On January 10th, 2009, George Frederick Kolbe/Fine Numismatic Books will offer for sale at public auction the highlights of two outstanding numismatic libraries, both remarkable for their exceptionally fine overall condition. They will be sold at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City in conjunction with the New York International Numismatic Convention. The first 72 page catalogue features 100 lots of rare and classic works on American numismatics, with some fifty full color illustrations.

Lots 1-75 are from The Twinleaf Library and lots 76-100 are the property of several additional consignors. The second 108 page catalogue, with over one hundred full color illustrations, is comprised of 175 early printed numismatic books and classic titles on Italian coins and medals from the library of Dr. Ferdinando Bassoli of Turin, Italy, numbered from 101 to 275.

Further information on any of the lots that follow may be found in the two catalogues, both of which are accessible at our web site.

Lot 1 is an extremely rare original 1881 Frank Andrews work on U. S. Cents, 1816-57, one of only forty copies issued and one of as few as eight to ten copies known to have survived. It is the first work to cover the later date cents. The estimate is $8,500.

Lot 41 is S. H. Chapman’s Own Superb Plated 1921 J. M. Henderson auction sale catalogue, one of only a half dozen known and perhaps the finest to have survived. The 4 superb photographic plates depict outstanding United States large cents and half cents. The estimate is $12,500.

Lot 88 features the first two works on American medals, published in the 1830s and arranged in a leather-bound volume and annotated by Charles Ira Bushnell, one of America’s most famous 19th century numismatists. The estimate is $5,000. (more…)

New Quarter-Dollars Brought Uncle Sam Billions – 25 Cents at a Time

The Hawaii state commemorative quarter-dollars that go into circulation starting November 10 may provide the public with yet another opportunity to find a mini fortune in their pocket change. They also end a resoundingly successful ten-year program that helped reduce the federal budget deficit by billions of dollars – 25 cents at a time, according to David L. Ganz, author of the just-published book by Random House, America’s State Quarters.

Ganz urges people to carefully look at their pocket change because some of the state quarters can be worth between $100 and more than $1,000 each because of minting mistakes.

“For example, some of the Wisconsin state quarters made in 2004 have an extra leaf on the cornstalk on the tail’s side, and those are selling for over $100 each now. Other state quarters, mistakenly struck on the wrong metal blanks, have sold for $1,000 or more. It will be interesting to see what potentially valuable mistakes and varieties people may find with the Hawaii quarter when it goes into circulation,” said Ganz, a New York City attorney and former President of the American Numismatic Association.

Former United States Mint Director Philip Diehl has said Ganz deserves “the lion’s share of the credit for making the 50 State Quarters Program a reality.” The program has helped reduce the federal budget deficit by billions of dollars the past decade.

“Because it costs the mint only about seven cents each to make quarter-dollars but they are ‘sold’ to the Federal Reserve Bank for 25 cents, the difference in profit over ten years is more $3.5 billion. It’s an accounting technique called seignorage, and the money is used to pay down the national debt,” Ganz explained.

America’s State Quarters is a guidebook to collecting the state quarter-dollars that were issued from 1999 to 2008, honoring each of the 50 states, and a look ahead to commemorative quarters that will be issued next year for Washington, DC and five U.S. territories. It provides collecting tips and how to identify valuable mint-made errors. The book also gives readers interesting background information about the history of the surprisingly difficult and politically sensitive undertaking to launch what became an overwhelmingly successful program that prompted 147 million Americans to collect the coins, according to mint estimates. (more…)

David W Akers’ classic numismatic reference, A Handbook of 20th-Century U.S. Gold: 1907-1933, first published in 1988, is now available in an updated second edition published by Zyrus Press! Revised and expanded by Jeff Ambio, author of the “Strategy Guide Series,” he begins the book by describing the changes in the market since the publication of the first edition. He says,

“Much has changed in the numismatic market since the first edition of this book went to print 20 years ago, particularly in connection with the 20th century gold series. Third-party certification has now become the industry standard for authentication and grading. The Internet has made numismatic research considerably easier and has made information readily available to anyone with access to a personal computer. And, of course, many important collections of 20th century U.S. gold coins have sold during the 20-year period from 1988 to 2008. Clearly, an update and revision were definitely in order.”

However, Ambio also acknowledges that,

“Much of the information and conclusions that Akers incorporated into the first edition of this book remain, nonetheless, principal among which is his decision to exclude the circulated grades from the book… Additionally, Akers’ comments about the popularity and rarity of the four 20th century U.S. gold series are still valid in the numismatic market of the 21st century…”

At 363 pages, this book follows an easy-to-read layout. Each coin is beautifully illustrated with full color coin images, with their characteristics broken down into strike, luster, color, surfaces, and eye appeal. Significant Examples of each coin, auction appearances to date and prices realized make a debut in this new edition, as well tables for “Total Known by Grade” and “Values by Grade.” Rarity and population figures are the latest information you will find and Proof gold coins are a welcome addition to this classic reference. (more…)