Feb 4, 2021 | News, U.S. Mint
WASHINGTON – The United States Mint announced today that Mary N. Lannin has once again been appointed as the Chairperson of the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC) for a one-year term effective January 29, 2021. Ms. Lannin previously served as Chairperson from 2015 to 2018.
Ms. Lannin, of New York City, was first appointed to the CCAC in 2014 based on the recommendation of the then-House Minority Leader, Nancy Pelosi. She was reappointed to a second four-year term in 2018. Her interest in the CCAC comes from her childhood love of coin collecting, which was rekindled when she purchased a Roman denarius once owned by John Quincy Adams, a noted coin collector and the sixth President of the United States.
Ms. Lannin is a former public television producer and director (KTCA-TV 1968-1978) and former California winery owner and representative (Winery Associates 1982-2000, National Accounts Director; Murphy-Goode Estate Winery 1985-2006, Founding Partner). She is a life member of both the American Numismatic Association and the American Numismatic Society, to which she was elected a Fellow in 2015 and a Board Member in 2017. She is currently a member of the Royal Numismatic Society, the Swiss Numismatic Society, the San Francisco Ancient Numismatic Society, the Pacific Coast Numismatic Society, and the New York Numismatic Club, on which she serves as Secretary-Treasurer.
Ms. Lannin is a freelance editor with developed skills in numismatic publication, and has worked with authors from the United States, Canada, Germany, and Greece. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Minnesota (1969) and attended Trinity College in Washington, DC.
The CCAC was established by an Act of Congress in 2003. It advises the Secretary of the Treasury on theme or design proposals relating to circulating coinage, bullion coinage, Congressional Gold Medals, and other medals produced by the United States Mint. The CCAC also makes commemorative coin recommendations to the Secretary and advises on the events, persons, or places to be commemorated, as well as on the mintage levels and proposed designs.
The CCAC is subject to the authority of the Secretary of the Treasury. The United States Mint is responsible for providing necessary and appropriate administrative support, technical services, and advice.
The CCAC submits an annual report to Congress and the Secretary of the Treasury, describing its activities and providing recommendations.
Jan 24, 2021 | Auctions, News
1804 Draped Bust Eagle Takes $5.28 Million, Other Rarities Score Strong Prices
(Santa Ana, California) – January 23, 2021 – Many important rare coins graded by Professional Coin Grading Service (www.PCGS.com) fetched record-breaking prices and hammered other notable bids at the landmark Bob R. Simpson Collection Part III sale offered by Heritage Auctions on January 20, 2021. Leading the way is an ultra-rare 1804 Plain 4 Draped Bust Eagle graded PCGS PR65+DCAM, which sold for $5,280,000 at the event. It is the finest specimen of its kind and is one of only four struck.
“The 1804 $10 is personally my favorite coin,” says PCGS President Brett Charville. “It’s basically a rarer version of an 1804 Draped Bust Dollar and has the added panache of being an early Federal proof gold piece that was then the largest-denomination coin minted in the United States,” Charville says, comparing the 1804 Draped Bust Eagle to the iconic 1804 Draped Bust Dollar, of which 15 specimens are known. Incidentally, the 1804 $10 that just sold for $5.28 million commanded some $1.1 million more than the most expensive 1804 Dollar, which has a record price of $4.14 million.
Other significant PCGS-graded rarities also took headlining figures, including:
- 1792 Silver Center Pattern Cent, Judd-1 Pollock-1 PCGS SP67BN – $2,520,000
- 1885 Trade Dollar, PCGS PR63+CAM – $2,100,000
- 1796 Draped Bust Quarter Eagle, Stars on Obverse PCGS MS65 – $1,380,000
- 1794 Flowing Hair Half Dollar PCGS MS64+ – $870,000
- 1943-D Lincoln Cent Struck on Bronze Planchet PCGS MS64BN – $840,000
“While the strong prices these rarities fetched are well-deserved nods to their overall desirability, it also speaks to the trust that collectors place in rare coins graded by PCGS,” says Charville. “Ultimately, the best coins always end up in PCGS holders because PCGS encapsulation maximizes the value, security, and liquidity of their coins.”
