Feb 5, 2020 | News, U.S. Mint
CARSON CITY, NV – United States Mint Director David J. Ryder today joined officials of the state of Nevada and representatives of the Nevada State Museum to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the first coin produced at the Carson City Mint.
Director Ryder reflected on the facility’s legacy: “The Carson City Mint holds a special place in the United States Mint’s history. Some of our most beautiful coins were produced here, including the iconic Morgan Silver Dollar, which is still popular with collectors today. I am proud to acknowledge the people who worked here and the important role the facility played in the community.”
An Act of Congress established the Carson City Mint in 1863 to address the coinage needs brought about by the discovery of the Comstock Lode. The facility operated from 1870 to 1899 and produced gold and silver coins, including dimes, twenty-cent pieces, quarters, half dollars, Trade dollars, Morgan dollars, five-dollar gold pieces, ten-dollar gold pieces, and twenty-dollar gold pieces. From 1899 to 1933, the building served as a United States Assay Office for gold and silver. The building was sold to the state of Nevada in 1939.
Ryder joined Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak and Lt. Governor Kate Marshall, Congressman Mark Amodei, State Treasurer Zach Conine, Mayor Robert Crowell, Nevada State Museum Director Myron Freedman, and History Curator Robert Nylen to celebrate this milestone.
The event kicked off with the symbolic opening of the historic front doors of the Carson City Mint and the ringing of the Mint Bell by Director Ryder. Additional highlights included the ceremonial striking of a Nevada State Museum .999 fine silver medallion on the historic Coin Press 1, which struck the first “CC” mint mark coin in 1870. A lecture program, buffet lunch reception, and cake cutting rounded out the celebration.
Feb 1, 2020 | News, Shows & Conventions
Exhibition opened on Tuesday 28th January at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre in Abu Dhabi
DUBAI, 30th January, 2020: “Coins of Islam: History Revealed” which opened on 28th January underlines the rich history and cultural legacy across centuries.
- The exhibition was curated and organized by Dr. Alain Baron, founder of Numismatica Genevensis SA
- One of the world’s most significant collections of Arab and Islamic coinage ever assembled
- Over 300 coins in the exhibition which will run until 28th April 2020
Several officials commended “Coins of Islam: History Revealed” exhibition, organized by Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre. Held under the Patronage of HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union (GWU), President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, and Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation (FDF), the exhibition was inaugurated today by HH Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs at the Center’s premises in Abu Dhabi.
HE Abdurrahman bin Mohammed Al Owais, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre, stated that “Islamic history and culture inspired this exhibition in line with the SZGMC’s vision.”
His Excellency continued: “Since its establishment, the Centre has become a leading cultural destination, serving as a beacon of intellect and reason through its various activities. By displaying historical artifacts, like these extraordinary coins, SZGMC aims to underline the rich history and cultural legacy of successive Islamic eras across centuries.”
Commenting on the inauguration of the Visitor Centre and Souq Al Jami’ his Excellency stated that “Ever since its establishment, Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre has worked towards supporting the UAEs efforts to establish rapprochement between cultures. While also improving the quality standards of cultural tourism across the country and transform it into a leading global destination. Today as we witness another outstanding achievement at this grand edifice that is considered an important addition to the integrated system of services and facilities, SZGMC seeks to develop and provide millions of different religions and nationalities.
His Excellency considered such an achievement to be an opportunity to recall the founding father’s aspiration to create a spectacular masterpiece that serves as a platform to promote tolerance and coexistence. Sheikh Zayed laid down the foundations of the UAE’s moderate approach, making it a meeting point of cultures from all across the globe.”
Dr. Alain Baron, the founder of Numismatica Genevensis, stated, “One of the world’s most significant collections of Arab and Islamic coinage ever assembled, the exhibition will celebrate the splendors and achievements of the Islamic civilization across centuries and the unique perspective on that history afforded by its coins. It is our absolute honor to emphasize the SZGMC’s mission as a centre of learning and knowledge and to highlight the unique and profound role that numismatics plays in our understanding of history and culture.”
