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The
William Henry Harrison Medal
by R.W. Julian - The War of 1812 is
one of the least-known periods of American history, yet it produced some of the
most interesting medallic work in our numismatic past. One such medal had its
genesis in military action in portions of our modern-day Central States
Numismatic Society region. This medal went to William Henry Harrison, who later
achieved the highest office in the land, that of President. .
"California
Gold" from the Central States
by Robert D. Leonard, Jr. -
California is not one of the Central States. Yet two jewelers in this region
made "California gold" pieces, during the craze for such novelties during the
19th century. Their models were born of necessity. In the wake of the
California Gold Rush, assorted foreign coins came into circulation, which
circulated by size and not exchange value; by late 1851, .
Collecting
Seated half dollars Most collectors cannot complete a Seated Liberty half
dollar collection. However, in lower grades, many can come close. And, along
the way, they are likely to have a lot fun learning the story of this coin. The
Seated Liberty half dollar was introduced in 1839, its design being still
something of a work in progress. The new design by Christian Gobrecht was of a
seated figure of Liberty. It would be redesigned the following year to include
a fold of drapery from Libertys left elbow..
Allegorical
or actual? Should future quarter dollar designs depict actual American
citizens? In the
Jan. 17 issue we began a discussion about future State quarter dollar designs
based on demographics in the United States. Demographics is defined as "the
statistical characteristics of human populations (such as age and income) used
especially to identify markets," according to Webster's Ninth New Collegiate
Dictionary..
Details
become clearer Since reporting in the Aug. 10 issue of Numismatic News,
variety enthusiasts have been diligently searching for the 2004-P Lincoln cent
exhibiting a doubled-die obverse and strong doubled-die reverse. Discovered by
Robert Neff, only a few examples have been located in Florida, with one
specimen reported from Pennsylvania. While visiting friends in Arkansas, I was
able to obtain a $50 bag of circulated cents from one of the local banks to
carry back home with me for searching. .
Randall
Hoard still has impact on pricing today
The values for uncirculated large cents
dated 1817-1820 in numismatic price guides show that they are very inexpensive,
priced at one-half to one-third the value of later coppers. Why this
low price? The answer is the Randall Hoard, a great quantity of
large cents named for the man who first marketed them to numismatists..
Seigniorage
made one cent at a time
Making a mint at the Mint takes place with
each minted coin. Thats the inescapable conclusion of a profits statement
released by Mint director Henrietta Holsman Fore to Rep. Steve Rothman, D-N.J.,
a member of the House Appropriations Committee and on the subcommittee in
charge of oversight over the U.S. Mint. For each cent, the seigniorage
or profit between cost and face value the Mint makes is three
ten-thousandths of a cent ($0.0003), which sounds small but on a volume of
seven billion coins still amounts to an annual profit of about $2 million. .
The
United States Coinage
The Mint of the United States was
established at Philadelphia by resolution of Congress, dated April 2, 1792, and
the first coins were struck the following year. Subsequently the branch mints
were established. In the act establishing the mint the devices and legends for
the new coins were prescribed as follows: Upon one side of each of the said
coins there shall be an impression emblematic of liberty, with an inscription
of the word Liberty and the year of coinage .
A
Discussion of Five Mints
Morgan dollars were struck at the
Philadelphia Mint continuously from 1878 through 1904, and again in 1921. In
addition to many millions of business strikes, Proofs were produced each year
1878 through 1904, typically in the range of about 800 to 1,000 pieces
annually. Today these are all rare. A few Proofs were made in 1921 as well.As
Morgan dollars were made over a long period of years and to the extent of
millions of coins, the die work and striking quality is apt to vary from issue
to issue. Some years are normally seen well struck, and others with lightly
detailed features. Some are deeply frosty, and others have a satiny or "greasy"
appearance. .
THE
CENT IN SIX METALS Are you aware that the cent, or "penny," has been made of
six different alloys during the two centuries it has been issued. Our nation's
first cents weighed more than the modern half dollar and were only slightly
smaller in diameter. These large coins officially were made of pure copper, but
some of these coins contain trace amounts of other metals, including silver and
gold. .
US
Buffalo Nickel and the First Nickel Coin
U.S. Nickel -from ANA's Money Talks
programs. In 1911 sculptor James Earl Fraser began designing the "Buffalo"
nickel. Fraser said the portrait on the "head's" side was a composite of three
American Indians--Iron Tail, Big Tree and Two Moons. Fraser had the opportunity
to study and photograph them when they stopped off in New York on their way to
Washington to visit President Theodore Roosevelt. By borrowing features from
each individual, Fraser was able to sketch the "ideal" portrait for the nickel.
.
1804
Silver Dollar The
"King of American Coins" In 1991, one of the most stunning items was given to
the ANA Money Museum--one of the most famous and valuable coins in the world!
This is, of course, the Bebee Specimen of the 1804 dated United States Bust
dollar, originally purchased from the Philadelphia mint by mid-19th century
coin dealer William Idler. .
FACTS
ABOUT 1943 COPPER CENT
From the American Numismatic Association
(ANA), the world's largest nonprofit organization for coin collectors --
founded in 1891 and chartered by Congress The 1943 copper-alloy cent is one of
the most idealized and sought-after items in numismatics, as all circulating
pennies at that time were struck in zinc-coated steel because copper was needed
for the Allied war effort. .
Draped
dollar a favorite Struck from 1795 to 1804, the famous Draped Bust dollar
has long caught the interest of dedicated collectors. As early as the 1850s
numismatists were chasing after rare dates and during the Civil War of
1861-1865 there were numerous auctions containing specimens of this coinage..
The
nation's first nickel
Before we discuss the Shield nickel series,
we first need to consider the question of why nickels were needed at all. What
was wrong with the half dime, a venerable coin that had first been minted in
1794 and was still being produced when Shield nickels made their appearance?
The problem with the half dime was that it was a silver coin, and silver coins
had begun to disappear from circulation during the Civil War. .
Indian
Head 5-cent variety 2 Feathers coins span many dates,
Mints Most
collectors of U.S. coins are familiar with the 1937-D Indian Head, Three-Legged
Bison 5-cent coin on which the bison's right foreleg was abraded off a die by a
Denver Mint technician's overpolishing. It is a highly sought after variety
that can bring significant money in all grades..
Will
State quarter designs be bridge to next 'Golden Age' of U.S. coinage
design? If you
collect State quarter dollars, do you realize you are making coinage history?
When the State quarter dollars program ends in 2008, there will have been
hundreds, if not thousands, of words written about the designs. The debate
about the designs on the 50 State quarter dollars may continue as long as there
are two coin collectors alive on the planet. But what exactly is a good coin
design? Many questions must be pondered before arriving at a definition of a
good design..
A
famous Buffalo nickel
When it comes to Buffalo nickels, the
1918/17-D ranks second in value to the 1916/16. Coin Prices lists the 1916/16
at $350,000 in Mint State-65. A 1918/17-D in the same grade is valued at
$285,000. One reason for the 1918/17-D nickels rarity in mint state is
that the variety was not publicized until the 1930s. By then most 1918/17-D
nickels were heavily worn. Some had probably lost their date entirely, a common
problem with Buffalo nickels..
Foreign
coins from U.S. Mint
With one limited, commemorative exception,
it has now been 20 years since the U.S. Mint produced coinage for foreign
countries.In the course of more than a century, from 1875 to 1984, the United
States minted more than 11.3 billion coins for more than 40 sovereign countries
or colonies abroad. T.
Third
side of the coin - Edge may convey additional meaning
The collar that holds a planchet in place
in the coining press to be struck as a coin has been called the third die in
the operation. Like the obverse and reverse dies, it can be used to impart a
design, only to the edge. In United States coinage, that design has most often
been the reeding on precious metal coins and successor copper-nickel clad
coins. It can and has also been lettering or various types of ornamentation..
Native
Connections You
dont have to be an expert in American history to realize that Native
Americans were often treated badly by the European invaders of the New World.
After all, it was their land. The Indians were here first, which is why we now
call them Native Americans. Other than might, what right did the colonists have
to take over the North and South American continents? .
Qualifiers:
a guide to lingo In 1956, The Numismatist published a series by Loyd B.
Gettys and Edward M. Catich, consisting mostly of photographs showing the
highest points of detail, and first to show wear, on various series of U.S.
coins. The purpose, the authors stated, was to establish objective standards
for separating truly Uncirculated coins from About Uncirculated examples. They
wrote of distinguishing circulation wear from weak strikes such as found on
many Indian Head 5-cent coins even when new, and from coins with abrasions
right from the Mint or with "cabinet friction" from long storage by
collectors..
Producing
for circulation - Presses strike more than 750 coins per minute - Part
3 For circulating
coinage, the Philadelphia and Denver Mints use German-made Schuler presses
capable of striking 750 to 850 coins per minute with one pair of dies striking
horizontally.Planchets are placed into a hopper from which what are called dial
feeders deliver them to between the obverse and reverse dies. Each press is
fitted with a gauge that catches defective planchets before they enter the
coining chamber and automatically shuts down the press when it encounters
material that is substandard. In other words, a potential error coin is being
caught before it can be made. .
Getting
ready - Planchets necessitate preparation PART 2
Just as it takes many steps to produce the
dies used to strike coins, actual coinage production requires a series of
preparatory steps before any coins can be struck. Coins are struck on
planchets, blank disks of metal, which have to be readied to receive the
impressions from those dies to produce finished coinage.....
Designs
undergo many steps before becoming coins PART 1
First of three parts - The coins
that Americans use in everyday commerce, collect as a reminder of the nation's
monetary history or use as an investment instrument get their start in the
halls of Congress.The U.S. Constitution grants Congress the sole authority to
authorize and regulate coinage; the United States Mint, an agency of the
administrative branch of government, is tasked with producing the coinage.
Tales
of two types - Mint transitions designs same year
The omega and alpha. The end and the
beginning. Collectors have the opportunity to assemble a collection of United
States coins wherein coins of an individual denomination and struck the same
year were of two or more specific design types. This generally occurred as one
design type ended and another was introduced. However, during some periods, two
different designs for the same denomination were produced. .
Colorado
begins quarter design search
Colorado Governor Bill Owens put out the
call to state residents for design proposals for its 2006 state quarter on Feb.
9. Designs are being accepted until May 10. That same day, he named 13 members
to the Colorado Commemorative Quarter Advisory Commission, chaired by first
lady Frances Owen. .
States
add tax law The
State of New York this year is joining Wisconsin and other states by adding a
new line to the state income tax form requiring filers essentially to tally and
pay the sales taxes they owe on purchases made from out-of-state sellers. .
