(Newport Beach, California) – Professional Coin Grading Service has certified the first reported Sacagawea golden dollar coin struck with the edge lettering intended only for Presidential dollars. The submitter will receive a $10,000 finder’s reward from PCGS.

“The United States Mint set up specific internal procedures in an attempt to prevent this type of error from happening. But it did happen, and it’s an amazing-looking error,” said Ron Guth, PCGS President.

The 2007-dated coin was struck at the Denver Mint and has been examined and authenticated by the experts at PCGS. The coin was submitted by Andrew Moores of Lakewood, Colorado who found the coin in his pocket change. Moores believes he could have had the coin for as long as two weeks and only noticed it when he compared it with other Sacagawea Dollars that he had already set aside.

Moores was unaware of the reward until a coin collector friend mentioned that he had seen the offer on the PCGS Message Boards. According to Guth, who spoke with the submitter about the find, “Needless to say, Mr. Moores is a very happy man.”

PCGS also confirms it now has certified 301 Jefferson dollars erroneously struck without edge lettering. (more…)

By Ken Potter on Numismatic News

A Spiked Head die crack on a proof 2007-S Thomas Jefferson Presidential dollar has been reported by a San Francisco Bay area collector. It was found in a four-piece 2007 Presidential dollar proof set. The coin exhibits a significant die crack on the reverse running from the second ray from the right in Miss Liberty’s crown up into the field, through the “E” of AMERICA continuing on through the rim. It is the first significant die crack reported on a proof Presidential dollar that runs from a portion of the design all the way through the rim.

The piece also represents the very first major die crack reported on any proof coin dated 2007. The owner (who wishes to remain anonymous) said that he ordered several sets directly from the Mint on June 21 and received them on July 5. Read Full Story

By Henry T. Hettger on Numismatic News

I was the underbidder on a raw unidentified 1796 U.S. large cent. It was advertised on eBay and closed Oct. 19. It was advertised as very fine, not mentioning the corrosion, and for Early American copper purposes, it might grade good or AG, depending on removal of crud and verdigris.

The very fine details help to clearly identify the variety as 1796 NC-7 Stemless Wreath. The date position seemed to match, and the lowest point of the “7” appeared to point directly to a dentil below. The reverse was clearly of the stemless type, first seen, although extremely rare on the 1796 cent. It is believed this 1796 large cent was actually coined in 1797 as it is paired with the stemless reverse die of 1797 S-143, a scarce number in 1797-dated cents. The S-143 stemless reverse appeared to match precisely in the eBay auction photograph. Read Full Story