One of the perks of richness and nobility during the Russian Empire often translated into copies of rare coins called novodels.

Modern collectors who must make do with reproductions of famous U.S. numismatic rarities may well yearn to have lived during a period when they could receive essentially “made-to-order” Russian coins for their collections.

According to R. Scott Carlton’s International Encyclopedia of Numismatics, “novodel” means “new made.” It is also referenced as “newly minted,” in The Copper Coinage of Imperial Russia 1700-1917 by B.F. Brekke.

Scotsman Auction Co. of St. Louis realized $1,311,680 from an offering of nearly 1,400 lots of U.S. coins and paper money in its Midwest Summer Sale, July 27 at the St. Charles (Mo.) Convention Center, in conjunction with the Missouri Numismatic Society’s 47th annual Coin Festival. All prices include the 15 percent buyer’s fee. For more information, contact Scotsman Auction Co., 11262 Olive Blvd., St. Louis, MO

Boise, Idaho - For the first time in the history of the 50 State Quarters® Program, two Cabinet Secretaries joined the Director of the United States Mint today to celebrate a state quarter. The Idaho commemorative quarter-dollar, featuring a peregrine falcon design, was praised by Secretary of the Treasury Henry M. Paulson, Jr., Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne, and Director of the United States Mint Ed Moy.

(Colorado Springs, Colorado) - A $1 million donation pledge to the American Numismatic Association has been made by well-known rare coin collector, dealer and exhibitor, Steven L. Contursi, President of Rare Coin Wholesalers, Dana Point, California. It’s the largest financial pledge in the Association’s 116-year history, and the funds will be used to launch new ANA museum programs.

“Steve Contursi has been a strong supporter of the Association, generously donating money and loaning some of America’s most important coins to be exhibited at the Edward C. Rochette Money Museum and at the ANA’s annual spring and summer conventions,” said ANA Executive Director Chris Cipoletti. “This unprecedented new financial commitment from Steve will help the ANA continue to fulfill its education mandate, and iscrucial to the Association’s expansion plans to create a national numismatic experience.”

“I believe in the ANA, and I support the excellent plans to enlarge the museum in Colorado and add museum facilities at the Old San Francisco Mint and in Washington, DC. These are important goals for numismatics. I encourage others to support them, too,” said Contursi. (more…)