10
Great Coins So you
do not have a great deal of money to spend, but you want to own great coins. It
sounds a bit like asking for too much, but in the rare-coin market, it is still
possible. And while the suggestions listed below will not make a single
collection, they make a potential start on many collections, or perhaps just a
few great coins at bargain prices. Just to make the selections interesting, and
to keep the list well within the budgets of most, the coins Ive picked
will have to be priced at $100 or less. In some cases, they will be far less,
but the point is that coin collecting is for everyone, and everyone should have
a chance to own great coins..
TONED
VS. DIPPED WHICH SHOULD I AVOID?
There are two solid schools of thought in
high end coin ownership: buy blast white or totally colored (original) coins.
While BOTH sides can point out strong pros and cons, we believe neither is
right or wrong. Our preference, is for the coin itself. If it has gorgeous eye
appeal and the quality is all there, then we'll buy it-even if it has been
dipped. Lets explore BOTH sides: WHITE COINS: Yes, its true, blast white coins
usually have been dipped. Its not natural for a coin from the 1800's to be snow
white. Dipping is NOT a crime. .
The
Earliest American Money
The earliest American money was that used
by the Mound Builders and Indians. The Mound Builders used money made of
lignite, coal, bone, shell, terra cotta, mica, pearl, carnelian, chalcedony,
agate, jasper, native gold, silver, copper, lead and iron. Some of these pieces
were of workmanship superior to that shown by the Indians subsequent to the
time of the builders of mounds. These pieces were usually round and bore
sometimes curious dots, circles, squares, crosses, etc., with cabalistic or
hidden meanings. Some of these marks correspond to a startling degree with
those on relics of the ancient Babylonians, Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, and
people of later times. .
Money
misfires NEW YORK
(CNN/Money) - The Treasury Department has had some bad ideas and poor
executions over the years. If America reacts negatively to the new, colorized
twenty-dollar bill, it won't be the first time money has caused controversy.
Remember the Susan B. Anthony dollar? It was the first U.S. currency to feature
an historical female figure since the 19th century, when Martha Washington
adorned a silver-backed note. .
The
United States Coinage
The Mint of the United States was
established at Philadelphia by resolution of Congress, dated April 2, 1792, and
the first coins were struck the following year. Subsequently the branch mints
were established. In the act establishing the mint the devices and legends for
the new coins were prescribed as follows: Upon one side of each of the said
coins there shall be an impression emblematic of liberty, with an inscription
of the word Liberty and the year of coinage .
RECOVERED
DU PONT COINS The
unique 1866 "No Motto" Proof silver quarter dollar and half dollar, stolen from
Willis H. du Pont in a 1967 robbery, were recently recovered through the
American Numismatic Association. The two pieces have now been authenticated by
the ANA Authentication Bureau (ANAAB). .
Die
States as a Key to Coinage
Harry Bass Foundation - Die Cracks
and Other Evidence. - Any discussion of die states considers the specific
condition of both the obverse and reverse dies when a given coin was struck.1
In nearly all cases, the actual dies no longer exist. Thus surviving coins
provide the only evidence available today. Specific characteristics include die
cracks and die breaks, clash marks, die rust, and lapping or polishing lines.
Occasionally, some of these defects occurred before the first coins were
struck, usually die cracks that occurred during the die manufacturing process,
sometimes from internal metal stress. .
Building
a 20th Century Type Registry Set
A 20th Century type set! It doesn't get any
better than that in numismatics. Just think, the magic Morgan dollar, the
historic Barbers, America's most beautiful coins; the Walking Liberty half and
the $20 St. Gaudens, the gorgeous Type One Standing Liberty quarter, a blazing
red Indian Head cent, a matte proof Buffalo nickel, and so much more. .
Early
U.S. Type, Challenging and Interesting
CDN - Many collectors seek to
assemble Type Sets of U.S. coins. Based on both their interests and financial
resources, some collectors limit their sets to certain time periods, e.g.,
twentieth century issues, i.e., 1900 onward. Others seek to obtain all major
design Types issued by the U.S. Mint since 1793. Still others seek to obtain
examples of additional minor design changes. An example is the 1793 Liberty Cap
Cent, which has a beaded border, unlike the 1794-96 Liberty Cents, which have
dentils around the edge. A Type Set can be whatever the collector wants it to
be. .
Early
U.S. Type, Challenging and Interesting
CDN - Many collectors seek to
assemble Type Sets of U.S. coins. Based on both their interests and financial
resources, some collectors limit their sets to certain time periods, e.g.,
twentieth century issues, i.e., 1900 onward. Others seek to obtain all major
design Types issued by the U.S. Mint since 1793. Still others seek to obtain
examples of additional minor design changes. An example is the 1793 Liberty Cap
Cent, which has a beaded border, unlike the 1794-96 Liberty Cents, which have
dentils around the edge. A Type Set can be whatever the collector wants it to
be. .
Shady
Origins, Stolen Coins
The search may be intensifying for the
unique missing 1866 No Motto, Seated Liberty silver dollar stolen from the
Willis H. du Pont Collection in 1967, now that in rapid succession two closely
related coins have recently been recovered. Technically the 1866 No Motto,
Seated Liberty quarter dollar, half dollar and silver dollar coins should not
exist. They are the result of the muling of the obverse of an 1866 die with a
reverse of the die from a previous year. All officially-struck 1866 silver U.S.
coins of these denominations were to be struck using a new reverse die on which
the legend IN GOD WE TRUST appears above the heraldic eagle. None of the three
coins with the obsolete reverse are mentioned in the Annual Report of the
Director of the U.S. Mint. .
Barber
Coins: Great Collector Coins at a Bargain Price
The coin market is in a good place.
Activity is increasing and several areas of the market are very hot. Best of
all, though prices have moved up in a few of the hot modern series such as
Washington quarters and Lincoln cents, most prices in most market segments are
very reasonable. We're going te take a look at one of the most underpriced
areas of the entire coin market; Barber dimes, quarters, and halves. These
silver coins were struck at the turn of the last Century. They are both
historically and numismatically important. .
One of
My Favorite Coins David Hall - As a major player in the coin market
for 30 years and founder of PCGS I've seen a lot of really great coins. But
PCGS recently graded a coin that made even my heart thump, a spectacular 1794
silver dollar. PCGS gave the coin the special designation of "Specimen" and a
grade of SP66. I believe the coin is the finest known example of the first U.S.
silver dollar, and quite possibly the very first piece struck of the
denomination. It is a magnificent Gem and a gorgeous historic treasure..
S Mint
marks of 1979 and '81
Mint mark varieties on some 1979-S and
1981-S coins have been sneered at as trivial and too hard to discern, but
collectors can't disdain the prices. The "Clear S" varieties for the Anthony
dollars from the San Francisco Mint for those years are now in standard guides
and regarded by many as essential to a complete set. They are also the most
expensive coins in that short-lived series..
Dream
coins By Paul M.
Green - Why get greedy? I could wish for any number of coins. However,
short of winning a big lottery, my chances for a 1913 Liberty Head nickel or a
1933 Saint-Gaudens gold $20 are slim to none. It would be better that my wish
at least has a chance of being realized, no matter how slight. For me that
means the best coins of a century, and since I spent most of my life in the
20th century, why not the best coins of that time? .
Rainbow
Toned Dollars "The Experiment" by David Goldsmith
CDN - Usually I write articles on
"How to Detect Artificial Toning," and not about how prices have risen for
Rainbow Toned Dollars. In this article, I will try to explain what has happened
in price to beautiful and exceptionally toned Morgan Silver Dollars. Their
price increases have been exponential to say the least. Since my first talk
about toning at the 1994 Annual American Numismatic Association's (ANA) summer
convention in Detroit, I have seen prices on toned coins tumble and now rebound
with a vengeance. I believe my talk on "How to Detect Artificial Toning" (which
has since been given about 50 times throughout the country) has probably hurt
the market of Rainbow Toned Dollars for a short time, because many numismatists
thought their coins may have been artificially toned. .
Of
Trade dollars and pesos
Its hard to imagine the United States
coining money specifically to get rid of it by moving it out of the country,
yet thats exactly what the Mint didtwice within 30 years. In the
1870s there was so much silver coming out of Western mines that a special Trade
dollar was authorized. In 1873, the silver dollar was done away with, at least
for a while, but the Trade dollar was authorized at the same time. Later on, as
the 20th century dawned, the Mint was producing coins for another kind of
exportto its newest territory, the Philippines..
Coin
Market Booms & The Importance Of Gold
by Richard N. Nachbar - Sometimes an
internal factor can so influence a market that customary supply and demand
relationships are temporarily thrust aside. The advent of professional third
party coin grading in 1986 is often pointed to as having had one such major
impact on the U.S. rare coin marketplace. The resulting explosion in demand
propelled high grade coin prices to a peak in mid-1989 that today is often
looked back upon in awe for the record prices and volume set. That certified
coin boom left such a high watermark that many coin prices today are still only
10% to 30% of the Bid quotes posted in the June 2, 1989 Certified Coin Dealer
Newsletter - Bluesheet. .
A
worthy coin in all grades
By 1891, the Seated Liberty half dollar had
been minted for more than 50 years. The U.S. Treasury Department decided that a
design change was in order. The Treasury was entitled to make this change based
on the Coinage Redesign Act of 1890, which permitted the redesign of U.S. coins
once every 25 years. The result was the Barber half dollar, released into
circulation in January 1892. The Barber half dollar, named after its creator,
Mint chief engraver Charles E. Barber, was the final product of two
unproductive design contests that began in 1890. .
United
States Mint Celebrates Halfway Point Of 50 State Quarters® Program
PHILADELPHIA
United States Mint Director Henrietta Holsman Fore welcomed Delaware
Congressman Michael Castle to the United States Mint facility in Philadelphia
to mark the halfway point of the 50 State Quarters® Program. It is
estimated that more than 130 million Americans, nearly one in every household,
collect the 50 State Quarters coins..
Document
says 1870-S quarter exists
A pair of California researchers have
unraveled a longtime mystery concerning the second San Francisco Mint, which
they say proves the existence of a previously unknown 1870-S quarter. At the
center is an authenticated, previously unknown warrant that lists 11 coins
incorporated into a metallic box placed within a cornerstone at the Mint
facility. Married research team Richard G. Kelly and Nancy Y. Oliver have
researched the topic for six years and found the warrant, signed by Mint clerk
William F. Tracy and coiner Joseph Breck Harmstead.
