Headlines of $30 million rare coin transactions flash across crawlers streaming news on TV broadcasts. Blurbs such as these provide a breath of fresh news to viewers who have grown weary reading the endless drivel concerning Britney Spears, Barry Bonds, and O. J. Simpson. But what is the average TV viewer with no prior knowledge of the rare coin market to make of announcements about multimillion-dollar coin deals?

It would indeed be difficult for a person outside the hobby of coin collecting to comprehend why anyone would pay so much for small discs of metal, with numbers, letters, and images imprinted in relief on them. Those individuals inside the hobby view the upward trend in prices as a long overdue phenomenon. For it has always been acknowledged by those who call themselves numismatists, that rare coins tend to appreciate in value over time. But for a period of approximately twelve years, between 1990 and 2001, the faith of these diehard coin collectors was severely tested. Now, however, their patience has been rewarded, and rare coin prices are ascending at a rate comparable to Alex Rodriguez’s rising popularity. But why is this occurring? What awakened the sleeping coin market out of its decade-long slumber? There are reasons; and in this brief report I will mention the most significant of them.

From 1990 through 2001, the rare coin market, also referred to as the field of numismatics, experienced a severe bearish environment, which resulted in plunging values, tapering off into a lengthy plateau period, in which coin sales were sluggish. The recent rebound, which began around 2002, is a normal cyclical reaction to this bear market. Prices had declined to the point that many buyers who had been sitting on the sidelines decided that the deals were too good to pass up. This, along with a variety of factors, triggered the market we are now experiencing. Here are a few of the more obvious causes to consider: (more…)

Baltimore was the venue, and all eyes were on the offering of the Amherst & Waccabuc Collections as they crossed the block on November 13th and 14th. “Action was fast paced, nonstop from beginning to end,” commented Larry Stack, CEO of the firm. “Many records were broken, consignors were thrilled, and market watchers were pleased that once again there was great strength for quality material,” echoed Chris Karstedt, President.

When all was said and done, $10,339,148 worth of coins, tokens, medals, and paper money changed hands.

Colonial coins, always popular, but especially so in recent times (the Stack’s sale of the Ford Collection is partly responsible), were capped by a 1776 Continental dollar in MS-64 grade that was bid up to a record $189,750, with competition coming from all over the floor, plus the telephone, plus thousands of bidders tied in through the Internet. A Chalmers shilling in EF grade took $11,500 to buy, and the curious Bar cent with USA monogram certified as AU-55, caused raised eyebrows at $11,500.

Among minor denominations, a lovely MS-64 1803 cent, Sheldon-254, went through the roof at over $66,000, amidst fierce competition. A seldom seen 1842 Proof cent, Newcomb-1, certified as 64 BN, fetched $18,400. Not long afterward a particularly choice 1858 Small Letters Flying Eagle cent, certified as MS-66, broke records at $24,150.

Among early silver coins in the Stack’s sale, an MS-62 1796 dime fetched $34,500, a splendid MS-63 1898 JR-4 dime soared to $40,250, and action was intense in all other pieces offered. Graded MS-67, an 1837 Liberty Seated dime Without Stars went to a breathtaking $63,250, followed soon afterward by an 1876-CC coin of the same denomination, MS-66, at $40,000. A world’s record of $287,500 was registered by a 1794 half dollar in AU-58 grade. An F-15 1797 half dollar, one of the most popular of all “type” coins surprised at $57,500. (more…)

United States paper money listings have been added to the NumisMaster online pricing and information service powered by Krause Publications.

“All of the photographs and listings found in the Standard Catalog of United States Paper Money are now available online, with quick searches that take you right to what you’re looking for,” said George Cuhaj, paper money market specialist at Krause Publications.

And accessing the price listings online means having the most up-to-date prices at the click of a mouse. Just log on to www.numismaster.com

“The escalation of the currency market creates a need for current pricing and the most accurate information available,” Cuhaj said.

The United States Paper Money Guide includes all non-coin monetary issues of the United states, including large-size, small-size, Fractional Currency, National Bank Notes, error notes, pre-Civil War Treasury notes, Silver and Gold Certificates, Military Payment Certificates, encased postage and postage stamp envelopes. Current market values are listed in up to four grades of preservation. (more…)

When Vincent Maloney started collecting coins in the 1950s, many of the older coins prized by collectors today were still floating around in use as money.

“There were still, in circulation, Buffalo nickels, Mercury dimes, Standing Liberty quarters, and what they called Walking Liberty (half dollars),” Maloney said, in a recent interview at his Brick home. “You could get them in change.”

A retired captain in the Union City Fire Department, Maloney, 74, has built a large and eclectic collection over the years. He was recently recognized by the Ocean County Coin Club, of which he is a member, as the club’s 2007 Numismatist of the Year.

The term “numismatics” refers to the study of money. The word “numismatist” generally connotes a person who takes an interest in the history and identification of coins and other money, not simply collecting for collecting’s sake, according to Ken Hallenbeck, acting executive director of the Colorado Springs, Colo.-based American Numismatic Association. Read Full Story