Coin Collecting

CoinWeek June 29 - July 5, 2009

CoinLink — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 16:40:26 +0000

What’s New on CoinLink ……..

A wide selection of rare ancient and world coins will be offered at the Official Auction of the American Numismatic Association World’s Fair of Money® by Ponterio & Associates, Inc., a division of Bowers and Merena, on Saturday, August 8.

Douglas Winter Numismatics has been chosen to sell the Tri-Star Collection of Proof gold dollars. This collection, which was formed by one of the savviest collectors of gold coins in today’s numismatic market, includes a dozen very rare Type Three Proof gold dollars dated between 1856 and 1878.

In the Ancient Coin Collecting Blog, Wayne Sayles has posted an article “Questions and Truth” commenting on a recent news article headlined “Why are Ancient Coins From Cyprus Featured in a Suit Against the US Department of State?” written by archaeologist David Gill.

More than 500 U.S. and world bank notes will be offered by Bowers and Merena Auctions at the Official World’s Fair of Money® Auction. One of the many highlights is an 1870 $100 Gold National Bank Note, San Francisco Charter #1741, The First National Gold Bank (Fr. 1162)

The Hollywood stars will surrender the spotlight for a night when a different kind of American star takes to the podium at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Beverly Hills: A historic 1854-S quarter eagle, graded VF35 NGC, will lead the Platinum Night offerings of Heritage Auction Galleries’ August 2009 Los Angeles U.S. Coin Auction

The numismatic consumer watchdog organization Numismatic Consumer Alliance, Inc. (NCA). has recovered nearly $900,000 for buyers who paid far more for coins than they were worth. The money represented full refunds in 16 recent disputes.

Greg Reynolds offers up Part Two of this analysis of the 1876-CC Twenty Cent Piece titled “Three 1876-CC Twenty Cent Coins Sell in Spring 2009; Less than Twenty are Known! (Part 2 - Rarity, Quality & Condition Rankings)” This is one of the most definitive articles on this very rare and desirable issue.

CoinLink presents a mini-series of two different articles on Coin Prices: Both of these articles should give the reader valuable insights into the valuation process.

First Doug Winter provides his thoughts on how he Prices Rare Coins in his inventory
Then Laura Sperber of Legend Numismatics comments on the Use or Misuse of Price Guides.

Tim Shuck has added 3 new coin profiles in the Coin Guide Section of Coinlink as follows:

Continuing with News across the web, we have a new posting of - Coin News Daily - providing short excerpts and links to other news across the web that we have found, and which you may find of interest. We also provide Daily Updates on Precious Metals in The Bullion Report, with Charts, Video Headlines and News.

You can access ALL the News Here

CoinWeek June 22-28, 2009

CoinLink — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 13:58:42 +0000

What’s New on CoinLink ……..

After months of careful preparation, the Certified Acceptance Corp. (CAC) has unveiled a Population Register on its Internet Web site giving detailed information – at no charge – on certified coins it has examined.

Harvey Stack, long-time principal of Stack’s, announced his retirement as of June 30th, following 62 years as a full-time professional numismatist. At age 81 he will devote his time to other activities. “Harvey has been one of the great figures in numismatics,” said Stack’s president Christine Karstedt.

Doug Winter has posted a New article: The Availability of Rare Coins “One thing that I’ve always found interesting about the coin market is the ebb and flow of coins that are (or aren’t) available. If you actively buy and sell coins for any period of time, you learn that certain “rare” issues or series always seem available.”

Heritage Auction Galleries, has created a new online auction venue for World Coin buyers with its new Monthly Internet-only World Coin Auctions. The first installment of this new venture is currently online at www.HA.com/WorldCoins, closing on July 12.

In Guangzhou, China, a new company has been established to operate a submission center for Certified Collectibles Group companies, NGC, NCS and PMG. Guangzhou National Standard Numismatic Collection Grading Co., Ltd opened formally in June 2009

The Heritage Summer FUN Auction has opened for bidding at www.HA.com/Coins, and it features an impressive selection of gold coins from The Kiawah Collection. Collectors of Liberty gold will want to search through the 500 pieces of Liberty gold, in the half eagle, eagle, and double eagle denominations.

