Coin News Daily February 19, 2009

By CoinLink on Thursday, February 19, 2009
Filed Under: Coin News Daily

PCGS and New Zealand Mint Establish Coin Certification Agreement
PCGS
A new international partnership has been established between the Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) and the New Zealand Mint, one of the first world mints to adopt the .9999 standard for gold coin purity. Under the agreement PCGS will grade selected examples of the mint’s new commemorative and bullion issues, such as the gold Kiwi bullion coins, and will establish a submission center at the mint in Auckland, New Zealand for the convenience of local collectors and dealers to submit coins for PCGS certification.
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SEC charges Stanford companies with massive fraud
Forbes
Federal regulators are charging R. Allen Stanford and three of his companies with a “massive” fraud that centered around high-interest-rate CDs. The Securities and Exchange Commission’s complaint, filed in federal court in Dallas, alleges that Stanford International Bank sold about $8 billion of so-called certificates of deposit to investors by promising “improbable and unsubstantiated high interest rates.”
CoinLink Editors Note: The Financial Times listed companies under the Stanford Umbrella including Stanford Coin & Bullion. How any asset freeze will effect customers of SCB is yet to be determined.
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PCGS Grades First Submitted 2009 Ultra High Relief $20 MS70
PCGS
The first new 2009 Ultra High Relief Double Eagle Gold Coin was certified by Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) on Friday, February 13. It was graded Mint State 70. “We were thrilled to examine the first submitted example of this eagerly anticipated modern masterpiece. It’s one of the finest designs ever created for United States coinage and a testament to the excellence of the United States Mint,” said Don Willis, President of PCGS, a division of Collectors Universe, Inc. (NASDAQ: CLCT). The coin was submitted by collector Charles Camp of Savannah, Georgia who said he was thrilled with the certification: “I’ve always been a big admirer of PCGS, and I think it’s a great thing.”
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Virginians Are First to Get William Henry Harrison Presidential $1 Coins
US Mint
As the Nation paused to observe Presidents Day, the United States Mint launched the William Henry Harrison Presidential $1 Coin in a ceremony today at the Berkeley Plantation, the former President’s home. Participants at the event were the first in the Nation to get the new $1 coin, which goes into circulation on February 19. “We honor William Henry Harrison today – our Nation’s ninth President,” United States Mint Deputy Director Andy Brunhart told the crowd.
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THE SWITCH IS TURNED ON!
By Laura Sperber – Legend Numismatic Market Report
We have always marveled how there is what seems to be an instant “on/off” switch with the collecting public. Immediately after FUN, that switch went off and stayed off for at least three full weeks. People mostly blew their wads at that show or came out just to get a feel for the market. At Long Beach the switch was definitely flickering on/off. As we mentioned, the collecting public surprisingly turned out there (they had been absent for the past several shows) and they started to spend a little. We sensed hope, and life was returning to a more normal buying pattern for collectors.
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ANA Summer Seminar 2009 Features More Choices, New Classes and Instructors
NGC
The ANA’s valuable educational opportunity has exciting first-time offerings for 2009, as well as the time-honored features the Seminar is known for. The 41st annual Summer Seminar in Colorado Springs will offer students a menu of two-day and five-day classes, introduce a number of new courses that reflect current trends in the hobby, and feature several new instructors, recognized as leaders in the hobby.
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‘Technicolor’ Note Stars in NY Auction
By Bank Note Reporter
Bringing $47,000 was a Series 1905 “Technicolor” $20 Gold Certificate, Fr. 1170, Serial No. A404312, as part of Spink Smythe’s “The Collector’s Series” sale, Jan. 15-17, in New York. Graded PCGS Gem New 66 PPQ, the note was described as “One of the most desirable types not only because of it relative scarcity in any grade, but even more so because of the beautiful array of colors used in its printing.” The note came from a small hoard of 25 notes owned by William Philpott, who purchased them from a friend at the Treasury Department.
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