About Professional Coin Grading Service
Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) is a third-party coin and banknote grading company that was launched in 1986. Over 35 years, PCGS has examined and certified more than 45 million U.S. and world coins, medals, and tokens with a combined value of over $41.7 billion. For more information about PCGS products and services, including how to submit your coins for authentication and grading, please visit www.PCGS.com or call PCGS Customer Service at (800) 447-8848.
Jan 21, 2021 | Announcements, News
ANA to offer eLearning Academy programs free of charge
The American Numismatic Association (ANA) announced that the 2021 Summer Seminar, scheduled for June 19-24 (Session 1) and June 26-July 1 (Session 2), has been officially cancelled.
Traditionally held on the Colorado College campus adjacent to ANA headquarters, Summer Seminar is a once-a-year opportunity for numismatic learning and camaraderie that offers hundreds of collectors from around the world a varied selection of week-long courses designed for discovery and continued study.
Colorado College notified the ANA in late 2020 that it would not be hosting events on its campus in 2021 because of COVID-19. The Association looked at an alternative location in Colorado Springs, but the $128,000 deficit that would be incurred to host the event there was rejected by the ANA Board of Governors. The University of Denver (DU) campus also was considered, but previous Summer Seminar students and instructors indicated that without access to the Association’s museum and library, Summer Seminar would not be as engaging. Additionally, many previous participants noted they were uncomfortable traveling during the pandemic.
ANA Executive Director Kim Kiick indicated that the Association will offer free virtual courses through its eLearning Academy during the 2021 Summer Seminar dates of June 19-July 1. Although the online classes will not replicate the Summer Seminar event, it will give participants a taste of the popular program. Topics will appeal to a broad range of collectors – from beginners to advanced numismatists. Details will be available in the weeks ahead.
COVID-19 also caused the cancellation of the 2020 Summer Seminar, the event’s first cancellation in its 50-plus-year history.
Scholarships that were awarded for the 2020 Summer Seminar will be honored for the 2022 event.
Jan 8, 2021 | News
The 23 Coins Include Rare 1894-S Barber Dime That Sold For $1.44 Million And Crossed Over to PCGS
(Santa Ana, California – January 8, 2021) – With 2020 officially behind us, Professional Coin Grading Service (www.PCGS.com) is once again on top when it comes to grading almost all the top 25 most valuable most coins sold at public auction during the past year. Having graded 23 of the 25 most valuable coins to cross the auction block in 2020, that number represents an increase of two PCGS-graded top-priced coins from the previous year’s count of 21 in 2019. It also includes the crossing of a graded rarity that sold for $1.44 million and was in a holder from another grading service.
The sales data compiled here derives from the seven top auction companies, which include Heritage Auctions, Stack’s Bowers Galleries, Legend Rare Coin Auctions, GreatCollections, Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Sotheby’s, and Bonhams. A complete list of the top 25 most valuable coins sold in 2020 can be found online at https://www.pcgs.com/top-selling-coins-2020.
The Top 25 of 2020 list includes:
- Stickney / Eliasberg Specimen 1804 Draped Bust Dollar, Class I PCGS PR65 – sold by Stack’s Bowers Galleries for $3,360,000, 12/20/2020 (PCGS Cert #0001804)
- 1927-D Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle, PCGS MS65+ – sold by Heritage Auctions for $2,160,000, 1/12/2020 (PCGS Cert #37543118)
- F.C.C. Boyd Specimen 1854-S Liberty Head Half Eagle, PCGS AU58+ – sold by Stack’s Bowers Galleries for $1,920,000, 3/20/2020 (PCGS Cert #28572787)