Stack’s to Sell More S.S. New York Gold Treasure. The discovery of the long-lost S.S. New York and the sale of gold and silver coins from the wreck made headline news last year. Since then, further explorations on the wreck have yielded more coins, including some amazing American gold rarities

You can access ALL the News Here

CoinWeek June 15-21, 2009

CoinLink — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 04:01:01 +0000

What’s New on CoinLink ……..

Greg Reynolds has penned Part One of a Two Part article Titled: Three 1876-CC Twenty Cent Coins Sell in Spring 2009. Reynolds states “The offering at auction of three different 1876 Carson City (Nevada) Mint Twenty Cent pieces between March 28 and June 11 is astounding. This issue is a legendary rarity, and there are just fifteen to nineteen known.”

In related News, We have posted a Video from MarketNewsVideo.com and thier Report on the 1876-CC Twenty Cent Piece.

Doug Winter is one of the most prolific and insightful writers in the industry. His latest article is entitled “Collecting U.S. Gold Coins On A Limited Budget” and provides tips for new and budget minded collectors on stratigies on buying US Gold Coins.

There is a New Display of Numismatic Rarities News at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, made possible through the generosity of the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation of America, Numismatic Conservation Services and Monaco Rare Coins. “Stories on Money” explores the museum’s vast numismatic collections from seven vantage points. The main section shows what money looked like in Colonial America and at pivotal times, including the Gold Rush, Great Depression and in the current era. Visitors will compare the coin designs of the 19th century with those produced during the renaissance of American coinage in the early 20th century.

Laura Sperber of Legend Numismatics provides her regular Market Report on the Baltimore Show just concluded this past weekend. Sperber states ” Sadly, this show was not to be one of their best. We do NOT hold Whitman at fault. It was more market factors and timing (Long Beach was less than 2 weeks ago).

You can access ALL the News Here

CoinWeek June 1-7, 2009

CoinLink — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 13:05:33 +0000

What’s New on CoinLink ……..

Doug Winter provides yet another interesting article, Why a Motley Coin Collection Just Might Make Sense. Winter states that “Numismatics is, in many ways, the Land of the Anal Retentive and collectors (and dealers) sometimes make decisions that are based more on personal obsessiveness that on sound business principles.”

The Schaumburg Sale, presented by Stack’s as the official auctioneer of the Mid-America Coin Expo showcases many interesting items as well as the traditional offering of U.S. coinage. The auction starts June 25, 2009.

Odyssey Marine Exploration, Inc. has announced plans to file a written objection to the U.S. Federal Court Magistrate’s recommendation that Odyssey return over $500 Million in gold and silver coins to Spain. The treasure came from Odyssey’s “Black Swan” shipwreck , found in international waters off the coast of Spain.

Stella Coin News announced their 9th numismatic online reference book, The Hobo Nickel an Exclusive Upgrade of Hobo Nickel Artistry by Joyce Ann Romines. Published in 1996 after 17 years of research and study

Bowers and Merena Auctions, America’s leading rare coin and currency auction house, will bring nearly 2,500 lots of fine coins and currency to Baltimore, Md., for the Official Auction of the Baltimore Coin and Currency Convention scheduled for June 10-13, 2009. The standout highlight of the auction is lot 757, an 1876-CC Twenty-Cent Piece in PCGS AU-58 with a fascinating history, believed to be one of perhaps just 12 to 20 examples known

Leaders of five of the hobby and profession’s most influential organizations are launching a multi-pronged consumer awareness and protection campaign against counterfeit numismatic items sold and imported from China and elsewhere. The organizations in alphabetical order are the American Numismatic Association (ANA), the Industry Council for Tangible Assets (ICTA), Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC), Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) and the Professional Numismatists Guild (PNG).