Nickel
three-cent piece often overlooked
There are a number of U.S. coin series that
numismatists know something about but never really collect fully, either by
date or date and mintmark. Either these coins seem too expensive, too exotic,
or too hard to find. For these or any number of other reasons, such coins
become the ones that can be seen in advertisements or in dealers stocks,
but that are constantly bypassed..
Collecting
Indian Head cents For a past generation of Americans the coin most heavily
collected was almost certainly the Indian Head cent. In many respects the
Indian Head cent was probably the coin that started the first large generation
of collectors. That was nearly 150 years ago. However, based on recent prices,
it appears Indian Head cents, while not receiving a great deal of publicity,
still hold enormous appeal to todays generation of collectors..
Draped
dollar a favorite Struck from 1795 to 1804, the famous Draped Bust dollar
has long caught the interest of dedicated collectors. As early as the 1850s
numismatists were chasing after rare dates and during the Civil War of
1861-1865 there were numerous auctions containing specimens of this coinage..
Die
States as a Key to Coinage
Harry Bass Foundation - Die Cracks
and Other Evidence. - Any discussion of die states considers the specific
condition of both the obverse and reverse dies when a given coin was struck.1
In nearly all cases, the actual dies no longer exist. Thus surviving coins
provide the only evidence available today. Specific characteristics include die
cracks and die breaks, clash marks, die rust, and lapping or polishing lines.
Occasionally, some of these defects occurred before the first coins were
struck, usually die cracks that occurred during the die manufacturing process,
sometimes from internal metal stress. .
Document
says 1870-S quarter exists
A pair of California researchers have
unraveled a longtime mystery concerning the second San Francisco Mint, which
they say proves the existence of a previously unknown 1870-S quarter. At the
center is an authenticated, previously unknown warrant that lists 11 coins
incorporated into a metallic box placed within a cornerstone at the Mint
facility. Married research team Richard G. Kelly and Nancy Y. Oliver have
researched the topic for six years and found the warrant, signed by Mint clerk
William F. Tracy and coiner Joseph Breck Harmstead.
Barber's
Liberty Head nickel The five-cent piece, or nickel as we know it, was
introduced in 1866. It was first struck during an ongoing shortage of coins and
for that fact alone plays a prominent role in American numismatic history.
Prior to the Civil War, the five-cent piece was made out of silver but the war
and inflation meant that such coins were hoarded. Its replacement by the
copper-nickel version in the midst of these problems set off an enormous demand
that took the Philadelphia Mint several years to fill. .
Grading
Mint State Indian Cents
Indian Head Cent (Copper-Nickel)
(1859-1864) MARKS: As with the Flying Eagle cents, these coins were struck in
copper-nickel alloy. Resultant marks and other surface impairments are
noticeable to about the same degree for the obverse. The reverse of the first
type, with no shield and a thin laurel wreath reverse, shows marks and other
detractions more easily than the second type, with a shield and the more
complex oak wreath. .
A
History of the Small Cent 1856 - 1909
Back in 1857 the biggest change in the
circulating coinage of the United States took place and the Flying Eagle Cent
was at the center of all the activity. Since the early days of the country the
circulating coinage was a chaotic system where virtually any precious metal
coin from any country could be found. Silver was typically encountered with the
Spanish and Mexican coinage being the most prevalent. Many of these coins were
heavily worn or had been subjected to some indignity that kept it in
circulation, bouncing from person to person like a hot potato. .
Collecting
Two-Cent Pieces 1864-1873
Two-cent pieces, a short-lived series, were
issued from 1864 through 1873. Exactly why a piece of this denomination was
considered necessary in our decimal coinage system is not known. The suspension
of specie payments (silver and gold coins) had severely restricted circulating
coinage, and perhaps the two-cent piece was intended to help alleviate this..
1909 to
Date Lincoln Cents - Part 1
In 1909, the 100th anniversary of Abraham
Lincoln's birth, a new coin appeared on the American scene, the Lincoln cent.
The designer was Victor David Brenner, whose initials appeared on the bottom of
the reverse of the first issues. The obverse of the Lincoln cents shows the
portrait of the president from the shoulder up, facing right. The reverse
illustrates two stylized wheat stalks. This general format, with only minor
variations, was produced from 1909 through 1958. .
1909 to
Date Lincoln Cents - Part 2
The year 1960 saw the appearance of the
1960 (Philadelphia Mint) and 1960-D large and small date varieties. These
caused a sensation and resulted in tremendous nationwide publicity being given
to the coin hobby. Time magazine and countless newspapers told of mini-fortunes
being made by people fortunate enough to acquire a $50 Mint-sewn bag of the
small date variety. Instant sales were reported for many thousands of dollars
per bag, with several in the $10,000 to $12,000 range! A barber in Binghamton,
New York, and a bank teller in Syracuse in the same state were among the lucky
ones, and there were many others as well. In Syracuse, dealer Jonah Shapiro
made a lively market in the issue. .
The
Flying Eagle Cent: A Small Coin That Made A Big Splash
Very few Americans seem to have noticed the
change that has occurred in their cents since 1982. The transition that year
from primarily copper cents to copper-plated zinc -- though significant in
nature -- took place with little or no fanfare and almost no apparent public
awareness. And in nearly two decades, the new cents have seldom attracted a
second look. .
The
Copper Coinage of 1793
by R.W. Julian When the Mint stopped
striking the old large cents and half cents in 1857, it created the first coin
collecting boom. Many people attempted to put together date sets of the copper
coins, but the most desirable pieces, then and now, were those struck in the
earliest days. The cents and half cents of 1793 did not spring magically to
life, but were the result of a long and complex process. In the 1780s America
was flooded with lightweight copper coins; at first they were made abroad, but
then states such as New Jersey and Massachusetts went into the coining
business..
1859-1909
Indian Cents The
search for a replacement for the unsatisfactory (for striking purposes) flying
eagle cent led to the production of several patterns. These are of two main
obverse types, those with a small and skinny-looking eagle and those with an
Indian. The Indian appears in full headdress and is identical to that actually
used for later coinage. In addition, regular flying eagle Proof cent dies were
used for the obverses of certain patterns, probably to produce delicacies for
collectors. .
1856-1858
Flying Eagle Cents Following the pattern cent issues of 1854 and 1855,
patterns were prepared in 1856 for a small diameter cent, one with a really
small diameter. These pieces are known today as 1856 flying eagle cents. The
Treasury Department believed that changing the cent format from the old large
copper style was a necessity. However, as virtually every adult in America at
the time had been accustomed to using large cents since childhood, an
educational program was necessary. As a result, 1856 flying eagle cents, tiny
in comparison to the large cents, were made in relatively large numbers for a
pattern..
1922
'plain' cent not quick to catch on; confusion ruled
The 1922-D Lincoln, Missing D cent - what
often is listed as the 1922 "plain" cent - did not always have the recognition
it does today, and more than 40 years would pass from the time of its minting
until research overtook speculation about the circumstances of its creation.
Collectors were aware from the beginning that officially, all 1922 cents were
struck at the Denver Mint and should carry the D Mint mark. That this mark was
not readily apparent on some mushy-looking examples did not appear to cause a
ripple in collector circles..
An
amazing collection of 1793 Liberty Cap cents
When you ask most coin collectors which
particular U.S. coin has the most mystique surrounding it, you're likely to
hear "The 1804 Silver Dollar," or perhaps "The 1913 Liberty Nickel." When it
comes to the specialized field of early U.S. copper, however, a few coins
quickly come to mind: the 1793 Chain Cent (the first coin authorized by the
United States for general circulation,) and the 1794 Starred Reverse cent.
However, the one that stands out number one in my mind is the 1793 Liberty Cap
cent. .
UNIQUE
COLLECTION OF LINCOLN RARITIES SURFACES
An important collection of Lincoln Cent
wrong-planchet errors has been graded and encapsulated by Numismatic Guaranty
Corporation. Consisting of eight pieces dated 1943 and 1944, these rare coins
were submitted by collector John Whitney of New York and have been pedigreed to
his collection by NGC. .
The
Controversial 1909 V.D.B. Lincoln Cent
In 1905 President Theodore Roosevelt
contacted sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens, whose studio and residence were in
Cornish, New Hampshire, and began discussions which resulted in a commission to
redesign the American coinage. Although sketches and even some models were made
for several different denominations, only the 1907 Indian $10 and MCMVII (1907)
"Victory" $20 gold were ever produced. The artistic, afflicted with cancer,
died on August 3, 1907, the rest of his commission unfulfilled. .
Collecting
Circulated Indian cents
Richard Snow - Contrary to what you
might think while looking at our lists in the past, we do deal in circulated
Indian Cents as well as the expensive finest knowns. Unfortunately, many of the
nicer coins in the XF and AU grades get sold to collectors before they make it
on to our lists. Many times we buy a nice collection of XF's at a show only to
have other dealers buy them from us at full retail prices. .
Republic
of Vermont Copper Coins
The ANA Museum holds a major collection of
the interesting and elusive copper coins of the 18th century Republic of
Vermont. This is due in large part to the generous gifts of Mr. Sanborn
Partridge, Museum benefactor and serious student of early Vermont issues.
Nearly all of the recorded die varieties are present, with the exception of a
few of the late, aberrant mulings. Many of the Museum's examples are in an
outstanding state of preservation for this series (condition census specimens).
In the 1770s, the sparsely populated, remote region of the Green Mountains--a
frontier area contested by the British colonies of New Hampshire and New
York--constituted itself as an independent country. .
The Bar
Copper 1785: Introduction
As with several other tokens of the period,
little is known about the origin of the undated bar coppers. Most probably they
were minted in Birmingham at the request of a New York merchant. From the New
Jersey Gazette of November 12, 1785, we learn:.... .
The
Continental Currency "Dollar" of 1776: Introduction
Unfortunately little is known about the
important and captivating coin called the Continental Dollar. The denomination
of the coin is unknown, but Newman has surmised the value to be a dollar. The
first four emissions of Continental paper currency from May 10, 1775, through
May 6, 1776, included a dollar bill, but the one dollar denomination was
missing from the next six emissions and does not reappear until the last
regular emission of Continental paper currency from January 14, 1779..
The
Continental Dollar The Continental Dollar is the premier coin of the United
States. Our specimen, donated by the late museum benefactor Byron Johnson, is a
beautiful, toned Mint-State example. It is ANA Museum Accession No. 1979.68.1,
classified as die variety Newman 2-C. The Continental Currency "dollar" was the
original proposed coinage of the United Colonies (soon to become the United
States) early in the course of the Revolutionary War, but the rebels had no
source of precious metals for minting, and the British shortly captured the two
cities where the minting would probably have had to have taken place --New York
and Philadelphia. .