- 1894-S Barber Dime Branch Mint Proof, PCGS PR66 – sold by Heritage Auctions for $1,500,000, 9/17/2020 (PCGS Cert #40323817)
- Berg / Garrett Specimen 1804 Draped Bust Dollar, Class III PCGS PR55 – sold by Stack’s Bowers Galleries for $1,440,000, 3/20/2020 (PCGS Cert #38997237)
- Eliasberg Specimen 1894-S Barber Dime Branch Mint Proof, now PCGS PR65+ – sold by Stack’s Bowers Galleries for $1,440,000, 12/17/2020 (PCGS Cert #41477463)
- Olsen / French Specimen 1885 Trade Dollar, PCGS PR64 – sold by Stack’s Bowers Galleries for $1,320,000, 3/19/2020 (PCGS Cert #38607296)
- 1794 Flowing Hair Dollar, NGC MS62 – sold by Stack’s Bowers Galleries for $1,050,000, 12/17/2020
- Col. Green / Kern / Carter / Miller Specimen 1849 Mormon $10, PCGS AU53 – sold by Stack’s Bowers Galleries for $840,000, 12/17/2020 (PCGS Cert #6565696)
- 1886-O Morgan Dollar, PCGS MS67DMPL – sold by Stack’s Bowers Galleries for $780,000, 11/12/2020 (PCGS Cert #4884183)
- George Bodway / Jack Lee / Larry H. Miller Specimen 1884-S Morgan Dollar, PCGS MS68 – sold by Stack’s Bowers Galleries for $750,000, 11/12/2020 (PCGS Cert #7455496)
- Hayes / Whitney / Gardner Specimen 1796 Draped Bust Dime, PCGS SP67 – sold by Heritage Auctions for $750,000, 9/17/2020 (PCGS Cert #40323766)
- 1896-S Morgan Dollar, PCGS MS69 – sold by Stack’s Bowers Galleries for $720,000, 11/12/2020 (PCGS Cert #04884181)
- Eliasberg Specimen 1795 Draped Bust Dollar Off-Center Strike, PCGS MS66 – sold by Legend Rare Coin Auctions for $705,000, 10/8/2020 (PCGS Cert #11777144)
- 1796 Draped Bust Dollar, Small Date Small Letters, PCGS MS65 – sold by Legend Rare Coin Auctions for $705,000, 10/8/2020 (PCGS Cert #25011756)
- 1907 High Relief-Wire Edge Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle, NGC PR69 – sold by Heritage Auctions for $660,000, 9/18/2020
- Parmelee Specimen 1793 Flowing Hair Wreath Reverse, Strawberry Leaf PCGS VG10 – sold by Stack’s Bowers Galleries for $660,000, 8/6/2020 (PCGS Cert #12952855)
- Stickney / Clapp / Eliasberg 1807 Draped Bust Quarter, PCGS MS67 – sold by Heritage Auctions for $630,000, 11/19/2020 (PCGS Cert #40274315)
- 1892-S Morgan Dollar, PCGS MS68 – sold by Stack’s Bowers Galleries for $630,000, 11/12/2020 (PCGS Cert #07455547)
- Lord St. Oswald Specimen 1795 Flowing Hair Dollar, Three Leaves Silver Plug, PCGS MS65+ – sold by Heritage Auctions for $630,000, 9/17/2020 (PCGS Cert #40323794)
- 1893-S Morgan Dollar, PCGS MS65 – sold by Stack’s Bowers Galleries for $600,000, 11/12/2020 (PCGS Cert #3134219)
- 1808 Capped Bust Quarter Eagle, PCGS MS63 – sold by Heritage Auctions for $576,000, 9/17/2020 (PCGS Cert #40323808)
- 1907 Indian Eagle, Rolled Edge, PCGS MS67 – sold by Stack’s Bowers Galleries for $576,000, 3/20/2020 (PCGS Cert #38634098)
- 1795 Flowing Hair Dollar, Two Leaves, PCGS MS65 – sold by Stack’s Bowers Galleries for $576,000, 12/17/2020 (PCGS Cert #4722363)
- Carter Specimen 1884 Trade Dollar, PCGS PR64+CAM – sold by Stack’s Bowers Galleries for $552,000, 3/19/2020 (PCGS Cert #38553561)
“We’re proud that 22 of the 25 most valuable United States coins that crossed the auction block in 2020 were in PCGS holders,” says PCGS President Brett Charville. Adding to the 22 coins that exchanged hands with PCGS certification is the 1894-S Barber Dime, which crossed into a PCGS holder with a grade of PR65+. “The crossing of this seven-figure ultra-rarity to a PCGS holder only further underscores that the best coins are found in PCGS holders.”
The outstanding market performance of PCGS-graded coins during what was a most unusual year is something Charville says speaks to the confidence collectors and dealers alike have in PCGS holders. “The marketplace trusts the accuracy of our grading and security of our holders – benefits that the numismatic hobby has embraced since our company’s founding in 1986. Ultimately, PCGS provides maximum value, security, and liquidity for collectible coins.”
