WASHINGTON - United States Mint Director Ed Moy unveiled the design for the 2009 Louis Braille Bicentennial Silver Dollar at the National Federation of the Blind’s annual convention in Dallas, Texas, during the March for Independence on July 2, 2008.

“The United States Mint is proud to present the 2009 Louis Braille Bicentennial Silver Dollar coin design. It will be the first coin ever minted in the history of our country to contain readable Braille characters,” said Director Moy. “I am looking forward to presenting the design for this unprecedented coin, and I am pleased that the United States Mint is playing a role in the cause of bringing literacy to all blind and visually impaired Americans.”

A prototype was displayed at the convention for the attendees to examine and experience the Braille on the coin prior to being available for purchase.

The coin will go on sale in the spring of 2009, the bicentennial anniversary of Louis Braille’s birth.

In addition to commemorating the life and work of Louis Braille-the inventor of the Braille reading and writing system-surcharges from the sale of the coin are authorized to be paid to the National Federation of the Blind to help fund Braille literacy initiatives. Braille did not become the official method of reading and writing for the blind in the United States until the 20th century.

Previously, the Alabama commemorative quarter-dollar, one of the coins in the United States Mint’s popular 50 State Quarters® Program, used Braille in the image honoring Helen Keller. The 1995 and 1996 Paralympic Silver Dollars, minted to commemorate the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, also featured Braille. The Braille on those coins was too small to be read by the visually impaired.

Besides the readable Braille on the 2009 Louis Braille Bicentennial Silver Dollar, the coin has distinguishing features apparent to the visually impaired community, such as size, weight and reeded edges, as do all coins issued by the United States Mint.

IRVINE, Calif. – Teletrade, America’s largest fully automated Internet auction company for certified coins and currency, hosted a very special Friday online auction on June 27, 2008, in addition to their three regular weekly auctions. Teletrade Auction 2549, consisting of just more than 200 exclusive certified coin lots, realized an outstanding $1,050,000, bringing Teletrade’s June auction total to more than $4.75 million, a record high month for Teletrade prices realized!

This special Friday auction featured an amazing selection of certified coins highlighted by another original hoard of PCGS Green Holders, including many Wells Fargo $20 pieces, auctioned alongside a variety of other extraordinary U.S. rarities certified by PCGS and NGC. From this special selection, five exceptional coins realized in excess of $100,000 each:

1. Lot 1068 $2.5 Gold 1796 Stars NGC AU-50 $100,800
2. Lot 1084 $4 Gold Stella 1879 Proof Flowing Hair PCGS PR-62 $128,800
3. Lot 1099 $10 Gold 1795 13 Leaves NGC MS-61 $112,000
4. Lot 1100 $10 Gold 1801 NGC MS-64 $123,200
5. Lot 1121 $20 Gold 1895 Proof NGC PR-65 Ultra Cam $117,600

“This is simply unprecedented for Teletrade,” said president Ian Russell, “two million-dollar sales in the same month, and an overall record month for the entire 22-year history of the company. It is truly a testament to the direction of online auctions for Teletrade and for the industry as a whole, and I am thrilled to see Teletrade leading the way. Over $4.75 million in online coin and currency sales in a single month is just incredible.” (more…)

Wizard Coin Supply and Seneca Mill Press LLC proudly announce the appointment of Wizard Coin Supply as the exclusive distributor for the Renaissance of American Coinage books by Roger W. Burdette.

Chantilly, Virginia (PRWEB) July 2, 2008 — Wizard Coin Supply and Seneca Mill Press LLC proudly announce the appointment of Wizard Coin Supply as the exclusive distributor for the Renaissance of American Coinage books by Roger W. Burdette. All three deluxe, hard cover research books have been the recipients of acclaim from numismatic professionals and collectors nationwide. The Renaissance of American Coinage series consists of: Renaissance of American Coinage 1905-1908 (Saint-Gaudens/Theodore Roosevelt collaboration and new gold coinage designs); Renaissance of American Coinage 1909-1915 (Lincoln Cent, Buffalo Nickel and Panama Pacific commemoratives); and, Renaissance of American Coinage 1916-1921(Mercury Dime, Standing Liberty Quarter, Walking Liberty Half Dollar and Peace dollar).

