Coin Collecting News

A collection of California National Gold Bank Notes highlights Lyn Knight Currency Auctions’ Sept. 11-12 auction in Lenexa, Kan.

Lyn Knight said this NGBN collection was “built over the last 30 years and includes many of the greatest rarities that I sold the collector privately from the Amon Carter collection, and these were purchased from B. Max Mehl who had sold him the Harley Freeman collection in 1953-1954.”

Knight pointed to a $50 from the Farmers National Gold Bank of San Jose, saying, “There has not been a $50 NGBN of this quality sold at auction since the Grinnell sale.” He grades it fine-very fine.

The Higgins Foundation and Museum has announced the publication of the reference book Iowa National Bank Notes, A Comprehensive Census of the Notes and History of the Banks by James C. Ehrhardt and Steven J. Sweeney.

The book presents detailed information on the census of 11,058 reported Iowa notes. This is about 3,000 more notes than previously published sources contain.

Listings for each note detail type, denomination, serial numbers, plate position letter, Friedberg number, condition, bank signatures and pedigrees to the Higgins Museum and other public institutions or events. Data summarizing the census by town, county, note type and Treasury signatures are also listed.

A 32-page chapter provides full-color images of all known types of Iowa notes, as well as many rare and interesting notes. Capsule histories of several large hoards are given by authors who were involved with them. The book also offers a study of the growth and decline of banks. Case studies are provided on the Abram Rutt National Bank and the 1932 bank holiday in the town of Nevada.

The American Numismatic Association’s School of Numismatics is coming to the Whitman Coin and Collectibles Atlanta Expo from Oct. 11-13. The ANA will offer two courses of great value and interest to collectors: Fundamentals of Grading Paper Money and Coin Care, Conservation and Preservation Methods.

During Fundamentals of Grading Paper Money, instructor Wendell A. Wolka will equip students with the tools and techniques needed to discover issues and flaws on and beneath the surface of U.S. currency. The class will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 11.

During Coin Care, Conservation and Preservation Methods, instructor Brian Silliman will show students the right way to conserve and preserve a coin collection and keep it safe from accidental, environmental and human harm. The class will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 13.

Each course costs $145 for ANA members or $165 for non-members. Register online by visiting www.money.org or call 719-482-9826 or 719-482-9857.

Every year, Whitman Coin and Collectibles presents four conventions a year, including a bourse, educational seminars by numismatic experts and exhibits. The Atlanta Expo’s exhibits will include Augustus Humbert’s personal example of the 1854 Kellogg & Co. $20 gold piece – the finest known Territorial gold coin.
The American Numismatic Association is a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating and encouraging people to study and collect money and related items. With nearly 32,000 members, the Association serves the academic community, collectors and the general public with an interest in numismatics.

The ANA helps all people discover and explore the world of money through its vast array of programs including its education and outreach, museum, library, publications, conventions and seminars. For more information about the ANA, call 719-632-2646 or visit www.money.org.

Numismaster

More than $14 million in coins will be put on the auction block by Ira and Larry Goldberg Sept. 23-26 at their pre-Long Beach auction.

Topping the list of desirable coins is a collection of Saint-Gaudens $20 gold pieces assembled by Dr. Robert Hesselgesser.

The collection is called one of the finest graded sets in existence by Larry Goldberg. Among the coins featured in the 1907-1932 set is a 1921 grading MS-65 by the Professional Coin Grading Service.

The catalog says it has “nice light even golden toning on both sides. Near perfect fields. A beautiful well struck coin. And a key date for this series, lest it be forgotten.” Also noted by the cataloger is that similar examples have sold for $1 million. Mintage was 528,500 pieces.

Coin collecting is a hobby that involves gathering or collecting coins for specific cause. The cause or reasons for collecting coins are called collection themes. There are many different themes ranging from country collections to type collections.

In the beginning, a coin collector might have started coin collecting because of having extra coins after a trip to a foreign country. He may also start coin collecting because of liking the design of a certain coin or finding an old coin which is not in circulation anymore and just wanting to keep it. As the collector’s interest increase, so will the desire for more variety of the coins he has started to collect.