HE Sultan Dahi Hemeiri, Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Centre, commenting on the exhibition, stated that “The exhibition is an extension of SZGMC’s achievements and its role as a cross-cultural platform that facilitates intercultural communication. It also reflects the grand mosque’s as a positon leading destination that, annually, receives more than 6 million visitors, seeking to promote the vast accomplishments of the Islamic civilization achieved across centuries and highlight the commonalities and human connections between various cultures reflecting the founding father’s vision and aspirations.”
Commenting on the project, His Excellency Sultan Dahi Al-Humairi stated that “The establishment The New Visitor Centre and ‘Souq Al Jami” is part of SZGMCs strategic plan, that aims to promote the grand mosque as a global religious and cultural landmark.” He also added that “The idea behind establishing both projects support SZGMC’s administration’s efforts to ensure the smooth flow of its operational process and to provide the growing crowds of worshipers and visitors of different cultures with upmost services following the highest standards.”
HE Dr. Youssef Al-Obaidli, Director General of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre, affirmed that “SZGMC is dedicated to fulfilling its civilizing and Cultural role. It aims to promote the gains and achievements of the Islamic culture on a broader scale through organizing many cultural programs throughout the year, including exhibitions like this that provide those interested in history with access to a rare collection of 300 coins displayed throughout the exhibition’s six sections. These coins originate from all across the Arabian Gulf and North Africa, and they serve as a unique and invaluable source of documentation that narrates the history of coins, based on the timeline of minting across various civilizations and eras, while also highlighting the commonalities amongst various cultures.”
While commenting on the Visitor Centre and Souq Al Jami’, His Excellency stated that, “The Centre constantly seeks to improve its services, and meet the needs and expectations of the masses, and provide them with all means of comfort in a manner consistent with mosque’s standards. This helps render the Centre’s vision and ensure the comfort of the mosque’s worshipers and visitors and facilitate their entrance to the mosque, despite their growing numbers. The Centre also seeks to offer them a comprehensive and enriching visit experience regardless of their cultures of age groups.”
His Excellency also noted that “SZGM secured its position on the global tourism map as a leading cultural destination, which was clearly indicated by SZGMC’s total worshiper and visitor statistics for 2019 that topped 6 million. This reflects the grand mosque ‘s status as a prominent cultural centre that welcomes various cultures in an ambiance of tolerance, depicting the rich legacy and values of the Emirati community established by the late founding father.”
HE Noura Al Suwaidi, director of the General Federation of Women, commented that: “Coins of Islam: History Revealed exhibition showcases one of the most unique collections of rare coinage ever assembled, which has been collected from all across the globe. Through the display of 300 coins, the exhibition traces the historical evolution of Islamic coinage by documenting the coin’s date of minting and the historical background associated with its production, supported by rich factual information that conveys their cultural and historical value. Besides, it sheds light on Islam’s long history of engaging with other cultures and faiths.”
She also added that “The Mother of the Nation’s deep insight implicates her interest in such exhibitions that represent the enduring history of our nation and enlighten society in general and women in particular about the rich heritage of Islamic culture, and the extent of progress it has achieved throughout history.”
HE Noura Al Suwaidi highlighted that: “One of the main features of the Islamic coinage exhibition is the dedication of an entire section to women, which documents the significant presence of strong and inspirational women in various cultures across the centuries. This section showcases a selection of coins engraved with images of incredible women who left their mark on history. It also reflects the mission of HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak to support women’s empowerment, as well as her immeasurable achievements that have played a significant role in the renaissance of the UAE.”
She also stated that: “The exhibition narrates the history of coins, based on the timeline of minting across various civilizations of the world. It also portrays the images of revered historical figures, as well as other imagery that depicts inhabitants and cultures and further highlights the commonalities and human connections between these cultures.”
