“Alert” Coin Thefts-Suspect in Custody-Minnesota

Date: 3/28/2022
Type of Incident: THEFT
Incident location: KIMBERLY, WI
Investigating Agency: Fox Valley Metro PD

Details:

On March 28, 2022 a male subject entered Voeck’s Fox Valley Coin, Stamp, and Diamonds in Kimberly, WI and wanted to buy a roll of gold coins. The suspect displayed a large amount of cash and as the employee was showing him the coins he grabbed the roll and ran out of the business. The suspect jumped into a brown SUV and fled the scene. A security guard who followed the suspect out of the store shot at the vehicle as the suspect attempted to run him over. A short time later the vehicle was spotted in a parking lot and the suspect was taken into custody. The suspect was identified as Travis Burrell from Brooklyn Park, MN.

Based upon the interview with Burrell, investigators believe he may be involved in other coin thefts in Minnesota.

Anyone with information contact:

Doug Davis817-723-7231
Doug@numismaticcrimes.org

The United States Mint Celebrates 230th Anniversary

WASHINGTON – Today, the United States Mint celebrates its 230th anniversary. The Mint is one of the few Federal agencies whose duties are specifically referenced in the Constitution, with Article I, Section 8 establishing that “The Congress shall have the power . . . To coin money.” The current United States Mint was created by the Coinage Act of 1792, passed by the United States Congress and signed into law by President Washington on April 2, 1792. That first Coinage Act established the silver dollar as the nation’s unit of money and authorized the first national mint in the United States.

“Throughout our 230-year history, the men and women who comprise our workforce have taken great pride in rendering the story of our Nation in enduring examples of numismatic art,” said Mint Deputy Director Ventris C. Gibson. “Every coin manufactured by the Mint is the result of combined efforts of artists, engineers, production workers, and support staff who team up to transform an idea into a design, and then bring that design to life on a miniature canvas. I am proud to lead this organization that, since 1792, has connected America through coins.”

During the Colonial Period, monetary transactions were handled using foreign or colonial currency, livestock, or produce. After the Revolutionary War, the U.S. was initially governed by the Articles of Confederation, which authorized states to mint their own coins. In 1788, the Constitution was ratified by a majority of states, and discussions soon began about the need for a national mint. Congress chose Philadelphia, which was then the nation’s capital, as the site of our first Mint. President George Washington appointed a leading scientist, David Rittenhouse, as the first director. Rittenhouse bought two lots at 7th and Arch Streets to build a three-story facility, the tallest building in Philadelphia at the time. It was the first Federal building erected under the Constitution.

Coin production began immediately. That same Coinage Act specified the following coin denominations: a copper cent and half cent; a silver dollar, half dollar, quarter, dime, and half dime; and a gold eagle ($10), half eagle ($5), and quarter eagle ($2.50). In March 1793, the Mint delivered its first circulating coins – 11,178 copper cents. In 1795, the Mint became the first Federal agency to employ women when Sarah Waldrake and Rachael Summers were hired as adjusters. Learn more about the Mint’s history here.

Today, the Mint enables America’s economic growth and stability by protecting assets entrusted to us, manufacturing coins to facilitate national commerce, and producing and selling coins and medals to the public as numismatic items. The Mint is the world’s largest coin manufacturer. In calendar year 2021, the Mint produced more than 14 billion circulating coins. Since Fiscal Year (FY) 1996, the Mint has operated under a revolving Public Enterprise Fund (PEF) (31 U.S.C. § 5136), which enables the Mint to operate without an annual appropriation. The Mint generates revenue through the sale of circulating coins to the Federal Reserve Banks (FRB), numismatic products to the public, and bullion coins to authorized purchasers. Revenue in excess of amounts required to operate the Mint is transferred to the United States Treasury (Treasury) General Fund.