In addition to coins, PCGS also grades banknotes under its new PCGS Banknote service, which launched early in 2020. Other highlights from the year include the full rollout of innovative anti-counterfeiting Near-Field Communication devices in all PCGS holders, which help to further ensure collectors and dealers that the coins and banknotes in each holder are the ones described on their label. Another landmark in 2020 was the addition of the 20,000th member to the PCGS Collectors Club, which is now the nation’s second largest coin club. By the end of 2020, PCGS had also graded its 45 millionth coin.
“It’s been a challenging year for so many people,” remarks Charville. “But as we head into 2021, we are looking forward to what the new year will bring. PCGS will be marking its 35th anniversary, and we’ve got many exciting things planned to mark the occasion.”
About Professional Coin Grading Service
Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) is a third-party coin and banknote grading company that was launched in 1986. Over 35 years, PCGS has examined and certified more than 45 million U.S. and world coins, medals, and tokens with a combined value of more than $41.7 billion. For more information about PCGS products and services, including how to submit your coins for authentication and grading, please visit www.PCGS.com or call PCGS Customer Service at (800) 447-8848.
Jan 8, 2021 | Bureau of Engraving and Printing, News
The Latest Bureau of Engraving and Printing Monthly Production Report Has Been Posted.
All production reports can be found at https://www.bep.gov/resources/productionmonthly.html
Jan 8, 2021 | News, PNG
Over $419 million of historic U.S. rare coins and paper money sold at major public auctions in 2020
(Temecula, California) January 6, 2021 – It was the year of pandemic-related cancelled coin shows, but 2020 still resulted in one of the strongest U.S. rare coin and paper money markets in recent years, according to a year-end survey of major auction houses conducted by the Professional Numismatists Guild (www.PNGdealers.org), a nonprofit organization composed of many of the country’s top rare coin and paper money dealers.
Based on responses to a PNG questionnaire, the aggregate prices realized for U.S. rare coins sold at major public auctions in 2020 totaled nearly $369 million. The aggregate total was $325 million in 2019; $345 million in 2018; and $316 million in 2017.
Major auction sales of U.S. banknotes in 2020 totaled $50.6 million bringing the combined aggregate auction sales of rare U.S. coins and paper money the past year to over $419 million. This was the first year PNG included banknotes in its annual survey.
“With most of the scheduled coin shows and conventions canceled after early March, much of the auction sales activity successfully moved online which already was a growing trend the past decade. Several major collections of high-quality coins and banknotes started coming to market in 2020 as previously planned, and as the pandemic intensified the market also provided liquidity for some collectors who needed cash,” said PNG President Richard Weaver. “This is the strongest rare coin market we’ve seen in years.”
Eight individual rare coins were purchased at auctions for $1 million or more in 2020. The top two were an 1804-dated Draped Bust Class I silver dollar graded by Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) Proof-65 sold by Stack’s Bowers Galleries for $3,360,000 and a 1927-D Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle ($20 denomination gold coin) graded PCGS Mint State-65+ sold by Heritage Auctions for $2,160,000.
The most valuable U.S. rare coin sold at auction in 2020 was this 1804-dated silver dollar for $3,360,000. Photo courtesy of Stack’s Bowers Galleries.
“While prices held steady or slightly declined during 2020 for some U.S. coins in easily available lower grades, more than 600 noteworthy coins that are among the finest known of their kind from early American to modern set price records at auctions. The emphasis was on historical significance and finest quality,” said PNG Executive Director Robert Brueggeman.
Among the many notable examples of record-setters and price increases in the market was a 1907 High Relief, Wire Rim Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle graded Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC) Proof-69 sold by Heritage for $660,000. That same coin brought $573,300 in a 2013 auction.
Other noteworthy records included a Draped Bust 1796 quarter-dollar graded PCGS MS-64 sold by GreatCollections for $303,750, about 20% higher than its price guide value. A similarly graded one sold for $141,000 in 2015. An 1896 Morgan silver dollar graded PCGS MS-68 sold by Legend Rare Coin Auctions in 2020 for a record $30,550; $5,550 higher than its price guide value at the time.
