The final design in the three-year American Eagle Platinum Proof series celebrating the three branches of U.S. government, debuted this month. Last week, the U.S. Mint began taking orders for the coins that honor the judiciary branch. The latest coins are stately, with a historic feel. All American Eagle Platinum Proof Coins contain 99.95 percent platinum.

Struck in four sizes to fit coin collector’s budgets, this year’s coin emblazon on the reverse the image of Lady Justice with her scales suspended from a finger of her right hand, and a sword in the left. On the background is the bald eagle-an American symbol of courage and freedom-watching over the Lady with its wings spread wide. The unique feature of the series is that these are the only U.S. bullion coins that change reverse designs every year.

United States Mint Artistic Infusion Program Master Designer Joel Iskowitz sculpted the coin’s reverse. The engraving was done by Mint Sculptor-Engraver Charles Vickers. The obverse-designed and engraved by United States Mint Sculptor-Engraver John Mercanti remains unchanged and bears the now familiar image of Lady Liberty, symbolizing vigilance and faithfulness to duty.

The coins were minted at United States Mint at West Point, and they bear the “W” mintmark indicating their origin. Each coin is shipped from the Mint housed in a plastic capsule. The US Mint’s price of its platinum coins this year shot up about 40 percent compared to last year, even though the mintage limit remains the same.

Read the Full Collectors Society Article Here

NGC has discovered that 2008-W Uncirculated Silver Eagles have been struck with two different reverse types. Many are aware that Silver Eagles issued in 2008 show numerous subtle modifications to their design. NGC has now confirmed that 2008-W Uncirculated Silver Eagles were also struck using reverse dies of the pre-modification style, or reverse type of 2007.

The two reverse styles are very easy to distinguish from one another. As NGC previously reported, the most obvious identification diagnostic is the U of UNITED on the coin’s reverse. On the Reverse of 2008, the U has a spur on the right side of the letter. The Reverse of 2007, has simply a bowl-shaped U, without spur or downstroke. A number of other diagnostics are evident and are illustrated below.

NGC is designating 2008-W Silver Eagles with reverse style of 2007 as REVERSE OF 2007. Coins of the newly modified style, or Reverse of 2008, are encapsulated without designation. “This is a significant hub variety,” comments Rick Montgomery, NGC President. “It has very clear diagnostics, and appears on one of the most widely collected of all US coins. We’re also very proud to be the first to present this information to the numismatic community and to attribute the variety as part of the NGC certification process.”

Read Full Article by NGC on the Discovery

By Skip Fazzari, Authentication Consultant to NGC

Fingerprints are like a cancer to a coin, and can become irreparable if they are ignored for too long. Skip Fazzari describes the different types of fingerprints and what you can do to correct them.

For most of you, habit and experience have lessened the odds of marring the surface of your coins with fingerprints. You hold a coin properly — by its edges and close to a soft surface. Occasionally, there might be a lapse in this protocol but in most cases, we can assume that any fingerprints found on your coins resulted from carelessness or mishandling by non-collectors.
click to enlarge

It is difficult to know how long a fingerprint has been on a coin. Sometimes, especially in the case of Proof coins, they are easy to see the moment they occur; however, in most cases, fingerprints are not detected when they are fresh. Fingerprints are like a cancer to a coin. If ignored for too long, the chemicals in our body oils will actually etch the coinage metal. Over a period of time, and depending on their chemical makeup and the environment, they will “set” on a coin’s surface, making them difficult to remove. Copper and silver coins are the most likely to be permanently damaged in this way. Once this happens, the traces of fingerprints are virtually impossible to remove without abrasive cleaning that ruins more of the coin’s original surface. For the most part, gold is not susceptible to any type of permanent damage from fingerprints; however, on a few occasions, I have encountered a print pattern on gold that cannot be removed.  Read Full Article

NGC has launched a beta version of its expanded online catalog for coins recognized under VarietyPlus™, NGC’s attribution service. Included are descriptive detail photographs, diagnostic cues and general explanatory comments for many of the coin varieties described with a VarietyPlus™ number (e.g. VP-001). The catalog can be seen on NGC’s Web site.

In this catalog, only varieties described with a VarietyPlus™ number have detailed descriptions. This launch corresponds with the completion of the online technical platform, and a series of future content releases are forthcoming. During the beta review period, however, the catalog is available for free to all viewers. Users are also invited to send comments concerning the catalog to NGC’s researchers at varietyplus@ngccoin.com.

VarietyPlus™ includes the most popularly collected and most desirable die-specific coin varieties. For inclusion in VarietyPlus™ and to be attributed by NGC a coin must meet several specific criteria, including the following: (more…)