The Mint operates six facilities and employs approximately 1,600 employees across the United States. Each unique facility performs functions critical to our overall operations. Manufacturing facilities in Philadelphia and Denver produce coins of all denominations for circulation. Both facilities also produce dies for striking coins. All sculpting and engraving of coin and medal designs is performed at the Philadelphia Mint facility. Production of numismatic products, including bullion coins, is primarily performed at facilities in San Francisco and West Point. All four production facilities produce commemorative coins as authorized by public laws. The United States Bullion Depository at Fort Knox stores and safeguards United States gold bullion reserves. Administrative and oversight functions are performed at the Mint Headquarters in Washington, D.C.

Using Coins to Study the Context of Ancient History

Kenneth Bressett’s newest book, Bible Lore and the Eternal Flame, debuted at the American Numismatic Association’s National Money Show in Colorado Springs, March 10, 2022. Now the 224-page hardcover volume is available from bookstores and hobby shops nationwide, and online (including at Whitman.com). Here, Bressett discusses the book and his interest in numismatics as a sub-discipline of archaeology.

Numismatics is a study of currency that includes coins, tokens, paper money, and various other related objects. It is a subject that is of interest to coin collectors, researchers, students, and merchants, but in its purest form is a sub-discipline of archaeology similar to the investigation of materials related to commerce, including such things as pottery, jewelry, beads, metals, and barter items used by past civilizations. Studying these items has become a new source of interest and information for coin collectors who want to better understand how their treasured specimens relate to the economy and historical context of many diverse nations.

The instructive aspects of numismatics have intrigued me since 1937, when I first became aware of its potential as a teaching tool for better understanding of world history, art, and geography. Throughout the years I have researched and studied coins and trade items from various regions and time periods to provide evidence of their relation to historical events. A favorite area of examination has been linking ancient coinages to the people and events recorded in the Bible. In this endeavor, it is frequently possible to identify specific coins that are mentioned in Bible passages and better understand the meaning of those passages and their connections to actual usage of ancient forms of currency.

Traditional Biblical archaeology generally involves the study and history of Jewish and Christian peoples as recorded in the Old and New Testament and related contemporary references, such as the works of historian Flavius Josephus and the Dead Sea scrolls. Classical archaeology includes a broader consideration of the ancient world, including the Mediterranean cultures of Greece, Rome, the Mycenaeans, and Minoans. Together, they explore the ever-fascinating world of antiquity.

The use of barter and trade items, as well as coins, after the eighth century B.C. was common to many cultures, and examples of such items still exist in museums and collections to confirm, and sometimes better explain, the authenticity of ancient history. Few resources are more detailed than the accounts found in sacred writings, and thus studying the Bible accounts of coins and money is a rewarding source of information and enjoyment for many coin enthusiasts. Most collectors refer to this special interest as “Coins of the Bible,” or sometimes, “Money of the Bible.”

A typical example of how the study of coins can aid in establishing the validity of their use in ancient times can be found in the account of the coin found in the fish’s mouth (Matthew 17:24–27). This is the story of how Jesus told his disciple Peter to cast a line into the water and retrieve a fish that would contain a coin sufficient in value to pay the required temple tax for both of them.

The customary tax was used for temple repairs and other religious purposes, and it was required to be paid by all Jews wherever they lived throughout the ancient world. The annual tax was one-half shekel for every man over the age of 20 (Exodus 30:13–15).

The exact value, timing, and place of this event establishes precisely the kind of coin that must have been involved. By Jewish convention, it distinctly had to be a tetradrachm, called a shekel, from the neighboring city of Tyre. Such coins are still extant today and are regularly seen in museum exhibits, collections, and the coin trade.

In Bible Lore and the Eternal Flame, in my discussion of this and similar events, there is no attempt to confirm or dispute any of the religious writings or teachings recorded in Bible passages. For many readers, these are a matter of faith or interpretation. Evidence can be provided by coins and other artifacts to establish certain facts, but these are not especially helpful for confirming traditional stories, parables, or beliefs that have been passed down through generations of faithful believers, until being recorded by learned people sometimes centuries after the actual events. Knowing that genuine artifacts still exist provides a gateway to strengthening one’s faith and provides a tangible connection to the past that can only be experienced through studying or actually seeing some of these interesting items. They are the closest thing to “time travel” that one can ever experience.