The two most valuable individual U.S. banknotes sold at auction in 2020 were an 1863 $100 Legal Tender Note graded by Paper Money Guaranty (PMG) Gem Uncirculated 65 EPQ (Exceptional Paper Quality) sold by Stack’s Bowers for $432,000 and a 1934 $10,000 Federal Reserve $10,000 Note graded PMG Gem Uncirculated 66 EPQ sold by Heritage for $384,000.
The most valuable individual U.S. paper money sold at auction in 2020 was this Civil War-era 1863 $100 Legal Tender Note for $432,000. Photo courtesy of Stack’s Bowers Galleries.
Heritage sold a total of $183 million of U.S. rare coins and $33.5 million of U.S. banknotes at auctions in 2020, and Stack’s Bowers had $88.1 million in auctions of U.S. coins and $14.9 million in U.S. banknotes.
“The markets for collectibles have not merely survived the COVID-19 crisis, they have thrived. There is no doubt: collectibles are an asset class. A broad range of collectibles, including rare coins, banknotes, comic books and trading cards, have become highly liquid and fungible,” said Mark Salzberg, Chairman of Certified Collectibles Group, parent company of NGC (www.NGCcoin.com), the PNG’s official authentication and grading service.
In alphabetical order, the auction firms that responded to the PNG 2020 year-end questionnaire are: Bonhams (www.Bonhams.com); Early Cents Auctions (www.EarlyCentsAuctions.com); Fox Valley Coins (www.FoxValleyCoins.com); Ira and Larry Goldberg Auctioneers (www.GoldbergCoins.com): GreatCollections (www.GreatCollections.com); Heritage Auctions (www.HA.com); Kagin’s (www.Kagins.com); David Lawrence Rare Coins (www.DavidLawrence.com); Legend Rare Coin Auctions (www.LegendAuctions.com); Scotsman Coin & Jewelry (www.scoin.com); Sotheby’s (www.Sothebys.com): and Stack’s Bowers Galleries (www.StacksBowers.com).
The Professional Numismatists Guild was founded in 1955, and its member-dealers must adhere to a strict code of ethics in the buying and selling of numismatic merchandise.
For additional information and a list of PNG member-dealers, visit online at www.PNGdealers.org or call the PNG headquarters in Temecula, California at 951-587-8300.
Dec 23, 2020 | ACEF/ACTF, News
(Temecula, California) December 23, 2020 — Promptly acting on a tip from a concerned collector, the Anti-Counterfeiting Educational Foundation’s (www.ACEFonline.org) Anti-Counterfeiting Task Force (ACTF) has notified law enforcement agencies and online shopping platform Amazon.com about a seller who is in apparent violation of federal laws involving reproductions of rare coins.
The seller using the name SeTing offered nine reproductions of coins and fantasy dates, but none of the accompanying coin images indicated any of the items were properly marked “COPY” as mandated by the Hobby Protection Act.
The offered items included replicas of a 1794 Flowing Hair dollar, an 1804 Draped Bust dollar and a 1915 Indian Head Quarter Eagle ($5). There was also a fantasy piece resembling a Trade Dollar but with the date 1791 and a Carson City mint mark that was identified by the seller as “Old Original Morgan Dollar.” Genuine U.S. Trade Dollars were struck from 1873 to 1885 and Morgan silver dollars were produced between 1878 and 1921.
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Fake 1791-CC Trade #1 obverse
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Fake 1791-CC Trade $1 reverse
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Fake 1794 $1 obverse
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Fake 1794 $1 reverse
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Fake 1915 $5 obverse
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Fake 1915 $5 reverse
Prices for the “coins” ranged from $2.99 to $3.29 plus an additional $3.98 shipping.
A hobbyist who saw the online listings sent a complaint about the seller to members of the American Numismatic Association Board of Governors, some former ANA officers, the United States Mint and to several numismatic publications and numismatic information websites. ANA Past President Gary Adkins forwarded the email complaint to former Texas Police Chief Doug Davis, ACEF Director of Anti-Counterfeiting.
“The timely ‘heads up’ tip from the concerned collector is greatly appreciated. These six items are in apparent violation of both the Hobby Protection Act and Title 18 of the U.S. Code involving counterfeiting and forgery of United States coins. The task force has reported the information to the appropriate federal agencies and Amazon,” said Davis.