Al Reem Abdullah Al – Falasi, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, also stated that: “The significance of organizing this exhibition at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque’s premises compliments its prominent status as a global cultural and intellectual platform and a leading destination that receives more than 6 million visitors a year. This unique masterpiece embodying the aesthetics of Islamic art and architecture was for consecutive years selected as one of the world’s top destinations, according to TripAdvisor’s – Traveler’s Choice Awards. It seeks to support the UAE’s strategy that aims to establish channels of dialogue and build cultural, intellectual, and humanitarian bridges.”
She also stressed that HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, through sponsoring this exhibition, aims to inform women about their rich history and highlight the historical time frame throughout which Islamic heritage flourished and thrived. This exhibition is also consistent with the SZGMC’s mission to revive the rich history of the Islamic Civilization, and promote its notions and noble values, in line with the inspirational vision of the late founding father, Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who sought to preserve and highlight the history of Islamic culture and its vast achievements throughout history.
Feb 1, 2020 | ACEF/ACTF, News
Anti-Counterfeiting Educational Foundation alerted and assisted investigators in the case
(Camden, NJ) January 29, 2020 – A federal court judge in Camden, New Jersey has sentenced admitted counterfeit coins importer, Johnathan A. Kirschner, 35, of Moorestown, New Jersey, to 10½ years in prison. After being alerted by members of the Anti-Counterfeiting Educational Foundation (www.ACEFonline.org) about the sale of counterfeit coins to unsuspecting buyers, investigators discovered and confiscated at Kirschner’s home fake gold and silver coins and bogus ingots that would have been worth more than $46 million if they were genuine, according to ACEF.
Foundation experts also provided ongoing expert assistance to the U.S. Attorney’s office and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security during the investigation.
In addition to admitting he imported, possessed and sold counterfeit coins, Kirschner admitted he falsely impersonated an agent of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).
His sentencing was delayed nearly a year as U.S. District Court Judge Robert B. Kugler received and considered comments from victims, including a dozen sovereign Mints, private mints, and grading services, according to Doug Davis, ACEF Director of Anti-Counterfeiting.
“The lengthy sentence is a major victory. I felt the judge was very thorough in reviewing the evidence and realized the possible high level of fraud that could occur,” stated Richard Weaver, a member of the ACEF Board of Directors and President of the Professional Numismatists Guild (www.PNGdealers.org) who testified as an expert witness during the sentencing hearing on January 28, 2020.
Weaver, President of Delaware Valley Rare Coins in Broomall, Pennsylvania, played a crucial role in the apprehension of Kirschner, also known under the alias of Jonathan Kratcher.
Two of Kirschner’s victims visited Weaver in early 2017 seeking an evaluation of 49 Morgan dollars they purchased from Kirschner. Weaver examined the coins and informed the couple that all of them were counterfeits.
They two victims told Weaver they trusted Kirschner because he claimed he was an ATF agent selling coins as a side business. He displayed an ATF badge on his Facebook site and wore it when he met with them.
They also told Weaver that they had a tentative appointment with Kirschner to purchase more items in a couple of days. Weaver promptly contacted ACEF’s Anti-Counterfeiting Task Force which in turn alerted federal law enforcement agents who immediately identified the ATF badge shown on Kirschner’s Facebook site as counterfeit.
Working with the couple, ATF and Homeland Security Investigations set up a sting operation with an undercover agent posing as the sister of the couple. Kirchner was arrested in the act of selling counterfeit coins to the undercover agent.
After the arrest, law enforcement officials executed a search warrant of Kirchner’s house and Customs and Border Protection intercepted additional packages shipped to him from China.
Weaver served as law enforcement’s numismatic expert in the Kirchner case, devoting many hours to identifying all the counterfeit coins, bars, and grading service holder components. In addition, he provided a current market value for each item if it had been genuine so that law enforcement can determine the potential harm to victims and to the marketplace.
“The important work of the foundation and the task force are supported entirely by donations,” explained the foundation’s Executive Director Robert Brueggeman whose background is in law enforcement and security. “The ACEF is a 501(c)(3) corporation and all donations to ACEF are tax-deductible.”
For additional information or to make a donation, contact the Anti-Counterfeiting Educational Foundation by phone at 817-723-7231, by email info@ACEFonline.org or visit the web site at www.ACEFonline.org.