When my family was young, in the early 1960s, I sought to demonstrate the use of ancient artifacts by showing how people lived in biblical times. A favorite discussion centered on the traditional Seder meal, and the similar Last Supper of Jesus. That always brought up the subject of the elusive Holy Grail, and its meaning. To establish that ordinary drinking cups and plates were used then as now, I showed my children examples of terracotta pieces that were used by common people at that time and place.

Stories about the cup are omnipresent, as are numerous assertions about which is the original. Logically, the claims cannot all be true. Yet, it is possible to imagine the Grail based on the types of pottery and drinking vessels common at that precise time, place, and culture, giving us a fuller understanding of what everyday life was like centuries in the past.

There is no lack of information about such things. Learning about the past and people who lived centuries ago gives us a closer appreciation of how their efforts have impacted our lives. Hopefully, Bible Lore’s brief glimpse of my personal interest in numismatics and archaeology will inspire you to dig deeper into the things you find of interest in world history, the daily lives of people past, and the Bible.

Bible Lore and the Eternal Flame.
By Kenneth Bressett; foreword by David Hendin.
ISBN 0794849768. Hardcover, 6 x 9 inches, 224 pages, full color.
Retail $24.95 U.S.
https://whitman.com/bible-lore-and-the-eternal-flame/

U.S. Mint Encourages the Public to Get Coins Moving

U.S. MintWASHINGTON – The United States Mint (Mint) is asking the public to help get coins moving by using exact change when making purchases or turning them in for cash at coin recycling kiosks. You may also be able to redeem coins for cash at financial institutions, but first contact local branches about their coin redemption policies, as they may vary.

The Mint is making this request because coins are not circulating through the economy as quickly as they were prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Cash transactions have decreased significantly since 2019, as more and more individuals have turned to performing their transactions electronically, which means that sometimes coins are not readily available where they are most needed. This is not a coin supply problem. It is a circulation problem.

There are many people who rely exclusively on cash and currency to pay for goods and services. There are also many businesses that rely on cash and currency for their day-to-day operations. These people and businesses feel a significant impact from the unavailability of coins.

As always, and especially during this challenging time, the Mint is committed to supporting our Nation’s economy and commerce through the production of circulating coinage.

Since the coin circulation problem first emerged in 2020, the Mint has asked for the public’s help in solving this problem, through communications from the Mint and as a member of the U.S. Coin Task Force. The Mint has issued press releases, distributed public service announcements, conducted social media campaigns, and amplified our content via the U.S. Coin Task Force website.

The Royal Mint reveal second remastered design in popular British Monarch coin series

James I – the Scottish king James VIThe Royal Mint has today revealed the second coin in the British Monarchs series with a design dedicated to James I – the Scottish king James VI who succeeded Elizabeth I to become king of England.

The British Monarchs range will feature 21 coins over five years and will span four Royal Houses – Tudor; Stuart; Hanover; Saxe-Coburg, Gotha, and Windsor – remastering iconic designs in high definition for the first time thanks to the latest technology and minting techniques. The reverse of the latest coin features a coinage portrait of James I from circa 1604-1619, while the obverse features Jody Clark’s definitive portrait of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II.

The seventeenth-century monarch appears on this new coin in the same classic design that would have featured on the coins of the Jacobean era. Whilst the design first appeared on British coinage more than 400 years ago, this coinage portrait has been faithfully recreated as close to the original as possible using state-of-the-art technology.

Much like Tudor coinage, fishtailing is a common defect on Stuart coins, where you get a slight distortion at the bottom of letters created by the pressure of a die on the metal which in turn causes an outward flow. Also characteristic of this period is flatter surface area on the blanks which allow for a more polished finish and showcase and improvement in minting technologies compared to the hammered coins of the earlier period. These characteristics have been faithfully recreated in the new James I portrait design.

Rebecca Morgan, Director of Collector Services at The Royal Mint said: “There is strong appeal for collectors with this coin series. There are very few high-quality examples of coinage from the Stuart period, and they are coveted by collectors for their iconic design and rarity and the effigies have been faithfully recreated in fine detail using state-of-the-art technology and numismatic processes. People love to collect the coins of different monarchs, and this series gives the chance for collectors to add key monarchs to complete their collections.”

