(Santa Ana, California) – Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) is advising its authorized dealers of the existing terms and policies regarding submission of so-called “doctored” coins, and is reinforcing the application of those policies.

“We’re seeing more and more coin doctoring than we’ve ever seen, and the methods used to alter the coins are more and more sophisticated,” said Ron Guth, President of PCGS, a division of Collectors Universe, Inc. (NASDAQ: CLCT).

“We are constantly trying to keep up with new and sophisticated techniques, such as micro surgery with lasers and various chemical treatments to alter the surfaces of coins. You name it, and the coin doctors are trying it. We’re giving public notice to those who alter coins that we’re clamping down on them.”

Guth said PCGS graders are frequently updated on what to watch for when analyzing coins submitted for certification. He compares the continuing education to combat coin doctoring and counterfeiting to anti-virus software makers who are on constant vigil against computer hackers and new viruses. (more…)

The Hesselgesser Flowing Hair and Bust Dollar Collection, the number one set of early United States silver dollars in the Professional Coin Grading Service’s Set RegistrySM, will be displayed during the upcoming  Long Beach Coin Expo, February 14 – 16, 2008.

“The collection is owned by California radiologist, Dr. Robert D. Hesselgesser, and it’s the finest collection of Flowing Hair and Bust variety dollars graded by PCGS using Bolender and Bowers-Borckardt reference numbers. He has added or upgraded about a dozen coins since he first registered this impressive set a year ago when the expanded PCGS variety attribution services were launched,” said BJ Searls, Manager of the PCGS Set Registry.

“The total number of possible varieties in the Registry is 118. The exhibit at the PCGS booth (#807) at the Long Beach Expo will showcase 107 of them, many among the finest known examples.” (more…)

Court summonses were served to Barry Stuppler, president of the American Numismatic Association, and Gary Adkins, president of the Professional Numismatists Guild, Jan. 10 on the floor of the Florida United Numismatists convention in Orlando.

The summonses spring from a lawsuit filed by National Numismatic Certification LLC; ASA Accugrade, Inc.; PCI Coin Grading, Inc.; Sovereign Entities Grading Service, Inc.; Treasure Gallery, Inc., and Centsles, Inc., against the two numismatic groups and against eBay claiming defamation and interfering with business.

The suit was filed in United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida. Read Full Story