The United States Mint announced today that it will begin taking orders for the Jamestown 400th Anniversary Commemorative Coins at 12:00 noon (ET) on January 10, 2007. We expect to begin shipping the coins by the end of January 2007.

Authorized by Public Law 108-289, the Jamestown 400th Anniversary Commemorative Coins are limited to maximum mintages across all product of 500,000 for the $1 silver coin and 100,000 for the $5 gold coin.

Surcharges from the sale of these commemorative coins are authorized to be paid to the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation of the Commonwealth of Virginia, the Secretary of the Interior, and the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities, to support programs that promote the understanding of the legacies of Jamestown, and for other purposes.

Whitman Publishing has acquired the Baltimore Coin and Currency Convention ,LLC one of the countries foremost coin and currency conventions. Baltimore convention owners Gordon Berg and Ed Kuszmar are working with the Whitman management team to ensure a smooth transition. We are thrilled that Whitman will continue the tradition of the Baltimore Conventions", said Berg.

The Baltimore Coin and Currency Convention, now in its 35th year, holds three annual conventions. Tens of thousands of collectors and dealers attend the conventions yearly."The enthusiasm of the Whitman staff, combined with the foundation of the Baltimore convention, will bring a dynamic atmosphere for the collecting community," said Whitman show General Manager David Crenshaw. "We have a transition plan that builds on the best practices of each company, with our #1 goal being to serve both collectors and dealers."The next Baltimore Convention is March 23-25, 2007 in the Baltimore Convention Center.

Dealers and collectors of world numismatics are preparing for the 35th Annual New York International Numismatic Convention, with plenty of foreign dealers once again attending with fresh product for the market. Regular bourse hours start Friday, Jan. 12, 2007, and run through Sunday, Jan. 14. There will be much more activity preceding that, however, with auction lot viewing beginning nearly a week before.

“There will be 16 separate and distinct auction sessions at the NYINC in 2007,” said Bourse Chairman Kevin Foley. “Virtually anything collectable in world and ancient numismatics will be available.” The event will be held at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel, located on Park Avenue between 49th and 50th streets in New York City. Thursday, Jan. 11, when the Professional Preview will open for collectors and members of the trade without booths.

The coin market has been subject to substantial long-term price increases in the more distant past, just the same as we’ve been experiencing during the past four years. These great price advances have left large price gaps between grades. In the past these gaps were handled by using additional grades in the marketplace.

For example, in the Morgan dollar series, Uncirculated coins used to trade for much less than $10 each. These coins were either graded by their circulated grades or were called Brilliant Uncirculated (abbreviated "BU"). But as nicer common-date Uncirculated examples began trading for $15 to $20 the market began using "choice BU" for the nicer coins. Then after "BU" and "choice BU" had been accepted, "MS-60" and "MS-65" came into use.

As prices escalated, various dealers began using different grading labels to describe better than average coins. Some used "MS-60+," others "MS 60 to 65," "MS-65+" or "MS-65/70," for example. Morgan dollars in the latter range, if graded accurately, would be today’s MS-66 and higher grade pieces. A new grade, "MS-63," came into common usage.

Newscasts and news articles gloated that the Treasury Department has to redesign currency to accommodate the blind, or more politically correct, the visually impaired. U.S. District Judge James Robertson determined in November 2006, that the federal government has not taken adequate steps to assist the visually impaired.

In fact, the judge cited discrimination, “American money represents an unfair impediment to the blind, and the Treasury Department must come up with new currency to help the visually impaired use cash.”

Judge Robertson’s ruling threw down the gauntlet to the Feds. The Treasury in a quick response appealed the judge’s decision. The Treasury cited the costs of new production machinery and enlisted the National Automatic Merchandising Association, which will incur extensive costs if U.S. currency is manufactured in multiple sizes. Judge Robertson will rule on Treasury’s appeal in January 2007.

DLRC Auctions

Whitman Press Release - Jan 5, 2007

David Lawrence Rare Coin Internet Auction #120, the 2006 End of YearSale featuring the Great Plains Collection of Buffalo Nickels, realized anamazing $553,320 in total sales, including the 15% buyer’s premium.The highlighted Great Plains Collection was offered through the compa-ny’s Guaranteed Auction Program, where the reserves are guaranteed andall lots are assured to sell.

Treasure Coin

By MOLLY MURRAY, The News Journal- 1/5/2007

The president of the Washington, D.C.-based Maritime Archaeological & Historical Society is questioning whether Delaware Technical & Community College legally can sell historic coins salvaged from the Nuestra Senora de Atocha shipwreck. In a letter to the director of the state Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs, Steven Anthony, president of the maritime organization, urged state officials to postpone the coin auction – set for Sunday and Monday in New York City – until the matter can be fully investigated.

Walton 5C

ANA Press Release - Jan 4, 2007

The legendary Walton specimen 1913 Liberty Head nickel that survived a car wreck and was the object of a recent worldwide search will return to North Carolina for the first time in 45 years. The coin will be exhibited during the American Numismatic Association’s National Money Show™ in the Charlotte Convention Center, 501 S. College St., March 16 – 18, 2007.

Patterns

NGC - Re-Published Jan 4, 2007

Charles E. Barber, the sixth chief engraver at the U.S. Mint, designed some of America's most famous and best-loved coins. These included the Liberty Head 5-cent piece and a dime, quarter and half dollar. Less well known, but equally revealing of his style, are his drawings, patterns and commemoratives. The Smithsonian's National Museum of American History will display a selection of these for the first time at the Florida United Numismatic Convention Jan. 4-7, 2007, in Orlando, Fla.

Numismatic news - 1/5/2007

Show dates have changed again for the International Paper Money Show in Memphis in 2007. This second change has taken it out of June completely, moving it yet further from its traditional Father’s Day weekend dates. The new 2007 dates are July 6-8

Mike Crabb, who runs the show for the Memphis Coin Club, said a problem with the previously scheduled June show dates arose when the associated hotel decided to allocate rooms and ballroom space for a different event.

By Leslie Griffy and Paul Rogers - Mercury News

An armored car flipped on Highway 17 on Thursday, closing the mountainous route near Summit Road for three hours and sending police and firefighters to their hands and knees as they scrambled to pick up hundreds of dollars in change that had scattered across the roadway.

NGC - Jan. 4, 2007

As the NGC Registry continues to grow we are delighted that the sense of community surrounding it also further deepens. Many thanks to all of the participants in the NGC Registry and contributors in the Collectors' Journals. Your combined efforts make the Collectors' Society site a valuable resource for the hobby.