The Stuarts were the first kings of the United Kingdom. King James VI of Scotland also became King James I of England, thus combining the two thrones for the first time. The Stuart dynasty reigned in England and Scotland from 1603 to 1714, a period which saw a flourishing Court culture but also much upheaval and instability, of plague, fire and war.

Speaking about the design, Gordon Summers, Chief Engraver at The Royal Mint said: “As you move out of the Tudor period, we start getting coins struck in collars, so they were perfectly round. As a result, there is a marked difference between the quality of Tudor coins and Stuart coins. However, there is still fishtailing on Stuart coins, where you get a slight curve at the bottom of the letter. They would have tried their best at the time, but it wouldn’t have been perfect, so we’ve made a conscious effort to reproduce the coins in this manner.”

The first coin in the collection launched in January and featured Henry VII, founder of the Tudor dynasty, who reigned from 1485 to 1509. The first coin of the series sold out within hours demonstrating how popular historic monarchs are with collectors.

Rebecca Morgan added: “The remastered James I coin has been produced to the highest modern striking standards but retains features which honour its unique history. In an advancement from the hammered coins of the Tudor period, the coinage of the Stuart era reflects improvements in portrait engraving and the use of master punches to repeat portraits on individual dies. The table surface of the coin is flatter which allows for a polished finish which is reflected in the new coin.”

In addition to these individual coins, The Royal Mint will also be releasing a limited number of sets combining new and historic coins. These limited-edition sets will feature a British Monarchs coin alongside a genuine historical coin from the era of that respective monarch.

To find out more about the British Monarchs series and hear from numismatic experts at The Royal Mint, you can view the ‘British Monarchs – History in the Remaking’ webinar here. For more information about the James I 2022 coins please visit The Royal Mint website.

National Money Show® Attendance Surpasses 3,000

Collector and Museum exhibits, buying opportunities drew crowd

The American Numismatic Association’s (ANA) 2022 National Money Show® in Colorado Springs, Colorado, welcomed a total of 3,288 people to the three-day event, held March 10-12 at The Broadmoor resort. “This was an excellent turnout for our spring convention,” said ANA Executive Director Kim Kiick. “We were thrilled to be able to connect once more face-to-face with so many friends.”

During the show’s opening ceremonies on Thursday morning, ANA President Dr. Ralph Ross presented National Money Show Host Chair Steve D’Ippolito with the ANA Goodfellow Award in recognition of his service. Dr. Ross also recognized the host clubs – the Colorado Springs Coin Club and the Colorado Springs Numismatic Society – and their presidents, Dave Starling and George Mountford, with the Lewis S. Werner Host Club Award.

The event featured 376 dealers buying and selling coins, currency and related items; a wide range of numismatic educational presentations led by notable speakers; a three-session sale by Classical Numismatic Group, LLC; and exhibits of priceless rarities from private collections and the American Numismatic Association’s Money Museum in Colorado Springs.

The Money Museum showcase featured rare treasures including three of the first U.S. dimes, a 1933 Eagle (gold $10), highlights from a recent donation of California Territorial gold coins, and select items from the recently acquired Baker-Manley collection of Washington medals. The medals presented a tie-in to the museum’s new exhibit, “The Medal in America,” the opening of which premiered premiered Thursday night of the show. More than 250 ANA members gathered at the Money Museum to experience the new exhibit, which illustrates the history of the United States from colonial times to the present. The Baker-Manley collection was donated to the Money Museum by Dwight Manley in August.

A major draw for numismatists and the general public alike were the collector exhibits. A constant stream of people enjoyed its more than 25 displays, with topics ranging from Colonial Colorado’s silver reals to meteorite coins. On Saturday afternoon, the ANA recognized the educational displays with an exhibit awards presentation and reception.

Show attendees also took advantage of the many educational opportunities at the show, including a technical seminar on grading and ten free “Money Talks” presentations from numismatic experts.

