Auctions Anchor Baltimore Expo
Numismatic News
Underpinned by an official show auction that realized $13.2 million and a pre-show sale of $4.5 million, the Baltimore Expo staged a strong performance Nov.. 4-7. General Manager David Crenshaw noted that attendance was up by 12 percent over the 2009 figure as well. “We are pleased to announce that this year’s November Baltimore Expo enjoyed four solid days of attendance, a great deal of buzz on the bourse and general satisfaction from dealers and collectors alike,” Crenshaw said.
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“Collector” Comments in 1931
Stack’s
Here is some philosophy by “Collector,” printed in The Numismatist, March 1931. Building a fine collection adds satisfaction and contentment to life—a sentiment that is still true today in 2010. “Collector” March 1931.
“The collector, whether he collects shoestrings or masterpieces of art, is a most fortunate person. He who is born with the bump of collecting has the inestimable advantage of being able to exclude tedium from his life…”
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‘Wealthy Investors Want an Alternative to Stocks’: Paul Fraser Talks to Reuters News
Paul Fraser Collectibles
With prices of collectibles up 208% over the last decade, and autographs up on average 335.9%, it was perhaps only a matter of time before the world’s major press agencies began approaching us for interviews. On this occasion, the agency was Reuters, the UK-based news service and former financial market data provider. They wanted to know more about these mysterious assets which are outperforming traditional investments such as stocks and shares.
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Fractional Currency: Paper Money Substitutes of the Civil War
Numismaster
The collector’s first encounter with U.S. Postage and Fractional Currency invariably provokes two questions: What is it? Why was it issued? How was it used? The first question is easily answered. Postage and Fractional Currency is genuine paper money of the United States issued during the 1862-1875 period in denominations of 3, 5, 10, 15, 25 and 50 cents.
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Perth Mint to Sell Coins at Live Prices
ABC Rural
Australian investors are now able to purchase gold and silver bullion coins at live prices. In a world first, the Perth Mint has set up a website where customers can monitor the constant fluctuation in prices and purchase when they want throughout the day. Since the global financial crisis, the demand for physical gold has skyrocketed and investors have purchased that gold at a daily fixed price.
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Proof Gold Buffalo Coins Approach 40,000
Coin Update News
Sales of the United States Mint’s numismatic gold coins were up nearly across the board in the latest weekly sales report, possibly related to increased sales ahead of a recent price increase. The 2010 Proof Gold Buffalo saw sales nearly reach the 40,000 level, and the 2010 Proof Gold Eagle 4 Coin Set recorded the highest unit sales for any gold product.
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Baltimore Rare Coins Expo Sells a 1796 ‘Instant Numismatic Rarity’
Paul Fraser Collectibles
Of ’superior’ quality, this two-of-a-kind early US Half Dollar coin realised $299,000 at auction. We couldn’t resist taking another look at the highlights in Bowers and Merena’s Whitman Coin & Collectibles Baltimore sales expo in Baltimore, US, on November 4-5. Selling alongside the ‘finest’ two-of-a-kind 1851 Lettered Edge Humbert $50 – which is also certainly worth a look – was an historic Half Dollar from 1796.
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Harmony Hoard Helps Half’s Availability
Numismatic News
No early coin of the United States can really be called available, but at least among early silver issues the 1794 half dollar would have to be seen as more available than might be expected. That makes it possible for collectors to obtain an example at a very reasonable price. It is pretty easy to overlook the 1794 half dollar. When it comes to silver coins, the bulk of the attention goes to the 1794 silver dollar.
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Viewpoint: Replace Smaller Bills With Coins
Numismaster
I am in total agreement about some things said in the “Letters” segment of the Nov. 9 issue of Numismatic News. First is the politics issue. Like Mr. Mooningham, I too am tired of hearing people writing about what one president (or political person) did or caused in his/her lifetime and why they should/should not be portrayed on a coin. They are on that coin/medal because the government feels that person had made some significant contribution to our history.
