The only complete set of Legal Tender Rainbow Notes outside the US Government hands will be exhibited at the FUN show coming up in Orlando, Florida.What makes this exhibit so distinctive is the fact that the $500.00 and $1000.00 Rainbow Notes are unique in private hands, making this the ONLY complete set possible.

For the first time the collector fraternity will have what could be a once in a lifetime opportunity to see these rarities together. This display of the 1869 Rainbow Series Notes will consist of 9 notes ranging from the $1.00 denomination to the $1000.00 denomination.

This event has been arranged by Sergio Sanchez of Sanchez Coins and Currency from Miami, Florida. Sergio is representing the owners, a group of anonymous collectors, at the FUN show. Take the time to pass by and see this magnificent display in the Exhibition area, it could very well be the only time this will happen in ones lifetime.

A chest of antique coins worth up to £300,000 was stolen by a gang in a sting on two auctioneers as they drove away from a exhibition centre.

Experts fear that the collection, which featured two gold coins of priceless historical value, could have been melted down. One of the coins can be dated back to 1826 and was worth up to £35,000.

The gang of about six men and two women targeted two men from Dix Noonan Webb, the auctioneer, in South Kensington, London, when the coins had been displayed at Earl’s Court Exhibition Centre. It is believed that the gang sabotaged the men’s car and followed them from the centre. (more…)

By Doug Winter - www.Raregoldcoins.com CoinLink Content Partner

I was recently having a conversation with a long-time client about coin investing and our discussion turned to one of Winter Laws of Numismatics. Which basically says that the typical coin investor almost never makes money while the typical collector, often in spite of himself, tends to do just fine from a financial standpoint.

At DWN, I tend to regard “investing” with a raised eyebrow. If someone who I do not know calls me up out of the blue and starts talking about coin investment, I give him a lecture which basically states that coins are not good investments and that if he insists on looking at coins strictly as investments, he probably should be dealing with XYZ Coins instead of my firm.

But this isn’t totally true. Coins CAN be a good investment. Let’s say that as a knowledgeable collector you went to the Pittman sale in 1997 and spent $50,000 on some nice lots. The chances are pretty good that you would have done just fine from a financial standpoint. (more…)

For the last several days there have been a plethora of comments posted on the numismatic forums concerning ANACS, the oldest third party coin grading service, having shut down its offices in Austin, Texas. As information trickled in from various sources we are just starting to get a clearer picture of the events that transpired.

The following notice has been posted on the ANACS Website:

“ANACS has recently been sold by Anderson Press Incorporated to Driving Force, LLC, of Colorado, owned by James Taylor. The purchase was effective December 21, 2007, and the company is being relocated to suburban Denver, Colorado.

The office is currently closed for the holidays to allow time for the move. The order tracking system along with the population report are currently down for the holidays and should be available again January 4, 2008. “

The notice goes on to state:

“Business will resume and submissions will begin to ship out January 2, 2008. If there are any questions please don’t hesitate to contact Mr. Taylor at: James.Taylor@anacs.com The new ANACS office will be located at: 6555 S. Kenton St, Suite 303 Englewood, CO 80112 1-800-888-1861 “

However the story is a bit more interesting than the rather benign announcement posted.

There was a posting on the PCGS forum attributed to Mike Ellis, a now former authenticator and grader at ANACS. He is quoted as saying: (more…)