Toronto Star graphic designer Brian Hughes can add another feather to his cap. The Toronto native's designs have been selected as part of a Royal Mint Collection for the 2010 Winter Games. After a competitive process that pitted Hughes against other veteran illustrators, two of his designs were chosen for $25 coins – an alpine skiing illustration and a depiction of women's cross-country. According a news release, the Olympic coin program will include 15 different $25 coins, each with a limited mintage of 45,000.

The new coins were revealed yesterday by the Royal Canadian Mint, Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC).Hughes said he went through hundreds of photographs to get the right images and spent hours perfecting the illustrations.

United States Mint Director Edmund C. Moy today joined Governor Brian Schweitzer; First Lady Nancy Schweitzer; Gary Marks, member of the Montana Quarter Design Selection Commission; and Blackfeet singer and songwriter Jack Gladstone, to introduce the Montana commemorative quarter-dollar in a ceremony at the Helena Civic Center. The Helena High Ambiance Choir led the audience in the State song, a Native American drum group provided an honor song and the Capitol High Jazz Band entertained before and after the ceremony.

The Montana commemorative quarter-dollar coin, released to the American public today, features images of a bison skull hovering in the sky over mountainous terrain. The Montana quarter is the 41st introduced by the United States Mint in its popular 50 State Quarters® Program.

“Montana’s history recalls a state composed of vast landscapes, mountains and high plains, big sky and bison, all of which are represented on the Montana quarter we launch today,” said Director Moy. “The bison skull is an evocative image of the American West, its bounty and hardships, familiar to Montanans as a symbol of their own rugged and resilient nature.”

Even though the coin market is generally healthy – rife with collector demand – some dealers are discounting their selling prices of certain coins. One reason may simply be that they are just trying to clear out long-held inventory. However, another reason has likely revolved around keeping dealers' cash flows moving. Some dealers have stretched themselves too thin with auction purchases made on credit. Others are in strong financial condition, especially after four years of doing business in this unprecedented, all-encompassing, continuing bull market.

Of course, not all dealers are involved in the auction market. Some have very active mail-order businesses, some have busy shops. However, dealers who are doing business in high-end rare coins (and others) usually can only find what their customers need in the major auctions.It hasn't always been this way. During the early days of this bull market, during 2003 and 2004, sellers were still hesitant to consign their coins to auctions because they were unsure of attaining their target prices. But during the past couple of years, with a multitude of record auction prices set, the formerly hesitant collectors became confident in consigning to auction.

The American Indian
State quarter designs give nod to native Americans but never a full depiction
posted 02/02/07 - Coin World - By Michele Orzano

Will an actual American Indian ever be depicted on a State quarter dollar? At the moment it seems unlikely that will happen. Though several proposed design concepts for many states have featured some aspect of American Indian culture, including a depiction of a genuine American Indian, none have been selected as the final design. Only one of the five states to be honored in 2008, the final year of the 50 State quarter program, did include a depiction of an American Indian and Indian artifact on at least one of its designs, though all of the Indian themes depicted are generic.

Two of the five proposed designs for Oklahoma's 2008 coin feature a depiction of an American Indian calumet, also known as a "peace pipe."

One of the five suggested design concepts for Arizona's 2008 coin has an image of two Navajo Code Talkers. The four design concepts for New Mexico's 2008 coin have outlines of the state with the Zia Pueblo sun symbol, which also appears on the state's flag. Three out of the four designs include the state's nickname, "Land of Enchantment."

Mercury Dimes and Dahlonega Gold Highlight McCarthy Collection in Heritage's Long Beach Signature Auction

posted 02/03/07 - Heritage Auctions -

Dallas, TX: An important, eclectic collection of coins assembled by Dr. Frank McCarthy will be offered by Heritage Auction Galleries at their February Long Beach Signature auction, the official auction of the Long Beach Coin Expo. The auction will be held February 14-17, 2007.

Explained Heritage President Greg Rohan: "Dr. McCarthy, who hails from San Francis­co, began collecting coins in 1991 to break the boredom of retirement. He first got excited over gold coins, and immersed himself in gold. He became a more serious numismatist about five years ago, and began to pursue rarities from the Dahlonega Mint (selections are included in this auction). He has several continuing collections, and looks forward to selecting new collecting areas in the future. Dr. McCarthy's Long Beach consignment is particularly strong in Mercury dimes and gold dollars, but the consignment ranges from Two cents to Territorials. We are pleased to offer these exciting coins from a very exciting collector."

Dr. McCarthy has had a series of widely ranging careers that in some ways reflect his approach to collecting - pursuing varying paths as they interest him. "I have been a fighter pilot in Vietnam, a restauranteur, a hostage negotiator, and a coin collector. In my career as an industrial psychologist, I consulted on matching man, motion, and machines, to save steps in many different production processes."