By David Ganz for Numismatic News

The 1838-O half dollar is a genuine rarity, with only 20 pieces struck and the fate, 170 years after striking, of just about a dozen known pieces in existence leaves some unaccounted for. I’ve liked this coin for many years and made it a centerpiece of my new book that Krause is publishing in July, “Profitable Coin Collecting.”

More than 50 public auction sales of this coin are of record, some over a hundred years ago. The Mickley sale in 1867 by Woodward saw the coin offered as Lot 1782 and the selling price of $2.75. The same coin was acquired by J. P. Clemens and when Edward Coogan sold his collection in 1878. Lot 159 contained the same coin and brought $15.

Frossard sold his own collection Oct. 2, 1884 and Lot 400 in that sale featured an 1838 New Orleans half dollar which brought the “enormous” price of $63 only to find an early case of economic recession in the coin field so that by the time Lorin Parmalee sold his collection in 1890, the coin stepped back to $23.50.

Thomas Elder sold the Wilson collection in October 1908, and Lot 346 featured the very same 1838-O half dollar. It resounded to a $570 mark. In the span of 40 years, the coin rose in value from $2.75 to almost $600 – weekly wages in the United States at the time averaged about $6.

In the 1950s, the Anderson-Dupont sale by Stacks yielded a $3,500 price realized for an impaired proof specimen. That coin would be resold nine times in the succeeding half century and form the basis of the mystery that has existed for almost 20 years.

The unknown answer: an August 1989 sale as Lot 202. What was the price realized?

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In the 2008 release of the “Insider’s Guide to U.S. Coin Values” Mike Fuljenz, President of Universal Coin & Bullion, once again assisted author Scott A. Travers in placing values on gold coins. This is a leading coin price guide published by Bantam Dell, a division of Random House, Inc. Collectors anxiously await this guide across the country considered “The most up-to-date comprehensive Coin Book in America” to evaluate their collections.

The most prestigious numismatic authorities in America assign the values to the coins covered in this guide. Mr. Travers is often sought by publications such as The Wall Street Journal and Business Week, and has served as a coin valuation consultant to the Federal Trade Commission. He has surrounded himself with other leading experts to provide coin collectors the most accurate coin values available. In his acknowledgements Travers give recognition to those numismatic experts he depends on to give him the values for his publication. His acknowledgement for Mike Fuljenz, read “Michael R Fuljenz” of Universal Coin & Bullion in Beaumont, Texas updated the values for gold eagles through double eagles. He is one of the Nation’s highest profiled and most esteemed gold coin authorities. His contributions, like the metal, itself, glitter.”

In past issues Fuljenz, the President of Universal Coin & Bullion has served as the gold coin price coordinator. Mr. Fuljenz is also a well-known numismatic author who has written numerous books relating to coin collecting, such as “The Collector’s Guide to Indian Head Quarter Eagles” and just recently, “The Collector’s Guide to $10 Indian Head Eagles.” Mike Fuljenz is also the recipient of a 2002 NLG Book of the Year Award for his “Type II Double Eagles: 1866-1876″ book.

The “Insider’s Guide to U.S. Coin Values 2008″ is available on Amazon.com and in most local bookstores.

The first issue of a book containing pictures of five thousand splendid coins belonging to Iran’s Sassanid period is soon to be published. More information will be posted as soon as we have a publication date and particulars.

Sassanid coins are decorated with original Persian patterns and minted in gold silver and copper. Golden Sassanid Drachma was used only in foreign trade, making them very rare today. Silver coins were used as the main currency and were circulated even in neighboring regions.

Iran’s national museum and the British museum are working together to compile a two-volume publication, focusing on pieces belonging to a period between the rein of Ardeshir I and Kavadh I.

The Sassanid era is considered to be one of the most important and influential historical periods in Iran, witnessing the highest achievements of Persian civilization. Many notable pieces of Pahlavi literature were written and Sassanid music reached its zenith. Many sports such as polo also emerged as pastimes for royalty in this period.

GEORGE FREDERICK KOLBE AUCTION SALE 105: MARCH 20, 2008

On March 20, 2008 George Frederick Kolbe/Fine Numismatic Books will sell at auction the Numismatic Library of Dr. Dan Koppersmith, part three of the Alan M. Meghrig Library, further selections from the library of Bob Vail, and other notable properties.

Leading off the sale is the superb Koppersmith library, which includes a complete set of the Numismatic Chronicle, a complete run of the Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, standard works on ancient Greek coins in outstanding condition, and important auction sale catalogues featuring archaic and classical Greek coins.

A nice consignment of works on British and American numismatics follows. It features a fine original set of Dalton and Hamer’s Provincial Token-Coinage of the 18th Century, heavily annotated by a knowledgeable collector. Complete sets of Barney Bluestone, New York Coin & Stamp Co., and J. C. Morgenthau sale catalogues are featured in the Bob Vail consignment, which also includes an extensive run of elusive United States Coin Company sales, among them a fine 1913 Malcolm Jackson sale with photographic plates. (more…)

In preparation for the move to new premises later this year, the ANS will be holding a sale of duplicate books, sales catalogues and periodicals. Lists of available catalogues and periodicals will shortly appear on the ANS website, with prices and instructions for ordering. Shipping and handling will be charged to purchasers.

Duplicate books, together with unsold catalogues and periodicals will be offered for sale on the ANS premises from Saturday, March 8th, 2008. Opening hours will be posted on the ANS website.

Only duplicates of items in the library are being sold. no books or duplicates from the rare book room are included. all proceeds from sales will benefit the ans library.

In addition to the sale of material by the ANS, a mail bid auction of duplicate books is being held on behalf of the ANS by Charles Davis.

The catalogue is available online: http://members.aol.com/numislit/daviscatalogue.pdf Selected lots are also illustrated: http://members.aol.com/numislit/ Inquiries may be addressed to: Numislit@aol.com