a good time to invest? Patrick Collinson looks at the safest buys ... and how to sell a gold tooth...

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Escala Group Names Permanent CEO

2008-03-10T16:09:00.001-07:00

BETHEL, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Escala Group (ESCL.PK), a global collectibles company in stamps, coins, precious metals trading, and art and antiques, today announced that the Board of Directors has appointed Greg Roberts, the head of its coin and trading divisions, as its President and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Roberts replaces Matthew M. Walsh, who has served as President and acting CEO of the Company since December 2006, and as Chief Financial Officer since May 2006. Mr. Walsh is leaving the Company to pursue an opportunity in private equity....

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Will Coin Collecting Ever Be the Same Again?

2008-03-10T16:08:00.001-07:00

Gold is in a foot race sprint towards $1,000 a troy ounce and beyond. Platinum is already at $2,174 an ounce. Silver exceeds $20 an ounce. The price of oil has gone over $100 a barrel. Copper is now at a record $3.91 a pound; nickel is a $14.82 a pound and even lowly zinc is at $1.27 a pound.

The age of commodities is upon us.

Here's the scary thing. A couple hundred dollars ago, gold reached its high of the 1980s, then the height of inflation and a series of economic pressures that were very apparent to the nation as a whole and to coin collectors in particular....

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Eagle Prices Reflect Gold Gains

2008-03-10T16:07:00.001-07:00

Many Key Dates Created in 1921 Recession

2008-03-10T16:06:00.001-07:00

Go to a coin show and price the following 1921 U.S. coins: the S-mint nickel, the P- and D-mint dimes, the quarter, all three halves, and the Peace dollar. What do they all have in common? Low mintages and high prices. Why is that? Because the state of the economy plays a very important role in the production of our currency.

The post-World War I years saw a slowdown in the economy of the United States. The decade before World War I, however, had seen booming economic growth unmatched in history. This amazing economic growth continued during the war, when many nations mobilized their national resources into command economy structures...

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Dolley First Spouse still on sale

2008-03-10T16:05:00.001-07:00

When the Elizabeth Monroe First Spouse gold coins went on sale Feb. 28, for the first time in the program, the prior offering had not sold out.

The result is collectors are being treated to two half-ounce gold coin designs that are selling at two vastly different prices.

The new proof Monroe piece is priced at $619.95 each and the uncirculated coin is priced at $599.95.

Both prices represent an increase from the prior Dolley Madison design. However, Dolley is still on sale....

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Coin Chat Radio Brings Money to the Airwave

2008-03-03T19:12:00.001-08:00

Iola, WI, February 29, 2008 - “Live, from Iola, Wis., the Coin Collectors Capital of the World, it’s Coin Chat Radio.”

With that salutation, Krause Publications will launch a new Web-based radio station on March 14 at numismaticnews.net.

Bob VanRyzin, editor of Coins magazine, a sister publication to Numismatic News, will host the premiere show, “Collecting Money.” It airs live at 11 a.m. and will be available as podcast for listeners who later visit the site. After the launch date, the show will air every Thursday at 11 a.m.

Coin Chat Radio plans to offer a wide variety of programming to appeal to a divergent collecting community...

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Company refunds money taken for collectible coins

2008-03-03T19:11:00.001-08:00

In April, I saw an ad for a free, eight-piece coin collection for early responders. You just had to pay $12.95 shipping and handling.

I called and ordered it. With her permission, I gave my daughter's checking account number for the payment to be debited. But since then the account has been charged $13.40 per month, which was taken without my daughter's authorization...

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Metal Prices on Fire

2008-03-03T19:10:00.001-08:00

Metal Prices on Fire
By Debbie Bradley, Numismatic News
February 28, 2008
Other News & Articles

* Russian, Ukrainian Coinage Demand on the Rise
* Winter Sports Featured Prominently on 2008 Coins
* How Many Millions Will 1804 Silver Dollar Bring?

"Should I buy or should I sell?"

That's what owners of bullion coins are asking themselves as gold and silver prices climb higher each day.