The Kids Zone offered youngsters a plethora of activities to engage them in coin collecting, including a Treasure Trivia game where they learned about numismatics and earned prizes as they explored the bourse floor in search of answers to trivia questions. A Young Collectors Corner taught by ANA Numismatic Educator Sam Gelberd offered basic information about the hobby to a young crowd of enthusiasts.

Classical Numismatic Group, LLC (CNG) served as an official auctioneer of the 2022 National Money Show. The multi-session sale featured noted numismatist Kenneth Bressett’s collection of British and ancient Roman coins.

“This was a terrific result and we are very happy for Ken and all the winning bidders,” said Michael Gasvoda, managing director of CNG. “We were deeply honored to be chosen to bring some of Ken Bressett’s wonderful collections to market. This was a true collector’s auction, with highly affordable coins for people of all ages, incomes and levels of interest.”

Online bidders for the auction pushed sales to more than $560,000. Some of the top sales (including the 20% buyer’s premium) included an extremely rare early Roman Aes Grave, reaching $9,600 against an estimate of $4,000; a rare Byzantine gold solidus of Michael I Rhangabe, which achieved $7,800; and a silver denarius from the notorious Emperor Caligula, topping at $6,600.

“We had lines at our table from the opening bell to closing. It was a phenomenal show,” said Colorado Springs coin dealer and past ANA President Tom Hallenbeck. “The biggest issue remains finding fresh material. Public attendance was softer than we’d hoped, but those that did attend came to buy, sell and enjoy the incredible exhibits. Everyone loved The Broadmoor resort and the new convention venue. We hope Colorado Springs will stay in the rotation for future ANA shows.”

Total attendance was 3,288, reflected as follows:

  • Dealers: 376
  • Staff & volunteers: 69
  • ANA members & general public: 2,843

“Great appreciation goes out to all the volunteers, the host clubs, sponsors and ANA staff who helped put this show together,” said Kiick. “Without their help, a show of this size and caliber would not be possible.”

The ANA would like to recognize the following:

Steve D’Ippolito – Host Chair and Collector Exhibits
Dave Starling – Money Talks
Holly Stanton – Ambassadors
Bob Cuppy – Pages
Dan Usiak and Holly Stanton – Young Collectors Corner
George Mountford – Club Table

Ambassadors – Peter Bond, Bob Cuppy, Steve D’Ippolito, Robert Daley, John Graves, Dave Jaeger (Front Range, Longmont & Fort Collins Coin Club), Russell Josephson, Vicky Kitzman, Doug Lang, Chris Large, Keith Morgan, George Mountford, Lynn Murphy, Milt Newell, James Northrop, Cary Rogers, Dan Roussin (Denver Coin Club), Steve Sellers (Denver Coin Club), Jason Smith, Holly Stanton, Dave Starling, Denise Starling, David Tyner.

Pages – Eve Brenner, Kevin Lester, Austin Smith, Nathan Smith.

The next ANA convention is the 2022 World’s Fair of Money® to be held August 16-20 in Chicago (Rosemont), Illinois, at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center. The 2023 National Money Show is slated for March 2-4, 2023 at the Phoenix Convention Center in Phoenix, Arizona.

ACEF Concerns Included in Federal Government’s Review of Notorious Markets for Counterfeiting & Piracy

March 21, 2022 — The sale of counterfeit U.S. coins and precious metals on e-commerce platforms and third-party marketplaces continues to escalate and the number of victims proves to be a highly lucrative and profitable business for counterfeiters.

?Unfortunately, victims across the country are falling prey to the unscrupulous marketing tactics, which result in financial losses,” said Doug Davis, Director of Anti-Counterfeiting for the Anti-Counterfeiting Educational Foundation. “For counterfeiters, production costs are low, millions of potential customers are online, a variety of payment options, and listing goods on well-known platforms such as Facebook and Amazon provide an air of legitimacy.”

Several annual reports by federal agencies, such as the Department of Homeland Security report on “Combating Trafficking in Counterfeit and Pirated Goods”, address a number of pirated goods, but none identify or mention the increase in counterfeit coins and precious metals entering the U.S. marketplace.

