Coin Collecting News

Additional Coin Collecting News from across the web presented by CoinLink

Fate of 1933 $20s at Issue

“It is inherent in the very nature of this unique - to put it mildly - litigation that the admissibility of thousands of decades-old documents would be at issue,” wrote U.S. District Court Judge Legrome D. Davis in an Aug. 21 opinion about 10 genuine double eagle gold pieces, all dated 1933, that were turned over to the Mint by the daughter of Israel Swift for authentication, only to find that the Mint claims the coins as their own.
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Half cents often underappreciated

Overlooked and underappreciated during its time, not until recent years has America’s smallest denomination coin, the half cent, received wider respect. For a variety of reasons, the small coin never circulated like its larger brother, the large cent.
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Gold Investments Market Update - Bullion Coins and Bars

Gold has flatlined and is marginally higher this morning with the dollar marginally lower and oil marginally higher on continuing concerns about the possible impact of tropical storm Gustav.
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Revisionist History as told by $1 Coins

By now you’ve heard that Portland has been chosen by the US Mint as one of four cities in which it will pilot efforts to encourage use of the new $1 coins. But before you start flag-waving, consider the coins themselves.
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Swiss clean out S Africa Krugerrand coin maker

The sole maker of South African Krugerrands today ran out of the iconic bullion coin after an ‘unusually large’ order from a buyer in Switzerland. An unnamed Swiss buyer ordered a massive 5000 ounces, cleaning out the Rand Refinery’s gold stocks.
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Biggest hoard of Mint silver found

The biggest hoard of silver coins made at the Shrewsbury Mint in the 13th century has been discovered near Baschurch.
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Broken Systems & Dysfunctional Mechanisms

The highest functions of the financial system have finally broken to the point where smart and connected people are openly making comments. Shortages are acute, to the point where low prices for gold & silver, for instance, render supply as inadequate to meet huge growing demand that wants to exploit the artificially low prices.
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(Fallbrook, California) — The Professional Numismatists Guild (PNG), a nonprofit organization composed of many of the top rare coin and paper money dealers, has extended for another two years the contract of its veteran Executive Director, Robert Brueggeman.

“Bob has continued to manage a dynamic organization with zeal and dedication. His efforts have kept the Professional Numismatists Guild on a steady pace,” said PNG President Gary Adkins.

“Most of the disputes that come to the PNG office are quickly and fairly settled through Bob’s tenacious determination. Legal and financial matters are handled with professional, caring detail. Promotion and education continue to be keys to PNG’s success with Bob’s guidance, and the PNG is proud to have Bob as its Executive Director.”

Brueggeman has served as PNG Executive Director for the past 14 years.

“In 1994, when I first took over as Executive Director, the PNG was struggling in both membership and finances. I’m happy to say that today the organization has 275 members and is exceptionally sound financially,” Brueggeman said.

“We’ve also changed the perception of PNG from an elitist, ‘good ol’ boys club’ to that of an organization that is open to embracing all who meet the high standards of membership.”

All PNG members must adhere to strict Code of Ethics in the buying and selling of numismatic merchandise.

In the coming months Brueggeman will be working on plans for a series of small to medium-sized numismatic dealer-to-dealer conventions named the PNG Dealer’s Deal. Specific details about those conventions, including dates and locations, will be announced soon.

For additional information about the Professional Numismatists Guild, call (760) 728-1300 or e-mail info@PNGdealers.com. Online: www.PNGdealers.com.

Additional Coin Collecting News from across the web presented by CoinLink

Unique Kentucky Red Seal Sheet Located

Central City, Ky., collector Richard L. Deavers reports finding the only known uncut sheet of Series 1902 Red Seal national bank notes extant on the Bluegrass State. The sheet of 5-5-5-5, Serial No. 3, is from the First National Bank of Louisa, Charter 7110. It grades AU, with folds between the note and one fold through the sheet.
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Historic Pedigrees Lost

An increasing number of comments from both collectors and dealers suggest that through grading and re-grading, pedigrees of many important coins are being lost or even intentionally dropped by submitters.
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US Mint resumes gold coin orders on limited basis

The U.S. Mint said it must allocate the American Eagle bullion coins among dealers to cope with overwhelming demand as it resumed taking orders for the popular coins on Monday.
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First Maltese collector coins in euro domination

The Central Bank of Malta has issued a collector coin in a gold and silver version with the theme “Auberge de Castille”. The obverse of the coins shows the Emblem of Malta with the year of issue 2008. The reverse side depicts the porch of the Auberge de Castille and the “Europa Star”.
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Finder not keeper of coin trove

