Type Coins Present a Mixed Picture
Numismatic News
There is a very mixed market in U.S. type coin gold, with many of the small-size coins increasing and the larger coins flat or slightly lower. The proof gold and silver Eagle market has softened slightly at about 95-percent of previous levels. Scarce to rare date U.S. gold is quiet with the exception of the 1911-D quarter eagle, which has been steady in price but active with at least six coins sold in the last two weeks that I know of firsthand. Late date BU Lincoln cent rolls are moving up due to strong promotional demand from continuity programs of the 100-year sets.
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Where Do Red Book Coin Prices Come Form?
The E-Sylum
Whitman Publishing has a sophisticated online system that can be accessed by the Red Book’s pricing contributors. These contributors include more than 140 of the nation’s top coin dealers and researchers-active experts who buy, sell, trade, and study U.S. coins every business day of the year. (And for most of these folks, that includes weekends, too!) Our contributors analyze the retail and auction markets, and draw upon their firsthand knowledge, to come up with current pricing. First they focus on the series they specialize in, and then other series that they actively sell. All of this data goes into Whitman’s master database. A report is generated presenting all of the data-thousands of price points, covering more than 6,000 individual coins and sets.
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Gion Festival Featured on Silver Japan Mint Medallion
Japan Mint
This cloisonné silver medallion features the Gion Festival, which, over its long history and tradition, is renowned as one of Japan’s three major festivals. Yasaka Shrine is in Gion, Higashiyama Ward, in Kyoto City. The Gion Festival begins at Kippuiri on July 1, with many events like Hokodate, Yamadate, Yoiyama, Yamahoko Junko, Shinkousai and Kankousai lasting about one month. Yamahoko Junko, which takes place on July 17, is the highlight of the festival. This is a parade of 32 yamahoko (decorated floats) with naginatahoko in the lead moving from Shijo Karasuma to Shinmachi Oike. There are many highlights along the way, such as Kujiaratame and Tsujimawashi.
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Type 1 1917 Standing Liberty Quarters
Heritage Blog
Plenty of collectors have had similar thoughts about one of my favorite U.S. coinage designs, the “Type One” Standing Liberty quarter, struck in 1916 and earlier in 1917. (A gorgeous 1917-D Type One is part of the Boston auction’s Platinum Night.) Hermon MacNeil might not win any praise from abstract art fanatics, but as an academic and public-art sculptor he was more than capable. MacNeil’s semi-nude concept of Liberty standing with an invincible shield of the Republic was one of the winners of a closed competition. (More on this point later.) A majority of 1917 Standing Liberty quarters are not the Type One, however, but Type Two. The most immediately visible modification on the Type Two coins is a chainmail cover-up on Liberty. Personally, I think it looks rather ridiculous compared to the Type One.
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An Interview with the Mint of Poland’s Director of Foreign Trade
Coin Update News
Warsaw is an amazing city, complete with tall, lean buildings and glass skyscrapers on its bustling avenues. In others, old world charm oozes from every nook and cranny, which is even more amazing since all of its old town was painstakingly restored to the beautiful district that attracts both tourists and locals. Like so much of the country, the Mint of Poland has undergone dramatic change. From a state-owned entity to a wholly privatized company with a listing on the Warsaw stock exchange, the Mint of Poland has gone from strength to strength and continues to embark on ambitious programs and international partnerships.
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Israel Excavation Uncovers Bethsaida Gold Coin
Gateway
A gold coin that lay buried in Bethsaida, Israel, for nearly 2,000 years was unearthed on July 3 by a West Virginia University student. And she’s not even an archaeology major. Alexis Whitley was on the trip to Israel to sate her interest in religious studies, which she described as hobby-like, and to grab some credit hours. At 9 a.m. that day, she and a friend were sent by their teacher, Dr. Aaron Gale, to help with efforts on another side of the excavation site. “We were somewhat disappointed that we were now moving heavy boulders all day in 98-degree heat instead of digging for bones and pottery shards under a cool tarp with the rest of my group,” said Whitley.
