The BEP Monthly Production Report for November 2019 Has Been Posted
The BEP Monthly Production Report for November 2019 Has Been Posted.
ALERT: Stolen Currency Inventory-Dealer-Torrance,CA
The Torrance, CA police department is investigating a vehicle burglary involving currency dealer Vern Potter. The offense occurred after leaving the North County Monthly Coin Show on Sunday, Dec 1, 2019. Mr. Potter ‘s entire inventory was stolen.
The stolen currency can be viewed at the link below. 98% of the stolen material was OBSOLETES.
Anyone with information contact:
Doug Davis
817-723-7231
Doug@numismaticcrimes.org
Rare 1856-S/s Quarters Discovered in Amazing SS Central America Treasure
(Brea, California) December 3, 2019 — The fabled SS Central America, the famous “Ship of Gold” that sank in 1857 carrying tons of California Gold Rush treasure, continues to surprise and delight the numismatic world. California Gold Marketing Group LLC (CGMG) of Brea, California has confirmed discovery in the ship’s latest recovered sunken treasure of nine rare 1856 San Francisco Mint large S over small s mint mark Seated Liberty No Motto quarter dollars.
“This is a major numismatic finding! The ‘Ship of Gold’ has brought us over a half dozen 1856 S/s large mint mark over small mint mark silver quarters. The S over s is the most pronounced I have ever seen with two overlapping mint marks clear even to the naked eye. We’ve nick-named this latest SS Central America discovery as the S over s Central America,” said Dwight Manley, CGMG Managing Partner.
This 1856 large S over small s mint mark quarter dollar, now graded PCGS XF45, is one of nine examples of the elusive variety recently discovered in the treasure recovered from the fabled “Ship of Gold,” the S.S. Central America. (Image courtesy of Professional Coin Grading Service www.PCGS.com.)
“Considering the preponderance of Philadelphia and New Orleans Mint coins found in the recovered treasure, it would appear these came from a batch of coins brought aboard by a miner, and ended up in the safe as did the miners’ pokes (packets containing gold and/or coins). What a numismatic miracle to have such a treasure trove aboard the SS Central America,” Manley stated.
The coins were part of the amazing treasure retrieved from the SS Central America in 2014. Most of the 1856-S/s coins were among the 503 silver quarter dollars discovered in a canvas bag in the purser’s sealed iron box in the ship’s safe on the seabed more than 7,000 feet below the Atlantic Ocean’s surface.
A lengthy, meticulous, coin-by-coin inspection of the treasure began when CGMG took possession of the 2014 recovery in January 2018, and quarter dollars were among the last of the items to be recently examined.
This is a close up of the large S over small s mint mark on one of the nine recently discovered 1856-S/s quarters in the historic S.S. Central America treasure. These coins will be offered in public auctions to be conducted by Goldberg Coins and Collectibles. (Image courtesy of Professional Coin Grading Service www.PCGS.com.)
With a total mintage of only 286,000, “normal” 1856-S quarter dollars are scarce even in low, circulated grades, and extremely scarce in Mint State grade. Prior to this discovery, PCGS previously certified just 38 examples of the 1856-S/s repunched mint mark, with the majority in only Good to Fine condition and none in Mint State.
These are the grades of the recently certified sunken treasure 1856-S/s quarter dollars: PCGS XF45; PCGS XF40; 4 are graded PCGS VF35 and another one is PCGS VF25. Two other coins exhibit environmental damage (PCGS designation 97) and are graded PCGS97-AU and PCGS97-XF.
In addition to the large over small mint mark examples, two, rare mint state “normal” 1856-S quarters were discovered in the treasure; one graded PCGS MS63, the other PCGS MS62.
“Silver coins that were found in the purser’s bag in a lock box inside the ship’s safe survived 157 years in the Atlantic Ocean without the corrosion seen on most silver coins found on shipwrecks. This is undoubtedly due to the oxygen-starved (anaerobic) conditions within the safe. It was not water tight, but it essentially sealed off the interior environment and its chemistry from the outside seabed environment,” explained Bob Evans, the chief scientist on the 1980’s mission that first located and recovered a portion of the fabulous sunken treasure and who served in that same role and as a numismatist with the 2014 recovery.
