Timothy K. Torpin (1951-2008)
PCGS
On Monday, November 3, 2008, Tim Torpin, fellow coin dealer and beloved friend, husband, and father, died of heart failure following open-heart surgery. Tim is survived by his wife, Mary Jane, son Carleton, and daughter Jane. Tim was well-known within the numismatic community and greatly respected for his extensive knowledge of American numismatics, his honesty, and especially his goodnature.
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Problem-free coins reign
By Mark Ferguson for COIN VALUES
Coin buying continues and there is no en masse panic selling, although there are individual quick sellers. Long want lists are still in collectors’ and dealers’ hands – still going unfulfilled for months and sometimes years. Pent up demand continues for certain scarce coins and is found for some very common coins. Although many circulated coins retail for $5 or $10, dealers don’t have large inventories of such coins. In particular, problem-free examples of many of these coins are difficult to find.
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Where Do We Go from Here?
NGC
While major economic fluctuations continue to take center stage, NumisMedia reports that this all could be playing right into the hands of the coin market and the future growth of numismatics. The current economy continues to be the main focus for most Americans. Bank failures and bailouts, an underachieving stock market with growing fears of total crash, talks of recession and a political race in the foreground has most of us struggling to maintain a balance in this current financial atmosphere.
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‘Waffle’ Eisenhower Discovered
Numismatic News
The first known 1976 Bicentennial design Eisenhower dollar “waffle coin” has been reported by Brian Hendelson, president of Waffle Coin Co. of Bridgewater, N.J. It was discovered during the continuing examination of Mint-canceled coins obtained by Classic Coin in 2003, each with the distinctive corrugated, waffle-like pattern left by the Mint’s cancellation process, “It is a Variety Two, dual-dated 1776-1976 Philadelphia Mint Ike dollar, and the first Bicentennial Ike discovered as a Mint-canceled coin.
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PVC contamination can plague coins, but it can be removed
Coin World
PVC, or polyvinyl chloride, has wreaked havoc to immeasurable amounts of coins through the years, leaving its sticky, slimy mark on many a “Mercury” dime and a bevy of “Buffalo nickels,” just to name a few. The bad news is that PVC is a surface contaminant, an unwelcome gift from the wrong kind of coin holder. But, the good news is that PVC can be detected and removed.
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Nearly All Gold and Platinum Products No Longer Available at US Mint Site
Mint News Blog
Currently nearly every gold and platinum product in the US Mint’s online store is listed as “Product is not available.”The only gold or platinum coin actually still available for purchase is the Dolley Madison First Spouse Gold Coin. It does not appear that all of the unavailable coins are sold out. The only coins that are actually sold out are likely the following, which appear on the US Mint’s “No Longer Available” section which lists Sold Out products:
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Eighth Presidential $1 Coin Released Into Circulation November 13
US Mint
Who was the first President born in the United States? The answer may surprise you. It was Martin Van Buren, and on November 13, 2008, the United States Mint will release into circulation a Presidential $1 Coin in his honor. Martin Van Buren, our Nation’s eighth President, was of Dutch descent and was the first President born a United States citizen.
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700-year-old coins found in Wales field declared as ‘treasure’
New Kerala
A coroner has declared three 700-year-old coins, which were found in a field in Flintshire, north-east Wales, as treasure. John Gittins, Deputy Coroner for North East Wales, declared the coins treasure under the Treasure Act 1996. According to a report by BBC News, the silver pennies date back to between 1307 and 1314, to the reigns of both Edward I and his son Edward II.
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