On February 22, 2022, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) released the findings of its 2021 Review of Notorious Markets for Counterfeiting and Piracy (the Notorious Markets List). That report included concerns outlined in a nine-page, October 21, 2021 statement by ACEF about the impact of counterfeits on the numismatic community and the general public, as well as the effect on the U.S. monetary system.

The comments articulated on the mission of ACEF and the strategic initiatives of the Anti-Counterfeiting Task Force, including public awareness, and providing educational and investigative resources to dealers, collectors, and law enforcement in regard to counterfeit coinage and precious metals. ACEF, acting through its Anti-Counterfeiting Task Force, also works closely with U.S. Treasury Department Office of Inspector General, Secret Service, Customs and Border Protection.

ACEF expressly identified physical markets such as Facebook, Alibaba’s Aliexpress.com, Amazon, and eBay. ACEF also illustrated through case examples the growing gross victimization of collectors, investors, and the general public. ACTF investigators recently identified several e-commerce platforms marketing counterfeit coins and precious metals using the logos of legitimate dealers and numismatic organizations such as the ANA, ICTA, PNG, and the U.S. Mint.

Representatives from ANA, ICTA, and PNG stated they had not given permission to the platforms under investigation by ACTF to use in the marketing of their counterfeit goods. The illegal misrepresentation provides another layer of legitimacy but infringes on the Intellectual Property Rights of the entities listed above and can cause reputation and financial losses now and into the future.

An example of a China-based seller that fraudulently claimed affiliation
With various organizations. This particular website has now been taken down.

The Notorious Markets List highlights online and physical markets that reportedly engage in or facilitate substantial trademark counterfeiting or copyright piracy. ACEF’s nine-page comment was included in the report. The comments provide a current and in-depth educational overview of the current explosion of counterfeit U.S. coins and precious metals on e-commerce platforms and imported into the United States.

The work of the Anti-Counterfeiting Task Force is supported solely by donations to the Anti-Counterfeiting Educational Foundation, a non-profit corporation. Donations in any amount help make a difference in helping prevent collectors, dealers, and the general public from becoming victims of counterfeits.

Monetary contributions can be made online at www.ACEFonline.org/donate or by check mailed to ACEF, 28441 Rancho California Rd., Ste. 106, Temecula, CA92590. For additional information about donating contact ACEF Executive Director Bob Brueggeman at info@ACEFonline.org.

www.regulations.gov, Docket number USTR-2021-0013.

U.S. Mint Women’s Suffrage Coin Wins Most Historically Significant Coin at 2022 Coin of the Year Awards

WASHINGTON – The United States Mint (Mint) was honored at the 2022 Coin of the Year (COTY) international awards competition with its Women’s Suffrage Silver Dollar recognized as Most Historically Significant Coin.

The Coin of the Year Awards, which began in 1984, are considered one of the most prestigious global award forums among Mints worldwide. Each year, an international panel of judges selects winners from ten categories focused on aesthetic and commercial appeal, commemoration, inspiration, and innovation. A primary winner is ultimately selected from the ten category winners, earning the grand title of Coin of the Year. The United States Mint last won Coin of the Year in 2021.

The obverse (heads) of the Women’s Suffrage Centennial Silver Dollar features overlapping profiles of three distinct women. Each woman is wearing a different type of hat to symbolize the many decades the suffrage movement spanned. The figure in the foreground is wearing a cloche hat with an art deco pattern and a button with the year of the 19th Amendment’s ratification. The inscriptions “LIBERTY,” “$1,” and “E PLURIBUS UNUM” encircle the design.

The coin’s reverse (tails) features the inscription “2020” being dropped into a ballot box styled with art deco elements to indicate the artistic style of the era. “VOTES FOR WOMEN” is inscribed inside a circle of the front of the box. The inscriptions “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” and “IN GOD WE TRUST” are featured on the ballot box.

Artistic Infusion Program artist Christina Hess designed both the obverse (heads) and reverse (tails) of the coin, which were then both sculpted by United States Mint Medallic Artist Phebe Hemphill.