Evans recently found the two 1856-S and nine 1856-S/s quarters while finishing the coin-by-coin examination of the last portion of the treasure.
“The SS Central America has once again revealed another ‘time capsule effect’ of what coins were in daily commerce at the time and on the steamship route between San Francisco and New York via Panama in 1857. It is delightful to see this effect yet again in this treasure, as the contemporary usage and details are revealed to us, as if we are transported back in a time machine,” said Evans.
The SS Central America was a 280-foot long, three-masted side-wheel steamship carrying tons of California gold that had been shipped from San Francisco to Panama. She sank off the coast of North Carolina on September 12, 1857 during a hurricane while on the final leg of a voyage from Aspinwall (now Colón), Panama to New York City. The loss of the ship’s gold cargo was a major factor in the economically devastating financial panic of 1857 in the United States.
In a court-approved transaction in November 2017, the California Gold Marketing Group acquired all the treasure recovered in 2014 from Ira Owen Kane, Receiver for Recovery Limited Partnership and Columbus Exploration, LLC. In 1999, CGMG acquired all of the available S.S. Central America treasure that was recovered in the 1980s.
United States Mint Launches New Online Education Game “Map Mania”
WASHINGTON – The United States Mint (Mint) launched its newest educational game Map Mania. This game teaches U.S. geography, helping students to learn the 50 states, state capitals, and state trivia based on the America the Beautiful Quarters® and 50 State Quarters Programs.
Map Mania is one of 12 free online educational games on the Mint’s Kids Site, which was recently named a finalist for the Best Public Education Website in the International Association of Currency Affairs (IACA) Excellence in Currency 2019 Coin Awards.
- Gold Rush: Pan for gold while learning historical facts about the Gold Rush in San Francisco.
- Plinky’s Presidential Challenge: Learn the order of the U.S. presidents.
- Textile Tales: Explore the textile industry during the Industrial Revolution.
- Hoop and Darts: Throw darts at a hoop in this traditional Native American game.
- Peter the Eagle’s Coin Drop: Deliver liberty loans by flying a WWI-era plane.
- Coin Memory Match: Match the designs of quarters featuring U.S. national parks.
- Making Change: Design your own coin while learning about the parts of a coin.
- Word Quest: Search for coin-related terms in eight different online word puzzles.
- Space Supply: Deliver critical supplies to space colonies across the solar system.
- Coin Flip: Unlock new and classic coins while learning about probability and percentages.
- Counting with Coins: Identify coins and solve basic math problems in a grocery store setting.
The Mint’s Kids Site also features a digital library of U.S. coins and coin programs, educational videos, 100+ free printable coin coloring pages, and hundreds of free online K-12 lesson plans. To request free educational resources, email education.outreach@usmint.treas.gov.
New Jersey American Innovation $1 Coin Products on Sale Nov. 21
WASHINGTON – The United States Mint (Mint) began accepting orders for rolls and bags of uncirculated American Innovation™ $1 Coins honoring New Jersey on November 21 at noon EST. The coins are from the Mint’s Philadelphia and Denver facilities. Available product options are as follows:
| PRODUCT CODE | PRODUCT OPTION | MINT MARK | PRICE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19GRC | 25-Coin Roll | P | $32.95 |
| 19GRD | 25-Coin Roll | D | $32.95 |
| 19GBC | 100-Coin Bag | P | $111.95 |
| 19GBG | 100-Coin Bag | D | $111.95 |
The New Jersey American Innovation $1 Coin is the third of four American Innovation $1 Coins the Mint is releasing in 2019. Its reverse (tails) design pays homage to the development of a lightbulb with a filament that could last 1,200 hours. The design depicts an Edison bulb against an ornate background with the inscriptions “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” and “NEW JERSEY.” The obverse (heads) features a dramatic representation of the Statue of Liberty in profile with the inscriptions “IN GOD WE TRUST” and “$1.” The obverse also includes a privy mark of a stylized gear, representing industry and innovation. “2019,” the mint mark, and the inscription “E PLURIBUS UNUM” are incused on the edge of the coin.
