See America for a Quarter
U.S. Mint
Looking for a great vacation spot?  The United States Mint wants you to consider letting the America the Beautiful Quarters Program be your guide. In its first year, the America the Beautiful Quarters Program is the United States Mint’s new 12-year initiative to honor 56 national parks and other national sites in each state, the District of Columbia and five U.S. territories.  Each year, the public will see five new quarters bearing reverse (tails side) designs emblematic of each featured national site.  To mark the release into circulation of each new quarter, the United States Mint is holding a special launch ceremony that is open to the public at or near each site. ”When we launched the America the Beautiful Quarters Program, we embarked on a journey to reconnect Americans with our beautiful national parks, forests, wildlife refuges and other sites,” said United States Mint Director Ed Moy.  “We hope families across the country will join us on this journey.”
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Changes to the U.S. Mint’s Direct Ship Program
Mint News Blog
A few weeks ago, the US Mint made some changes to their Direct Ship Program. This program has been tweaked many times as the Mint seemingly tries to preserve the utility of the program, while limiting the potential for abuses. The Direct Ship Program was introduced in June 2008 as a way for businesses and individuals to obtain circulating dollar coins directly from the US Mint. The purpose of the program was to remove barriers and improve circulation of the dollar coin. In the most recent fiscal year, the US Mint reported distributing an astounding $85.2 million worth of coins through the program, representing 18.6% of the total dollar coin shipments.
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The PMG Zoo Online Gallery
PMG
There are an unlimited number of ways to collect currency, enough to suit anyone’s unique interests. Collecting by topic is one such example. Topics range from animals to buildings, sailing ships, trains and famous people. Our newest gallery, the PMG Zoo, is a collection of 26 notes featuring animals, from birds to the King of the Jungle. By collecting notes with animals, you can “visit the zoo” without leaving the comfort of your home.
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‘The’ Caused Problems in National Bank Note Names
Numismaster
Most national bank names begin with the article “the”—the reason being that it was printed on the blank left for titles on the form used for organization certificates. If the bankers did not want to include it, they had to strike it out on the form. Interesting errors made their way to National Bank Note title blocks for a number of banks, either through the inadvertent use of the word when it was not wanted, or the accidental omission of it when it was desired. The recognized cases are listed in Table 1 (see p. 93). Probably most cases where “the” was accidentally included were caused by clerical errors made on the plate orders sent to the bank note companies, or, later, to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing.
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Why China’s Currency Has Two Names
BBC News
China has indicated that it will allow its currency to appreciate – following months of pressure from the US. Some refer to the currency as the yuan, others call it the renminbi. Who is right? Both names are perfectly good, but in slightly different ways. “Renminbi” is the official name of the currency introduced by the Communist People’s Republic of China at the time of its foundation in 1949. It means “the people’s currency”. “Yuan” is the name of a unit of the renminbi currency. Something may cost one yuan or 10 yuan. It would not be correct to say that it cost 10 renminbi.
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Legal Shootout Depends on Lawyers
Numismatic News
The Gunfight at the OK Corral has begun in a Central District of California United States Courthouse as Collector’s Universe, the parent company of the Professional Coin Grading Service, squares off against six named coin dealer defendants and 10 “John Doe” defendants charging them with violation of the federal “Lanham Act,” resulting from unfair competition and resulting in  unjust enrichment. In the real gunfight, Wyatt Earp and his brothers (as city marshalls in Tombstone, Ariz.,) and Doc Holliday, fought Billy Claiborne, the Clanton brothers, and others on Oct. 26, 1881, at 3 p.m. – probably the most famous or celebrated shoot-out in the history of the Wild West. In the Collector’s Universe case, it’s just lawyers and judges at 10 paces.
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Splits Vs. Tears (In Paper Money): What’s the Difference?
