Coin Collecting News

Two of the finest-known gold 1804 eagles have been added to the Museum Showcase at the 2010 ANA National Money Show™ in Fort Worth. The coins are part of the renowned Harry W. Bass Jr. Collection of American gold coins, and are on display at the ANA’s Edward C. Rochette Money Museum in Colorado Springs.

The Mint began producing gold eagles ($10 coins) in 1795. Production of the coins ceased in 1804 due to a shortage of gold and a perceived lack of need for the denomination. The 1804 eagle thus became famous for being the last coin for the type, and the last eagle struck for circulation for over thirty years. The estimated number of survivors, including the one on display in Fort Worth, is thought to be 80-100 pieces, all from one die pair, of which a considerable number have been damaged.

A twist was added to the story in between 1834 and 1835, when restrikes of 1804 gold eagles and silver dollars were minted by special order of President Andrew Jackson as diplomatic gifts to a king, two emperors and a sultan. Since the last time that silver dollars or gold eagles had been produced was in 1804, the Mint created new dies for the coins and struck them as proofs. There are four known 1804 proof eagle restrikes, including the one on display in Fort Worth; these coins have been nicknamed the “King of Eagles.”

The ANA National Money Show is one of the premier coin shows in the country, and features more than 500 ANA-member dealers; a Museum Showcase with numismatic rarities from the Smithsonian Institution, ANA Money Museum and private collections; a wide array of educational programs; fascinating exhibits created by ANA members; and a $1 billion display by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. For more information, visit www.nationalmoneyshow.com or call 719-482-9857.

The show is at the Fort Worth Convention Center and is open to the public from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. Admission is $6 daily and free for ANA members and children 12 and under.
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Bowers & Merena U.S. Coin and Currency Sales Exceed $7 Million

Record-setting Sale of 1901-S Barber Quarter

Bowers and Merena Auctions, America’s leading rare coin and currency auction house, continues its long-standing and successful partnership with the Whitman Coin & Collectibles Baltimore Expo. As Official Auctioneer of the March 2010 expo, Bowers and Merena realized more than $8.5 million in U.S. and foreign, coin and currency sales. Prices realized for U.S. coins exceeded $5.5 million while U.S. currency accounted for a further $1.3 million of the total, for a combined U.S. prices realized of more than $7 million.

“We conducted a highly successful auction in Baltimore with strong bidder participation in all sessions,” concluded Bowers and Merena president Steve Deeds. “A trio of fresh, original rarities led the way by bringing particularly strong prices. Offered as lot 737, the finest PCGS-certified 1901-S Barber Quarter in MS-68 went to the winning bidder at a record-setting $327,750. Part of the same consignment, a very rare proof striking of the 1879-O Morgan Dollar (lot 3104, PCGS Proof-64, OGH–First Generation) sold for $184,000 and a beautiful, premium-quality 1915-S Pan-Pac $50 Round in PCGS MS-66 traded for $281,750. The Pan-Pac $50 is a pop 1/0 coin and was featured as lot 3473 in our catalog.”

Continued Deeds: “The Cuyahoga Collection of Charlotte and Dahlonega Mint Gold also performed very well in our March Baltimore Auction. Important rarities from this high-ranked NGC Registry Set include lot 3739, an 1839-C Liberty Half Eagle in NGC MS-63 that realized $126,500 and lot 3609, an 1849-C Liberty Quarter Eagle certified MS-65 by NGC that changed hands at $103,500.”

“Bowers and Merena’s sale of U.S. currency at the March 2010 Baltimore Expo was also impressive,” noted director of currency auctions Matthew Quinn. “Noteworthy prices were realized by lot 1379, a Fr. 282* 1923 $5 Silver Certificate Star Note graded Superb Gem Uncirculated 67 EPQ by PMG that went for $41,688 and lot 1982, a spectacular ‘$15’ double-denomination error on a Fr. 1960-D 1934D $5 Federal Reserve Note certified Very Choice New 64 PPQ by PCGS that traded hands for $21,850.”

Additional highlights from the Bowers and Merena March 2010 Baltimore Auction include:
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The 1913 Liberty Head Nickel – Is There a Sixth Specimen?
Susan’s Coins Blog
According to the December 1953 issue of The Numismatic Scrapbook Magazine, an early owner of the entire set of 1913 Liberty Head specimens had a special plush leatherbound case made for them — with six coin holes in it! At the time the coins were shown (after this owner’s death, and while still in the special case,) one of the coin slots had been filled by a bronze cast of the 1913 Buffalo Nickel. Coupled with the fact of this 6-hole case, we have early attempts by various interested parties to give a provenance for each specimen, and six specimens show up on these lists.
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Thirteen Sponsors Contribute $47,000 to the National Money Show
NGC
Thirteen sponsors have contributed $47,000 in support of the American Numismatic Association’s 2010 National Money Show™, March 25-27 at the Fort Worth Convention Center. “The support for this year’s convention has been very strong,” said David Truesdell, ANA sales and sponsorship manager. “We’re pleased that so many businesses and dealers see value in the marketing opportunities the ANA offers at the National Money Show and hope this signals a strengthening market for numismatic collectibles. Our sponsors both benefit from their marketing investment and contribute significantly to helping the ANA provide great educational programs and numismatic exhibits at no cost to our members.”
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2010 Boy Scouts of America Silver Dollars Released March 23
U.S. Mint
The obverse (heads side) depicts a Cub Scout in the foreground with a Boy Scout and female Venturer in the background saluting. Inscriptions are CONTINUING THE JOURNEY, 1910, 2010, IN GOD WE TRUST, and LIBERTY. This design represents the Boy Scouts of America of today, as the organization has recognized the need to include other programs for younger boys (Cub Scouts) and older boys and girls (Venturers), reflecting the diversity of our Nation. It is a dramatic representation of how the Boy Scouts of America has evolved over the past century to form a strong foundation of leadership, service and community for all the youth of America.
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Deconstructing 2008-W Gold Buffalo Coins
Mint News Blog
The 2008-W Proof and Uncirculated Gold Buffalo Coins have been one of the most successful US Mint products in years, when considering the secondary market price appreciation. The coins have been a frequent topic of comments and I have been meaning to write about them for some time. I decided that I would come up with a deconstruction of some of the factors leading to the phenomenal success of the coins.
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Court Decision Saves “In God We Trust”
Dave Harper’s Buzz
I see in the news that the national “In God We Trust” motto used on coins since 1864 is once again safe for the time being. Yesterday’s news reports say a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals voted unanimously in its favor. Since this is America, that isn’t the end of it. The ruling probably will be appealed to the Supreme Court. What makes the issue interesting for collectors is twofold: there is the numismatic history which includes the motto’s first placement on the U.S. two-cent piece in 1864 and on much of the rest of the coinage in 1866.
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$200,000 Buys Proof-68 RB Star 1909 VDB Cent
Numismatic News
Finishing a Lincoln cent set with top quality pieces got a little more expensive after a March 4 deal saw a 1909 VDB cent graded Proof-68 RB with star by Numismatic Guaranty Corp. and CAC sticker sell for over $200,000. Though the exact price was not disclosed, Laura Sperber of Legend Numismatics wrote in her blog: “Yes, the coin we had displayed and always said was not for sale got sold. While we are not releasing any specific price, we will confirm the coin set a world record above $200,000.”
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