The Mint accepts orders at www.catalog.usmint.gov and 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468). Hearing and speech-impaired customers with TTY equipment may order at 1-888-321-MINT. Shipping options are available at www.catalog.usmint.gov/customer-service/shipping.html.
Products containing New Jersey American Innovation $1 Coins will also be available for purchase at the Mint’s sales centers in Washington, D.C.; Philadelphia; and Denver. Inventory is limited to availability and subject to change.
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 Nov. 21, 2019, at noon EST.
Monthly Production Reports for BEP Have Been Posted
Monthly Production Reports for BEP Have Been Posted.
Legend Rare Coin Auctions’ 35th Regency Auction Presents an Exciting Offering of Over 600 Hand Selected Lots
(Lincroft, NJ—November 8, 2019) Legend Rare Coin Auctions has done it again! Capping off a very successful 2019 is Regency Auction 35, being held at the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas on December 12. The auction, the official auction event for the PCGS Member’s Only Show consists of 611 lots from the Valley View, Trzaska, Cullen B, and Piedmont Numismatics Collections, along with other important consignments.
Starting the sale is the Valley View Collection, a selection of high end, wildly toned late date Walking Liberty half dollars and classic commemorative half dollars, Proof Walking Liberty half dollars and assorted type coins.
The Trzaska Collection is the #2 PCGS Registry Set of Proof Nickels, 1866-2019. This historic offering of many top grade Gem and higher quality Shield, Liberty, Buffalo, and Jefferson nickels has a lot to offer collectors, regardless of their level of sophistication.
The Cullen B Collection of Morgan Dollars is a partial set of PCGS-graded, CAC-verified examples, in popular grades for collectors. The collection is focused on high quality coins, the vast majority fall in the $1,500-$4,000 range. Featuring VAMs, a few nicely toned pieces, and some PL and DMPL pieces for the added interest.
The Piedmont Numismatics Collection is an “investment portfolio” type of collection, featuring high end type coins, assorted gold coins (including a Gem Proof 1882 quarter and half eagle), and commemoratives. These coins purchased over a decade ago are now being offered at auction for the first time since at least early 2009.
Between these exceptional anchors are hundreds of other coins from other important consignors. Sale highlights abound and include, but certainly are not limited to the following:
- Lot 7. 50C 1942 PCGS MS68 CAC From the Valley View Collection
- Lot 32. $1 1900 Lafayette. PCGS MS66+ CAC From the Valley View Collection
- Lot 67. 1/2C 1808 PCGS MS64+ BN CAC
- Lot 82. 1C 1877 PCGS MS66+ BN CAC
- Lot 141. 5C 1867 Rays. PCGS PR64+ CAC From the Trzaska Collection
- Lot 237. 5C 1937-D 3-Legs. PCGS MS66
- Lot 322 50C 1808 PCGS MS66+ CAC
- Lot 426. $1 1888-O Scarface. PCGS MS63+ CAC From the Cullen B Collection
- Lot 511. $1 1921 Chapman. PCGS PR67
- Lot 534. 10C 1796 PCGS MS63 CAC From the Piedmont Numismatics Collection
- Lot 548. $2.50 1882 PCGS PR66 DCAM CAC From the Piedmont Numismatics Collection
- Lot 570. $2.50 1834 PCGS MS64+ PL PCGS CAC
- Lot 609. $20 1916-S PCGS MS66+ CAC
Legend Rare Coin Auctions’ president, Julie Abrams commented, “We are amazed at what a strong variety of coins we have assembled yet again to offer the collecting public! Where else are you going to find an offering like this?! In today’s market, nowhere.”
“Our team really did a marvelous job bringing in some of the coolest coins for this auction, and there are coins in all areas of federal coinage in all price points. This selection of coins will really excite all kinds of collectors!” declared Laura Sperber, founder and partner of LRCA. “Our bidders can be assured that I looked at and approved every single coin in the auction, so you can be sure that each and every coin is Legend Quality!”
Legend Rare Coin Auctions’ Regency Auction 35 is now live for bidding online and will take place on the evening of Thursday, December 12 at the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas as the official auction of the PCGS Members Only Show.