United
States Mint Refines 50 State Quarters® Design Evaluation Process
WASHINGTON
United States Mint Director Henrietta Holsman Fore today announced
much-anticipated revisions to the 50 State Quarters® Program design
evaluation process. The revisions will enhance the Pprograms educational
value and promote the historical accuracy and artistic beauty of the designs.
The recommended changes were approved by U.S. Treasury Secretary Snow on March
8, 2003, and will be implemented in the 2005 quarter design evaluation process.
Thoughts
on Grading and Pricing
Grading is a shorthand way of determining a
coins value. The question what is it worth? always begins with
what grade is it?. If a disagreement arises regarding a grade of a
coin, the underlying reason is always money. Much confusion has been made
regarding grading over the years, usually the argument is between dealers who
push the grade of a coin to get a higher price and collectors who want as good
a deal a possible. .
'Popular'
series rising Coin
World Trends - It stands to reason that in the early stages of an actively
rising market, such as we're now experiencing, the most popular collector
series are receiving the most demand and prices for those coins are rising the
fastest.In the small denomination coins, as listed in this week's print edition
of Coin World Trends, more people collect Indian Head cents, Lincoln cents,
Indian Head 5-cent coins and Winged Liberty Head dimes than, for example, 2-
and 3-cent coins, half dimes or Shield and Liberty Head 5 cent coins. This
collecting interest is verified by Coin World's readership studies. .
Top 10
U.S. cents Cents
are special. There may not be any that would bring $1 million at auction, but
cents have an impact beyond their market values. Generation after generation
has seen the vast majority of collectors start with cents. And, like hitting
your first home run or perhaps your first kiss, the first coin you really
wanted to own seems to be something you never quite get over. For most
collectors that coin was a cent and that makes cents special. .
Thoughts
on Grading and Pricing
Grading is a shorthand way of determining a
coins value. The question what is it worth? always begins with
what grade is it?. If a disagreement arises regarding a grade of a
coin, the underlying reason is always money. Much confusion has been made
regarding grading over the years, usually the argument is between dealers who
push the grade of a coin to get a higher price and collectors who want as good
a deal a possible. .
Look to
Lincoln Just when
everyone was about to write off the Lincoln cent, including the government
(which keeps trying to find a reason to stop making the coins), it has come
roaring back into the headlines. And, based on the prices, any question as to
whether the Lincoln cent still has large numbers of followers can be put to
rest. Just consider a few prices in the past five years and their changes. The
1922 no D in Mint State-65 has soared from $39,000 in 1998 to
$175,000..
Thematic
Collecting of US Silver Commemoratives
The silver commemoratives produced between
1892 and 1954 are remarkably adaptable in terms of collectibility. Most
collectors assemble a standard fifty piece type set which includes a single
example of each basic half dollar type plus the Isabella quarter and the
Lafayette dollar. This set can then be expanded to fifty-three coins with the
addition of the basic major varieties: 1921 Alabama 2x2, 1922 Grant With Star
and the 1921 Missouri 2x4. Taking this a step further, the collector can
assemble a complete 144 piece set which contains an example of the branch mint
and multiple year issues, where applicable. .
The
Lone Star half dollar
It was designed by a prominent sculptor for
a celebration that took more than 30 years to plan. But that was not enough to
insure the success of the Texas centennial half dollar. Minted from 1934-1938,
the coin was criticized for what many claimed was its cluttered, hodgepodge
design. Sales of the commemorative half dollar were disappointing, as was
attendance at the official Texas Centennial Exposition in Dallas. .
1915-S
Panama-Pacific $50 Gold Coins
Robert I. Aitken, a New York artist,
designed the octagonal and round 1915-S Panama-Pacific International Exposition
$50 pieces, both of which have the same design, except that unlike the round
issue, the octagonal coins display dolphins in the angles on the obverse and
reverse between the inscription and the points of the border. .
1934-1938
Texas Centennial Half Dollars
Early in the administration of President
Franklin Delano Roosevelt, on June 15, 1933, Congress passed an act to
authorize the coinage of silver half dollars "in commemoration of the one
hundredth anniversary in 1936 of the independence of Texas, and of the noble
and heroic sacrifices of her pioneers, whose revered memory has been an
inspiration to her sons and daughters during the past century." This was the
first of over two dozen commemorative bills that would become reality during
Roosevelt's tenure..
U.S.
Commemoratives Offer History and Romance
Commemoratives are interesting. For this
succinct reason alone many people have collected United States commemorative
coins over the years. Perhaps no better tribute is paid to the series in a
widely-distributed publication than in A Guide Book of United States Coins,
which informs its readers as follows: "Many modern nations have issued
commemorative coins, and such pieces are highly esteemed by collectors. Yet no
nation has surpassed our own country when it comes to commemorative coins, and
in this we have reason to be proud. .
U.S.
Silver Commemorative Coins--Coins from the "Golden Age"
United States
commemorative silver coins from the "Golden Age" of commemoratives (1892-1954)
are among the most popular, beautiful and highly collected of all U.S. coins.
This set contains the lowest-mintage silver coin of the 20th century, the
second-lowest, the third and so forth. For some reason, this great series was
basically ignored in the 1990s, leading to a collapse in prices and loss of
interest from many collectors. While modern issues are the number one sellers
in all of American numismatics at the present time, silver commemoratives from
1892-1954 are not far behind. .
Picks
and Pans among Modern Commemorative Gold Coins
In recent months there has been a renewed
interest in modern U.S. commemorative gold coin coins. This open-ended series
began in 1984 with the Los Angeles Olympic $10 gold pieces. The last entry was
the Capital Visitor Center $5 gold piece, which the Mint issued earlier this
year. Over that 18 year span the Mint has issued more than 20 different
commemorative gold coin designs. The subjects have ranged from the refurbishing
of the Statue of Liberty in 1986 to the 150th anniversary of the Smithsonian
Institution in 1996. Interest levels have ranged from intense but brief for the
Statue of Liberty coins to ho-hum for the Constitution set. .
1986
Statue of Liberty Half Dollars (Immigrant Half Dollars)
The 100th
anniversary of the dedication of the Statue of Liberty in New York City Harbor
in 1886 furnished the occasion for the issuance of commemorative coins in 1986.
The statue, officially known as Liberty Enlightening the World, was the work of
French sculptor Frederic Auguste Bartholdi and had been presented to the United
States by the government of France. Since that time it has been America's most
visible symbol of freedom..
Going
for the gold Gold
coins figure into the dreams of most collectors today. The same lust for this
gorgeous metal that was felt by people in ancient times exists among
todays coin collectors. Unfortunately, a number of people think that
because its gold, because its the king of metals, that it must be
too expensive. Its a shame to hear otherwise intelligent collectors say
that, as there are quite a few U.S. gold coins that arent that expensive
at all. Im talking, of course, about the modern commemoratives the U.S.
Mint has produced since 1984. Lets see which gold commemoratives just
might be able to put a twinkle in your eye without putting a big hole in your
wallet..
The
Ford Dime and Other Fables - Coin Collector 125
Unveiled in October 1908, the Ford Model T
initially sold for around $800. By 1914 its price had fallen to less than $500,
thanks to mass production techniques and economies of scale. However, there was
absolutely no truth to the rumor that anyone could buy a new Model T for only
40¢ if they located a particular combination of dimes. The January 1915
issue of Mehls Numismatic Monthly reported.
The
1792 Copper Disme: The Story of the Finest Known Specimen
In the summer of
1792, a distinguished group of Americans, including George Washington and
Thomas Jefferson, gathered in the cellar of a private residence in Philadelphia
to witness the striking of the first United States coins. This is the story of
one of those coins, and may very well be the story of the first United States
coin ever struck. The 1792 disme is usually catalogued today as a pattern. You
can find it listed as Judd #10, Pollock #11, Breen #1362, Davis #2,
Adams-Woodin #2, Taxay #EP-25, and so forth. Although a great deal of research
has been done on this great coin over the years, much of it is confused or
downright contradictory. .
CAPPED
BUST HALF DIMES - THE UNDERAPPRECIATED LITTLE SISTERS
Capped Bust Half Dimes were Minted from
1829-1837, inclusively. Their relatively short life span witnessed the closing
of our first Mint in Philadelphia and the opening of the new building in
January 1833. The cornerstone of the second Mint was laid during the inaugural
year of the Half Dimes, 1829. The new Mint was beginning the transformation
from a primitive operation to a new mechanized facility worthy of our country's
increasing wealth and influence..
The
Susan B. Anthony Mini-Dollar
A twentieth century dollar-sized
circulating coin in American numismatics is the Susan B. Anthony so-called
"mini-dollar" struck in 1979, 1980, and 1981. The obverse and reverse designs
were by Chief Engraver Frank Gasparro. The obverse depicts Susan B. Anthony,
the well-known advocate of womens rights. The reverse is an adaptation of
the eagle-landing-on-the-moon design used earlier in the Eisenhower series. For
the first time in the dollar series, Philadelphia Mint coins bore the mintmark
P. .
Eisenhower
Dollars 1971-1978 Silver prices rose sharply in the mid-1960s, and by the
end of the decade there was scarcely a silver dollar to be seen in play at any
of the gambling casinos in Reno or Las Vegas. Lack of these ''cartwheels''
dampened enthusiasm, and in the place of coins came a number of substitutes,
mainly dollar-sized tokens made by the Franklin Mint (a private organization)
and others. To remedy this, on December 31,1970, President Richard M. Nixon
signed into law the Bank Holding Company Act, which included among its
provisions a new dollar coin..
Morgan
Dollars - The Most Popular Coins In History
The Morgan silver dollar is arguably the
most popular coin in the history of the world. It creates a rush of nostalgia
for many Americans as they recall going to the bank to obtain their first one.
There was one in the upstairs chest that remained there no matter how much you
wanted to use it to go to the movies or indulge a culinary fancy. It is the
history of the American West in microcosm, jolting your memory of a hundred
scenes when John Wayne or Randolph Scott tossed one on the bar. The Morgan
dollar stimulates the senses of numismatists and those who simply love history,
but to many it is more than that. Much more. .