Heritage has releases the results from the Long Beach auction. The combined totals for the Rare U.S. Coins and World Coins auction in Heritage’s annual start of summer event in California was approaching $18 million total as of Monday, June 1, with post-auction buying continuing to push the total even higher.

Heritage Auctions has sold the finest Known 1856-O Double Eagle at Long Beach for $1.4 Million. The coin graded SP-63 by PCGS and carried the CAC sticker. The status of the 1856-O double eagle as the rarest New Orleans twenty, from a paltry mintage of 2,250 pieces, was established as long ago as the Atwater Sale (B. Max Mehl, 6/1946). In lot 1338 of that celebrated catalog Mehl proclaimed, “1856 Strictly very fine; free from any nicks or dents. The rarest Double-Eagle of the New Orleans Mint. Smallest coinage, that of only 2250. Not in some of the largest collections of U.S. Gold. Not even in the recent Sale of ‘World’s Greatest Collection of U.S. Gold Coins.’ ”

Doug Winter has generally sworn off writing show reports. He states “…to be honest, they are as boring for me to write as they are for you to read.” However at this point, he figured he’d do reports on the Big Two shows (FUN and ANA) and leave the other reports to my fellow Bloggin’ Numismatists, well except for this report on the May Long Beach Show

Laura Sperber has contributed the Legend Market Report. She writes “Long Beach is a funny kind of show. The past few years we have been complaining how the show is dying-and that was during one of the strongest and longest bull markets we have ever experienced. Today, with a clearly weaker market, the show is starting to thrive again. Even management made an announcement on Thursday that attendance was up by 30% over last year. Go figure…”

You can access ALL the News Here

CoinWeek May 25-31,2009

CoinLink — Thu, 28 May 2009 12:02:17 +0000

What’s New on CoinLink ……..

As Doug Winter has written before, he like coins with what he calls “multiple levels of demand.” What this means is a coin that is sought by a number of different sorts of collectors. His latest article examines “Five Rare Date Gold Coins With Broad Appeal”

Stacks completed its Altanta Auction on May 18th as part of the Whitman Atlanta Expo. At the sale, Gold Rarities Soared. Here is a summary of the sale with a number of the highlights.

The US Mint announced that collectors may begin placing their orders for bags and rolls of Guam commemorative quarter-dollar coins on May 26, at noon Eastern Time. The bags and rolls contain general circulating quality coins struck on the production floors at the United States Mint facilities at Denver and Philadelphia.

It’s been a longstanding tradition of Doug Winter to write a What’s Hot/What’s Not blog a few times a year. The last time he did this was, I believe, around the beginning of 2009. A lot has changed since then and, as we head into the summer, I’d like to share my thoughts about the coin market in general and United States gold coins to be more specific.

You can access ALL the News Here

CoinWeek May 18-24 2009

CoinLink — Tue, 19 May 2009 21:53:16 +0000

What’s New on CoinLink ……..

Doug Winter has posted a New article on some thought about Third Party Certification and PCGS hiring a new grader. He says “I’ve used this forum in the past as a venue to criticize the grading services. So, it’s only fair to give credit where credit is due and congratulate PCGS on their new hire as a grader, Charlie Browne.”

Award-winning numismatic author Scott Travers and veteran financial journalist Jim Kingsland will present a detailed, three-hour public educational forum about buying and selling gold on Saturday, May 30, 2009, during the Long Beach Coin, Stamp & Collectibles Expo in the Long Beach

International variety will be the name of the game at Heritage Auction Galleries Long Beach World Coin Auction , May 28-29 and 31, with an exceedingly rare 1770 Nuevo Reino Pillar Dollar anchoring the country and continent spanning collection.

The graders at Dominion Grading Service were very excited to receive some high powered submissions lately, including five numismatic gold rarities.

Another Unusual Item: Experimental Alluminum Alloy 1942 Cent Judd-2079. The pattern cents from 1942 are divided into two groups, those of the regular issue design and those modeled after the Colombian two centavo. Find out more about this rare pattern.

