IRVINE, Calif. – Bowers and Merena Auctions, America’s leading rare coin auction house, announces that it will auction the only 1932-D Washington Quarter graded MS-66 by PCGS in its upcoming Chicago Rarities Sale on April 14, 2008, in Rosemont, Ill.

The 1932-D Washington Quarter, Population 1/0 at PCGS, is part of “The Marquette Yakima Collection of Washington Quarters,” an extraordinary collection that contains a multitude of Registry Set-quality PCGS-certified Washington Quarters, including some Population 1/0. The complete collection will be auctioned in individual lots.

“The entire ‘Marquette Yakima Collection’ is exceptional, but this 1932-D Washington Quarter is truly the best there is, the finest known and an absolutely superb example,” said Steve Deeds, president of Bowers and Merena. “It last sold in 2001, before Registry Sets popularized the collection of the finest examples. I can’t remember the last time I have seen a coin of such magnitude and Bowers and Merena is proud to showcase it as the centerpiece of our Chicago Rarities Sale in April.” Read Full Article

(Santa Ana, California) – Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) is advising its authorized dealers of the existing terms and policies regarding submission of so-called “doctored” coins, and is reinforcing the application of those policies.

“We’re seeing more and more coin doctoring than we’ve ever seen, and the methods used to alter the coins are more and more sophisticated,” said Ron Guth, President of PCGS, a division of Collectors Universe, Inc. (NASDAQ: CLCT).

“We are constantly trying to keep up with new and sophisticated techniques, such as micro surgery with lasers and various chemical treatments to alter the surfaces of coins. You name it, and the coin doctors are trying it. We’re giving public notice to those who alter coins that we’re clamping down on them.”

Guth said PCGS graders are frequently updated on what to watch for when analyzing coins submitted for certification. He compares the continuing education to combat coin doctoring and counterfeiting to anti-virus software makers who are on constant vigil against computer hackers and new viruses. (more…)

The Hesselgesser Flowing Hair and Bust Dollar Collection, the number one set of early United States silver dollars in the Professional Coin Grading Service’s Set RegistrySM, will be displayed during the upcoming  Long Beach Coin Expo, February 14 – 16, 2008.

“The collection is owned by California radiologist, Dr. Robert D. Hesselgesser, and it’s the finest collection of Flowing Hair and Bust variety dollars graded by PCGS using Bolender and Bowers-Borckardt reference numbers. He has added or upgraded about a dozen coins since he first registered this impressive set a year ago when the expanded PCGS variety attribution services were launched,” said BJ Searls, Manager of the PCGS Set Registry.

“The total number of possible varieties in the Registry is 118. The exhibit at the PCGS booth (#807) at the Long Beach Expo will showcase 107 of them, many among the finest known examples.” (more…)

(Santa Ana, California) — The PCGS Set RegistrySM all-time number one finest set of modern U.S. proof coins from 1968 to the present will be exhibited by Professional Coin Grading Service during the Florida United Numismatists (FUN) convention (booth #138) in Orlando, January 10 – 13, 2008.

“The 361-coin set carries an incredible weighted grade point average of 70.22 out of a possible 70.28, and has been ranked the top set of its kind the
past three years,” said BJ Searls, PCGS Set Registry Manager.

Known as the Erasmus Hall Collection, it was assembled by New York City physician and medical school professor, Dr. Lawrence S. Brown Jr., who says he owes his coin collecting passion to his love of history.

“This is one of the most popular of all the Registry Sets. It’s a panorama of modern proof coins ranging from Lincoln cents to Presidential dollars as well as the clad and silver versions of the statehood quarter dollars. The vast majority of these coins are easy to obtain, but it’s a challenge to find them in top condition,” explained Searls.

Every coin in the collection is certified as Deep Cameo, and 309 are certified PCGS PR-70 Deep Cameo. Nearly all the coins are the highest graded for their date. (more…)

(Newport Beach, California) - Professional Coin Grading Service has certified the first reported Sacagawea golden dollar coin struck with the edge lettering intended only for Presidential dollars. The submitter will receive a $10,000 finder’s reward from PCGS.

“The United States Mint set up specific internal procedures in an attempt to prevent this type of error from happening. But it did happen, and it’s an amazing-looking error,” said Ron Guth, PCGS President.

The 2007-dated coin was struck at the Denver Mint and has been examined and authenticated by the experts at PCGS. The coin was submitted by Andrew Moores of Lakewood, Colorado who found the coin in his pocket change. Moores believes he could have had the coin for as long as two weeks and only noticed it when he compared it with other Sacagawea Dollars that he had already set aside.

Moores was unaware of the reward until a coin collector friend mentioned that he had seen the offer on the PCGS Message Boards. According to Guth, who spoke with the submitter about the find, “Needless to say, Mr. Moores is a very happy man.”

PCGS also confirms it now has certified 301 Jefferson dollars erroneously struck without edge lettering. (more…)