PMG
Have you ever received a note with the comment “Split” or “Tear” and didn’t understand exactly what it meant? Many have. In this article, I’ll explain the difference between these two similar terms and how to identify them. They have very different causes and appearances, so it’s important to know the distinction. Let’s start with splits. Splits are created over time by repeated folding along the same line. Splits gradually move along the fold, separating the paper as it weakens. Each edge of the split usually has the same amount of wear due to this gradual effect. Splits are most commonly seen in the margins or body of notes grading VF and below. However, it is not uncommon for a note of a higher grade to have splits if heavy folds are present.
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The Top 7 Ways to Ruin Your Coins
Susan Headley
The seven best ways to ruin your coins are things that many beginning collectors do without even thinking about them. I’ve even seen expert coin dealers spitting on their coins! If you care about protecting the investment you’re making in your coin collection, take the time to learn how to properly handle, clean, store, and protect your rare coins. Just touching your coins with your bare fingers is enough to cause damage to them, especially if you collect higher grade coins. And you will definitely damage them if your fingers come in contact with mint-state and proof coins. Your fingers contain oils and miniscule pieces of grit that will adhere to the coins and cause them to discolor or suffer microscopic scratching. When you handle your coins, wear cotton or latex gloves, and handle only the edges.
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Bashlow Confederate Coin Restrike Six-Coin Sets
The E-Sylum
The “second restrikes” of both denominations were made by August C. Frank & Co., Philadelphia, to the order of Robert Bashlow during the Civil War centennial in 1962. They are not rare as individual pieces. According to the brochure, 5,000 pieces of both the cent and half dollar were struck in silver, a like amount in “goldine” (a brassy alloy developed for token planchets by the Osborne Coinage Co. in the 1930s), and 20,000 pieces of each of the denominations in bronze. These figures agree with those given by Walter Breen in the Complete Encyclopedia (cent only, Nos. 8011, 8014 and 8013 respectively). Some of these pieces were put up in sets housed in “official holders” like the set shown in The E-Sylum. “Special offer,” the brochure said. “We are making the beautiful Official Lucite Holder illustrated above available to all who purchase the Confederate Half Dollar now (italics in original).
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Obsolete Paper Money ‘Very Active’ in the Market
Stack’s News
The secret that isn’t secret: obsolete paper money is very active in the marketplace, and interest is growing! As I write these words, Stack’s sale of the 52 Collection is underway. This is a specialized offering subtitled “Art and Security on American paper currency.” Crossing the block are 781 lots of American paper money and related items, with emphasis on proof impressions and other special notes issued by state-chartered banks. These are “high end” examples within the specialty. This leads me to say a few words about the collecting of obsolete paper money: The field generally described as obsolete bank notes sometimes erroneously as broken bank notes, comprises paper money issued in our country by several thousand banks from 1782 until 1866. In the late 1780s Americans were suffering from the depreciation of the government’s paper money—Continental Currency.
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U.S. Mint Announces Remaining 2010 Product Release Dates
U.S. Mint
The United States Mint today announced projected release dates for the remaining products in its 2010 product portfolio. The 2010 Scheduled Products Listing is available online at http://usmint.gov/catalog.  Please note that on-sale dates are subject to change.  The list is updated as specific release dates are determined or changed.  Visit http://www.usmint.gov/catalog for the most current information. Customers may begin placing their orders at noon Eastern Time (ET) on the specified on-sale dates.  Orders will be accepted at http://www.usmint.gov/catalog and at 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468).  Hearing- and speech-impaired customers with TTY equipment may order by calling 1-888-321-MINT (6468).  A shipping and handling fee of $4.95 will be added to all domestic orders.
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Still No 2010 U.S. Proof Gold and Silver Eagles
Mint News Blog
The US Mint has announced the release dates for their “remaining” 2010 products. The collectible Proof and Uncirculated 2010 Gold Eagles and 2010 Silver Eagles are still missing from the schedule, although the US Mint still preserves a glimmer of hope that these popular products might be produced. The updated schedule includes exact on-sale dates for all previously listed products (although the dates are still stated as tentative). No new products have been added to the schedule, although I would have thought that the US Mint would release the “new” America the Beautiful Quarter Products this year. It’s possible that they will be added to the scheduled later. The 2010 Proof and Uncirculated Gold and Silver Eagles are listed on the schedule as “TBD.”