The Professional Numismatists Guild (PNG) is a nonprofit organization composed of many of the country’s top rare, paper money and precious metals bullion experts. PNG members must adhere to a strict code of ethics in the buying and selling numismatic merchandise.
Jan 24, 2020 | Bureau of Engraving and Printing, News
The BEP Monthly Production Reports for December 2019 and January 2020 Have Been Posted.
Please click here to access the report.
Jan 15, 2020 | News
(Pelham, Alabama) — In March 2020 Whitman Publishing will release 100 Greatest Modern World Coins, by numismatists Charles Morgan and Hubert Walker. The 168-page coffee-table hardcover will be available from booksellers and hobby shops nationwide, and online (including at www.Whitman.com). Here, medallic-art historian Donald Scarinci shares his thoughts on modern world coinage and the new book.
When you pick up a book about “modern” coins, you might expect to see pictures of everyday pocket change. To numismatists, the modern period in coins generally does not include the ones in your pocket, nor does it include the commercially made commemorative and “collector” coins and bullion sold today. Rather, the term modern describes the period of numismatic history that starts from the widespread use of the Janvier reducing machine in the mid- to late 1800s and continues to about the dawn of the space age or the era of computers.
Those 100 or so years were a time of great transition in just about every aspect of life. In numismatics, they were a bridge between the classic designs of the great eighteenth- and nineteenth-century engravers, like Pierre-Simon-Benjamin Duvivier and William Wyon, and the contemporary masterpieces of sculptors such as Herbert Wähner and Donald N. Everhart Jr.
Strong Demand for Coins and the Technological Changes to Meet that Demand
Historically, demand for coins and advances in technology may be the two most significant variables that influenced coin design. As demand for coins in commerce increased in the ancient world, their methods of production improved and the number of mints increased.
Demand continued to increase from the seventeenth century forward. Manufacturing methods improved and the demand was met on a widespread scale. Instead of each coin being individually hammered by hand, mechanically operated devices increased the speed and efficiency of production.
As the speed of production increased, the need for artists to design the coins expanded. New technology assisted the designers just as it increased the production of coins. A medieval hammered coin looks very different from a coin produced on a screw press or a steam press. All coins made after the invention and widespread use of the Janvier reducing machine look very different from the coins made before.
In the nineteenth century the Janvier allowed sculptors to participate in what had theretofore been the province of engravers. The sculptors brought a new eye to coin design and saw coins as three-dimensional objects, like bas relief and sculpture. They could sculpt a 12-inch bas relief, put it on the Janvier, and reduce the sculpture to a 40 mm stackable coin.
In the modern era, before credit and debit cards, more people than ever before in the history of the world used coins and paper currency to transact business. Their coins needed to be functional for everyday use. It is no surprise, therefore, that the design trends in the decorative arts—art nouveau, beaux arts, art deco—and not trends such as expressionism, cubism, surrealism, modernism, or post-modernism came to dominate coin and medal design before the 1960s.
It can be argued whether the involvement of sculptors in coin design made coins more aesthetically competitive or whether the marketplace demanded more pleasing coin designs and mints responded to the demand. It is certain, however, that while function has driven the weight, size, and shape of the coins of the modern era, sculptors have driven the excellence of coin designs.
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The United Kingdom and its empire (and, later, Commonwealth countries) account for many of the 100 Greatest Modern World Coins. Australia boasts four entries, including no. 7, the exceedingly rare Proof 1930 Melbourne penny.
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The coinage of China is well represented among the 100 Greatest, occupying 14 percent of the book’s rankings, including one-third of the top 20 coins.
For Modern Coins, the Art is as Important as the Historical Context
Collectors who discover these “bridge” coins that we have labeled “modern” have a unique opportunity to understand the world nation-by-nation. The 1907-S peso from the Philippines makes a statement about that country and its relationship with America, just as the 1938 pattern penny of Ireland teaches something about the sentiment of the Irish people when they changed the inscription from Saorstát Éireann (Irish Free State) to Eire.
