The image of Britannia, which has graced British coins for centuries, is to be removed from the 50 pence piece as part of a redesign by the Royal Mint.

The overhaul of all coinage in April is set to be the biggest change to British currency since the introduction of decimalisation more than 35 years ago.

Gordon Brown personally approved the change as one of his last acts as Chancellor of the Exchequer, despite his current campaign to push Britishness. The Queen is also said to be supportive of the scheme.

It will be the first time in more than 300 years that Britannia is not featured on a British coin. Read Full Story

Sunday December 2nd was the day of the big Champion Hong Kong Auction. Among the more than 40 registered bidders were collectors, dealers and auction houses from China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Japan. Mrs. Zuo and Miss Wang from Cheng Xuan Auction Company in Beijing were present, as was Simon Cheng from Asia Pacific Auctions in Hong Kong.

Taiwan coin dealer, Chen Gi-mao, who some years ago had helped build the famous Haru S. C. Chang Collection in Taiwan, was an active bidder, but was the underbidder on the three stars of this sale – the 1000 Cash Pattern Coin, the 1907 Gold Dragon Tael, and the General Chu Yu Pu Dollar.

A leading collector from southern Taiwan, who had paid a record U.S. $210,000 for a Ming Dynasty silver sycee in the China Guardian auction the previous month, was present and would pay a record price for the Szechuan Dragon Dollar in this Champion Auction.

Ron Guth, President of Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS), called the auction. Guth explained in his preliminary remarks that he was not acting on behalf of PCGS today, but as a private individual who had been asked to call the auction. Champion Galleries has no connecton with PCGS aside from its role as an authorized PCGS dealer. (more…)

Stack’s Sets New World Coin Price Record

Weighing in at nearly a troy pound of gold, a stupendous 1621 Polish 100 Ducats has set a new price record for a world coin, realizing $1,380,000 at Stack’s January 14th Kroisos Collection Sale (all prices quoted include the 15% buyer’s fee).

The sale of this historically important Sigismund III 100 Ducat piece, one of only two or three known in private hands, was much anticipated. Within the international numismatic community the buzz augured a record-breaker especially since Polish and Russian coins continue upwards as the hottest world coin markets. And the 100 Ducats, lot 3091 and the cover coin of the sale, certainly lived up to expectations. After heated bidding, the filled to-capacity Tansa room of New York’s Le Parker-Meridien Hotel erupted in applause, as the electrified crowd cheered the winning bid of $1,380,000.

Monumental in size and weight (69.46 x 69.1mm, 4.9mm thick; 349.49 grams), this 100 Ducats coin may be the largest gold coin ever struck in Europe and certainly one of the rarest and most desirable. A special issue to celebrate the Polish victory over the Turks at the Battle of Chocim, the coin was struck from dies prepared by Samuel Ammon of Danzig and Jacob Jacobson of Emden. The obverse depicts a half-length, armored bust of Poland’s Swedish-born king Sigismund III wearing the Order of the Golden Fleece. On the reverse is the quartered Arms of Poland and Lithuania with the Swedish and House of Vasa Arms on a central escutcheon. Of the handful of 100 Ducats produced, it is known that one was presented to the Pope by Sigismund III. The photo of this remarkable piece is available on www.stacks.com Lot 3091 in the Kroisos sale. (more…)

By KEVIN G. HALL for McClatchy Newspapers

DANDONG, China | The currency changer, brazenly plying his illegal trade in the Bank of China lobby, pulled out a thick wad of cash from around the world and carefully removed a bill. The 2003 series U.S. $100 bill was a fake, but not just any fake. It was a “supernote,” a counterfeit so perfect it’s an international whodunit.

It had come from a North Korean businessman, the changer said, getting angry looks from his confederates. He stank of alcohol, but his story was plausible. The impoverished hermit nation sat just across the Yalu River from Dandong.

The Bush administration and members of Congress two years ago loudly accused North Korean leaders of being behind the counterfeiting of U.S. currency, but a 10-month McClatchy Newspapers investigation raises questions about those charges.

As the currency changer told a reporter, “The ones from Europe are much better.” Read Full Story