The
Gobrecht Dollars of 1836-1839
by R.W. Julian In the 19th-century one of
the most popular series of coins among collectors was the silver dollars struck
from 1836 to 1839. Although numismatists considered them patterns, Gobrecht
Dollars were strongly sough after, and most believed that a good collection was
not complete without at least one of these rare coins. The Gobrecht design was
more than just something found on silver dollars. In 1837 the Seated Liberty
was put on the dime and half dime, with other denominations following closely
behind. Until 1891 the American public saw little else on its silver coinage,
and today these coins are making a comeback among serious collectors. .
Morgan
Silver Dollars 1878-1921
If Morgan dollars, minted from 1878 to
1921, didn't exist, and a committee of coin collectors was put together to
create a "dream series," they could do no better than envision what collectors
now have in front them in actuality -- a fascinating series containing
approximately 100 major varieties, most of which are over a century old, and
the majority of which are available in Mint State for less than $100 each! .
Thoughts
on Proof 1804 Original and Restrike Silver Dollars (and Their Cousins, the
Proofs of 1801-1803)
Much has been written about the "King of
American coins," the 1804 silver dollar (and to a lesser degree about its
cousins, the Proofs of 1801-03). Here's my two-cents' worth, or perhaps a full
dollar's worth. A short discussion of terms would be prudent at this point
before exploring the unusual situation of the 1801-04 silver dollars. Because
of the desire to include the highest denomination silver coin and gold coin in
the Presentation sets destined for foreign leaders, the otherwise 1834-dated
Proof sets also contained an eagle and silver dollar dated 1804. .
America's
first dollars When
coin collecting first became a national hobby, in the late 1850s, one of the
most popular issues to collect was the early silver dollars, dating from
1794-1804. This interest has not flagged since that time and today the serious
collector even has several specialized books to help understand the series. It
all began more than 200 years ago. .
GSA
Carson City Silver Dollars by Bryan Sonnier
A History as Tumultuous as That of the
Morgan Silver Dollar Itself March, 1964. Day after day, long lines of anxious
coin buyers form outside the Federal Reserve Building in Washington, D.C. Each
is hoping that his $1,000 purchase of an unopened bag of 1,000 U.S. Silver
Dollars will result in what amounts to a modern day treasure trove worth many
thousands of dollars. The outpouring of Silver Dollars from the U.S. Treasury
continues at a staggering pace until it is finally brought to a halt on March
26, 1964. On that day, the Secretary of the Treasury, C. Douglas Dillon,
suspends the exchange of Silver Dollars for Silver Certificates. Americans can
no longer use their greenbacks for the one-to-one purchase of Silver Dollars
from the Treasury! .
1878
Morgan dollar reverse hub varieties
Morgan silver dollars in the first year,
1878, come from dies modified several times to improve a design that was
adapted in a rush and originally intended for a smaller denomination. Changes
on the obverse were subtle. Those on the reverse were significant enough to
make separate listings in standard catalogs. One of the chief effects was to
make the eagle's breast more rounded. The beak was altered, and leg feathers
got a trim. Berries were rearranged. .
NEW
RESEARCH ON NEIL/CARTER 1794 FLOWING HAIR DOLLAR
Independent examinations by a dozen
well-known experts the past year confirm what some have believed for decades:
the Neil/Carter specimen is the finest known surviving 1794 Flowing Hair silver
dollar, is the only known 1794 dollar with a silver plug, and according to some
authorities, probably was the first United States silver dollar struck. "Of all
the rarities I have seen or heard of, there is no doubt in my mind that this is
the single most important of all, the very first silver dollar," stated Martin
Logies, numismatic researcher and author of the new book, The Flowing Hair
Silver Dollar of 1794. .
The
1854-D Three Dollar Gold Piece
In my opinion, the 1854-D is to Three
Dollar gold pieces as the 1907 High Relief is to St. Gaudens double eagles. It
is an issue whose rarity has been overstated but whose level of demand is
always destined to be very high. Because of its extreme popularity, the 1854-D
is probably the single most in-demand coin from Dahlonega and I personally love
to buy and sell these pieces. The 1854-D Three Dollar gold piece has a number
of factors that make it a very high demand issue. It is the only date of this
denomination from Dahlonega and it has an original mintage figure of just
1,120..
A
History and Interpretation of Bela Lyon Pratt's Indian Designs
Still, the
designs of Pratt deserve to be studied as important in their own right. While
the origins and impact of Augustus Saint-Gaudens' designs are often studied,
the coinage of Bela Lyon Pratt is often neglected. Perhaps this is due to
Saint-Gaudens' outstanding reputation as an important artist on an
international level or the general agreement that the Double Eagle designed by
Saint-Gaudens' in 1907 is one of the most beautiful coins ever produced..
Gold
Quarter Eagles (1796-1929), An Introduction to the Series
For a long time
Dave Bowers has been gathering information for what is expected to be a two- or
three-volume set of books, the likes of which have never been seen before. The
working title is UNITED STATES GOLD COINS: A Comprehensive Encyclopedia, with
the subtitle, A Catalogue Raisonné and Archive for the Numismatist.
Assisting Dave are a number of consultants and rare coin firms and auctioneers,
a contributor list that reads like Whos Who in American Numismatics. In
addition, the Bowers and Merena staff is deeply involved (of course!). On one
recent day, seven people were busily seeking citations in 19th-century
catalogues! .
Quarter
Eagles Early
quarter eagles of the 1796-1834 style are rarities in each instance, although
none is impossibly rare. Over the years a number of specialists have put
together one of each date and major variety. As a perusal of the Guide Book
listings will indicate, the series is punctuated by a number of key issues.
Collecting the early series can be accomplished in one of several ways. The
most popular is by design types, a procedure which necessitates obtaining the
following issues: 1796 Capped Bust to Right, no obverse stars; 1796-1807 Capped
Bust to Right, with obverse stars; 1808 Capped Bust to Left, large size; and
1821-1834 Capped Head to Left. Of these types the 1796 without stars and the
1808 are the most elusive and expensive. .
The
Expanded First Year Type Set of Gobrecht Eagles
If you collect gold coins of the United
States of America by type, you have probably been told that the "Liberty Tens",
that is the Gobrecht Eagles, come in two types or designs: the no-motto type of
1838-1865, and the with-motto type of 1866-1907. Well, for the normal
collector, that about covers the design. Simple reference texts will confirm
these two types and probably add a third, that of the two-year type issued in
1838-9 sometimes called the 'old portrait'. Because examples of the first two
years of the design are pretty costly in high grade, it seems that ignoring
them does not bother many type collectors. Whether two or three will cover the
subject can be left up to the collector. .
S.S.
Central America -- A Brief History
The S.S. Central America carried the most
talked about treasure in American history. A book about the ship and its
fabulous cargo, Ship of Gold, In The Deep Blue Sea, by Gary Kinder (Atlantic
Monthly Press, 1998) was on the New York Times Best Seller List, and Warner
Brothers has purchased the rights to produce a major motion picture. Tommy
Thompson, who organized the expedition to locate the sunken steamship and
recover the cargo, wrote a critically-acclaimed book, America's Lost Treasure
(Atlantic Monthly Press, 1998). Here is a brief recap of the S.S. Central
America story. .
1870
Carson City Double Eagle & the Astounding Story of the Missing Hand Trunks
of Henry F. Rice Third Place Winner PCGS Essay Contest 2000. - "Lifting the
creaking lid and peering inside the Winchester box, I saw a number of oblong
outlines wrapped in a course mesh of burlap-kindred material. They looked like
long blood sausages and were enclosed tightly and sewn together with an
intricate stitch. But these items were much heavier than a blood sausage. MUCH,
MUCH heavier.".
$20
Gold Pieces (1850-1933)
The $20 gold pieces. The double eagles. For
a period of 84 years these magnificent coins circulated in the United States as
symbols of intrinsic worth, personal wealth, and real money. Today, 150 years
after the first specimens were struck, they represent exactly the same thing.
The only differences are that they no longer circulate and their value has
grown significantly as a collectible, a historical artifact, a hedge against
inflation, and an art form that saw its zenith nearly a century ago. .
Southern
gold Perhaps the
least known to the modern collector, yet very interesting in their coinage and
history, are the two southern gold mints at Dahlonega and Charlotte. Often
mired in political controversy and personal feuds, these institutions produced
the coins that today are highly prized by those who specialize in U.S. gold
coinage or are working on advanced type sets. .
1834-1844:
A Decade of Great Change for U.S. Gold Coinage
The decade between 1834 and 1844 was the
beginning of the modern era at the United States mint. The second half of this
decade was especially interesting. A number of experiments and acts of
legislation provided some of most attractive and popular issues in the history
of American coinage. A combination of factors occurred in the early to mid
1830's that led to these design changes and the introduction of new mints and
new denominations. Large quantities of gold were discovered in North Georgia
and western North Carolina in the early 1830's..
Bela
Lyon Pratt: Overlooked Designer of Two Underrated Coins
When coin
collectors talk about United States gold coins, the first to come to mind is
the stunning Saint-Gaudens double eagle -- the $20 gold piece created by famous
sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens. Not far behind is its beautiful companion
piece, the Saint-Gaudens eagle, or $10 gold piece. The high recognition of
these two popular coins is amply justified, and so is the high esteem in which
they are held; they rank among the loveliest coins not only in U.S. history but
in the entire world..
The
Ultra Rare 1798 Small Eagle Reverse Half Eagle
Why the 1798 half eagle with the Small
Eagle reverse even exists is the combination of several factors. The Yellow
Fever epidemics that had forced the Mint to close for periods of 1796, 1797,
and 1798 certainly were a main factor. When the Mint reopened in December,
1797, after a bout with the fever, whatever dies that were available were used
for coining and this 1798 obverse was combined with a small eagle reverse that
earlier had been used with a Close Date obverse of 1795.1 .
The
Green Pond Collection Sale: An Analysis
On January 7 2004, Heritage Numismatic
Auctions sold the Green Pond collection of Dahlonega gold coinage at auction.
This was a complete set of Dahlonega issues, with many of the coins ranking
high in the Condition Census. The final price realized for the 66 lots was $1.7
million dollars (an average of $25,575 per lot!), which is around 10 to 15%
higher than I anticipated. Looking more closely at the lots gives the collector
a good idea of the current market for high-end Dahlonega coinage. .
Picking
the finest Walkers The Walking Liberty half dollar has established a
tremendous collector following. Because of its great demand, and an unsettled
market, nice examples sell fast. Prices realized are often at substantial
premiums above catalog. For any collector with an interest in this series, it
is important that he or she have a good overall collecting plan, particularly
if a complete collection of quality coins with an eye for saving money is what
is being sought..