When we study the coinage of the modern era, we begin to appreciate the importance of the art as much as the subject matter it conveys and the importance of a coin in its historical context. Increasingly, modern coins are studied and appreciated almost more for their art than for their history. With modern coins, numismatists strive to understand the life and work of artists such as Georges Guiraud, who designed the 1950 50 franc, and Giuseppe Romagnoli, who designed the impressive 1928 20 lire.
The trend is toward understanding the art of coins and the work of the artists who make them. Beginning in 1982, coin designs and artists were singled out with recognitions like the Krause Coin of the Year Award. At many world mints, the designs on coins are reviewed and approved by committees rather than by individuals, thereby creating a written numismatic record.
The advent of computer modeling in the twenty-first century allows artists to translate two-dimensional drawings into three-dimensional coins. Today, graphic artists are replacing sculptors in the same way that sculptors replaced engravers in the 1800s when the Janvier reducing machine was introduced. Fortunately, sculptors are still required in the translation process, but this too will likely change.
Assembling Your Own Great Coin Collection
Morgan and Walker’s 100 Greatest Modern World Coins debunks the notion that coins of the modern era are too common to warrant much of a premium for collecting purposes. However, the emphasis on rarity in this latest “100 Greatest” book should not deter collectors who are interested in the coins of this important period.
Coins of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries were manufactured in the millions. Accordingly, they are often available quite inexpensively. The challenge with collecting modern coins is not so much the scarcity of the coins, but the scarcity of the condition.
The best uncertified modern coins often sell for just a slight premium over their less-pristine siblings. If you can grade properly and develop an interesting collecting plan, your efforts will be rewarded economically as well as by the knowledge you gain from the collecting experience.
Authors Charles Morgan and Hubert Walker have created a wonderful study of modern world coinage. They cover the period of 1900 to date (extending the “modern” era to include in their rankings a half dozen significant and well-deserving coins from more recent decades), setting each coin in context and bringing each to life. 100 Greatest Modern World Coins will inspire, inform, and entertain you. Enjoy the journey and let it spark ideas for building your own significant collection.
# # #
Donald Scarinci, chairman of the J. Sanford Saltus Award Committee (American Numismatic Society) and senior member of the U.S. Treasury Department’s Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee.
# # #
100 Greatest Modern World Coins
By Charles Morgan and Hubert Walker; foreword by Donald Scarinci
ISBN 0794846335; hardcover, coffee-table (10 x 12 inches); 168 pages; full color; retail $29.95 U.S.
About the Authors
Charles Morgan is an award-winning numismatic writer, industry analyst, and editor of one of the hobby’s most visited online publications, CoinWeek.com. At CoinWeek, he has written about and covered the entire gamut of numismatic topics. As the host of the CoinWeek Podcast, Morgan has dug deeper into the history of numismatics with some of the hobby’s leading personalities.
His main areas of collecting interest are numismatic literature and the coins and medals of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. He also collects U.S. coins, classic films, and comic books.
Morgan studied English at Susquehanna University and the University of Virginia and served in the U.S. Army as a Russian linguist. He lives in Virginia with his wife, two children, and a very temperamental Maine Coon cat.
Hubert Walker is the assistant editor of CoinWeek.com and along with Charles has written numerous award-winning articles and columns, both online and in print. He studied English at the University of Virginia, though he is also keen on history, music, and art. Hubert currently resides in Virginia; his cat does not.
Jan 7, 2020 | News, U.S. Mint
WASHINGTON – The United States Mint (Mint) began accepting orders for the 2020 editions of the United States Mint Birth Set and the United States Mint Happy Birthday Coin Set on January 3, 2020, at noon (EST).
The United States Mint Birth Set (product code 20RD) contains the following five proof finish 2020-dated coins from the Mint’s San Francisco facility:
- One Kennedy half dollar
- One National Park of American Samoa quarter—the first quarter of the year in the America the Beautiful Quarters® Program
- One Roosevelt dime
- One Jefferson nickel, and
- One Lincoln penny
The coins are mounted in a teddy-bear themed presentation folder in a gender-neutral color. The folder has space for a baby’s vital statistics, a personalized message, and a 3″ x 5″ photograph. The Certificate of Authenticity is printed on the back of the folder and the coins’ specifications are printed on the coordinating slipcase.
