The Royal Australian Mint launched a range of 2008 collector coin products at a gala movie themed event in Canberra last night.

The highlight of the evening was the announcement that the theme for the 2008 Year Set is the International Year of Plant Earth (IYPE). “The Royal Australian Mint has developed this stunning year set in partnership with Geoscience Australia. It recognises the important environmental and geological issues that currently affect Australia” noted Royal Australian Mint Chief Executive Officer, Janine Murphy. “The aim of the Year Set is to help raise awareness of these environmental issues, and is the Royal Australian Mint’s contribution to the International Year of Planet Earth” continued Ms Murphy. (more…)

Authenticators in the past relied heavily on a coin’s physical properties such as weight, diameter, thickness, color, and specific gravity to determine its authenticity. Today, our task has become more difficult. This is because counterfeits in general have become more sophisticated and deceptive. Many modern die-struck fakes are made within the tolerances of genuine Mint products, so measurements are of less help than they were in the past. At the same time, more “problem” coins are being sent to grading service providers.

Among the greatest challenges to coin authenticators are eighteenth and nineteenth century gold or silver type coins with no original surface remaining. The measurement of coins in this condition is seldom useful, due to the metal loss associated with them. Additionally, whizzed coins and coins that have been harshly cleaned, repaired, or recovered from the ground present special problems because, in many instances, they can look similar to counterfeits.  Read Full Story

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The United States Mint is offering a refund of $130 to persons who own the 2004 United States Mint Lewis and Clark Coin and Pouch Set, if the pouch was produced by the Shawnee Nation United Remnant Band of Ohio. The United States Mint has learned that neither state nor Federal authorities recognize the Shawnee Nation United Remnant Band of Ohio as an official Indian tribe. Therefore, the pouch is not an authentic American Indian arts and crafts product.

The names of the various artisans and their tribes who crafted the pouches for the United States Mint are identified in certificates of authenticity (COA) accompanying the pouch sets. Owners may ascertain whether their pouch set was crafted by the Shawnee Nation United Remnant Band of Ohio by referring to the COA.

“Americans place their trust in genuine United States Mint products that embody the American spirit,” said United States Mint Director Ed Moy. “The United States Mint wants to uphold that trust, and upon learning this new information, we are offering this refund.” (more…)

WASHINGTON - The United States Mint is issuing a final regulation to help protect consumers and the coin-collecting hobby from the misuse of the Agency’s names, emblems and symbols, as well as those of the U.S. Department of the Treasury. The new regulation, approved by the Treasury Department, authorizes the United States Mint to assess civil fines against companies or individuals who misuse the Department of the Treasury’s and the United States Mint’s names and emblems in advertising, solicitations, business activities or products to convey a false impression of sponsorship, endorsement or association with the United States Mint or the Treasury Department.

“This regulation will not affect the vast majority of individuals and businesses selling coins or coin products,” said United States Mint Director Ed Moy. “The rule will create a higher level of consumer awareness, by defending the integrity of the United States Mint’s names, emblems, and symbols.” (more…)

Stack’s 72nd Anniversary Sale was conducted October 16-17 in the Estrela Penthouse of Le Parker-Meredien Hotel and set records in several areas reported firm CEO and Director of Numismatics Lawrence R. Stack. Offering 1,737 lots of high quality United States coins from several advanced collections, the sale was an unqualified success, netting $7,390,908.55 (including the 15% buyer’s premium).

Virtually all areas of American coinage were represented with emphasis on such areas as pioneer gold, rare date Federal coinage and Liberty Seated silver dollars. Among headline-makers in the pioneer field was a unique Copper Pattern $1 struck by California private coiner J.H. Bowie that was recently discovered in Great Britain.

This historic discovery piece presents the known pine tree obverse of the Garrett Collection example but with a new reverse characterized by more careful and balanced layout of denomination and lettering. Grading Extremely Fine-45, this Bowie pattern realized $63,250 including the 15 percent buyer’s fee.

The legendary “King of Territorial Gold” is the 1855 $50 struck by California pioneer John Glover Kellogg. The PCGS Proof-62 example gracing the Anniversary Sale was one of perhaps 11 to 13 pieces now in existence. Kellogg was perhaps the most respected private coiner of the later Gold Rush, whose $20 coins were universally accepted. (more…)