Mint
State Barber Halves Barber Half Dollars are a popular and fascinating series
to collect and were produced from 1892-1915. Coins were struck at four Mints
and the complete set has 73 different dates and mintmarks, excluding the 1892-O
Micro O. Circulated sets can be completed by collectors fairly readily in lower
grades with the current CDN Bid for a Good or better set coming in at $1,125.
Barber Halves are not very common in Mint State with a mere 12,142 certified by
NGC and PCGS in all Mint State grades based on recent population reports
(August, 2003 for PCGS and July, 2003 for NGC). There are a number of
collectors like me building Mint State Barber Half Dollar sets. Recent auctions
and direct sales of these coins in MS63 and up have been pushing the prices
upward. Notable increases are easily found in the Heritage November 2003
Signature Auction. This auction featured the nearly complete Andy Geosits
collection of Mint State Barber Halves. Many of the dates are rarely seen for
sale in any Mint State grade. .
Bust
Half Dollar Some
coins are admired by collectors. Many are coveted. Only a precious few are
truly beloved. Early United States coppers (large cents and half cents) fall
into this special category, and so do Capped Bust/lettered edge half dollars
or, as they're widely known with warm affection, "Bust halves." Bust half
dollars with lettered edges have undeniable charm, much like the copper coinage
of early America. They were struck with screw presses, and each working die was
prepared individually, the date, stars and lettering being punched in by hand.
These elements resulted in a myriad of varieties. Theyve also enabled
specialists to pinpoint just which die struck any given coin. And this
marvelous diversity is the yeast that keeps interest rising in these coins..
The
Lone Star half dollar
It was designed by a prominent sculptor for
a celebration that took more than 30 years to plan. But that was not enough to
insure the success of the Texas centennial half dollar. Minted from 1934-1938,
the coin was criticized for what many claimed was its cluttered, hodgepodge
design. Sales of the commemorative half dollar were disappointing, as was
attendance at the official Texas Centennial Exposition in Dallas. .
Walking
Liberty Half Dollars
In this issue of the INSIDE VIEW, we're
taking a look at one of the world's most beautiful and important coins. The
Walking Liberty half dollar is revered by collectors across the United States
and around the world. It is the ultimate triumph of coin design from the
Renaissance period of American numismatics that also brought us the Standing
Liberty quarter and the Mercury dime in the same inaugural year of 1916. The
Walking Liberty half dollar was designed by A.A. Weinman and issued from 1916
through 1947, although some years were skipped in the 1920s and 1930s. .
The
Franklin Half Dollar
"One of this country's beloved immortals,
Benjamin Franklin, is being brought out of honored retirement to play a
prominent new role in the drama of everyday life," the Treasury Department said
January 6, 1948. "Franklin's likeness will soon appear on a brand-new half
dollar of regular issue..."Secretary of the Treasury John W. Snyder became the
proud owner of the first two Franklin half dollars struck. Collectors and the
general public had to wait several months to share in the excitement. Thanks to
the press release, though, they knew what to expect:.
The
20th Century's Most Beautiful Silver Coin
United States coinage design reached an
aesthetic high point just after the turn of the 19th Century. It started in
1907 with the introduction of the $10 Indian and $20 St. Gaudens. The $2
½ and $5 Indian design came in 1908. The Buffalo nickel replaced the
Liberty nickel in 1913. In 1916, three of our most beautiful coins were first
issued, the Mercury dime, Standing Liberty quarter, and Walking Liberty half
dollar. All of these coins are considered great examples of the coining art.
And they all replaced much more conservative (some would say dull) designs. It
was truly the Golden Era of U.S. coin design. .
G B W
Collection of Walking Liberty half dollars
Assembled over a period of 15 years, the G
B W Collection of Walking Liberty half dollars represents a commitment to the
pursuit of perfection. While the set was started long before the advent of
certification registries, this collector was, nonetheless, driven to find those
coins that were finest known. In the late 1980's and early 1990's, census
information for coins of this type was spotty at best, and by todays
standards relatively few coins had been certified. .
1986
Statue of Liberty Half Dollars (Immigrant Half Dollars)
The 100th
anniversary of the dedication of the Statue of Liberty in New York City Harbor
in 1886 furnished the occasion for the issuance of commemorative coins in 1986.
The statue, officially known as Liberty Enlightening the World, was the work of
French sculptor Frederic Auguste Bartholdi and had been presented to the United
States by the government of France. Since that time it has been America's most
visible symbol of freedom. .
Barber's
Liberty Head nickel The five-cent piece, or nickel as we know it, was
introduced in 1866. It was first struck during an ongoing shortage of coins and
for that fact alone plays a prominent role in American numismatic history.
Prior to the Civil War, the five-cent piece was made out of silver but the war
and inflation meant that such coins were hoarded. Its replacement by the
copper-nickel version in the midst of these problems set off an enormous demand
that took the Philadelphia Mint several years to fill. .
The
Three Cent Nickel Series - Part 1
The first "nickels" were actually the
"nickel cents" first struck for circulation in 1857. (Yes, there are some dated
1856, but the law authorizing the Flying Eagle cent, as it is now commonly
called, was not passed until early 1857.) These cents were composed of 88%
copper and 12% nickel, struck in 1857 and 1858 for the Flying Eagle series and
1859 through 1864 for the Indian Head series (commonly called Copper-Nickel
cents). The term "nickel" for five-cent coinage probably came into use sometime
during the nineteenth century, but it was the early twentieth century before it
became part of the common vernacular. .
The
Three Cent Nickel Series - Part 2
The Proof issues of the Three Cent nickel
series are just the opposite of the circulation strikes. Most of the early
dates are the rare issues with the late dates quite common. In fact, the most
common date in Mint State is the most rare date in Proof! The coins dated 1865
are by far the most difficult date to obtain in Proof. It is not the most rare
by condition, but in overall rarity. Its rarity is actually slightly
understated as some collections contain Pattern examples of this date. The
pattern is easy to confuse with the regular issue, the only noticeable
differences being the date placement and ribbon size. .
Pedigree
of Five Known 1913 Liberty Nickels
FAME: Of all American coin rarities, the
1913 Liberty Head nickel is probably the most famous. Decades ago Texas dealer
B. Max Mehl spent millions of dollars advertising in magazines and newspapers
and on the radio selling copies of his Star Rare Coin Encyclopedia which listed
prices he paid for coins. The idea was that if you were lucky enough to find a
1913 Liberty Head nickel in change, you could pay off the mortgage on the ranch
or send junior to college. The 1913 nickel captured the public's fancy and
became the key to his advertising campaign which extended over a period of many
years. Along the way, the 1913 Liberty Head nickel gained incredible fame. It
is said that traffic was slowed in big cities as streetcar conductors examined
incoming nickels from passengers, seeking a prized 1913! .
Felix
Schlag's nickel Jefferson nickels have always had their admirers, but not
in the same numbers as collectors of Morgan dollars, Indian Head cents or some
other popular series. Now, with a new nickel about to replace the long-running
Jefferson design at least temporarily, the situation is likely to change. That
could leave some of the early-date Jeffersons in short supply in high
mint-state grades, resulting in rising prices. .
Buffalo
Nickels - Past Performance and Future Potential
Pinnacle Rarities - Over the past
decade and a half, against the current of a downward market, Buffalo Nickels
have buoyed in value. Most noticeably, even in the relatively bellwether years
of 2001 and 2002, they have experienced extraordinary gains. Which dates have
appreciated, which haven't, and why? Which dates are positioned to increase
from here? Finally, is the series overvalued? .
Proof
Jefferson Nickels Soar
CDN - Dealers are finishing the year
on an extremely optimistic note. Interest and demand for rare coins continues
to be very good. Coin shops around the nation are servicing their regular
customers and at the same time trying to answer questions and give information
to those individuals interested in Gold. Thats because Gold bullion has
broken through its narrow trading range ($315-$325) in dramatic fashion by
climbing past $330 and selling readily above $340. Analysts and economists are
quick to point to the many reasons for Golds sharp increase at this time.
The threat of war, weak dollar and economy, weak stock market and general world
uncertainties are enough to warrant its sharp gain. However it is also
interesting that high inflation, a usual catalyst for Gold has been left out of
this mix. Could it be that Gold is giving us a warning of even tougher economic
times ahead?.
The
1913 Liberty Head Nickel Our Most Famous Coin
By Ed Lee - They might as well make
a movie about these most famous American rare coins. One specimen, I recall,
broke the $100,000 barrier and that was 30 years ago. The Eliasberg example
blasted through the $1 million barrier. A Hawaii Five-0 episode featured one.
Two were owned by a king. A reward of $1 million was offered in May for the
"missing" Reynold's specimen, which led to its re-discovery after an amazing
amount of publicity crossed the U.S. as quickly as a Concorde. They stole the
show at the recent 103rd ANA Convention in Baltimore where all five coins were
exhibited for the first time in 83 years. And a very expensive and exclusive
party was given for them the night before the July 30th thru August 3rd ANA. .
Jefferson
5-cent coin Coin World - - Many major design varieties offer
fun challenges to collectors of series The Jefferson 5-cent coin is, perhaps,
the most diverse coin in circulation for collecting varieties and design
variances (excluding the State quarter dollar series). For its historical and
memorial significance, the Jefferson 5-cent coin is simply bursting at the
seams! Overall, this is a fun and diverse series to collect in any grade, raw
and certified..
Nickel
History - Shield Nickels, Circulation Strikes
This is the continuation of a multi-part
series on nickel coinage. As noted in the first article on the Three Cent
nickel series, calling them "nickels" is a misnomer, as they only contained
one-fourth nickel with copper composing the other three-fourths. No matter,
they are nickels to almost everyone and when, in 1866, James Longacre adapted
his shield and leaf motif from the two-cent coin that debuted two years
earlier, he introduced one of the most widely used coins in American commerce.
Although not everyone can remember the nickel Coke or the nickel candy bar (I
guess I am showing my age since I can), this everyday coin had a rough
beginning. .
United
States Pattern Coins: A History and Overview
Harry Bass Foundation - Often the
path to collecting a numismatic specialty begins by reading. In the case of
Harry Bass, he obtained a copy of Dr. J. Hewitt Judds United States
Pattern, Experimental and Trial Pieces, perhaps by chance in the course of
gathering books for his immense library. On an unrecorded day he sat down with
the book, looked through it quickly, then settled down to study the text. The
field of patterns is so vast that Harry, like other collectors of the past,
zeroed in on items that he found to be of special interest..
