Consider Expanding to World Coins
Numismatic News
What’s a young collector to do when United States coins are expensive and beyond her budget, and when she realizes that she can only begin collecting a new series of coins, but never finish? If she does what I did four decades ago she can broaden her horizons and begin collecting coins of the world. There are so many countries to choose from, much to learn, and so many different and unusual pieces, denominations and ways to collect. It’s a whole new world, literally.
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Dime Carried on Sunken Spacecraft the Liberty Bell 7 to sell at Heritage
Paul Fraser Collectibles
As we’ve reported, Heritage is holding a Space Memorabilia sale next month, (though a little later than first thought) and with the consignment deadline coming up next week, we thought we’d take another look at how the lots are building up. The collectibles to be sold in the sale are yet to be fully processed, but of the eight which have been made available for viewing (though with few details) there are some first day covers from the Apollo missions, and an autographed letter confirming the ‘flown’ status of an item.
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Proof Platinum Robust
Coin Values
The fast sellout of the Proof 2010-W American Eagle 1-ounce platinum coin has led to a robust secondary market for the issue and easy profits for some collectors. The continued absence of Proof 2010-W American Eagle gold and silver coins has created a void in the market that the platinum coins seem to have filled, at least for the time being. As reported in the Sept. 9 issue of Coin World, the Proof American Eagle platinum coin went on sale Aug. 12 with a mintage limit of 10,000 coins and an ordering limit of five coins per household. New orders went to wait-list on Aug. 19.
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Article Profiles Princeton ‘Money on Paper’ Exhibit
The E-Sylum
A new exhibit from the Princeton University Numismatic Collection aims to change our perspective on the uses of money. “Money on Paper,” at the Firestone library graphic arts exhibition hall through January 2, makes the case that bank notes, even in America, “have constituted one of the dominant forms of visual communication for the past two centuries.” The literal poster child for this argument comes from 1920s Czechoslovakia, in the form of a bill designed by a popular artist.
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Buchanan’s Liberty Gold Coin Sales Open at 6,127
Mint News Blog
In the first few days of availability, the United States Mint has recorded sales of 3,641 proof and 2,486 uncirculated James Buchanan’s Liberty First Spouse Gold Coins. The combined sales of 6,127 represent slightly more than 40% of the 15,000 coin maximum mintage established for the offering. This opening sales figures for the Buchanan’s Liberty coin are more than double the initial sales for the previous release featuring Jane Pierce, which debuted with combined sales of 2,434.
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Important Mint State 1804 Eagle
Stack’s
Today’s highlight is a condition rarity. Actually, it is rare in any grade, but especially so in Mint State. Indeed, it easily eclipses any and all 19th-century gold eagles of its design type. Nearly all examples to come on the marketplace are circulated or have problems of one sort or another. Accordingly, this will be a showpiece in the collection of the fortunate buyer. This is also the latest-dated coin of its design. By 1804 many if not most eagles—these being the largest denomination United States gold coin—were being exported.
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1874-CC Half’s Mintage its Detriment
Numismatic News
Some coins would probably receive a lot more attention were it not for the fact that they were produced at a time when they did not stand out. That seems to be the case with the 1874-CC Seated Liberty half dollar, which is really a very good date, few seem to know. One of the first problems the 1874-CC had when it comes to getting attention is that it came from Carson City.
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James Buchanan’s Liberty Gold Coin Debuts
Coin Update News
The latest report of the United States Mint’s numismatic product sales includes the debut for the 2010-W James Buchanan’s Liberty First Spouse Gold Coins. Featuring Christian Gobrecht’s classic design for the Liberty Head Quarter Eagle struck in one-half ounce of 24 karat gold, this offering was eagerly awaited by many collectors.The James Buchanan’s Liberty Gold Coins went on sale at the US Mint on September 2, 2010 with the uncirculated versions priced at $766 and the proof versions priced at $779.
