Auburn, Washington, September 19, 2008 — Northwest Territorial Mint today announced it has reached a settlement with the office of the Washington State Attorney General with regard to a lawsuit brought earlier this year.

“We are happy to announce that we have settled with the Attorney General after the state had made numerous allegations, many of which had no basis in fact,” said Ross Hansen, President.

As part of the agreement, Northwest Territorial Mint agreed to clarify the language of its web site to more clearly state its delivery policies — policies that remain substantially unchanged from those which have been in place since the company went into business in 1984.

Assistant Attorney General Paula Selis said that “this Consent Decree should not reflect adversely on Defendant’s business practices.” (Page 2, lines 17&18 of the Decree).

A small settlement and related costs were paid to the Attorney General’s office in order to resolve the matter to allow the Company to return its attention to the servicing of its clients.

Northwest Territorial Mint admitted no wrongdoing in the settlement, which was acceptable to the Attorney General’s office.

About Northwest Territorial Mint

Northwest Territorial Mint, one of the last few remaining private, full-service mints in the US, employs 140 people, has two facilities in the State of Washington, and has been recognized by the State of Washington for its work in mainstreaming marginal workers when possible. In 2007, it was named Medium Private Employer of the Year by the Governor’s Committee on Disability Issues and Employment. The company has been lauded for its work for the U.S. military, police departments, and fire departments around the nation. Its custom clients include Washington State’s Secretary of State and the U.S. Department of Defense.

By Doug Winter - RareGoldCoins.com

Coin dealers are an “interesting” (yes, this is an ironic use of quotes) group. If you were to take the top fifty professionals in this field and examine their personalities, I believe that a number of the same traits would be seen in a majority of these individuals. What are some of these traits? And do you have what it takes to be a successful coin dealer?

With very few exceptions, most of the top coin dealers have been involved in coins since they were very young. I can’t think of more than one or two coin dealers who I regard as being at the top level of the industry who were not buying and selling coins by the time they were in their early teens (or in some case, before this). Many people have asked me why this is the case. I think that being a good coin dealer is something that is almost genetic in its origin. You can’t really teach an adult the skills to be a truly good dealer. It’s almost as if the top dealers were born with a “coin dealing gene.” If you are a 42 year old insurance salesman with a passing interest in coins, it’s pretty unlikely that, within a few years, you are going to be a force on the bourse floor.

And speaking of genes, I think that every good coin dealer has what I call the “collecting gene.” Even though I don’t really collect coins anymore, there are a number of other areas that I avidly collect. Virtually every great dealer I know is also a serious collector of something; and many have multiple non-numismatic collections. These range from paper money to vintage photographs to globes to muscle cars. If you do not have a passion for collecting, you probably aren’t going to amount to much when it comes to dealing.

Coin dealers have exceptional memories when it comes to coins. I think I qualify pretty highly in this regard but my memory is very selective. As an example, it usually takes me a number of times meeting a collector until I remember his name. But I can generally remember this collector’s coins that he showed me in 1984 and, more distressingly, in great detail. I find the same to be true with many other of the dealers who I respect. They have an absolutely uncanny ability to remember coins they have handled, deals they have done, auctions they have attended, etc. If you have a poor memory when it comes to details, you are not likely to become a good dealer, let alone a great one. (more…)

(Fallbrook, California) — The Professional Numismatists Guild (PNG), a nonprofit organization composed of many of the top rare coin and paper money dealers, has extended for another two years the contract of its veteran Executive Director, Robert Brueggeman.

“Bob has continued to manage a dynamic organization with zeal and dedication. His efforts have kept the Professional Numismatists Guild on a steady pace,” said PNG President Gary Adkins.

“Most of the disputes that come to the PNG office are quickly and fairly settled through Bob’s tenacious determination. Legal and financial matters are handled with professional, caring detail. Promotion and education continue to be keys to PNG’s success with Bob’s guidance, and the PNG is proud to have Bob as its Executive Director.”

Brueggeman has served as PNG Executive Director for the past 14 years.

“In 1994, when I first took over as Executive Director, the PNG was struggling in both membership and finances. I’m happy to say that today the organization has 275 members and is exceptionally sound financially,” Brueggeman said.

“We’ve also changed the perception of PNG from an elitist, ‘good ol’ boys club’ to that of an organization that is open to embracing all who meet the high standards of membership.”

All PNG members must adhere to strict Code of Ethics in the buying and selling of numismatic merchandise.

In the coming months Brueggeman will be working on plans for a series of small to medium-sized numismatic dealer-to-dealer conventions named the PNG Dealer’s Deal. Specific details about those conventions, including dates and locations, will be announced soon.

For additional information about the Professional Numismatists Guild, call (760) 728-1300 or e-mail info@PNGdealers.com. Online: www.PNGdealers.com.

Who: Gainesville Coins, Inc. and Jeff & Carmella Garcia
What: “Collect For a Cause” Charity Program
When: 2008 Football Season
Where: GCIGOLD.COM/Charity, Coin shows around the country, Avant Gold Jewelers
Benefits: Proceeds from the sale of designated coins will be given to charity

Gone are the days when collecting coins was just a passive hobby reserved only for serious students of coin facts and characteristics. The modern day collector has expanded to include those accumulating coins for personal satisfaction to using them as a hedge against inflation and a source of ready money in difficult times. All it takes is three young entrepreneurs, 100,000 coins from their inventory, and a Tampa Bay Bucs partnership to ultimately extend the collectors’ central use of coins.

Gainesville Coins, Inc. owners Michael Yaffe, 21, Joseph Yaffe, 23, and Corey Maita, 23, have come to show that young professionals can give back to the community through the simple purchase of a coin. After starting the company in college at the University of Florida, they have grown to be one of the largest modern coin dealers in the United States. In an effort to share their recent success, they have partnered with Tampa Bay Buccaneers Quarterback Jeff Garcia and started the “Collect for a Cause” program. Proceeds from the sale of selected coins benefit the Garcia Pass It On Foundation, and America’s Second harvest of Tampa Bay and their network of over 200 affiliate food banks nationwide.

The Garcia Pass It On Foundation was established as a means to share resources with people in less fortunate circumstances. Through the foundation, Jeff and Carmella Garcia seek to give back in a tangible way to causes that are close to their hearts. Together we can make a difference by “passing on” our successes to enrich the lives of children and their families across the nation. (more…)