NGC is introducing two new certification services for coins that derive their value primarily from their metal content. They are NGC Certified Gold and NGC Authenticated Bullion.

A new Unusual items post: Heritage is auctioning off a 1836 Gobrecht Dollar, Judd-63 Name Below Base, Starless Obverse and Reverse. Extremely Rare, One of Only Three Known, The Farouk-Baldenhofer Specimen.

You can access ALL the News Here

CoinWeek May 11- 17, 2009

CoinLink — Mon, 11 May 2009 20:03:48 +0000

What’s New on CoinLink ……..

Headline News

The Ancient Coin Collectors Guild (ACCG) has launched phase two of a coordinated plan to challenge import restrictions on ancient coins by the US State Department. bu importing asmall packet of 23 very common, inexpensive, Cypriot and Chinese coins. The coins were seized and the ACCG plans to sue.

Heritage Auction Galleries has announced that noted numismatist Win Callender has joined the company as a Professional Numismatist and Consignment Director at its Uptown Dallas headquarters.

Laura Sperber of Legend Numismatics provides another Market Report. She states “In our opinion, the coin market right now is like the stock market was in late March” Read it and judge for yourself.

The status of the 1856-O double eagle as the rarest New Orleans twenty, from a paltry mintage of 2,250 pieces, was established as long ago. Heritage is auctioning off the only known Specimen example known. Many specialists believe that this is the single most important New Orleans double eagle in existence, and one of the most important O-mint coins of any denomination.

Articles Just Posted

Greg Johnson wrote a short article in Volume 5, Issue 5 (May 2009) of The E-Gobrecht titled “1849 Quarter Dollar Date Positions“. During the past two plus years I have examined every 1849 quarter that I could find trying to attribue one he purchases. Here is his ” working hypothesis”.

Tim Shuck has added 3 new coin profiles in the Coin Guide Section of Coinlink as follows:

You can access ALL the News Here

CoinWeek May 4-10, 2009

CoinLink — Wed, 06 May 2009 13:01:00 +0000

What’s New on CoinLink ……..

Headline News

You’re a serious coin collector. You’ve done all the “right” things. You’ve learned how to grade, become a knowledgeable specialist. Your collection is well on the way to being complete but you aren’t ready to sell it. What can you do in the interim to add value to it? Doug Winter gives some pointers in his article on How To “Brand” Your Coin Collection

Ponterio & Associates, Inc. held the Official Auction of the Chicago International Coin Fair (C.I.C.F.), April 23-25, 2009. The auction realized a total of $1,510,300 offering close to 3,000 lots of coins and currency from around the world

The United States Mint will present the second redesigned one-cent coin (penny), bearing an image representing Abraham Lincoln’s formative years, at a ceremony in Indiana on May 14.

While the Adams-Carter 1804 $1 grabbed the headlines at Platinum Night of the Heritage CSNS auctions, the overall success of both the rare coins and the rare currency is the hidden story in the whole night. Even if you take out the $2.3 million on the 1804 $1, you still have an almost $42 million auction.

Laura Sperber provides a Market Report on the CSNS Show just concluded this past weekend. She states “Nice fresh coins are clearly still selling and are bringing super strong money. The biggest problem-actually our biggest problem, nice coins can NOT be replaced and we do not see any where enough of them to make money with.”

The famed Quartermaster Collection, containing many of Australia’s most valuable and highest quality gold coins, will be going to auction on the 4th of June 2009, in what is expected to be the most prestigious numismatic event in this nations history.

Featuring many of Australia’s rarest coins, this Auction will be unlike any other seen in Australia.

Articles Just Posted

Bruce Lorich the renowned expert on British coinage (Hammered and Milled) provides a bit of historical background and insight on the Rise of the Gold Standard in 14th-century England, Coins of the first three Edwards & Richard II.

