The United States Mint today released the four new portraits that will appear on the obverse (heads side) of Presidential $1 Coins in 2009. The coins honor former Presidents William Henry Harrison, John Tyler, James K. Polk and Zachary Taylor.

“We hope Americans not only appreciate the aesthetic qualities of the Presidential $1 Coins, but also remember each President’s legacy every time they use the coins in their daily transactions,” said United States Mint Director Ed Moy. “Presidential $1 Coins are convenient to use, save the taxpayers money, and are durable and last for decades.”

Beginning with the William Henry Harrison Presidential $1 Coin next year, “In God We Trust” will appear on the obverse of all Presidential $1 Coins. As a result, the edge lettering of the 2009 Presidential $1 Coins will be slightly different from that of 2007 and 2008. Where currently there are single dots (delimiters) between the inscriptions, in 2009 there will be three stars between “E Pluribus Unum” and the mint mark and 10 stars between the year of minting and “E Pluribus Unum.”

The Presidential $1 Coin Act of 2005 directed the United States Mint to inscribe the year of minting or issuance, and the national mottos “E Pluribus Unum” and “In God We Trust” on the edge of the Presidential $1 Coin. In 2008, Congress passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act, which included a provision directing the Secretary of the Treasury to move the inscription “In God We Trust” from the edge of the Presidential $1 Coin to the obverse (heads side) or reverse (tails side) of the coin. (more…)

(Santa Ana, California) – Rare coin dealer and veteran California business executive, Don Willis, has been named President of the Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS), a division of Collectors Universe, Inc. (NASDAQ: CLCT), effective October 7, 2008.

“In addition to owning his own rare coin dealership the past six years, Don has over 20 years of executive experience in growing corporate businesses,” said David Hall, PCGS Founder and President of Collectors Universe.

“Don is a rare combination of world class coin expertise and solid corporate business experience. He began his business career in the field of Information Technology over 30 years ago, and ratcheted up his responsibilities with each business opportunity. Before his move into his own rare coin business in 2002, Don served 20 years as a senior IT officer in several growing companies. He founded his own Internet business, a supply chain software company, in 1996 and raised $58 million in venture capital funding. In 2002 he left the software company he founded and took his entrepreneurial skills into the rare coin business to start his own dealership, Premium Numismatics of Huntington Beach, California.”

“David Hall and I are excited to have Don Willis and his corporate growth experience and coin business savvy join Collectors Universe in this important position as President of PCGS. David’s revolutionary vision and concept 22 years ago of independent, standardized grading has provided an extremely reliable form of consumer protection and greater confidence to the rare coin market. Now, Don will help us maintain and grow PCGS for the decades to come to keep PCGS as the industry standard in third-party certification,” said Michael Haynes, Chief Executive Officer of Collectors Universe.

Willis commented: “PCGS is the most respected brand name in numismatics. For over two decades PCGS has set the standard in third party grading. PCGS has also become the number one online source of information for the numismatic community. I am very excited to join the team at PCGS and to help guide the company forward into the 21st century.”

Since its founding in 1986, PCGS has certified the authenticity and grade of over 16 million coins with a total value of more than $18 billion. The popular PCGS Set RegistrySM program has over 36,500 U.S. and world coins sets registered by collectors and dealers.

For additional information about PCGS, visit online at www.PCGS.com or call toll-free, (800) 447-8848.

Duvall 4-E Variety is Just the Second Reported Specimen

DLRC Auctions is proud to offer this week the second known example of the rare Duvall 4-E variety of the Lafayette dollar. This variety was thought to be unique until the discovery of this coin, which has been graded AU58 Cleaned by Dominion Grading Service (DGS).

According to John Feigenbaum, President of David Lawrence Rare Coins, the coin has “the initial appearance of a mint state coin but the luster is almost too nice and lacks the frosty surfaces of a true mint state. The coin has virtually no wear and has been very lightly cleaned to show evidence of wipe lines upon close examination in proper lighting. The only significant mark on either side of the coin is a 3 mm scratch on Washington’s cheek. Without the mishandling, this coin might have otherwise graded MS63.”