“ACTF currently monitors over 200 websites and social media platforms selling counterfeit coins and precious metals across the country and around the world.
Intelligence information is forwarded to the Secret Service and Treasury Department Office of the Inspector General. ACTF also assists all levels of law enforcement in counterfeit case development for prosecution,” he explained.
“The Anti-Counterfeiting Educational Foundation is aggressively seeking legislation on the state level to provide local law enforcement officers with statutes seeking criminal penalties for the possession, manufacture and distribution of counterfeit coins and precious metals,” said ACEF Executive Director Robert Brueggeman. “However, to address these problems requires the support of the numismatic community. The Anti-Counterfeiting Educational Foundation is a 501(c) (3) non-profit corporation that operates solely upon donations.”
Monetary contributions can be made online at www.acefonline.org/donate or by check mailed to ACEF, 28441 Rancho California Rd., Ste. 106, Temecula, CA 92590. For additional information about donating, contact ACEF Executive Director Brueggeman at info@ACEFonline.org.
Dec 17, 2020 | News
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Professional Coin Grading Service bestows prestigious awards to hundreds of collectors while also inducting four collectors to PCGS Set Registry Hall of Fame
(Santa Ana, CA – December 16, 2020) – Professional Coin Grading Service (www.PCGS.com) recently has announced the winners of the 2020 PCGS Set Registry Awards and new inductees to the PCGS Set Registry Hall of Fame.
For nearly two decades, PCGS has recognized top collectors and their collections with awards and other special honors. When the PCGS Set Registry Awards launched in 2002, just 15 sets received honors; this year, more than 350 sets are recognized, exemplifying the outstanding growth of the PCGS Set Registry and the incredible popularity of this interactive platform for collectors to build sets and compete with their fellow hobbyists.
“When the PCGS Registry debuted in 2001, it was the first such online platform for collectors,” says PCGS Vice President of Product Development Jamie Kiskis. “It’s become the gold standard in numismatics for collectors who want to share their passion of the hobby with the world all while getting to engage in a little friendly competition with one another. When more than 20,000 collectors display their more than 125,000 prized sets on the online PCGS Set Registry, it not only inspires other collectors to up their games, but it also shows the beautiful diversity of coins that are out there for the world to enjoy and collect.”
While the vast majority of the PCGS Registry Sets honored were picked on technical metrics, such as completeness and grade point averages, some were chosen based on the more subjective merits of overall eye appeal and scope of inclusion. That was the case with the PCGS Best Digital Album, an honor that was selected by PCGS Set Registry members and guests. The 2020 Best Digital Album nods go to an exquisite 1873 United States Proof Set by a collector known as “D. Lud.” Other top awards went to “D.L. Hansen,” “High Desert,” and “Alamo Collection” in the U.S. coin categories while “JBW,” “cannonball!,” and “skandakumera,” were just a few of the many collectors who won various world coin awards.
A complete list of the 2020 PCGS Set Registry winners can be found online at: www.pcgs.com/setregistry/awards/2020.
In addition to the hundreds of outstanding PCGS Set Registry collectors taking home awards for their collections, four numismatic luminaries past and present are being inducted into the prestigious PCGS Set Registry Hall of Fame. The 2020 Hall of Fame inductees are William Sumner Appleton, Del Bland, Bob Simpson, and Sun Keqin.
Appleton was a venerable Massachusetts collector who once owned an 1804 Draped Bust Dollar, a trophy known as the “King of American Coins” that was later graded by PCGS and went into other famous collections. Bland was a premier expert in United States Large Cents and became a renowned authority on these early United States copper coins. Simpson, the founder of XTO Energy and co-chairman of the Texas Rangers Major League Baseball team, has long had many top-ranking PCGS Registry Sets consisting of United States coins. Keqin is a top authority on Chinese coins and fields a diverse array of Set Registry collections containing modern coins from China.
“The PCGS Set Registry has long proven to be a successful, exciting platform for collectors year after year, and we have consistently made innovative improvements that have allowed the community to thrive,” remarks PCGS President Brett Charville. “As we continue growing and evolving during our 35th anniversary year in 2021, PCGS will continue enhancing the experience for everyone.”
To become a PCGS Set Registry member for free, please visit https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry.
