By Doug Winter – RareGoldCoins.com

Carson City twenty dollar gold pieces, or double eagles, are the most available gold coins from this mint. Only one date in the series, the 1870-CC, can be called truly rare, although a number of other dates are very rare in high grades. Amassing a complete collection with an example of each date is an enjoyable pursuit. And if you decide not to include the 1870-CC because of its prohibitive cost, don’t despair; many collections do not include this date.

A collector of average means can put together a nice set of Carson City double eagles with the average coins in the Extremely Fine and About Uncirculated range. The collector will soon learn that only the 1870-CC presents a great challenge in terms of availability. There are an estimated 40-50 examples known in all grades. This means that no more than four dozen or so complete collections of Carson City double eagles could possibly exist. In comparison, the maximum number of Carson City half eagles that could exist is around five dozen while around three dozen (or a few more) eagle sets from this mint might be formed. In each series, the 1870-CC is clearly the “stopper” or key date.

The completion of an average quality Carson City double eagle set is somewhat easier than a comparable half eagle or eagle set, provided that the collector is willing to accept coins that do not grade Mint State-60 or better. There are just 19 dates required to form a complete set. Carson City double eagles are without a doubt among the most popular United States gold coins. Their large size, combined with their romantic history, makes them irresistible to many collectors. This fervent collector base is most evident when one examines the great popularity of the 1870-CC. This issue has increased dramatically in price and popularity since the last edition of my Carson City gold coins book was published in 2001. As this is being written (2010) there are a few examples actually available to collectors but a few years back it was nearly impossible to locate an 1870-CC double eagle at any price.

The greatest challenge for the collector of these coins is not finding specific dates but, rather, locating clean problem-free coins.

As with the other Carson City gold series, it is very challenging to pursue the double eagles in higher grades; in this case About Uncirculated-55 and higher. It becomes even more of a challenge when the collector demands clean, original coins with a minimum of bagmarks and abrasions. As a rule, CC double eagles are less rare in high grades than their half eagle and eagle counterparts (at least the issues from the 1870’s and 1880’s). This means that locating really choice coins is not as difficult as with the half eagles and eagles from the first decade of this mint’s operation. (more…)

By Bill Shamhart – NumismaticAmericana.com

I just returned home after a short 1 1/2 flight from Milwaukee, and thought I’d write about the Central States Numismatic Society’s show that was just held. First off let me say that this year marks my 30th year as a Life Member of the CSNS. And I’ve attended at least that many shows of theirs. But this one was different.

I arrived on Tuesday to look at the inventory of some of my contacts, as I usually do. Not much to report there. I know it sounds like a broken record, but really nice coins aren’t available like one would think. Basically a wasted day. Centralstates2010Homepage On to Wednesday, PNG day. I was able to find a few morsels, but I sold at least two coins for every one that I bought. For the first time in a long time, every time I sold a coin I asked myself when (and how) was I going to replace it. Let’s give PNG day a B-. But it ended on a good note at a great restaurant: STANFORDS.

Thursday was the “official” set-up day for Central States. All dealers. All day. Unless of course the collectors wanted to pay a ridiculous fee of $75.00 for a “professional pre-view” badge. Which in my opinion was a bad move on the show management’s part. Serious collectors may have, or may not have, been at the PNG day and expected to attend the “show” the next day, only to find this arrangement. Every dealer we spoke with thought this was a horrible idea. I must say I agree with them. First off, no where was this publicized. Nobody knew of this move until they got to Milwaukee. Hopefully the board of Central States will learn a lesson from this blunder and NEVER do something like this again.

So…how was the show after the public got in? Good. No, really good. We saw many familiar faces, met some new ones, and sold coins. Gem type coins and Commemoratives (both silver and gold) were in demand. Several collectors looked at pieces, said they might come back (and they did) only to find their items of interest already in the hands of another. I have always said, and will continue to say, that the time to buy the “right” coin is when you see it. I’m not talking about an impulse buy, or maybe a coin you have a passing interest in, but that special one. The one that you’ve been looking for for a long time. I know that when I see a great coin, I know that I will be buying it. It is just a matter of negotiating price. Collectors should learn that trait. Good coins sell themselves, and quickly.

The membership of the Central States Numismatic Society is a diverse one. Coins, paper money, medals and tokens, and Americana. There were collectors at this show looking for it all. In addition to our rare coin sales, we sold quite a bit of Numismatic Americana. Original memorabilia for U.S. Commemorative coinage was in “big” demand. In fact, we sold all that we brought. Items from the 1896/1900 election between William McKinley and William Jennings Bryan were also sought out. It’s great to speak with collectors and hear the “passion” in their voice when they talk. It reminds me of why I do what I do. (more…)

On April 30, 2010, a new website was launched, and it reflects the wide variety of products and services that Superior offers. The Superior coin firm in Los Angeles County has gone through several transformations over the decades.

It was founded by Isadore Goldberg about 1930. Superior Stamp & Coin and Superior Galleries were operated by the Goldberg family until the early 1990s. It was later owned by A-Mark and then Tangible Asset Galleries (TAGZ).

In 2007, Superior Galleries was purchased by the Dallas Gold & Silver Exchange (DGSE). In 2009 and 2010, a series of changes were implemented, including the closing of the longstanding auction division.

Coin business veteran Aaron Ware has been named the ‘Numismatic Manager’ of Superior. DGSE has long been very active in markets for ‘high end’ watches, jewelry, and bullion. At the relatively new location in Woodland Hills, CA, Superior deals in a variety of valuable goods, including, of course, coins, paper money, and other numismatic objects.

For more information about the DGSE and the acquisition of Superior Galleries, click here to read Greg Reynolds’ interview of Kris Oyster, the managing director of numismatics for all DGSE companies.

Aaron Ware reminds everyone that “coins are a major portion of the business. We do have a resident expert in diamonds and high-end watches. Our focus is on U.S. coins; we will stock American coins and paper money from colonial times to the present.”

From 1993 to 1998, Ware and Tony Mitchell owned a coin store, Classic Coin and Bullion, in Reno, Nevada. Next, Ware was a partner in a coin store in Carson City, OldMint Coins. During most of the last decade, Aaron was Director of Operations for Northern Nevada Coins. Ware specializes in Carson City Mint coins and in silver dollars, “stuff that you would expect to see often in Nevada.” Over the years, he gained experience in “all series of U.S. coins,” from the 1790s to current issues. Now, at Superior, he has “shifted focus a little. We don’t see as much CC gold, and we do see a lot more early gold.” Already, at Superior, Ware has handled a fair number of pre-1840 U.S. gold coins, some of which are now available.

Ware has chosen not to collect coins because he does not wish “to compete with the customers.” He does “collect stuff [relating to] World’s Fairs and Expos, tickets, brochures, books, and primarily medals.”

As for the future of Superior, Ware says, “Now that we are no longer in the auction business, [the emphasis] is on offering a large and diverse inventory at very competitive fixed prices. We have brought old Superior clients back and we have rapidly been expanding our customer base.” While the old Superior offered mostly, expensive, high grade coins, Ware reports that “we offer coins in all grade ranges, everything from nice Almost Good coins all the way up to MS-67+ coins; we are now able to serve the needs of all variety of collectors.” Ware is “really pleased to be at the vanguard of a new era at Superior Galleries.”