Authorized by Public Law 116-71, the Women’s Suffrage Centennial Commemorative Coin Act, the Women’s Suffrage Silver Dollar was a commemorative coin that was minted and issued during 2020. Surcharges from the sale of these coins were authorized to be paid to the Smithsonian Institution American Women’s History Initiative for research and creation of exhibits and programs to highlight the history and impact of women in the United States.

Astounding 100-Note Pack of Series 1934A $500 Notes is First Banknote Pack Graded Under New PCGS Service

PCGS is introducing grading for packs of 50 or 100 small-size U.S. banknotes, enabling the protection of consecutive notes while keeping the pack intact.

A full 100-note consecutively numbered pack of Series 1934A $500 Federal Reserve Notes is the first submission under a new banknote pack grading and encapsulation program that Professional Coin Grading Service (www.PCGS.com) will soon be debuting in the United States.

“This is not only one of the oldest-surviving intact packs of U.S. banknotes to surface, but also the only pack of $500 notes believed to exist. It could be one of the rarest and most valuable banknote packs,” states PCGS President Stephanie Sabin.

It was submitted by U.S. Coins and Jewelry (uscoinsandjewelry.com) in Houston, Texas, under a new PCGS service option that will provide for the encapsulation of full (100) and half (50) consecutive packs of small-size U.S. banknotes, which are graded as a whole unit and provided a single grade based on the condition of the entire pack.

“We are excited to offer banknote pack grading, an innovative option for those who wish to keep packs of banknotes intact rather than split them apart and have the notes graded individually,” remarks Sabin. “The benefit of grading an entire pack of banknotes rather than individual notes has a lot to do with certain collectible characteristics that are unique to packs of banknotes, such as keeping together a run of notes with consecutive numbers, consecutive Star Notes, and the like. There are even cases where a pack of notes may be historical or collectible for other reasons, such as having an origin associated with a bank hoard, a notable collector, or other numismatically significant factors.”

The historic pack of $500 banknotes was on display at the PCGS Booth (#401) at the recent Long Beach Expo, February 17-19, 2022.

Read more → here.

Professional Coin Grading Service Authenticates Only Gold Comitia Americana Medal in Private Hands

The 1781 Daniel Morgan Cowpens Medal that has remained elusive for decades. Courtesy of PCGS.

Untraced since 1885, the only remaining privately held gold Comitia Americana medal authorized by the United States Congress has surfaced and will be sold in the Stack’s Bowers Galleries April 4-8 Spring Auction, the Official Auction for the Whitman Coin and Collectibles Expo.

The Daniel Morgan at Cowpens medal was initially authorized in March 1781 by the Continental Congress to recognize the valor shown by Gen. Daniel Morgan at the 1781 Battle of Cowpens in South Carolina. It was designed by Augustin Dupre, the French master whose designs for this medal and others, including the Libertas Americana medal, earned him legendary status among the world’s medallic artists. The Morgan medal is generally considered the most beautiful of the Comitia Americana medals, referring to the medals authorized by Congress during the American Revolution. Its artistry inspired the designs of later Congressional Gold Medals struck to honor heroes of the War of 1812.

Morgan’s gold medal was lost in 1818, stolen from a vault during the earliest recorded bank robbery in the history of Pittsburgh. Its owner, Pittsburgh banker and writer Morgan Neville, was Daniel Morgan’s grandson and his oldest male heir. Neville used his national reputation and political connections in a decades-long fight to have the gold medal replaced, enlisting the help of congressmen and even retired President Thomas Jefferson. In 1836, the United States Congress finally authorized a replacement medal, permitting just one to be struck in gold.

The medal authorized by Congress in 1836 is the piece to be offered in the Stack’s Bowers Galleries Spring Auction, struck in 1839 at the Philadelphia Mint and presented in 1841 to Morgan Neville’s son.

It remained in the family until at least 1885. At some point, the medal was acquired by famed financier J.P. Morgan who believed, incorrectly, that Daniel Morgan was his kin. The medal disappeared from view for decades, resurfacing in recent months still in its original box of issue. It has been authenticated by Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) and graded SP63.

Read the full article → here.

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