More than 100 coins from the all-time finest registry set of early U.S. half dollars in the PCGS Set RegistrySM will be displayed at the Professional Coin Grading Service booth, January 7 – 9, 2010, during the first three days of the Florida United Numismatists convention in Orlando. The coins are from the collection of Dale Friend of Nevada, and 20 of them are either the finest or tied for the finest ever graded by PCGS.

“This wonderful collection has been assembled over many years. Dale has always attempted to combine the finest technical grade with the choicest eye appeal. Most of these early half dollars have gorgeous, original toning and luster, and are a pleasure to examine,” said Donald E. Willis, Jr., President of PCGS, a division of Collectors Universe, Inc. (NASDAQ: CLCT).

Friend’s basic set collection of circulation strike early half dollars, 1794 – 1839, has been ranked number one in the PCGS Set Registry the past six years. His set with major varieties has been the best the past four years. Both sets have earned the honor of being the number one all-time finest in their category.

“The basic set is 100 percent complete and has a weighted grade point average of 59.831. The early half dollars set with varieties is nearly 90 percent complete and has a weighted GPA of 59.104,” said BJ Searls, PCGS Set Registry Manager.

A total of 101 coins from Friend’s award-winning early half dollars collections will be exhibited at the PCGS booth, #138, at the FUN convention. (more…)

By Doug Winter – RareGoldCoins.com

I think this year’s FUN show will reveal alot about the direction of the market for the year. On Wall Street, it’s a known fact that if January is strong, the rest of the year is as well. I can’t state this with total certainty as far as coins go but my experience is that a strong FUN generally means the rest of the year will be good as well.

Early reports from the pre-FUN show (which I am not attending) are interersting. Some dealers clearly “get” the fact that the market isn’t as strong as it was and that their coins need to be repriced to sell. Others appear to be in strong denial mode. If you notice minimal changes in your favorite dealer’s inventory after this show, you’ll quickly figure out if he or she “gets” it or not.

For me, a problem at past FUN shows has been a lack of material. I’m not sure this will be the case this year. I’ve already bought some pretty outstanding new coins and I have the feeling that buying this year will not be as hard as in the past. Plus there is always the looming specter of $100 milion+ in coins at the auctions.

Someone asked me the other day what the keys will be to a dealer’s success (or lack of it) in 2009. I think it boils down to three simple things: ample capitalization, having good clients and having established programs to sell into. Any dealer who is weak in at least two of these three areas is in for a long year.

I’m not totally certain that the rare date gold market is going to be as easy to analyze post-FUN as is, say, the type coin or widget markets. None of the major auctions are especially strong in any of the important areas of dated gold. Early indications appear that nice pre-1834 gold seems to be doing fine, particularly if the coins have been approved by CAC. The Heritage sale contains an important collection of Indian Head eagles so we will, no doubt, get a feel for what gem examples of the rarities in this aerea are worth. But I’m afraid that areas like C+D gold, Type One and Two double eagles and Carson City issues won’t be as easy to gauge; at least not for the next month or two.

Heritage is the official auctioneer of the Florida United Numismatists Show, and will conduct a 5200+ Lot Currency Signature Auction on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday January 8-10, 2009 at the Orange County Convention Center, 9400 Universal Blvd., Orlando Florida. The Convention Center is also the site of the Florida United Numismatists Show, as well as the location for lot viewing for the CAA auction as well as other Heritage auctions. Nearly 1400 of the lots will be included as part of the Non-Floor Session.

On Thursday evening, Heritage will begin with 750 lots consisting of Colonial Notes, Fractional Currency, Obsoletes, Canadian, Confederate and others. Some of the highlights include, a selection scarce Colonials that have never been offered before. The best pieces have been graded by PMG and it includes a Maryland May 10, 1781 2s6d, an issue that Heritage-CAA has never previously handled, and a Vermont February 1781 1s. The Obsoletes section is highlighted by large offerings from Virginia and Wisconsin. A small, but quality offering of California and Nevada pieces includes a Sacramento – California and Salt Lake Mail Line $10, a San Francisco – Amador Canal & Mining Co. $1, and a handful of notes from the California Panic of 1907. The Tarheel Collection of Postal Notes is the largest collection of its kind to ever be offered and will also be included in Wednesday night’s session. In addition to Serial Number One notes, the collection includes notes from Tucson, Arizona; Vineyard Haven, Massachusetts; and Twin Bridges Montana. The Canadian selection is larger than usual and includes a BC-11 $25 1935 PMG Gem Uncirculated 65 EPQ, and a BC-28 $1000 1937 PMG Choice Uncirculated 64 EPQ. (more…)