Meanwhile, dealers are finding themselves busy doing both.

"With oil hitting over $100 a barrel, gold near $1,000 an ounce and silver near $20 an ounce, it's created a lot of activity," said Scott Thomas, president and chief executive officer of American Precious Metals Exchange.

Any BU $20 Saint-Gaudens gold coin, for instance, is selling for close to $1,000.

"I think a lot of people are selling a lot of bullion products they bought when silver was under $10 an ounce," Thomas said. "Here is a chance for people to double their money." A bullion coin gets most of its value from the metal value, while a collector coin gets most of its value from its rarity.

"A lot of people are selling pre-1933 gold coins that they've held on to for a while," Thomas said. "They're cashing in."

Vintage type coins, however, aren't recording a huge increase or decrease in activity, he said.

"Steady as it goes," Thomas said.

A 1930-S dime uncirculated has only $1.30 silver value, but collector demand for that coin is strong, said Ken Pines of Coast to Coast.

So don't expect coin collectors to turn in their collections for melt value.

"It's a real effort to come up with enough good collector coins," Pines said. "There aren't a lot of sellers of collector coins out there. They're not speculating on the market." But an abundance of bullion-related materials is now being offered, Pines said.

"It's going out of here as fast as it's coming in," he said. "A lot of people have $20 gold pieces they bought for $300 and $400 that they can now sell for $1,000," Pines said. In fact, on Feb. 26, Coast to Coast was buying $20 Saint-Gaudens BU for $981 and selling them for $1,016.

So is this the time to sell your bullion-related coins?

Thomas said it depends on what you have, what you purchased it for, and your comfort level.

"I always tell people, if you're interested in selling but you don't want to pull the trigger because you don't want to be wrong, sell half.

"If you have $50,000 in silver, sell $25,000. If the price of silver goes down, you were half wrong. If it goes up, you were half right. It makes people feel better about their decision whether they're ready to buy or sell."

Liz Coggan, numismatist with J.J. Teaparty of Boston, said the retail store, which handles a lot of bullion, has been unbelievably busy, with people 10 to 12 deep at the counters all day. And J.J. Teaparty is doing a lot of buying.

Coggan thinks it's a good time for collectors to think about profits.

"It's only a profit if you take it," she said. "It's not a profit on paper. People may say of their bullion gold coin, 'I've made $600 on this coin because I bought it at $300 and now it's at $945.' You've only made $500 or $600 an ounce if you sell it."

Some people would be prudent to take a profit, especially if they have a fair amount of product, she said.

"You don't want profit to just evaporate in front of you," Coggan said.

Weak consumer confidence may push the price of gold higher, Coggan said, but people may just pull back and not buy anything if they feel the economy is on shaky ground. "It's really hard to tell," Coggan said. "The country used to be its own entity. If stocks went up, gold went down. It doesn't function that way any more. We're so globally connected. It's harder to read the markets and where it's goi...

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How to Collect and Store Coins

2008-03-03T19:09:00.003-08:00

Numismatics, the hobby of kings, began to catch on in the United States in the mid-1800s. In 1858, the Numismatic and Antiquarian Society in Philadelphia and the American Numismatic Society in New York City were organized. A decade or so earlier, there had been perhaps no more than a dozen serious collectors of coins this side of the Atlantic.

Coin-collecting interest expanded rapidly in the late 1800s and the early 1900s, as America's frontiers became settled and Americans became more interested in the arts. The first truly national hobby organization, the American Numismatic Association, was established in 1891, and several numismatic periodicals flourished during the period. ...

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Coin collection stolen in break-in

2008-03-03T19:09:00.001-08:00

A coin collection valued at $16,900 was reported stolen when thieves broke into a garage at a Clarksville area residence, then broke into a safe inside the garage and stole most of the contents....

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House cleaner charged in theft of $12,000 coin collection

2008-03-03T19:08:00.003-08:00

ENFIELD - Police have arrested a woman in connection with the theft of an extensive coin collection last fall, and expect to make another arrest, Deputy Chief Anjo Timmerman said.