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Will The New Form 1099 Law Be Repealed This Month?
Coin Update News
As many of you probably have heard, an obscure provision of the new health care bill adopted in March, Section 9006, requires all 34 million American businesses, governmental agencies, and non-profits to submit Form 1099 for any payments to any provider of goods or services that total more than $600 in a calendar year. This law takes effect on January 1, 2012.
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Ireland’s “Barnyard” Euro Coin Series Extends Classic Designs
The E-Sylum
The Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland will issue a very special silver coin honoring their well known and much loved “Barnyard” series of circulating coins designed by Percy Metcalfe and first issued in 1928. This will be the first time Percy Metcalfe’s artwork will be presented in the Euro currency. As a tribute to the first coins of the Irish state, the Central Bank has chosen to expand these designs and give them more relevancy within the EURO by updating them within a “New Generation.”
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Finland Children and Creativity Silver Coin Issued
Silver Coins Today
The Mint of Finland recently released the Children and Creativity silver coin, the second issue in its “Ethical Collector Coins” series. A few milestones are represented by this strike, including the fact that its design was the first chosen by popular vote. Over 1,000 visitors to the Mint of Finland’s website selected it over ten others that were submitted by students attending special senior secondary schools dedicated to the arts.
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Netherlands 5 and 10 Euro Waterland Coins Released
Coin Update News
?The Royal Dutch Mint has issued two new commemorative coins to mark the Netherlands close relationship with the waterways systems throughout the country. One coin carries a face value of 5 Euros and is struck in silver, while the other carries a face value of 10 euros and is struck in gold. The obverse design features a frontal portrait of H.M. Queen Beatrix along with a reflective image beneath the main portrait including the text or legend of the Queen. The reverse design shows a a geo-political map of the current boundaries of the Netherlands including the reclaimed land towards the coast, along with the coin’s denomination and year of issue 2010.
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Trial Likely for Langbord 1933s
Numismaster
Resolution of the legal positions of the U.S. Mint and the descendants of Israel Switt over the fate of 10 genuine 1933 double eagle coins moved one step closer to trial on Oct. 28 with release of a 20-page decision by U.S. District Court Judge Legrome Davis Jr., from the federal court on the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. A trial would occur in late 2011 or in 2012. Both sides have been battling since September 2004 when Switt’s daughter, Joan Langbord, and her two adult sons, contacted the Mint’s counsel, Daniel Shaver, to ask if the Mint would authenticate 10 coins thought to be genuine 1933 double eagles.
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2010 Proof Silver Eagle Coins Not Sold Out
Silver Coins Today
A selection of U.S. Mint customers received a jolt this week after they were notified in an email that their 2010 Proof Silver Eagle subscription was placed on backorder. A second email then came a few days later saying their order had been canceled because the silver coins had sold out. The two messages were actually sent in error. The 2010 Silver Eagle is not sold out. The Mint later confirmed that fact in a third email sent to customers.
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More Than One Way to Value a Set
Numismatic News
Yesterday I had a conversation with fellow staff member Tom Michael, who works on the Standard Catalogs. We were talking about all of the circulation finds collectors who had an old Whitman cent album for coins from 1941 to date. Hundreds of thousands of us, perhaps millions of us, filled those albums hole by hole and have retained them ever since. They have no value beyond face value. What good are they?
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E-Sylum Featured Website: Counterfeiting
The E-Sylum
This week’s Featured Web Site is suggested by John and Nancy Wilson, of Ocala, FL, who write: We found a site that would be very useful for readers of The E-Sylum. It deals with counterfeits and has many helpful links regarding that subject. As you know counterfeits are very harmful to the numismatic hobby and it is always great when a site is devoted to the subject. Lots of information is on the site including some great references. You will also find links for money artists James Stephen George Boggs and Timothy Prusmack.
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