Legend’s next auction is Regency 36, which will be held on January 30, 2020 and is now open for consignments. To consign, contact one of the firm’s consignment specialists.
New Appointee Joins Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee
WASHINGTON — The United States Mint today announced the appointment of Dr. Lawrence S. Brown to the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC) as a member representing the interests of the general public in the coinage of the United States.
This appointment for a statutory term of four years will fill the vacancy on the CCAC created by the term expiration of Erik Jansen.
A life-long numismatist, Dr. Brown traces his fascination with coins back to his adolescence in Brooklyn, New York, where he found himself stimulated by the various ways in which history could be captured on such a small canvas.
Dr. Brown serves as Associate Physician at the Rockefeller University Hospital and Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine and Healthcare Policy and Research, Weill Medical College, Cornell University. He is Chief Executive Officer at START Treatment and Recovery Centers in Brooklyn, New York.
He received a combined M.D. from the New York University School of Medicine and Masters in Public Health from the Columbia University School of Public Health. He completed an internal medicine residency at Harlem Hospital and a neuroendocrinology fellowship at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons.
Dr. Brown served as a member of the Drug Testing Advisory Board of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and is currently a member of New York State’s Public Health and Health Planning Council and the Behavioral Health Services Advisory Council.
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.
Alert-Bad Check Losses Exceed $100,000-Faraj
A judge refused to lower the bond of Jason Faraj who is responsible for writing over $100,000 in bad checks to coin dealers and jewelers across several states.
Faraj was put on our radar several months ago and NCIC began gathering intelligence and tracking his activities. As reports flowed in NCIC worked closely with investigators in different states to show that Faraj was knowingly writing checks with the intent to defraud dealers. The information developed by NCIC assisted in getting additional warrants issued for Faraj.
Providing the investigator in Michigan with additional victims from NCIC’s database was a key factor in the Judge’s decision to not lower his bond due to being a flight risk.
The success in this case was due to the coordinated efforts of the Numismatic Industry, Law Enforcement, and NCIC. Working together we are making a difference in the fight against numismatic crime!!!
Doug Davis
817-723-7231
Doug@numismaticcrimes.org
United States Mint Launches 50th America the Beautiful Quarters® Program Coin
SALMON, IDAHO – The United States Mint (Mint) today officially launched the America the Beautiful Quarters® Program coin honoring Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness in Idaho. This is the fifth and final quarter of 2019, and the 50th coin overall in the program.
Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness comprises rugged mountains, deep canyons, and wild whitewater rivers, including the Main Salmon River and Middle Fork of the Salmon River. The reverse (tails) design of the quarter representing this site depicts a piloted drift boat on a rushing river encompassed by the trees and rock formations of the wilderness.
During the ceremony, Mint Director David J. Ryder expressed his sentiments about the new quarter, saying it “serves as a reminder of the essence of the Wilderness-more than two million acres of prehistoric mountains, fertile conifers and commanding rivers but flourishing with stories of heritage and wonder.”
The live-streamed ceremony included guest speakers Mike Simpson, U.S. Representative of Idaho’s 2nd Congressional District; Larry LaRocco, former U.S. Representative of the 1st Congressional District; Kathryn Hitch, Regional Director for U.S. Senator Mike Crapo; Amy Taylor, Regional Director for U.S. Senator James Risch; Charles Mark, Supervisor of Salmon-Challis National Forest; and John Burns, former Forest Supervisor of Salmon National Forest, who served as master of ceremonies. The Mint’s customary coin exchange rounded out the event.
The Mint released collectible rolls and bags containing Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness quarters on November 4. These products are available for purchase through the Mint’s online catalog at catalog.usmint.gov/coin-programs/america-the-beautiful-quarters-program/ or by calling 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468).
The America the Beautiful Quarters® Program is a 12-year initiative that honors 56 national parks and other national sites authorized by Public Law 110-456. Each year until 2020, the public will see five new national sites depicted on the reverses (tails sides) of the America the Beautiful Quarters coins, with a final coin scheduled for release in 2021. The Mint is issuing these quarters in the order in which the national sites were officially established.
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