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Money and Currencies in History
CoinsWeekly
During the first half of the 16th century, a series of happy coincidences converted Spain into the richest and most powerful country on earth at the time. In 1519, Hernán Cortés conquered the huge Aztec Empire with an army of only 600 soldiers; in 1531, Francisco Pizarro succeeded in destroying the Inca Empire with 180 mercenaries. Not the booties, however, but rather the enormous deposits of silver at Potosí and Zacatecas produced the true wealth of Spain. They allowed for incredible masses of silver to be won by the latest methods. In the thirties of the 16th century, “only” 86 tons of silver reached Spain, whereas in the seventies, silver production increased to 1.119 tons and stagnated at around 2.200 tons per decade during the first third of the 17th century.
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The PCGS Set Registry Effect
PCGS Blog
In the U.S. coin market, the demand for high quality coins has created big differences between grade levels, particularly at the top end.  For instance, an 1890-O Silver dollar is valued in the PCGS Price Guide at $375 in MS64, $1,800 in MS65, and $8,500 in MS66.  A plus sign (+) turns the MS65 into a $2,700 coin.  Clearly, the demand for quality translates into big premiums for the best coins. Here’s another factor that helps drive prices…what I call the PCGS Set Registry Effect.  Simply put, the demand for top quality coins is increased further by collectors seeking to join or maintain the top ranks of the PCGS Set Registry.
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CCAC Forms Subcommittee on Coin Design
Coin Collector’s Blog
According to the tweets of Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee member Donald Scarinci (@Scarinci), CCAC Chair Gary Marks announced the establishment of a subcommittee to help U.S. Mint Director Ed Moy to initiate his vision for a neo-renaissance of U.S. coins. Members of the subcommittee will be made up Mitch Sanders, Donald Scarinci, Roger Burdette, Heidi Wastweet, and Gary Marks. Their report due by October 31, 2010. During a presentation at the FIDEM conference on September 19, 2007, held in Colorado Springs, Moy said, “I want and intend to spark a Neo-Renaissance of coin design and achieve a new level of design excellence that will be sustained long after my term expires.” During the 2010 FIDEM conference, there were reports that the design of U.S. coins were not up to the standard set by Moy during his 2007 talk.
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1922: Year of U.S. Mint Downtime
Heritage Blog
In the wake of World War I, the United States went through a recession that lasted about half a year. The start of 1920 saw another economic downturn that lasted for 18months. During the downturn, the Mint struck a variety of denominations, but with less commerce came less demand for the instruments of commerce, coins among them. Only one denomination was struck at all three of the active mints: the silver dollar. The 1922 silver dollars bore the then-novel Peace design; though first struck in 1921, the Peace dollars were not released for distribution until 1922. The Boston auction will have examples from Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco.
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Whitman Baltimore Expo Exceeds Expectations
Stella
While we were one of the first dealers to arrive, we viewed auction lots for several hours before figuring some bids before dinner. Little did we know that at 9 pm with a nice Diet Coke in hand, we’d get a call to get first shot with one of our favorite clients. Indeed we worked until 11:30 that night, procuring quite a few new coins for the website and auctions. Once the show opened, we were busy from start to finish. We ended up spending quite a bit of money with customers that came by our table early and visited with several of our long-time customers that frequent the Baltimore show. While the show size was reduced from its usual size, the cozier room provided for more of a buzz amongst the dealers and collectors.
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Publications of the Coin and Currency Institute
The E-Sylum
The Coin and Currency Institute was the publishing arm of Capital Coin Co., the department store coin firm founded by Robert Friedberg, and run for many years after Robert’s death by his brother Jack and widow Goldie. I believe the firm is currently owned by Robert’s sons Arthur and Ira, and managed by Arthur. As you probably know, the most familiar titles bearing C&C’s imprint are ‘Paper Money of the United States’, and ‘Gold Coins of the World’, both of which have had many editions over the years.
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