The United States Mint Happy Birthday Coin Set (product code 20RE) contains the following five proof-finish coins also produced at the Mint’s San Francisco facility:
- One Kennedy half dollar
- One Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve quarter—the last quarter of the five ATB quarters that will be issued in 2020
- One Roosevelt dime
- One Jefferson nickel, and
- One Lincoln penny
The coins are mounted in a festive presentation folder adorned with red, gold, and silver balloons. Both sides of the encapsulated coins are visible in its packaging. The Certificate of Authenticity is printed on the back of the folder and the coins’ specifications are printed on the back of the coordinating sleeve.
Both sets are priced at $23.00. The Mint accepts orders via its online catalog at www.catalog.usmint.gov/ and at 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468). Hearing- and speech-impaired customers with TTY equipment may order at 1-888-321-MINT. Visit us online at www.catalog.usmint.gov/customer-service/shipping.html for available shipping options.
Note: To ensure that all members of the public have fair and equal access to United States Mint products, the United States Mint will not accept and will not honor orders placed prior to the official on-sale date of Jan. 3, 2020, at noon EST.
Dec 31, 2019 | News, PNG
(Temecula, California) December 30, 2019 — The emphasis in the United States rare coin market in 2019 was again on superb quality and exceptional rarity with hundreds of record prices reached at major public auctions, according to a year-end tabulation by the Professional Numismatists Guild (www.PNGdealers.org). The PNG is a nonprofit organization composed of many of the country’s top rare coin and paper money dealers.
Based on responses to a year-end PNG questionnaire, the aggregate prices realized for U.S. rare coins sold at major public auctions in 2019 totaled more than $325 million, compared to $345 million in 2018 and $316 million in 2017.
Six U.S. coins sold for $1 million or more during the year, five at auction and one by private transaction. Although sales of paper money were not included in the aggregate auction total, three rare U.S. bank notes also sold at public auction in 2019 for $1 million or more.
“The coin market overall seems very healthy,” stated PNG President Richard Weaver.
“As in past years, fresh ‘quality’ coins coming back on the market or appearing for the first time are very easy to sell. One of the main purchasing criteria for us is ‘eye appeal’ versus simply a ‘coin in a holder.’ On the other hand, common generic coins are plentiful, and values for some continue to slide. The market for coins not independently certified for authenticity and grade also appears to be sliding on non-bullion-based items such as semi-key Lincoln cents, Liberty Head nickels in fine/very fine and others,” explained Weaver.
“Bullion-related coins such as silver Washington quarters and Franklin half dollars in circulated condition also seem to be only staying at or very slightly above bullion value. One of the highlights of bullion value related numismatic items seems to be the increased interest in circulated, pre-1933 US gold coins. We saw steady sales in this market sector throughout the year. The bullion market is obviously stronger dollar-wise with the spot prices increasing led by palladium at roughly 50%, platinum 18%, gold 15% and silver at 8%,” he noted.
“There seems to be an accumulation of precious metals taking place which hopefully can spill over into the numismatic marketplace. Also, we cannot overlook the United States Mint’s release of the 2019 Enhanced Reverse Proof Silver Eagle. We saw some renewed interest in collectors buying older date American Eagle bullion coins to start or complete their sets by date,” said Weaver.
While prices declined during 2019 for some U.S. coins in easily available lower grades, hundreds of noteworthy coins that are among the finest known of their kind from early American to modern set price records at auctions. For example, a silver 1964 Kennedy half dollar from a previously unreported United States Mint special mint set, graded PCGS SP68, established a record price for any modern, non-error U.S. coin, $156,000, in an auction conducted by Stack’s Bowers Galleries which sold an aggregate total of $59.7 million of rare coins at auctions in 2019.