The consignor took advantage of DLRC’s relationship with DGS to initially have the coin graded, and then offered for immediate auction at DLRC Auctions. According to Vice President Win Callender, this relationship offers clients “the best of both worlds” as a truly efficient means for collectors to sell their (previously) uncertified coins.

Bidding Closes on Monday Evening

This rare variety is offered at lot #1425 in DLRC Auctions Monday Night sale which closes at 8 pm, October 6. Lot bids and details can be found at this link: Lot 1425 1900 $1 DGS AU58 Lafayette - Duvall 4-E. There are also 1980 more lots in Auction #289 with offerings from Colonial Coins through California Gold, and everything in between.

The Duvall 4-E Variety

The Duvall 4-E variety is distinctive because of the unique positioning of the olive branch on the reverse. The right side of the branch terminates over the numeral 9 of 1900. All other known varieties see this branch end over the right side of the first 0 in 1900. Prior to the appearance of this coin, the existence of Duvall 4-E was thought to be unique.

The only other known Lafayette dollar of this die variety was sold in August 2007 by Heritage Numismatic Auctions as part of their Signature ANA Auction. (Lot 2090). It was graded MS60 by ANACS and realized $18,400 to a phone bidder. According to the Heritage lot description, that coin was “well struck with dusky chestnut, aqua, and plum-mauve patina. Both sides unusually free from marks, particularly on the portraits.” Based on the description of marks, these are clearly not the same coin.

Heritage Auction Galleries President Greg Rohan and Co-Chairmen Steve Ivy and Jim Halperin donated $15,000 in support of educational initiatives offered by the American Numismatic Association. Rohan, Ivy and Halperin each presented personal checks in the amount of $5,000 on behalf of Heritage to ANA Executive Director Larry Shepherd on Sept. 20 at the Long Beach (Calif.) Coin, Stamp & Collectible Expo.

“We are thrilled that the top officers at Heritage have once again come forward in support of our educational mission,” Shepherd said. “This generous donation will help fund programs such as Summer Seminar, Coins in the Classroom, and classes offered across the country through our School of Numismatics.”

In a joint statement, Rohan, Ivy and Halperin said: “The ANA is the foremost, fundamental resource for our hobby. We are proud to be lifetime members, we support the ANA’s important education mission and we encourage all members to contribute whatever they can to assist the Association.”

Heritage Auction Galleries is based in Dallas, and is the world’s largest collectible auctioneer. The company is a longtime supporter of ANA educational efforts. For more information, visit www.HA.com

Over 315 DGS-graded Coins Available for Bidding

Virginia Beach, VA – The numismatic staff of DLRC Auctions is excited to announce the current sale of the Block Island Collection – an assembly of 432 certified coins and paper money items from a life-long collector. 317 of the coins were submitted to Dominion Grading Service (DGS) prior to their sale in this auction as part of the new campaign by DLRC and DGS to give customers the full service experience when the time comes to sell their collections.

According to Win Callender, DLRC Vice President, who handled this consignment, “the Block Island Coin and Currency Collection hails from a long-time client who began collecting as a child and represents an assemblage 60 years in the making. As a young boy, he saw a 1901-S quarter in a strong XF grade and wondered why the retail price, $40, was so much higher than the others. That experience helped launch a lifetime of interest in numismatics. There are many wonderful collector coins in this collection that seldom come to market. For example, two 1901-S quarters, great runs of Liberty Seated halves and Barbers and loads of key dates. He also amassed a wonderful collection of currency, all graded by CGA or PMG, ranging from large size type, to nationals, to small size silver certificates. There are over 90 fresh notes and are all reserved at great prices.”

As of this press release, over 310 lots have met their modest reserve in this sale. According to DLRC President, John Feigenbaum, “the bidding on this sale has been tremendous and encouraging. The consignor was extremely fair with his reserves and many of the lots of multiple bids over the reserve amount. And there are still many bargains. Collectors are really attracted to the new DGS holders which go to great lengths to accurately describe the typical problems seen on collector coins, like light cleaning. Collectors can fill some very difficult holes without spending a fortune in a sale like this.” (more…)