Two 1796 Quarter Eagles Break Million Dollar Mark in Heritage’s Second Largest Auction Ever!

Dallas, TX. Two million dollar coins were sold during the course of Thursday’s Platinum Night session by Heritage Auction Galleries, the Official Auctions of the FUN 2008 Orlando Convention. Total prices realized from Heritage’s coin auctions exceeded $50 million, and another $10 million in rare currency was auctioned in Heritage’s second largest auction ever. Results from both auctions have been posted by Heritage in their Permanent Auction Archives at HA.com. When proceeds from Final Session Auctions for coins and currency are concluded, plus Post Auction Buys from both events are combined, the total prices realized are expected to exceed $62 million. An additional $4.3 million was realized in Heritage’s Signature auction of Ancient and World Coins held at the NYINC just prior to FUN. (more…)

An important new resource for paper money collectors now is available online. The extensive PCGS Currency Population Report SM, a census database of more than 80,000 notes authenticated and certified by PCGS Currency, is updated daily and is available by subscription to members of the PCGS Currency Collectors Club and PCGS Currency authorized dealers.

“This is the most comprehensive and current listing of its kind. The information is crucial for anyone who is active in today’s currency market,” said Laura A. Kessler, Vice President of PCGS Currency, a division of Collectors Universe, Inc. (NASDAQ: CLCT). “Both buyers and sellers can use this information to make more informed decisions, as the PCGS Currency Population Report will accurately reflect the relative rarity of certified notes in specific grades.” (more…)

Washington, D.C. – January 14, 2008 – The first redesigned $5 bill, which will continue to feature the portrait of President Abraham Lincoln, will enter circulation on March 13 and will be spent at the gift shop of President Lincoln’s Cottage at the Soldiers’ Home in Washington, D.C. The venue, which has recently been restored and open to the public, was used by President Lincoln as a retreat. President Lincoln understood that maintaining the integrity of U.S. currency was critical to the stability of our economy. In fact, President Lincoln established the United States Secret Service the same evening he was assassinated at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C. and made it the agency’s primary mission to safeguard the nation’s currency from counterfeiters. (more…)

By Allen Mincho, Bank Note Reporter

This January 2008 column for Bank Note Reporter marks the 10th year that my musings have appeared on a monthly basis. It has been a truly amazing ride that we in the currency market have enjoyed for the past decade, with a market that has widened beyond the scope of even the most optimistic prognosticator, with more buyers, sellers and dedicated collectors taking part than any observer could reasonably have predicted at the start of 1998.

The advent of truly unbiased and objective third-party grading, the explosion of modern research techniques into hitherto uncharted fields, the expansion by all of the major coin auction houses into the currency auction arena, and the realization by the numismatic community that currency was both undervalued and considerably scarcer than its metallic counterparts all have played a major role in defining where this market has progressed as we start 2008. Read Full Story

[UPDATED] Dallas, Texas: Heritage Auction Galleries, the world’s leading numismatic auctioneer, will present currency from the Peter Gamble Collection at the Florida United Numismatists Show January 10-12, 2008 in Orlando Florida.

The Peter Gamble Collection is an incredible type set of United States Large Size Currency, containing some of the finest examples offered at auction in years. Mr. Gamble’s focus was on both quality and rarity. According to Dustin Johnston, Director of Currency Auctions, “In many instances where a large number of quality notes were available for a particular type, Mr. Gamble chose to pursue a scarcer Friedberg Number to represent the type and he did so without compromising quality. He still found the finest pieces available.”

The numbers tell the story. Of 59 large size notes in the collection, 35 are graded Gem or better by PMG and PCGS. Fifteen pieces are the finest graded or tied for finest graded by their respective grading services. “Collectors seeking the finest pieces for eye appeal and rarity will find the Gamble Collection to be a wonderful buying opportunity,” added Johnston.

In addition to the Large Size offering, Heritage will present Mr. Gamble’s selection of United States Fractional Currency. The 79 pieces include 22 examples that are also finest or tied for the finest known at PMG. The Fractional Currency selection is highlighted by Spencer M. Clark’s Presentation Book of Fractional Currency. In May of 1866, thirteen books containing Fractional Currency specimens were presented to Andrew Jackson, his cabinet, and several congressmen. Clark served as Superintendent of the National Currency Bureau and later the Bureau of Engraving and Printing from 1862 to 1868. (more…)