Two of the finest-known gold 1804 eagles have been added to the Museum Showcase at the 2010 ANA National Money Show™ in Fort Worth. The coins are part of the renowned Harry W. Bass Jr. Collection of American gold coins, and are on display at the ANA’s Edward C. Rochette Money Museum in Colorado Springs.

The Mint began producing gold eagles ($10 coins) in 1795. Production of the coins ceased in 1804 due to a shortage of gold and a perceived lack of need for the denomination. The 1804 eagle thus became famous for being the last coin for the type, and the last eagle struck for circulation for over thirty years. The estimated number of survivors, including the one on display in Fort Worth, is thought to be 80-100 pieces, all from one die pair, of which a considerable number have been damaged.

A twist was added to the story in between 1834 and 1835, when restrikes of 1804 gold eagles and silver dollars were minted by special order of President Andrew Jackson as diplomatic gifts to a king, two emperors and a sultan. Since the last time that silver dollars or gold eagles had been produced was in 1804, the Mint created new dies for the coins and struck them as proofs. There are four known 1804 proof eagle restrikes, including the one on display in Fort Worth; these coins have been nicknamed the “King of Eagles.”

The ANA National Money Show is one of the premier coin shows in the country, and features more than 500 ANA-member dealers; a Museum Showcase with numismatic rarities from the Smithsonian Institution, ANA Money Museum and private collections; a wide array of educational programs; fascinating exhibits created by ANA members; and a $1 billion display by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. For more information, visit www.nationalmoneyshow.com or call 719-482-9857.

The show is at the Fort Worth Convention Center and is open to the public from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. Admission is $6 daily and free for ANA members and children 12 and under.
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The ANA Museum Showcase will make its National Money Show™ debut March 25-27 at the Fort Worth Convention Center. This spectacular gallery gives visitors a unique chance to see some of the world’s most beautiful and valuable coins.

The showcase will be located just inside the bourse entrance, and features several numismatic treasures. The Smithsonian Institution’s exhibit, “Good as Gold: America’s Double Eagles,” explores the history of the U.S. $20 gold piece. The display includes the first (1849 pattern) and last (1933) double eagles ever produced, and a 1907 Saint-Gaudens ultra-high-relief $20 pattern coin that President Theodore Roosevelt gave his daughter Edith for Christmas that year.

The Museum Showcase also will present three historic and beautiful 1879 Quintuple Stellas. These coins are exceedingly rare; only five gold and perhaps 12 copper specimens are known. The National Money Show display includes the two finest gold specimens and one rare copper piece – all exhibited courtesy of the BRS Legacy Collection. The ANA thanks Laura Sperber for arranging this display.

The ANA’s Edward C. Rochette Money Museum will display pieces from its collection, including the Cohen and Idler/Bebee specimens of the rare 1804 Draped Bust dollar, two of 15 struck at the U.S. Mint.

The showcase also features the Walton specimen of the famed 1913 Liberty Head nickel, one of only five known. These nickels left the U.S. Mint in Philadelphia under suspicious circumstances. In 1919, former Mint employee Samuel Brown placed an advertisement in The Numismatist, offering to pay $500 for any 1913 Liberty Head nickel. The next year at the ANA’s annual convention in Chicago, Brown displayed a five-piece set. Later, Fort Worth dealer B. Max Mehl advertised that he would pay $50 for the rarity. (more…)

By Greg Reynolds for CoinLink

I. Introduction to the Club and this Meeting

On Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2010, the 20th Century Gold Club conducted their fifth meeting at a hotel near the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando where the January FUN Convention was held. In the field of choice and rare U.S. coins, the annual Winter FUN Convention is one of the leading events of the year.

This club is private, small, exclusive, and sophisticated. I am honored to have been invited to attend. Moreover, I feel privileged to have the cooperation of the founders for the purpose of writing about the proceedings and communicating the educational and other purposes of this club to coin enthusiasts at large. Some of the presentations and discussions at the event were truly fascinating and the enthusiasm of the members for coins filled the atmosphere. The event was stimulating and fun.

The current president, Jay Brahin, directed the meeting. The speakers were David Hall, John Albanese and John Dannreuther. David Hall is the primary founder of the PCGS and he is currently the CEO of its parent company. Hall is an expert in early 20th century U.S. gold coins.

Hall spoke about the new PCGS program of identifying coins that each have a market value of $1 million or more, the “Million Dollar Club.” I asked if coins in museums are included, and I was surprised that they are with rather specific estimated values. I also asked why the two unique 1797 Half Eagles in the Smithsonian are not on the list. Reportedly, these two 1797s are the only known survivors of two different, readily apparent varieties. Additionally, Hall voiced intriguing comments regarding PCGS estimates of the values of 1933 Double Eagles.

In the second part of David Hall’s presentation, he introduced the results of research at the PCGS regarding the market values in 1970 of Saint Gaudens Double Eagles. The tricky part of such research is determining how specific coins in 1970 have or would be later graded by the PCGS, so price appreciation of specific dates in specific grades can be tracked and analyzed. Though David Akers voiced a critical remark or two regarding such values, most of the members of the club were impressed by the data and astonished by how low the prices were for such terrific coins in 1970. As an aside, note that Dr. Duckor has long argued that gem quality, better-date early 20th century gold coins were not really appreciated until the 1980s. One of the purposes of the club is to bring about a greater appreciation of early 20th century gold coins. (more…)