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‘Psychic’ Octopus Paul Gets Coin
Numismaster
It was only a matter of time. Paul, that octopus gifted with uncanny second sight who lives in a tank at Sea Life Oberhausen, has made it to a coin. Liberia has suckered-up and the eight-armed wonder is now featured on the reverse of a silver-plated, colorized copper-nickel proof-like 40 mm $5. He is accompanied, of course, by a soccer ball and Spanish flag. For those who were resident on Planet Mars in July, Paul is the critter who correctly predicted the outcome of all of Germany’s seven matches in the 2010 FIFA World Cup, including their loss in the final.
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Defining “Nostalgia” in Numismatics
Stack’s
How does one define nostalgia? Remembrance of things past? Visions of “the good old days”? Or? Recently, a correspondent sent a letter (a real letter, on paper with a stamp on the envelope) reminiscing about collecting coins in the 1950s, and what a wonderful era that was. The narrative was fascinating, and I sent a detailed reply—perhaps both of possible use for a future column.However, can something earlier than our life experience evoke nostalgia?
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Malaysian Muslims Turn to New Gold Dinar Coins
The E-Sylum
Umar Vadillo bounds into a hotel room here in northern Malaysia with several stacks of gold and silver coins in his hands and slaps them down on a coffee table. “This,” Mr. Vadillo says, “is what it means to be free.” A quarter century ago, this Spanish-born Muslim convert set to work with other European Muslims to find a substitute for the U.S. dollar and other paper currencies. Pricing goods in greenbacks, they argued, was unfair.
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New British Coin Composition Called ‘A Disaster’
The E-Sylum
Changing the metal composition of any coin should only be accomplished with great care. The British Royal Mint is learning this the hard way. A news story in today’s Sunday Telegraph points to the proposed composition of a nickel coated steel where steel is replacing the price increasing copper in the nation’s 5 and 10 pence coins. The new composition is magnetic and, it is rightly expected, to play havoc with the country’s half million vending machines.
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Bourse Etiquette
PCGS Blog
Even the smallest coin show offers something new and exciting. Every show begins with the promise of the unexpected, what you might find, what you might learn, chances to buy and sell. For both collectors and dealers coin shows are a great opportunity to meet and greet fellow hobbyists and conduct business. Even in today’s Internet driven society coin shows are an integral part of the business. If coin shows are so important, why is it that so many people are unaware of how a bourse operates and of the unwritten rules.
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‘Almost Brilliant’ Prince Adolf I German Coin Could Bring €9,000
Paul Fraser Collectibles
This uncirculated rarity bearing the Prince of Schaumburg-Lippe’s likeness is going to auction. German auction house Teutoburger’s upcoming two-day numismatic sale, Auktion 51, is scheduled to start this Friday (September 10-11). Among the coins, medals and jewellery on offer is this historic coin from the reign of Adolf I, Prince of Schaumburg-Lippe from 1860-1893.
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Some Years Only ‘S’ Walkers Struck
Numismaster
The Walking Liberty half dollar was an exciting new design when it was introduced in 1916. It was also a coin with too high a face value for many to collect. That helped keep the survival rate for high grades fairly low. These factors make it a challenging collection especially in top grades.Many examples that were saved were saved much later than their time of issue after they had circulated for years.
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2010-W Proof Platinum American Eagles Enter Market
The Rare Coin Market Report
The fast sellout of the Proof 2010-W American Eagle 1-ounce platinum coin has led to a robust secondary market for the issue and easy profits for some collectors. The continued absence of Proof 2010-W American Eagle gold and silver coins has created a void in the market that the platinum coins seem to have filled, at least for the time being.As reported in the Sept. 9 issue of Coin World, the Proof American Eagle platinum coin went on sale Aug. 12 with a mintage limit of 10,000 coins and an ordering limit of five coins per household.
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Unearthed Treasure Proves Early East-West Trade Route
Spiegel Online
It’s not often that archeologists find ancient coins with Arabic engravings in Germany. A recent such discovery, however, may prove that the Baltic Sea coast had trading ties to the Middle East as far back as the 7th century.Finding old coins in the ground is no great trick in Germany. Indeed, there are small armies of hobby historians who, armed with handheld metal detectors, comb fields and forests for bits of old metal, often flouting laws prohibiting such treasure hunting. Roman coins, a bit of Celtic spare change and the occasional thaler of more recent provenance are hardly a rarity.
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