The unique 1793 Wreath U.S. large cent variety (Sheldon NC-5, Crosby 10-F) in the collection of the American Numismatic Society (ANS) has been authenticated and graded by Professional Coin Grading Service as PCGS AU-58. The coin has a distinguished pedigree dating back to 1881, but this was the first time it has been formally certified by a third-party grading service.

“PCGS experts examined this amazing coin and encapsulated it at the Florida United Numismatists (FUN) convention in Orlando, Florida, on dealer set-up day, January 7, 2009. It was truly awe-inspiring to see it in person,” said Don Willis, President of PCGS, a division of Collectors Universe, Inc. (NASDAQ: CLCT).

After certification by PCGS, the coin was placed on display at the FUN convention booth of early American copper specialists, Chris McCawley and Bob Grellman, alongside selected highlights from the large cent collection of Daniel W. Holmes, Jr., an ANS Trustee. It was the first time the coin has been publicly seen outside New York City since it was donated to ANS 63 years ago.

“The Trustees of the Society have loaned this coin to fellow Trustee Dan Holmes. We are very excited to have for the first time a display of a complete set of all large cent varieties. We hope many people see this exceptional display,” said Dr. Ute Wartenberg Kagan, ANS Executive Director.

The Holmes Collection will be offered in a series of auctions by McCawley and Grellman through Ira and Larry Goldberg Coins and Collectibles in Beverly Hills, California, beginning September 6, 2009.

“Many of the most important pieces in the Holmes collection have been certified and graded by PCGS, and are labeled with the Holmes pedigree on each holder,” said Larry Goldberg.

The 1793 Wreath cent with the vine and bars edge was delivered by armored car service from ANS in New York City to Orlando on Wednesday, January 7, where Grellman took possession and brought it to Willis for certification and grading by PCGS. (more…)

The first grading project of NGC Ancients and a select group of just over one hundred NGC-graded World coins highlighted a Geneva auction conducted by Numismatic Genevensis SA on December 2 and 3, 2008.

The recently completed sale realized 31.1 million Swiss Francs ($25.6 million), the highest ever for a non-US coin auction. More than 300 of the finest coins in the sale were graded by NGC, the only third-party grading service represented.

“The success of this sale was really about its great coins. Great coins are always eagerly sought by collectors around the world, and they can recognize important opportunities to acquire rare pieces. Additionally, NGC certification provides buyers with an additional sense of comfort that coins have been evaluated by independent third-party experts,” comments Alain Baron of Numismatica Genevensis SA.

All the coins evaluated by NGC in the record-setting auction received the pedigree GENEVENSIS V. The clear standout lot was a brass Sestertius of the Roman emperor Hadrian (AD 117-138) bearing a portrait engraved by the celebrated ‘Alphaeus Master.’ The coin is graded NGC ChAU. Strike: 5. Surface: 5. Fine Style. It had not traded publicly since the landmark 1990 Sotheby’s sale of the Hunt Collection where it fetched $214,500 – at the time an astonishing price for a coin of this type. However, it pales in comparison to the robust 2.3 million Swiss Francs ($1.9 million) it traded for in Geneva on Wednesday. This is the highest price ever paid for an ancient coin in public auction. (more…)

Collectors of Franklin Half Dollars have free access to an important new resource now being offered by the Certified Acceptance Corp. (CAC).

The company recently acquired an advanced reference set of Franklin halves to enhance its recognition of full-bell-lines specimens.

CAC is sharing the knowledge it gleaned from the set by posting detailed photographs of the coins on its Web site.

“We felt that this would be a useful educational tool for collectors,” said John Albanese, founder and president of the New Jersey-based company.

“It’s also a good way for people to learn more about CAC,” Albanese added. “When people ask what it is we’re looking for when we decide whether Franklin half dollars have full bell lines, we can tell them to check our Web site and see the kinds of things that keep a coin from being stickered.”

Full-bell-lines halves, known by the acronym “FBL” for short, are coins on which there is full separation between the bottom two lines on the Liberty Bell. Specialists prize such coins because full bell lines denote sharp strike, much like a full head on a Standing Liberty quarter, full split bands on a “Mercury” dime, or full steps on a Jefferson nickel. Typically, these pieces command substantial premiums over coins in the same grade without this designation. (more…)