By Greg Reynolds for CoinLink

The first CoinFest was held on Oct. 27 & 28 at the Eastern Greenwich (CT) Civic Center. The unique 1870-S half dime was prominently exhibited near the entrance, and is the topic of a separate article that will appear on CoinLink. The show was organized and promoted by Jon Lerner, proprietor of Scarsdale Coin. Laura Sperber is co-owner of CoinFest.

A large number of serious collectors came to the CoinFest, along with hundreds of casual browsers. Lerner declared that “more than 1800 people attended.” Also, there were free numismatic magazines, educational speakers, and a young numismatist program. On the whole, the atmosphere at CoinFest was lively.

The bourse was sold out, and dealers came from far away to offer coins. Don Willis’s Premium Quality Numismatics, for example, is based in Southern California.

Although dealer Robert Riemer is a specialist in Morgan dollars and commemoratives, he found that “early 20th century U.S. gold coins were” his “best sellers at CoinFest.” Indeed, he “sold 90% of the gold coins” that he brought with him. “The Connecticut coast has waited a long time to have a coin show of its own,” Riemer adds, “and it was very well done.” (more…)

After unveiling its own “currency” bearing Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul’s likeness this year, The Liberty Dollar of Evansville, Ind., an “alternative” mint that has tried to print its own money to compete with the U.S. dollar, has now minted coins that advocate an end to the war in Iraq.

The Liberty Dollar made its name minting coins pegged to commodity prices. It has now released the 2008 Peace Dollar, with a face value of 10 Liberty Dollars and containing a half-ounce of pure silver.

The $20 Ron Paul Dollar was minted in support of the Republican presidential candidate, who has ridden a wave of Internet buzz to increased prominence. Also available are $1,000 gold denominations. Read Full Story

The Austrian Mint’s four coin gold series “Vienna Jugendstil” concludes with the issue of the coin “House No. 38 in the Linke Wienzeile” on 7th November, 2007.

The series began in 2004 with a coin for the Vienna “Secession”, the exhibition hall in which the “Jugendstil” school of art had its origins. 2005 saw a work of sacral art, the “Church am Steinhof” with its golden dome. 2006 brought the “Vienna River Gate” to the City Park, a monumental work for public use. The series now is rounded off with an apartment house designed by the great Jugenstil architect Otto Wagner, who even took an apartment for himself in this building on the street bordering the Vienna River, the “Linke Wienzeile”.

The house was built in 1898-99 and is one of the best known examples of the Jugendstil in Vienna. Occupying a corner block, its cream façade decorated in gold is a prominent sight in the Linke Wienzeile. The rounded corner of the house itself is flanked on top by two female half-figures who, with hands raised to their mouths, trumpet out their joy to all Vienna. These figures are the work of the sculptor Othmar Schimkowitz, who also created the angels on Wagner’s Church am Steinhof. The façade is decorated with gold medallions of women’s heads, designed by the great Jugendstil artist Koloman Moser. Wagner had hoped to create a row of Jugenstil houses along the Wienzeile; a dream that was not to be realised. (more…)

October 24, 2006—PCGS Currency has announced that, effective immediately, notes with major problems and/or restorations will no longer be placed in “Red Holders.” While the grading standards for problem notes have not changed, with the “Apparent” grade system remaining in place, such notes will be placed into PCGS Currency holders with the normal green-colored security tape label. The word “Apparent” will appear larger and bolder than before, as will the problems described on the holder for each note, but the color of the holder will no longer be red.

According to the PCGS Currency Grading Standards, notes that have major faults such as tears, splits, holes, missing pieces or have been subject to major restoration, such as repaired tears or splits, redrawing of the design, bleaching of the paper, or even reconstruction of missing pieces, will be assigned a “problem note” designation. Such problems will be noted on the grading label. In these cases we will assign an “Apparent” grade followed by a brief and concise description of the problems or repairs. The “Apparent” grade will equate to what the note would have graded without the mentioned problems. For example, “Apparent VF30, bleached and starched” might be a description of a problem note, as might “Apparent XF45, upper-right corner restored”. No net grade will be given. (more…)