FOUR centuries-old gold coins missing since 1994 are the legal property of their original owner, and not the woman who bought them at a yard sale, a British Columbia Supreme Court judge ruled last week.
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Grafton company selected to market latest dollar coins

The U.S. Mint wants more of its new presidential dollar coins jangling in Americans’ pockets and purses and has contracted with a Grafton firm to market the dollar coin to banks nationwide. MPI Coin Inc. until now has specialized in packaging collector coins sold in bank and credit union lobbies and on the Web.
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Unique Coin Treasures Discovered

Four treasures of silver and copper coins were accepted in the National Historic Museum (NIM). Two of these are silver and are the biggest of all Ivan Strazimir (1371-1396) treasures discovered by now. They were found by accident in the digging on a construction site and were immediately submitted to NIM.
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Who: Gainesville Coins, Inc. and Jeff & Carmella Garcia
What: “Collect For a Cause” Charity Program
When: 2008 Football Season
Where: GCIGOLD.COM/Charity, Coin shows around the country, Avant Gold Jewelers
Benefits: Proceeds from the sale of designated coins will be given to charity

Gone are the days when collecting coins was just a passive hobby reserved only for serious students of coin facts and characteristics. The modern day collector has expanded to include those accumulating coins for personal satisfaction to using them as a hedge against inflation and a source of ready money in difficult times. All it takes is three young entrepreneurs, 100,000 coins from their inventory, and a Tampa Bay Bucs partnership to ultimately extend the collectors’ central use of coins.

Gainesville Coins, Inc. owners Michael Yaffe, 21, Joseph Yaffe, 23, and Corey Maita, 23, have come to show that young professionals can give back to the community through the simple purchase of a coin. After starting the company in college at the University of Florida, they have grown to be one of the largest modern coin dealers in the United States. In an effort to share their recent success, they have partnered with Tampa Bay Buccaneers Quarterback Jeff Garcia and started the “Collect for a Cause” program. Proceeds from the sale of selected coins benefit the Garcia Pass It On Foundation, and America’s Second harvest of Tampa Bay and their network of over 200 affiliate food banks nationwide.

The Garcia Pass It On Foundation was established as a means to share resources with people in less fortunate circumstances. Through the foundation, Jeff and Carmella Garcia seek to give back in a tangible way to causes that are close to their hearts. Together we can make a difference by “passing on” our successes to enrich the lives of children and their families across the nation. Continued

Highlights Include Extraordinary Gem 1851 Augustus Humbert $50 Gold Piece, the Only Humbert Gold Coin of Any Denomination or Variety Graded MS-65 * by NGC

IRVINE, Calif. – Bowers and Merena Auctions, America’s leading rare coin and currency auction house, will host their Beverly Hills Rarities Sale on Saturday, September 13, 2008, at The Tower Beverly Hills, prior to the Long Beach Coin, Stamp & Collectible Expo. Lot viewing for the entire auction is scheduled for Thursday through Saturday, September 11-13. The catalog includes more than 900 exceptional coin rarities

Topping the list of highlights is a very special new discovery, Lot 681, an August Humbert, $50 Gold piece of the Reeded Edge, 880 THOUS (K-5, Rarity-5) variety graded MS-65 * by NGC. It is the only Humbert gold coin of any denomination with an NGC grade of MS-65 *. No Humbert gold coins of any denomination or variety have been graded finer than MS-65 at either PCGS or NGC. “This was the most memorable coin I have graded all year,” said Mark Salzberg, NGC chairman.

A legendary Gem Mint State 1893-S Morgan also stands out as Lot 497. Certified by NGC, and described in the catalog as “a solidly graded MS-65,” this important piece has a combined PCGS and NGC population of just 7/3. With just 100,000 pieces produced, the 1893-S has the lowest business strike mintage in the entire Morgan Dollar series (discounting the unknown 1895).

Also worthy of special mention is Lot 850, an 1861-S Liberty Double Eagle, Paquet Reverse, in NGC AU-55. It is the rarest Type I Double Eagle struck in the San Francisco Mint with just 19,250 examples released and only 90 to 100 coins believed to exist today, not a single one of which is Mint State. It is also rarer than all other Type I Twenties with the exception of the 1854-O, 1855-O, 1856-O, 1859-O and 1860-O. The NGC Census is 12 with 10 finer, the finest of which grade AU-58. There are also no Uncs known to PCGS.

“This is a great selection of coins and this new discovery Humbert is one that will be remembered and talked about for years to come,” said Steve Deeds, president of Bowers and Merena. “I’ve been in this business for 40-plus years now and I know that finds of this magnitude are rare.” Continued