In October, a man reported that his coin collection had been stolen from his house, Timmerman said. He immediately pointed police to Jillian Jurczyk, 21, whose last address was the Motel 6 on Hazard Avenue, as a suspect. The man had hired Jurczyk a month earlier to help clean his apartment, police said....

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It's Not a Coin

2008-03-03T19:08:00.001-08:00

Oh, oh. A young person was ringing the doorbell. Our numismatist scratched his head. Was he going to be asked to purchase cookies, candy or magazines for some good cause? "Hi, Mr. B. Mom sent me over. We found this old coin in a jar of buttons. Mom says you know a lot about coins. Maybe you could tell me what it's worth?" Handing over the coin, he said, "Mom said if it's worth anything that I can keep the money."

Our numismatist smiled as he looked over the coin. "Well, Brian, what you have is actually an 1863 Civil War token. I have one exactly like it. I won't keep you in suspense. It's worth about $20. That won't be enough to buy that red Corvette you want...

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Plenty of 1896 Cents

2008-03-03T19:07:00.003-08:00

While politicians debated the merits of the "free and unlimited" coinage of silver in 1896, a presidential election year, the lowly bronze cent kept right on going. No one could argue its importance. Cent mintages were high and so was demand, resulting in today's modest price tags for 1896 cents in all grades from Good-4 to Mint State-60.

The Philadelphia Mint was a busy place in 1896. Production of low-denomination coins, including the cent, were on the rise. The March 5, 1896, issue of the Ohio Democrat said the cent was in "great demand." "Three presses are now at work on copper coinage," the newspaper reported, "turning out [many thousands] of cents a day. This rate has before been equaled or exceeded, but it is worthy of remark now in view of the previous great output of the copper coins within the past dozen years."...

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Commission unveils commemorative coin

2008-03-03T19:07:00.001-08:00

A commemorative coin to mark next year's 10th anniversary of the launch of the Single European Currency was unveiled by the EU Commission today.

The winning design is considered a 'primitive' one, as it carries the image of a cave-painting style stick man holding the common currency's 'e' emblem....

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Lending 2 cents to penny debate

2008-03-03T18:57:00.003-08:00

“They still make pennies?” Bill Brower, Palo Alto, asked Saturday. “Get rid of it.”

Friday, U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson said it makes sense to eliminate the penny, noting it’s “worth less than any other currency.”

If the penny were taken out of everyday use, all prices would be rounded up or down to the nearest nickel....

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Gold owners cash in coins

2008-03-03T18:57:00.001-08:00

Since January, when gold prices started hitting new highs, local jewelers and pawnbrokers have seen an upsurge in the number of people cleaning out their drawers and bringing in their gold for cash or trade....

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Gold coins to mark £1 anniversary

2008-03-03T18:56:00.001-08:00

The Royal Mint has launched a gold coin set to mark the 25th anniversary of the introduction of the £1 coin.

The set contains 14 £1 coins made out of 22-carat gold, with each one bearing one of the 14 designs that have been issued since the coin was first put into circulation.

The £1 coin first entered circulation in 1983, when it was decided that, due to increased prices and the relatively short life span of £1 notes, it would be more appropriate for the sum to be a coin....

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Collectors congregate at annual collectible show

2008-02-24T17:16:00.001-08:00

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

2008-02-24T17:11:00.003-08:00

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

2008-02-24T17:11:00.001-08:00

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

2008-02-24T17:10:00.001-08:00

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

2008-02-24T17:09:00.003-08:00

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

2008-02-24T17:09:00.001-08:00

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

2008-02-24T17:08:00.003-08:00

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

2008-02-24T17:08:00.001-08:00

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

2008-02-17T17:22:00.003-08:00

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

2008-02-17T17:22:00.001-08:00

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

2008-02-17T17:20:00.003-08:00

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

2008-02-17T17:20:00.001-08:00

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

2008-02-11T17:39:00.001-08:00

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

2008-02-11T17:38:00.003-08:00

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

2008-02-11T17:38:00.001-08:00

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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