The most valuable U.S. rare coin sold in 2019 was a proof 1885 silver Trade dollar, graded NGC PR66, for a record $3,960,000 at an auction by Heritage Auctions which sold a total of $181.3 million of U.S. rare coins at auctions in 2019.
The auction firms that responded to the PNG year-end questionnaire are: Bonhams (www.Bonhams.com); Ira and Larry Goldberg Auctioneers (www.GoldbergCoins.com): GreatCollections Coin Auctions (www.GreatCollections.com); Heritage Auctions (www.HA.com); Kagin’s (www.Kagins.com); David Lawrence Rare Coins (www.DavidLawrence.com); Legend Rare Coin Auctions (www.LegendAuctions.com); Sotheby’s (www.Sothebys.com): and Stack’s Bowers Galleries (www.StacksBowers.com).
The Professional Numismatists Guild was founded in 1955, and its member-dealers must adhere to a strict code of ethics in the buying and selling of numismatic merchandise.
For additional information and a list of PNG member-dealers, visit online at www.PNGdealers.org or call the PNG headquarters in Temecula, California at (951) 587-8300.
Dec 31, 2019 | News
A FedEx package containing the coins listed below has been reported stolen in Brussels. The coins were in PCGS holders.
| PCGS Cert No |
Country |
Date |
Denomination |
Grade |
| 1. COPPER COINS |
| 38783084 |
Albania |
1926-R |
5 Qindar L |
MS66RB |
| 38783085 |
Albania |
1926-R |
10 Qindar L |
MS66RB |
| 2. NICKEL COIN |
| 38781952 |
Belgium |
1931 |
1 Franc |
XF45 |
| 3. SILVER COINS |
| 38781951 |
France |
1824-I |
5 Francs |
MS62 |
| 38781953 |
Belgium |
1950 België |
100 Francs |
AU55 |
| 38781954 |
Belgium |
1873 |
5 Francs |
MS65 |
| 38781955 |
Belgium |
1873 |
5 Francs |
MS64 |
| 38781956 |
Belgium |
1873 |
5 Francs |
MS65+ |
| 38781957 |
Belgium |
1873 |
5 Francs |
MS65 |
| 38781958 |
Belgium |
1873 |
5 Francs |
MS65 |
| 38781959 |
Belgium |
1873 |
5 Francs |
MS65 |
| 38781960 |
Belgium |
1875 |
5 Francs |
MS64 |
| 38781961 |
Belg. Congo |
1887 |
2 Francs |
MS64 |
| 38781962 |
Belg. Congo |
1896 |
2 Francs |
N92 |
| 38781963 |
Belg. Congo |
1891 |
5 Francs |
N92 |
| 38781964 |
Austr.Neth. |
1790 |
3 Gulden |
N92 |
| 4. GOLD COINS |
| 38781936 |
USA |
1856-S |
20$ |
AU55 |
| 38781937 |
USA |
1874-CC |
20$ |
AU53 |
| 38781938 |
USA |
1881-S |
20$ |
MS61 |
| 38781939 |
USA |
1899-S |
20$ |
MS63 |
| 38781940 |
USA |
1904 |
20$ |
MS64 |
| 38781941 |
USA |
1908 NM |
20$ |
MS65 |
| 38781942 |
USA |
1911-D |
20$ |
MS65 |
| 38781943 |
USA |
1926 |
20$ |
MS65 |
| 38781944 |
USA |
1927 |
20$ |
MS65+ |
| 38781945 |
USA |
1894 |
10$ |
MS62 |
| 38781946 |
USA |
1901-S |
10$ |
MS63 |
| 38781947 |
USA |
1901-S |
10$ |
MS63 |
| 38781948 |
USA |
1905 |
10$ |
MS61 |
| 38781949 |
USA |
1908 M |
10$ |
MS62 |
| 38781950 |
USA |
1909 |
10$ |
MS62 |
| 38783086 |
USA |
1903 |
2.50$ |
MS64 |
| 38783087 |
Great Britain |
1902 |
2 Pounds |
PR62 Matte |
Anyone with information contact:
Doug Davis
817-723-7231
Doug@numismaticcrimes.org
Dec 21, 2019 | News
Investigators with the Dalworthington Gardens, Texas police department are investigating a home invasion burglary where two men wearing ski masks ambushed the wife as she arrived home, duct-taped her to a chair and waited for her husband to return home. When the husband entered the house, he was struck in the head several times with a baseball bat causing serious bodily injury before they ransacked the house.
