The unique 1844 proof gold Eagle, on display for three months at the Louisiana State Museum – Old U.S. Mint in New Orleans, helped attract a record of nearly 20,000 visitors during that time as part of the museum’s re-opening.

The coin was displayed through the courtesy of its anonymous Florida owner with the help of Louisiana dealers Paul Hollis of Mandeville and Chuck Bloomfield of Baton Rouge who arranged for the homecoming exhibition.

Prior to returning the one-of-a-kind coin to the collector who paid $1.5 million for it in 2006, Hollis took the gold piece to Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal in Baton Rouge on February 17.

“I wanted the Governor to have the opportunity to see such an important Louisiana treasure in person. He loved holding the 1844-O Eagle, and seemed equally thrilled to get a small handful of the 2009 Lincoln pennies,” said Hollis who gave away a million Lincoln cents to the public in Louisiana in February to coincide with President Lincoln’s bicentennial birthday.

“The big question from Governor Jindal was, ‘So, what’s this thing worth?’”

A total of 118,700 New Orleans Mint $10 gold pieces were made for circulation in 1844, but only one presentation proof Eagle was specially struck. It is graded NGC Proof-65 Ultra Cameo.

1,000 Adams Dollars Given to Adams School Students

(Metairie, Louisiana) – More than 1,000 encapsulated John Quincy Adams presidential dollar coins were given free to students at the John Quincy Adams Middle School in Metairie, Louisiana in honor of the school’s principal on January 20, 2009. The gift was presented by coin dealer Paul Hollis of Mandeville, Louisiana, who attended the suburban New Orleans school two decades ago.

“One of my greatest educational experiences was the gifted and talented program at Adams, and I have always wanted to do something to express my gratitude,” Hollis said.

The mix of proof and high-grade mint state coins were encapsulated by Numismatic Guaranty Corporation. They were distributed with certificates explaining the historical significance of the coins and also congratulating school principal, Dr. Cheryl Milam, who was named “2008 Principal of the Year” by the Louisiana Department of Education. The certificates were printed for Hollis by Crane & Co.

“Dr. Milam was an amazing teacher when I attended Adams from 1984 to 1986,” said Hollis.

“She helped encourage and foster my creativity and taught me so much. She even helped me start my first business, opening a salad bar at the school during my lunch break. I catered to the faculty, and it was a great experience for me.”

Nearly 1,050 encapsulated Adams dollars were distributed to students at a brief, special school assembly. (more…)

(New Orleans, Louisiana) – The 1844-O proof Eagle, a one-of-a-kind gold coin struck at the New Orleans Mint 164 years ago, has returned “home” to the Louisiana State Museum – Old U.S. Mint with the help of New Orleans coin dealer, Paul Hollis. The unique, $10 denomination gold piece apparently was specially struck as a presentation piece, and over the decades it’s been in the famous coin collections of a former U.S. Treasury Secretary and an early 20th century Chicago beer baron.

It is certified by Numismatic Guaranty Corporation as Proof-65 Ultra Cameo, and now insured for $2.5 million for an upcoming exhibition.

“This coin is certainly among the most important Southern gold coins ever struck, combining rarity, beauty, technical quality and a fascinating story,” said Mark Salzberg, NGC Chairman.

The coin will be publicly displayed at the Louisiana State Museum’s Old U.S. Mint, 400 Esplanade Ave., New Orleans, beginning when the museum re-opens November 1, according to Greg Lambousy, Louisiana State Museum Director of Collections.

This first-ever public exhibit in Louisiana was arranged by Hollis and the anonymous Florida collector who has quietly owned the historic gold piece since acquiring it in 2006. Hollis personally carried the valuable coin from Florida to Louisiana, clutching it in his hands during the entire journey.

In a pre-arranged, secret rendezvous, he was met at Louis Armstrong International airport in New Orleans on September 23 by a state police escort for the trip to the museum where he presented the unique gold piece to officials there.

“I had goose bumps when the plane landed in New Orleans and I realized the coin I was holding in my hands was home in Louisiana for the first time in over a century and a half. I got goose bumps again when we arrived at the Old U.S. Mint. I’ve been trying to get this coin back to New Orleans for the past six years when it was owned by someone else,” said Hollis. (more…)