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New Gibraltar Note Family Unveiled
Government of Gibraltar
The Government of Gibraltar is pleased to introduce a new series of Gibraltar banknotes. They reflect the rich history and culture of Gibraltar, from the Moorish era to the present day. Each denomination has a portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of Gibraltar, on the front, complemented by pattern work representing Gibraltar’s strategic location at the entrance to the Mediterranean, where it meets the Atlantic Ocean. The reverse of each of the banknotes carries a vignette which shows an aspect of Gibraltar through the ages. There are five banknotes in the series – £5, £10, £20, £50 and for the first time £100. The new banknote designs are shown in this leaflet, along with their Special Features. The notes will be released into circulation in two phases, the £10 and £50 in 2010 and the £5, £20 and £100 in 2011.
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Kennedy Half Dollar Strike-Through Error
Numismatic News
Strike-through errors are among a number of interesting errors that turned up recently. Numismatic News reader, Merle Hyldahl, sent an image of a 2005-P Kennedy half dollar that shows a relatively deep and obvious strike-through error on the obverse. Hyldahl said, “I was recently going through a bank-wrapped roll of 2005 Kennedy half dollars and ran onto one coin that had a large spike running from just north of the ‘In’ of  ‘In God We Trust’ and running north through Kennedy’s nose and into his forehead.” I have no idea of what the offending material was. David L. Kell also found a strike-through on the reverse of a 1974 Kennedy half running through the eagle’s tail feathers and arcing down just above the words HALF DOLLAR. I can only guess that it is a bit of “flashing” from a high-pressure strike that broke off the rim of a previously struck coin.
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Are Coins Really Hard to Buy Now?
PCGS Blog
It’s really hard to buy good coins right now. OK, you’ve heard it before. It is the oldest coin dealer line in the book. However, sometimes it’s true. Right now it is true…and here are some facts that show the situation as it really is. Let’s talk about last week’s Heritage auction. And remember we’re talking Heritage…THE Heritage. I did an auction survey and Heritage’s market share used to be enormous…now it’s even larger. Heritage…I buy coins in every one of their auctions. Heritage…I look at the results of every single lot sold by them at auction and their results have a tremendous impact on the PCGS Price Guide.
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U.S. Mint Coin Production Ramps Up
Dave Harper’s Buzz
Who would have thought that when the special commemorative cent designs for 2009 were authorized in 2005 that the year’s greatest characteristic would be a contraction of coin demand on a scale not see since the Great Depression? Well, that is just the way it turned out, but in the long run that will probably help keep prices of the cents honoring the Bicentennial of Lincoln’s birth higher than they otherwise would have been had they been issued in a more normal year. To be sure, 2.354 billion 2009 cents is not a small number, but when you divide it up among four designs and two mints, that brings things down to much more manageable levels.
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Sleepy Summertime (for the Coin Market)
Coin Values
July is traditionally a sleepy month for the coin market, as dealers enjoy a week or two of summer vacation before the juggernaut that is the American Numismatic Association summer convention, set this year Aug. 10 to 14 in Boston. When counting the pre-show and associated auctions, the ANA World’s Fair of Money provides more than a week of intense activity for the market. The introduction of the summer Florida United Numismatists show – this year July 8 to 11 in Orlando – has cut into the traditional July lull, and the raging bullion market has further cut into dealers’ time for rest and recreation. After the FUN summer show, there are no major shows until the ANA convention, but for a Professional Coin Grading Service “trade and grade” in Las Vegas, which is a pre-pre-ANA show stop for many dealers to acquire inventory to take with them to the ANA convention.
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Striking Gold in Alaska, 2nd Edition
The E-Sylum
Alaska Rare Coins is please to announce the publication of the 2nd edition of Dick Hanscom’s book “Striking Gold in Alaska, Making tokens from placer gold.” This 73 page paper bound book (8¼ by 5 3/8 inches) is fully illustrated in black and white with color covers. It follows the process from purchasing placer gold, preparing the gold for striking, engraving the dies and striking. Formulas are given for fluxes, specific gravity and determining the size of the tokens. Sources of supplies and equipment are listed. Additional information is included for the drop hammer and screw press. New sections include A Little Physics, X-Ray Fluorescence and current mintages.