You can access ALL the News Here

CoinWeek April 27 - May 3, 2009

CoinLink — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 03:05:10 +0000

What’s New on CoinLink ……..

Headline News

Bowers and Merena Auctions has acquired sister company North American Certified Trading (NACT) and will now offer expanded direct buying and selling of exceptional quality rare coins, including bullion coins.

The much anticipated Platinum Night section of Heritage’s Central States Signature Sale in Cincinnati concluded last night. Preliminary Reports conclude that the market still has legs and that high quality coins are easily finding new homes at strong prices. The Adams-Carter 1804 Class III Silver Dollar AU58 PCGS brought $2.3 Million !

Heritage will auction the collection of “Joseph C. Thomas,” at Central States this week. Numismatic writer Greg Reynolds feels the Thomas collection is the best collection of U.S. silver coins to be sold at public auction since John J. Pittman’s U.S. coins were auctioned in October 1997 and May 1998.

Ira & Larry Goldberg will be hosting their Pre-Long Beach Auction #53 on May 24-26th. The auction consists of a great selection of US coins along with World Coins and Ancients including a UNIQUE Valentinian I (AD 364-375) Silver Multiple of 24 Miliaresia, the largest silver coin known of the Roman Empire.

It is always an exciting event when a newly discovered numismatic rarity is reported. Such was the case when an 1817/4 half dollar was unearthed (literally!) by contractor George Williams while raking fill in upstate New York. This is the eighth known specimen of this rare overdate, originally offered in Heritage’s January 2006 FUN Auction, shortly after it was discovered, and now available again in Heritages upcoming Central States Signature Auction.

Mark Naber, founder of ForgeryNetwork.com, answers a few questions about collectable coin forgeries and the purpose of ForgeryNetwork.com.

Doug Davis from the Numismatic Crime Information Center provided new information on the lastest numismatic crimes reported.

Laura Sperber of Legend Numismatics provides some Pre CSNS show news including some interesting things tahat are quietly happening right now. For the first time in months, we are seeing a number of “smaller” collectors selling or consigning their coins. Yet, the bigger buyers (yes, whales) are all trying to buy. At the same time, this past week we were privy to hear of SEVERAL-multi-million dollar GOLD deals transacting. We ourselves are involved in one.

Tim Shuck has added 3 new coin profiles in the Coin Guide Section of Coinlink as follows:

You can access ALL the News Here

CoinWeek April 20-26

CoinLink — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 11:56:20 +0000

What’s New on CoinLink ……..

Headline News

Stella Coin News (SCN) announced their latest online reference book, The Complete Guide to Barber Dimes. Originally published in 1991 by late author, David Lawrence, the ground-breaking reference is now available to all collectors free of charge for their personal use.

Ponterio & Associates, Inc., a division of Bowers and Merena Auctions, will offer almost 3000 lots featuring an exceptional selection of world coins and currency hailing from Russia, China, Mexico, Cuba, Australia, Latin America and more at the International Coin Fair this week

Doug Winter provides a profile on one of his favorite coins, the 1845-O Quarter Eagle. This is an issue he likes for a variety of reasons. It’s rare, it’s enigmatic and it has an interesting numismatic background.

We Are Back - Our Apologies for the lack up updates overthe past 4 days. However, we are back and will be posted new items throughout the day untill we are caught up!

As we roll towards the mid-way point of the numismatic year, this is a good time to step back for a second and reflect on value. Doug Winter provides some thoughts on “Hunting For Value In Today’s Rare Coin Market” using the 1795 Half Eagle and eagle as an example.

Scott Schechter, Vice President of Sales and Marketing of the Certified Collectibles Group, will present “Modern Coins – Everything You Need to Know” at the the CSNS convention.

Until three years ago, no one even knew that the 1770 Nuevo Reino Pillar Dollar existed. That changed quickly, however, when an amazing stash of 14 coins was found during the bulldozing of a parking lot in Bogota. Heritage will be auctioning off this Discovery Coin at the CSNS convention.

You can access ALL the News Here