About Professional Coin Grading Service
Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) is a third-party coin and banknote grading company that was launched in 1986. Over nearly 35 years, PCGS has examined and certified some 45 million U.S. and world coins, medals, and tokens with a combined value of more than $41.7 billion. For more information about PCGS products and services, including how to submit your coins for authentication and grading, please visit www.PCGS.com or call PCGS Customer Service at (800) 447-8848.
Dec 10, 2020 | News
Three Collectors Splitting $2,000 Bounty for Submitting First 2020-W Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve Quarters for Grading by Professional Coin Grading Service
Santa Ana, CA) – December 10, 2020 – Professional Coin Grading Service (www.PCGS.com) Quarter Quest 2020 continues with three winners tying as the first to submit the first examples of the 2020-W Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve Kansas Quarter for grading. The Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve Kansas Quarter was released by the United States Mint on November 16, 2020 as the fifth new quarter design for the year and 55th overall of the America The Beautiful Quarter series that launched in 2010.
The three most recent winners of Quarter Quest 2020 include Karl P. of Maryland, Emery S. of Texas, and Larry B. of Texas. They will split a $2,000 prize three ways, with each receiving $667.
The United States Mint is striking only 2 million quarters of each design bearing the “W” mint mark of the West Point Mint facility in New York. Unlike most other issues from the America The Beautiful Quarter program, the United States Mint is not distributing examples of these “W” Quarters in any Proof Sets, Uncirculated Sets, or other United States Mint products. These coins can only be found in circulation, thus making it extraordinarily challenging for collectors to find these scarce coins.
In addition to the special mint mark, the 2020 W Quarters also carry a special one-year-only “V75” privy mark commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Allied victory in World War II in 1945. The privy mark, seen on all 10 million 2020-W Quarters, is found on the obverse of the coin, just to the left of President George Washington’s portrait.
“Collectors are really excited about finding and collecting the 2020-W Quarters,” says PCGS President Brett Charville. “These modern circulating rarities are sparking new interest in coin collecting. We want to help inspire more people to look for these coins and enjoy the hobby, and that’s why we launched PCGS Quarter Quest. Since 2019, we have awarded nearly $25,000 in prizes to coin collectors around the United States,” he remarks. “We’ve also unveiled several limited-edition special labels and pedigrees for the 2020-W Quarters.”
In addition to splitting the cash prize of $2,000 for the submitter(s) of the first 2020-W Quarter for each design, the winners will receive a unique PCGS First Discovery Label in the holder of their encapsulated special find. Two other limited-edition pedigrees are offered to all collectors who submit the new coins within the first weeks following the grading of the First Discovery specimens.
Qualifying 2020-W Quarters submitted within the first seven days of the PCGS First Discovery receive the PCGS First Week of Discovery pedigree. After that initial week, submissions made during the 45 days of the First Discovery Label receive an Early Find Label. With the discovery of the 2020-W Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve Quarters, the clock is already ticking for those who wish to pair specimens of their 2020-W Kansas Quarters with the other two limited-edition labels.
Karl P. of Maryland obtained his 2020-W Tallgrass Prairie Quarter by way of a private seller. “With COVID-19, it’s been difficult getting boxes of new coins from the bank these days,” he says. The multi-time Quarter Quest winner reports becoming a collector in 2019 because of Quarter Quest. “When I heard the United States Mint was releasing the W Quarters, I looked them up online and found out about PCGS Quarter Quest.” Karl began searching far and wide for W Quarters, submitting them with hopes of winning PCGS Quarter Quest prizes. “I attended a PCGS Luncheon at the 2020 Florida United Numismatists Show and had a great time there. PCGS is top-notch.”
Larry. B, a longtime collector from Texas who is enjoying the hobby during his retirement, bought his winning 2020-W Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve Quarter from an online auction company. “I kept checking every day for the 2020-W Quarter when I heard it had been released. I bought two with the hopes they would qualify for the PCGS First Week of Discovery pedigree,” he says. “Thankfully, the coins got to me quickly and I already had a PCGS submission form ready to go when they did.” He was privy to the 2020-W Quarter Quest announcements because he is a member of the PCGS Collectors Club. “I’ve been a club member for a few years now,” he adds. “I did pretty good on [getting his coins in on time for] Early Find labels.”
