The American Numismatic Association has named Rick Snow its 2010 Numismatist of the Year. Snow will receive his award on August 13 during the Awards Reception at the ANA World’s Fair of Money in Boston.

President of Eagle Eye Rare Coins in Tucson since 1992, Richard “Rick” Snow started collecting in 1972, focusing on large cents and colonial coinage. In 1977 he attended his first ANA Summer Seminar, where he took the “Counterfeit Detection” course. He sold most of his collection during the mid-1980s while drifting through Tennessee and Mississippi looking for work.

Snow moved to Tucson to live with his sister and started to renew his collection. His knowledge of coins and ANA life membership got him a job at Allstate Coin Company in Tucson in 1986.

His experiences there and interaction with other hobby professionals allowed Snow to gather the information he needed to write his first book, Flying Eagle and Indian Cents. To make time to promote the book, Snow left Allstate and became an independent coin dealer.

As one of the few specialists in the hobby, Snow sells $2 to $3 million in cents annually. He also continues to write award-winning reference books on his favorite subjects – Flying Eagle and Indian Head cents – and writes and edits Longacre’s Ledger, the official journal of the Fly-In Club, which he co-founded. Snow is preparing to launch his new business, GreatCoins.com, an Internet auction company geared toward honest practices and consumer protection.

He is a 2007 recipient of the ANA’s Glenn Smedley Memorial Award.

The American Numismatic Association is a nonprofit educational organization dedicated to encouraging people to study and collect money and related items.

By Laura Sperber as part of the Legend Market Report

Legend has acquired the Denali Collection of Patterns. One of the most comprehensive collections of 2C, 3C, 20C pieces along with 1870 pieces. While we do know of several incredible Pattern collections out there, none are of the scope or size (this collection is OVER 350 pieces). There are many R-7/R-8’s (with the only other coin being in the Simpson Collection). We rank this multimillion dollar Collection second only to our Simpson Collection.

This collection was assembled by a long time friend and customer of Legend. Ironically, he built this collection before we ever started dabbling in Patterns!

The collector is also a true scholar. In fact, since we started working on the acquisition of this set, we have learned MANY things about certain Patterns from him we never knew (like how the Mint tested dipping one side of a coin in silver, or how it made some dies, etc).

There are some monster wicked cool coins we never knew existed even though they are in the Judd book -like 793A, a 2C piece obverse with a 25C Standard silver reverse. WOW! We could go on and on.

ALL of the coins in this incredible collection are graded by PCGS. Grades range from VG 08 to PR67! Due to time restraints, we are hoping to have the coins inventoried by the end of the month (we have another major deal incoming). Our goal is to offer some coins starting at or immediately after the ANA Show.

If you have a Pattern Want list, make sure we have it, or subscribe to our email blasts (we are NOT spammers) to find out when these coins will be available. in many cases, this will be your ONLY chance to acquire a certain Judd number.

THE SIMPSON COLLECTION DUPLICATES-THE HERITAGE SALE

As you may know, Legend is the exclusive dealer for the Simpson Collection. This collection already ranks as one of the greatest EVER assembled. So we’d like to let you know whats happening with the collection.

Legend did indeed place a multimillion dollar consignment of coins from the this incredible collection in the ANA sale. No, Mr. Simpson is not slowing down or selling (you’ll certainly see that by the next few major announcements we’ll make). He actually needed more room! He is building so many sets that his boxes become cluttered. So he allowed us to outright buy a few coins, but his desire was that his duplicates be placed in auction so other collectors have the opportunity to finish their sets. The majority of the coins are UNRESERVED. We can assure you, the quality is all there and then some. His standards are amazingly high. Legend did sell him the majority of what is in the sale. So if you have any questions, please feel free to ask us about any coin. (more…)

Bowers and Merena announced  today that its president, Steve Deeds, is stepping down from his full-time position to pursue other coin-related interests, and will continue to have an ongoing role with the company.

California-based Bowers and Merena is one of the prominent US auctioneers for rare coins, currency and exonumia, with its affiliate Ponterio & Associates conducting auctions of ancient and foreign coins and paper money. Bowers and Merena also offers direct sales for rare coins and currency and publishes a number of important numismatic books.

Bowers and Merena is an affiliate of  The Spectrum Group International–a consolidated global collectibles network and the third largest in the world behind Christies and Sotheby’s.

Ten major brands comprise Spectrum Group International, including:
A-Mark Precious Metals, Inc., Bowers and Merena Auctions, LLC, Corinphila Auktionen: Headquartered in Zurich, Greg Martin Auctions: The world’s premier auction house for arms, armor and militaria., H.R. Harmer, Inc.: one of the world’s leading auctioneers of rare and collectible stamps, John Bull Stamp Auctions, Ltd., Spectrum Wine Auctions, Spectrum Numismatics International, Inc.: a leading buyer and seller of rare coins, currency and fine wines, Teletrade: conducts Internet and telephone auctions for rare coins, currency and exonumia.

Greg Roberts, CEO of Bowers and Merena, stated:  “We wish Steve well in his new endeavors and we are pleased that he has agreed to continue to obtain consignments on behalf of Bowers and Merena.  His new role will allow us to continue to take advantage of Steve’s demonstrated skills in promoting the numerous benefits of consigning with Bowers and Merena.”

Mr. Roberts continued, “I will remain as CEO of Bowers and Merena, working closely with our talented group of executives and consignment directors, including Rick Ponterio, Scott Reiter, Brett Renaud, Debbie McDonald, Ron Gillio, Matt Quinn, Kent Ponterio and Kyle Ponterio.  With our distinguished team and Mr. Deeds’ support, we will continue our tradition of putting together outstanding rare coin and currency auctions.”

In other news The American Precious Metals Exchange (www.APMEX.com) announced  that Michael Haynes, former CEO and Board Member of Collectors Universe has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of APMEX.

APMEX is one of the largest precious metals retailers in the US, with annual sales over $600 Million.

APMEX Chairman of the Board and Founder Scott Thomas said ” Haynes brings both public company and private company experience in high growth companies. We look forward to sharing and benefiting from his vast experience.”

“It is a great privilege to join the team at APMEX, where Scott Thomas has directed the growth of the company, combining the excellent service with a simple, yet user-friendly Internet-based trading platform,” explained Haynes. “In today’s marketplace, gold and other precious metals are key elements in the diversification of assets that assist in stabilizing the individual portfolio and the hedging of portfolio asset values against what is rapidly becoming a more volatile currency dependent financial world. Our objective is to bring gold and precious metals ownership through the Internet to every person who seeks protection for their portfolio while providing easy and direct access to gold and other precious metals products with superior service and support.”