The
1792 Copper Disme: The Story of the Finest Known Specimen
In the summer of
1792, a distinguished group of Americans, including George Washington and
Thomas Jefferson, gathered in the cellar of a private residence in Philadelphia
to witness the striking of the first United States coins. This is the story of
one of those coins, and may very well be the story of the first United States
coin ever struck. The 1792 disme is usually catalogued today as a pattern. You
can find it listed as Judd #10, Pollock #11, Breen #1362, Davis #2,
Adams-Woodin #2, Taxay #EP-25, and so forth. Although a great deal of research
has been done on this great coin over the years, much of it is confused or
downright contradictory. .
The
United States Pattern Coinage of 1792
In the early 1790s, the United States was
still in its infancy. Although the basic framework of the nation had been laid,
the country remained in a formative stage. Indeed, many important conventions
of our government system had not been created until this time. For example, the
Bill of Rights was appended to the constitution in 1790. The two-party
political system began to form in the early 1790s. Alexander Hamilton's
forward-thinking economic policies were put into place in 1791. Simply put,
this was a time when many of the important aspects which define our country
were developed. .
1877
Half Dollar Patterns
By Saul Teichman - The following is
the most complete listing of these patterns ever attempted. Questions or
updates to this listing should be sent to me at Saul.Teichman@ey.com I have
added estimated grades based on photos I possess or from the auctions they were
sold in. Some coins described as choice may be gem. Photo links are provided -
click on the Judd / Pollock numbers..
NGC
DISCOVERS PREVIOUSLY UNKNOWN PATTERN
Previously known only with a reeded edge, a
rare aluminum pattern dollar of the United States Mint has been confirmed as a
unique plain-edge striking. George T. Morgan's design for the goloid metric
dollar of 1879 is known in goloid alloy, copper, aluminum and white metal, but
all of these varieties feature conventional reeded edges. The newly discovered
specimen coined with a plain collar is one of the aluminum impressions .
WASHINGTON
QUARTERS Type B Reverse
CDN - Dr. Richard Appel - The
1956-1964 Mulings of Proof Washington Quarter Reverses with Business Strike
Obverses: The Creation of the Type B Reverse. The nine year span from 1956 to
1964 is a time frame that hosts among the most interesting and intentionally
Mint made wonders in the history of U.S. coinage. They were the product of the
Philadelphia Mint official's desire to conserve both time and money, during a
period when the country's need for small coinage was intense. .
Standing
Liberty Quarters Q. David Bowers - In 1916 Hermon A. MacNeil, a
well-known sculptor, produced a new design for the quarter dollar, replacing
the familiar Barber motif which had been employed since 1892. The obverse
depicts Miss Liberty standing in a gateway, her right breast exposed, wearing a
gown, holding a branch in her right hand and a shield in her left. LIBERTY is
in an arc above, while IN GOD WE TRUST is lettered on the wall or parapet to
each side of where she stands. .
Small
Denomination Gold Beginning about 1852, many tiny gold 25c, 50c, and $1
"coins" were made by private parties, often jewelers and suppliers to the
souvenir and novelty trades. Whether these were widely used in circulation is a
matter of speculation, although it is certain that they were used to some
extent. Known today as California small denomination gold coins, these pieces
were of irregular weights and uncertain alloys. In time, some were made by
lightly gold plating planchets made of copper or other non-precious metals. .
The
Intriguing Story of a Great Historical Coin
If it is true that every great coin has a
great story behind it then this coin must be one of the greatest treasures of
all time, as its history is filled with political intrigue, deceit and
deception, high art, monumental rarity, the legends of the American West and,
ultimately, vindication. To call it a numismatic classic would be to understate
the importance of this coin. It is believed to be the finest example extant of
this magnificent 19th century prize. .
The
Frederick R. Mayer Colorado Pioneer Gold Collection
Near the confluence of Cherry Creek and the
South Platte River, the present site of Denver, Colorado, a party of
prospectors from Georgia discovered productive placer deposits of very pure
gold in the summer of 1858. The great "Pikes Peak or Bust Gold Rush" resulted.
As major strikes continued, the population burgeoned, and commerce quickly felt
the need for an increased money supply. Several private firms took up the
challenge, and began to mint their own coins. The Frederick R. Mayer Collection
of these rare, historic pieces is the most complete in existence. It includes
intriguing pattern pieces and trial strikes, of which a selection is also here
represented. .
LESHER
REFERENDUM MEDALS Adna G. Wilde, Jr., joined the ANA in 1947 and has been
active in numismatics and the ANA for much of his life. He served as ANA
executive director from 1968 to 1972, following his retirement from a
distinguished career in the United States Army and service in Italy during
World War II, in Korea and in Vietnam. Elected to the ANA Board of Governors in
1973, Wilde served as vice president from 1979-1981 and as president from
1981-1983. He has been the ANA treasurer for 15 years. He served on the 1975
United States Assay Commission and as director of the Colorado Springs Pioneers
Museum from 1973-1981. Wilde is considered an authority on the Lesher dollars,
as well as counterstamped Stone Mountain commemorative half dollars. Wilde
received the Lifetime Achievement Award during ANA's 107th Anniversary
Convention in Portland, Oregon, in August, 1998. Wilde was elected to the ANA
Hall of Fame on August 3, 2002.
Question
Regarding Kentucky Tokens
Question: I am interested in getting three
basic varieties of the 1792-1794 "Kentucky" token and wonder how rare they
are-the Plain Edge, the Engrailed Edge, and the Lettered Edge. I already have a
Plain Edge, as you might expect, but don't know what the possibilities are for
getting the others. Once you give me the answer, I will send you a wantlist and
you can get them for me-but I want to know how rare they are first.-E.R.C. .
U.S.
Mint Presidential Medals
The U.S. Mint's series of presidential
medals can be traced in continuity back about a century, but designs that are
more than twice as old are being struck today.The Mint creates medals
celebrating other top officials as they enter office, such as secretaries of
the Treasury, but presidential medals have a peculiar origin as peace
offerings. .
Love
Tokens: For Love and Money
Valentine's Day is a happy time when people
show their devotion to one another. Since coin collecting covers just about
every other aspect of human endeavor, we'll focus on how it covers romance too.
Many modern coins depict cherubs and other design devices that allude to
romance, but nowhere else can you get the impact of romance on numismatics as
you can with "love tokens." .
Conder
tokens - Denominated bronze 18th century merchant's tokens served many purposes
What are Conder
tokens? The simple answer is they are denominated, bronze 18th century
merchant's advertising tokens. Many collectors may have heard of these pieces
but have only a vague idea of what they represent.The first thing to clarify is
the name. British collectors call these pieces provincial token coinage while
American collectors refer to them as Conder tokens.
Token
find solves Chalmers mystery?
Will Mumford feels he is having the
greatest adventure of his life at age 70 after he found a 1783 Chalmers
threepence token at the Annapolis, Md., site of what may have been John
Chalmers home mint. The token is similar to the one pictured here.
Chalmers was a silversmith who began working in Annapolis in the 1760s and was
elected to the town council in 1783. He began minting coins, including
threepence, sixpence and shillings, yet evidence that he minted in Annapolis
had never been found. Chalmers threepence values range from $250 in AG to
$5,500 in XF..
Franklins
worth a closer look For several years when I was a kid, my father gave me a
weekly allowance of 50 cents. Although that sounds ridiculously low in 2004, it
was probably reasonable in the early to mid-1950s. At least it seemed
reasonable to me at the time. After all, the things I was interested in, such
as comic books, candy bars, cold drinks, and movies, could generally be
purchased for 50 cents, with change left over. For example, I never paid more
than a dime for a comic book, and candy bars were a nickel. Movies? How about
25 cents for a double feature?.
"Mountains
of Money: The Colorado Story"
In 1863 Clark, Gruber & Co. sold its
minting operations to the United States government for $25,000. The price
included the two-story building in the Mint Block, plus all of the firm's
assaying and coining equipment. The new "United States Mint and Assay Office at
Denver" opened for business on September 24, 1863. Despite the fact that the
Denver Mint had coining equipment, including a coin press, no coins were ever
struck at this facility..
The
Frederick R. Mayer Colorado Pioneer Gold Collection
Near the confluence of Cherry Creek and the
South Platte River, the present site of Denver, Colorado, a party of
prospectors from Georgia discovered productive placer deposits of very pure
gold in the summer of 1858. The great "Pikes Peak or Bust Gold Rush" resulted.
As major strikes continued, the population burgeoned, and commerce quickly felt
the need for an increased money supply. Several private firms took up the
challenge, and began to mint their own coins. The Frederick R. Mayer Collection
of these rare, historic pieces is the most complete in existence. It includes
intriguing pattern pieces and trial strikes, of which a selection is also here
represented. .
Grams
to grains A reader
asks: Why on earth do we have to put up with grain weights for our coins?
Its bad enough that we have to live with metric weights, but two
different systems? So, youd rather have pounds and ounces? Well,
unless youre an expert on the topic of weight, I have a surprise or two
for you. First of all, were you aware that the United States has officially
been on metric standards since 1883, when Congress adopted them? Give the U.S.
Mint credit for valiant (if misguided) efforts to establish the use of metric
weights many years before Congress got around to them..
The
Weinman Legacy Ask
most collectors to name the most beautiful coins in U.S. history and chances
are the "Mercury" dime and the Walking Liberty half dollar both will be high on
their lists. These two outstanding coins have enjoyed consistent acclaim since
their joint introduction in 1916. They're popular not only with collectors but
also with critics of art. And the Walking Liberty's beauty is being showcased
anew through the use of its obverse design on the American Eagle silver bullion
coin. .
Franklin
D. Roosevelt: The Man on the Marching Dime
Most former presidents who appear on United
States coins have been mated with those coins in what might be described as
"marriages of convenience." There was no compelling reason to match George
Washington with the quarter, for example, or Thomas Jefferson with the nickel.
Nor was John F. Kennedy closely identified with the half dollar, or Dwight D.
Eisenhower with the dollar. In each case, the coin was chosen not so much
because it was fitting, but because it was handy. Jefferson got the nickel, for
example, because it was due for a design change, and Kennedy got the half
dollar because Benjamin Franklin, the coin's former occupant, seemed less
likely to be missed than the men on the other coins. .
A
Discussion of Five Mints
Morgan dollars were struck at the
Philadelphia Mint continuously from 1878 through 1904, and again in 1921. In
addition to many millions of business strikes, Proofs were produced each year
1878 through 1904, typically in the range of about 800 to 1,000 pieces
annually. Today these are all rare. A few Proofs were made in 1921 as well.As
Morgan dollars were made over a long period of years and to the extent of
millions of coins, the die work and striking quality is apt to vary from issue
to issue. Some years are normally seen well struck, and others with lightly
detailed features. Some are deeply frosty, and others have a satiny or "greasy"
appearance. .