News story from Fox 4—KDFW → here.
Investigators are not releasing any suspect information or a list of missing property at this time. However, they believe it was a targeted attack because the couple owns and operates Arlington Gold and Silver Exchange in Pantego, Texas. The victim, although severely beaten is expected to survive.
- Dealers should be extremely cautious during the Holiday season and be alert to any suspicious activity.
- Request close patrols of your business.
- Make note of any unusual phone calls, suspicious customers or vehicles that may be parked in front of your business or in the parking lot. Change your daily routes to and from business. Do not hesitate to contact 911 if you suspect or identify a threat.
- Discuss potential threats to family members and employees.
Be safe.
Doug Davis
817-723-7231
Doug@numismaticcrimes.org
Dec 15, 2019 | Auctions, News
Fresh, quality conscious collections attract aggressive bidding in the end.
(Lincroft, NJ—12/13/19)—On Thursday, December 12, 2019, Legend Rare Coin Auctions conducted its final Regency Auction of the year, its 35th sale as the Official Auctioneer of the PCGS Members Only Show. Held at the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas, this sale of 611 coins drew buyers from far and wide to bid on coins from the Valley View, Trzaska, Cullen B, Piedmont Numismatics Collections and other important consignments. The standing-room-only crowd, coupled with phone and a record number of online bidders, resulted in a sale that set more than 20 new world-record prices realized. Included among these were:
- Lot 7 – 50C 1942 MS68 CAC realized $28,200
- Lot 26 – 50C 1940 PCGS PR68 CAC realized $18,800
- Lot 122 – 1C 1910 PCGS PR67+ RD CAC realized $52,875
- Lot 153 – 5C 1877 PCGS PR67 CAM CAC realized $20,562.50
- Lot 219 – 5C 1914 PCGS MS67+ CAC realized $27,025
- Lot 220 – 5C 1915-S PCGS MS67 CAC realized $55,812.50
- Lot 277 – 10C 1897 PCGS PR67 DCAM CAC realized $21,737.50
- Lot 353 – 50C 1943-S PCGS MS67+ CAC realized $52,875
- Lot 357 – 50C 1946-S PCGS MS67+ CAC realized $22,912.50
- Lot 368 – 50C 1961 Doubled Die Reverse PCGS PR67+ CAC realized $14,687.50
“The crowds were huge, especially for the Valley View and Trzaska Collections,” explained Julie Abrams, president of Legend Rare Coin Auctions. “We had to bring in extra seats for the attendees. Registrations jumped in the last 48-72 hours before the sale, and continued to grow during the sale, as record numbers of internet attendees participated.”
“Overall, the results were much stronger than I had anticipated,” Laura Sperber said. “With the market slowing a bit, we are more than thrilled so see a new collector base continuing to develop through our Regency sales. I am proud to say we now have several collectors exclusively building new major collections through LRCA. When done they will rival the very best! A vast majority of the coins sold went to collectors or their agents—we love that!”
Julie Abrams concluded, “This auction was a fantastic way to end the year, as our boutique-style sales continue to garner more and more attention from the collecting public. We look forward to continuing this momentum in 2020 so that we can keep providing a showcase of top-quality coins for the market”
Legend Rare Coin Auctions’ next sale is January 30, 2020, Regency Auction 36. The consignment deadline is now passed and cataloging and photographing are well underway. Expect the sale to be live online around the beginning of January, with a watchlist being posted in the coming days. Consignments are being sought for Regency Auction 37, being held in March in Philadelphia. For more information about what is consigned to these two sales, or to consign to a future LRCA Regency Auction, call us at 732-935-1168 or email info@legendauctions.com.