Currently boasting one of the largest selections of coin books and coin collection supplies in the numismatics industry, Wizard Coin Supply adds to its already impeccable reputation with the addition of the Renaissance series.

“This is an important advance in the distribution of these ground breaking research books,” commented author Roger Burdette. “Wizard Coin Supply brings a wealth of talent and distribution access to the numismatic community that will increase the availability of these works to collectors.”

The Renaissance series, printed in the United States, is recognized by savvy collectors as a landmark compilation of numismatic research. The 1916-1921 and 1905-1908 volumes in the series were awarded with Numismatic Literary Guild Book of the Year Awards in 2006 and 2007 respectively, while the 1909-1915 volume will be considered for the same accolade later this summer. The early twentieth century coin era explored in the books is generally considered to be one of the most exciting in the history of United States coinage. (more…)

Dallas, TX. Market demand remained strong for significant American numismatic rarities in the June 2008 Summer FUN Signature® Auction presented by Heritage Auction Galleries in West Palm Beach, June 26-27. Total prices realized for the American coins exceeded $12 million, and the total will rise further when the concluding session and post auction buys are finalized.

“The strong market is continuing to bring great rarities — and great prices realized — onto the Heritage auction block,” commented Heritage President Greg Rohan. “We note that Lot 1960, an 1880 $4 Flowing Hair (Judd-1657, Pollock-1857) and certified PR64 by PCGS, realized: $431,250. This auction contained a wide range of rarities at many price levels, to which more than 5000 bidders responded enthusiastically.”

Highlights from Heritage’s Summer FUN Signature Auction:

Lot 1960: 1880 $4 Flowing Hair, Judd-1657, Pollock-1857, R.6, PR64 PCGS.
The 1880 Flowing Hair “stella” is one of the most famous rarities in American numismatics. Technically a pattern issue, and never authorized for regular coinage, the stella has survived and prospered as a collectible issue, and is regularly listed in A Guide Book of United States Coins alongside regular U.S. gold coin types. From the Fern E. Wagner Trust. Price realized: $431,250

Lot 2106: 1803 BD-6 Large Stars Reverse Eagle, MS62 NGC. Breen-6845, B. 1-F, Taraszka-32, R.7.
Of 33 known die varieties in the 1795 to 1804 eagle series, Harry Bass was able to obtain 32 during his many years of collecting; the only die marriage that he never owned was the 1803 BD-6 (Breen 1-F) that is offered in this lot. Price realized: $172,500

Lot 1975: 1832 Half Eagle, 13 Stars, BD-1, High R.5, MS63
The 1832 half eagle is known in only two die pairings, BD-1 and BD-2, easily distinguished by the presence of either 13 or 12 obverse stars, respectively; the 13 Stars BD-1 has a straight-base 2, and only three examples of this variety have been certified finer. From The Charleston Collection.
Price realized: $132,250 [Read the CoinLink Article on this Coin Here ]

July 1, 2008 Miami Beach, FL - Park Avenue Numismatics has acquired an rare key date 1870-CC $20 Liberty Type 2 Double Eagle graded XF45 by NGC.

“As one of the top dealers of Carson Gold coinage we are fortunate to handle major rarities such as this. Our client’s rely upon us to continue to aggressively pursue and locate key date gold coins to assist them in completing sets and series, stated Bob Green, President of Park Avenue Numismatics.

Given the recent auction price realized of $299,000 for an XF40 example at Stack’s in June 2008, this XF45 coin would a make an outstanding acquisition for any collection of Double Eagle or Carson City Set!” The company currently has an asking price of $375,000

Editors Note - Park Ave Numismatics is well acquainted with handing this particularly rare date. In 2007 Bob Green was the subject of a CoinLink article on the 1870-CC $20 titled The Queen of Carson City Gold by Greg Reynolds.

Park Avenue Numismatics, a Miami based rare coin firm specializing in Ultra Rarities, has handled this date before including a several VF30 NGC examples, two examples in AU50 PCGS, and two examples in AU53 NGC in the past several years. “Collectors contact us regularly with Key Date gold coins because of our stellar reputation in this specialized area of the market,” Green continued.

Interested sellers of rare date gold can contact the firm Monday through Friday 9am-5pm EST The buying department of Park Avenue Numismatics can be reached via toll free 800-992-9881. Website www.parkavenumis.com offers more than 3,000 PCGS and NGC certified coins on-line