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Token and Medal Society Celebrates 50th Anniversary
Numismatic News
The Token and Medal Society’s 50th anniversary officially falls on Nov. 29, 2010, but members will be begin the celebration at the American Numismatic Association World’s Fair of Money Aug. 10-14 in Boston and finish in Detroit, where the inaugural meeting was held, at the Michigan State Numismatic Society Show Nov. 26-28. For a keepsake of the society’s 50th general meeting in Boston, TAMS sought the help of The Medallic Art Company and its new owner, Ross Hansen’s Northwest Territorial Mint, to produce a medal. Every summer since 1983, TAMS has issued a member-designed assemblage medal as a souvenir of the society’s general meeting at the ANA World’s Fair of Money. Due to budget concerns, the board decided that the 50th anniversary medal would become the last in the series.
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The Breakout and Crossover Game
Coin Update News
To play the breakout and crossover game, you have to be an experienced coin grader. (If you question whether you qualify, you probably don’t, as keen knowledge of numismatics is required to play this game.) That said, you can test yourself by asking your local dealer or professional numismatist to display a sample of coins that you both grade without discussion, comparing scores later to see how well you did. Or your local coin club can hold regular grading sessions, as do many numismatic organizations. Otherwise, rely on that dealer or numismatist friend to give you a candid assessment of a coin’s grade or potential. Sooner than you think, you’ll begin looking at coins in a different light, literally and figuratively.
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Choosing a Coin to Collect
PCGS Blog
Coin collecting offers a myriad of choices for the collector, but there is one governing rule: You will run out of money before you run out of coins to buy.  Therefore, it is important to choose wisely in the beginning, so that you stay on budget and your interest level remains high. Here are some choices to consider: U.S. coins or world coins?  The U.S. coin market is easily the biggest in the world, with the largest number of collectors, the highest capitalization, and the best liquidity.  Some countries (such as Canada, Germany, and Great Britain) have advanced collector markets, while most others do not.  Liquidity is a problem with most world coins, as are transaction and transportation costs.  However, world coins offer a lot of value because rare, high quality world coins simply haven’t caught up to their U.S. counterparts.
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Providing Paper for the U.S. $100 Notes
Boston.com
Giant, rumbling machines fill the factory, the sound of turning gears echoing off walls as they press, stretch, and spool sheaths of paper into what look like 4-foot-wide rolls of toilet tissue. But this paper will be used for redesigned $100 bills the Federal Reserve plans to issue in February — the next step in its constant quest to thwart counterfeiters. Crane & Co., known better for its pricey stationery, runs the plant in a secluded swatch of the Berkshires. It is the only spot in the United States where the paper that winds up in wallets, purses, and cash registers is made, and Crane has been the sole maker of US currency paper — everything from $1 to $100 notes — for more than 130 years.
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Will the Experience of Youth Be Ignored?
Dave Harper’s Buzz
Generational experiences matter in coin collecting. It helps determine what is being collected today. I was thinking of this and what the future holds as I was taking a hike from a remote parking area to my desk.This happens once each year when it is car show time in Iola. The grounds are set up and ready to go surrounding the Krause Publications building. With tents all over it looks like a circus has come to town. … The popular cars of that hobby reflect the ages of the participants and what they remember when they were young. So now it is the 1960s.Coin collectors do the same thing. They tend to focus on what they remember as well. Once we get by my generation, which began collecting in the 1960s, what will be the focus of future generations of collectors? We are the last, or youngest, depending on how you want to express it, individuals who still remember what silver coins look like in actual use.
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WWI Medal for “Our Colored Heroes”
The E-Sylum
Many years ago before my father died he gave me a medal he said belonged to his father who was a “colored” soldier stationed at camp Lejeune in Mississippi during World War One. The medal is identical to the one referred to in your article of 2007 entitled “Mystery Medal For “Our Colored Heroes”. The medal is stamped “Our Colored Heroes” with an eagle on top, a portrait of a soldier below it with the inscription on a ribbon-like banner on the left side and a rising/setting sun at the bottom. The back of the medal is the same with the words “World War Began August 1, 1914, US Entered April 6, 1917, War Ended Nov 11, 1918″ with two flags crossed and the words “U.S Patent Appl’d For” at the very bottom.
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