Coin Collecting News

Collectible coins and currency are on many shoppers’ lists this holiday season. In all price ranges, too. Thanks in part, for this unbridled enthusiasm in the field of numismatics, can be attributed to the unprecedented media coverage directed at the hobby over the past couple years. Not to mention the flurry of TV commercials recently launched by the U.S. Mint, appropriately themed “The numismatist on your gift list.”

Most of the coins and pieces of paper money which will find their way under the Christmas tree or next to the Hanukkah menorah will not be the break-the-bank variety. Yet, some fortunate numismatists, perhaps in the Bill Gates or the Oprah Winfrey families, just might be surprised by an extremely valuable coin or two presented to them by a generous relative. Continued

1oz HOLEY DOLLAR & DUMP SILVER PROOF COIN SET ANNIVERSARY RELEASE COMMEMORATES AUSTRALIA’S ONLY COUP D’ÉTAT

Exactly 20 years after the First Fleet dropped anchor in Sydney Cove on 26 January 1788, Australia experienced its first, and only, military insurrection – the Rum Rebellion.

The revolt was perpetrated against Governor William Bligh, forever remembered as the Captain of the mutinous crew aboard HMS Bounty. The perpetrators were the powerful officers of the NSW Corps – also known as the Rum Corps because of their control of the colony’s ‘rum’ trade.

In response to the Governor’s attempted reforms, which threatened the officers’ lucrative business, the Corps marched on Government House in Sydney to arrest Bligh, ignominiously dragging him from beneath his bed.

This spectacular Australian legal tender set commemorates the 200th anniversary of the extraordinary coup. Struck by The Perth Mint from 1oz of 99.9% pure silver in proof quality, it resembles Australia’s first official coinage – the Holey Dollar & Dump – which was introduced in the aftermath of the famous Rum Rebellion. Continued

After 47 years of ownership, Edgar Murphy of South Carolina decided finally to find out exactly what kind of error he’d purchased as a youth back in 1960. He contacted me by e-mail and made arrangements to send his error coin in for examination.

It turned out to be a rather neat 1954-S Roosevelt dime that was double struck in-collar with the second strike flipped over, what is referred to simply as a “Double Struck Flip Over” in error collector parlance.

Portions of the reverse show through the obverse design and the portions obverse show through the reverse design. The effect is a composite of both designs with the second strike dominating.

An interesting diagnostic of in-collar double strikes is that more than 99 percent of them fail to be forced all the way back down into the collar for the second strike. This is due to very slight expansion of the coin after it is ejected from the collar; after ejection it is too large to fit back in to the collar and needs to be forced in by the strike. Read Full Story

Photos used with permission and courtesy of The US Mint

The American Eagle 10th Anniversary Platinum Set will contain one proof coin and one enhanced reverse proof coin, each containing one-half ounce of .9995 platinum. The proof coin features a cameo image floating on a mirror-like background. The enhanced reverse proof coin features a frosted background and a brilliant, mirror-like finish on the raised elements of the coin. This is an enhanced reverse proof version because it is not an exact opposite polish of the regular proof version. The design elements on the enhanced reverse proof platinum coin were strategically selected to feature the proof, mirror-like finish in contrast to frosted background design elements to enhance the entire image.

This is the first time the United States Mint is offering a reverse proof version of the American Eagle Platinum Coin. Continued