Emery S., also of Texas, similarly found his 2020-W Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve Quarter by way of an internet auction firm. “I bought it right away,” he says, “but I really wasn’t expecting for it to become a First Discovery coin.” A collector since he was a kid, Emery says he is “tickled” that his piece was one of the three First Discovery coins. When he isn’t looking for 2020-W Quarters, he concentrates on collecting gold coins. “I bought some gold coins from the Saddle Ridge Hoard,” he adds. He’s also a fan of PCGS. “I’ve been a PCGS Collectors Club member for a while now and like using PCGS CoinFacts – there’s so much information there.”
For more information about PCGS 2020 Quarter Quest, including the latest information on bounties and to find out which pedigrees and prizes are available, or to find out how much time remains for PCGS First Week of Discovery and PCGS Early Find pedigrees, please visit www.pcgs.com/2020quarterquest. This page also provides information on terms and conditions for PCGS 2020 Quarter Quests, including rules and qualifications.
About Professional Coin Grading Service
Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) is the premier third-party coin and banknote grading company that was launched in 1986. Over nearly 35 years, PCGS has examined and certified over 45 million U.S. and world coins, banknotes, medals, and tokens with a combined value of more than $41.7 billion. For more information about PCGS products and services, including how to submit your coins for authentication and grading, please visit www.PCGS.com or call PCGS Customer Service at (800) 447-8848.
Dec 10, 2020 | ACEF/ACTF, News
(Temecula, California) December 10, 2020 – Funded only by donations, the nonprofit Anti-Counterfeiting Educational Foundation (www.ACEFonline.org) worked with law enforcement agencies in 2020 to protect collectors, dealers and the general public by helping remove from the marketplace over $1 million of counterfeit rare coins and precious metals items, according to a year-end update from the foundation.
Among the cases, ACEF and its Anti-Counterfeiting Task Force (ACTF) assisted Customs and Border Protection investigators in seizing over 1,500 counterfeit silver American Eagles at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and aided two investigations by the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) involving the seizure of fake rare coins valued at over $450,000.
“ACEF/ACTF has become a central repository for offenses related to counterfeit coins and precious metals. We’ve developed a searchable database for offenses and intelligence information and are continually providing a tool for law enforcement to identify trends, patterns, suspects, manufacturers, as well as uncovering websites and social media platforms offering counterfeits,” explained Doug Davis, ACEF Director of Anti-Counterfeiting.
“The ACEF Task Force has over 80 active cases being reviewed and investigated. During 2020 we assisted law enforcement agencies in locating and seizing over $1 million dollars in counterfeit coins and precious metals,” said Davis who conducted a half dozen anti-counterfeiting seminars for law enforcement officers across the country during the past year.
ACEF also is currently assisting Treasury OIG with three cases involving elderly victims who unsuspectingly bought counterfeit coins housed in fake NGC and PCGS holders sold by a telemarketing firm.
With assistance from the Anti-Counterfeiting Educational Foundation, New Jersey legislators are considering a law that would impose criminal penalties for anyone selling counterfeit coins and precious metals.
“To effectively combat counterfeits, all states need to have statutes that address counterfeit coins and precious metals and provide criminal penalties. This would allow local, county and state law enforcement officers the tools to investigate, arrest and prosecute counterfeit coin and precious metal cases at a state level. ACEF is in the process of identifying states that do not have current statutes and providing legislators with a model bill for review and adoption,” said Davis.
“The work of the Anti-Counterfeiting Task Force is supported entirely by donations made to the Anti-Counterfeiting Educational Foundation, a non-profit corporation,” emphasized ACEF Executive Director Robert Brueggeman. “The donations, large or small, are making a difference to help prevent collectors, dealers and the general public from becoming victims of fakes.”
A section of the educational exhibit of confiscated counterfeit coins displayed by the Anti-Counterfeiting Educational Foundation in cooperation with U.S. Homeland Security at the 2018 ANA World’s Fair of Money. (Photo credit: Donn Pearlman.)
Monetary contributions can be made online at www.acefonline.org/donate or by check mailed to ACEF, 28441 Rancho California Rd., Ste. 106, Temecula, CA 92590. For additional information about donating, contact ACEF Executive Director Brueggeman at info@ACEFonline.org.