New
year for popular dollars
The Morgan and Peace dollar series have to
be two of the most popular series of collectible U.S. coins of all time.
Collectors love them. Dealers love to sell them. Every year someone predicts
these will again be the big coins of choice for the near future and that their
prices will rise dramatically. Well, their prices may or may not go up, but two
things are certain about these silver dollars: They are fun to collect, and
right now the common dates are pretty easy to collect in mint-state grades, or
at least easy when it comes to prices..
Focus
on Abe Lincoln Numismatically we all know Abe Lincoln through the
ubiquitous one-cent piece bearing his image, not to mention tokens, medals,
plaques, $5 bills, and more. However, did you know the following?: Lincoln was
beardless when he ran for president in 1860, but upon the suggestion of a
little girl, grew a beard and thus became the first occupant of the White House
to do so. Later in the same century beards were the rule, not the exception
(until King Gillette came along). .
A prize
in every box - Soap firms issue redeemable tokens
During the 1920s and 1930s, a number of
manufacturers of bar soap and other soap products battling for brand supremacy
employed the use of metallic tokens to entice consumers to buy their
products.Chief among the issuers were Procter & Gamble in Cincinnati,
Colgate-Palmolive in Chicago (successor to Palmolive-Peet), and James S. Kirk
& Co., a manufacturer of fine soaps in Chicago. .
1897-0
Morgan or 1897-Oh No Morgan?
There used to be a time when counterfeit
detection on Morgan dollars involved only a few dates. It was always necessary
to closely inspect such issues as 1889-CC, 1892-5, 1893-S, 1903-S and 1904-S
for added mintmarks or other evidence of alteration. Today, things are
different, as coin values have risen dramatically and many other dates have
become susceptible to alteration as well. The 1897-0 shown here is a good
example of that. .
How Can
Twins Be Born Six Years Apart?
Each date of the $20 St. Gaudens series has
a certain look to it. The pre-1916 coins generally have characteristics of
luster and color and strike that won't be seen on the later issues Even the
dates in the 1920s are slightly different from each other. Many examples of the
1924-P are noted for a scaly look, the 1925-P is frequently soft on luster, the
1928-P is often a deep red-gold color, and so forth. You might hear someone
say: "That looks like a 1923-D" or "This has the color of a 1914-S." .
Detecting
A Counterfeit 1861 Dime
It was a time of war, of North versus
South, of Lincoln versus Davis, and brother against brother. It was a time of
fear, and courage, and great uncertainty. It was a time of financial panic in
many areas, and one of the results was the creation of counterfeit coins. These
coins weren't made to fool collectors; instead, they were used in everyday
commerce to feed and clothe desperate people. Most contemporary counterfeits
seen carry dates commensurate with extremely hard times: the 1830s, the 1860s,
and the 1930s. .
Counterfeit
1926 $10 Indian Example Returns
In 1997, an influx of counterfeit gold
coins was led by an old friend from 15 to 20 years ago -- a 1926 $10 Indian.
This same counterfeit received a blitz of publicity around 1980 that sent it
into hiding, but it came back, probably due to the spike in gold prices. It's
an excellent counterfeit, but easy to spot if you know what to look for. .
Detecting
A Counterfeit 1861 Dime
It was a time of war, of North versus
South, of Lincoln versus Davis, and brother against brother. It was a time of
fear, and courage, and great uncertainty. It was a time of financial panic in
many areas, and one of the results was the creation of counterfeit coins. These
coins weren't made to fool collectors; instead, they were used in everyday
commerce to feed and clothe desperate people. Most contemporary counterfeits
seen carry dates commensurate with extremely hard times: the 1830s, the 1860s,
and the 1930s. .
REEDING
GIVES AWAY COUNTERFEIT 1851-O HALF DOLLAR
Collectors have the option not to buy
cleaned or ugly coins. But as a dealer, you may not have that option when
purchasing a large collection. When the time comes to disperse the collection,
the authenticity of these harshly cleaned or ugly coins becomes important.
Within the last decade, counterfeiters have targeted relatively common .
264,000
Minted . . . 500,000 Known to Exist!
The 1916-D dime is one of the most
carefully scrutinized coins in the world. It's not like a Bust half-dollar
that's being studied for die varieties; instead, students of numismatics are
always looking for diagnostics that will answer the question of genuine versus
counterfeit. Here are two Mercury dimes that were submitted for PCGS grading
and authentication. Neither coin is genuine.
Early
copper graders differ
Two very important early copper sales
occurred recently. The first was Superior Galleries' September 2004 auction,
which included half cents, Colonials and large cents. Second was the virtually
complete collection of large cents owned by Wes Rasmussen, sold by Heritage at
the Florida United Numismatists show in January..
Is it
Prooflike, or Deep Prooflike?
Different terminology is used in the
marketplace such as Semi-Prooflike, Prooflike, Deep Prooflike, and Ultra Deep
Prooflike to indicate how closely a coin resembles a Proof. It is important to
note that NGC uses only the two most commonly used; those being PL and DPL. For
the purposes of this article, I will be referring only to the designations as
they relate to Morgan Dollars, since they are by far the most commonly
collected coins that a collector would take PL or DPL designations largely into
account..
Understanding
the Most Common No Grades
I am going to offer basic explanations for
a few of the more common grading service no grades, specifically,
Cleaned, PVC, Residue, and Altered Surfaces. The single most common reason that
a coin may not be certified is for reasons related to improper cleaning. It is
first important to understand that not all cleaned coins are returned without
being graded, in fact many have been graded and certified, if in the opinion of
the graders, the cleaning was not performed in a harsh, unprofessional,
extensive, or destructive manner. So where does one draw the line?.
Grading
Early United States Gold Coins
For a variety of reasons, early gold coins
are among the most difficult United States issues to grade. There is often
discrepancy in grading these coins, even between experts. While it is
impossible to teach a collector how to grade based on digital images, I thought
it might be a good idea to display a few pre-1834 gold coins here and analyze
them as to why they grade the way they do. .
Grading
Mint State Indian Cents
Indian Head Cent (Copper-Nickel)
(1859-1864) MARKS: As with the Flying Eagle cents, these coins were struck in
copper-nickel alloy. Resultant marks and other surface impairments are
noticeable to about the same degree for the obverse. The reverse of the first
type, with no shield and a thin laurel wreath reverse, shows marks and other
detractions more easily than the second type, with a shield and the more
complex oak wreath. .
EYE ON
GRADING - IS IT PROOF LIKE, OR DEEP PROOF LIKE?
Different terminology is used in the
marketplace such as Semi-Prooflike, Prooflike, Deep Prooflike, and Ultra Deep
Prooflike to indicate how closely a coin resembles a Proof. It is important to
note that NGC uses only the two most commonly used; those being PL and DPL. For
the purposes of this article, I will be referring only to the designations as
they relate to Morgan Dollars, since they are by far the most commonly
collected coins for which a collector would take PL or DPL designations into
account. .
Cameo
designations proliferate
When the third-party Professional Coin
Grading Service began in 1986, its advertisements stated it would revolutionize
the rare coin market. Others said it was going to ruin the market.In reality,
the owners didn't know what to expect when they opened the doors. Obviously,
PCGS became a re-sounding success and changed the coin market forever.
Competitors have appeared - some lasting, others vanishing. Consumer confidence
is now much higher than during the days when sellers graded their own coins.
Consumer confidence has helped the market grow enormously..
Franklins
worth a closer look For several years when I was a kid, my father gave me a
weekly allowance of 50 cents. Although that sounds ridiculously low in 2004, it
was probably reasonable in the early to mid-1950s. At least it seemed
reasonable to me at the time. After all, the things I was interested in, such
as comic books, candy bars, cold drinks, and movies, could generally be
purchased for 50 cents, with change left over. For example, I never paid more
than a dime for a comic book, and candy bars were a nickel. Movies? How about
25 cents for a double feature?.
Collecting
Indian Head cents For a past generation of Americans the coin most heavily
collected was almost certainly the Indian Head cent. In many respects the
Indian Head cent was probably the coin that started the first large generation
of collectors. That was nearly 150 years ago. However, based on recent prices,
it appears Indian Head cents, while not receiving a great deal of publicity,
still hold enormous appeal to todays generation of collectors..
Draped
dollar a favorite Struck from 1795 to 1804, the famous Draped Bust dollar
has long caught the interest of dedicated collectors. As early as the 1850s
numismatists were chasing after rare dates and during the Civil War of
1861-1865 there were numerous auctions containing specimens of this coinage..
The
nation's first nickel
Before we discuss the Shield nickel series,
we first need to consider the question of why nickels were needed at all. What
was wrong with the half dime, a venerable coin that had first been minted in
1794 and was still being produced when Shield nickels made their appearance?
The problem with the half dime was that it was a silver coin, and silver coins
had begun to disappear from circulation during the Civil War. .
1897-0
Morgan or 1897-Oh No Morgan?
There used to be a time when counterfeit
detection on Morgan dollars involved only a few dates. It was always necessary
to closely inspect such issues as 1889-CC, 1892-5, 1893-S, 1903-S and 1904-S
for added mintmarks or other evidence of alteration. Today, things are
different, as coin values have risen dramatically and many other dates have
become susceptible to alteration as well. The 1897-0 shown here is a good
example of that. .
U.S.
Trade Dollars: An Under-Appreciated Series
Trade Dollars are one of the ultimate
collectible series. It is reasonably short and available in most grades at the
Choice MS level and lower. It was produced in both Proof and circulation-strike
format. The series even contains two classic rarities. With this series, you
can also find its share of varieties: including an over mintmark variety; two
major Doubled Die varieties; two obverse and reverse die Types; and, many other
lesser die variations. The U.S. Mint also produced a six-piece pattern set,
numerous die trials and various other patterns that can be collected along with
the regular Trade Dollars. Finally, collectors can chase after the increasingly
popular chop marked specimens. .
New
1795 Half Cent Discovered
American Numismatic Rarities of Wolfeboro,
New Hampshire is please to announce the new discovery of a significant rarity
within the half cent and pattern series, a 1795 Cohen-5a half cent struck on a
cut down copper die trial for a 1794 half dollar.The copper half dollar die
trial was struck from the Overton-105 die marriage, then cut-down for use as a
planchet. Only one complete 1794 half dollar die trial in copper (Judd-17) is
known, permanently a part of the National Numismatic Collection at the
Smithsonian Institution.. |