Jul 19, 2019 | News, PNG
(Temecula, California) July 19, 2019 – The Professional Numismatists Guild (www.PNGdealers.org) suspended the membership of Jason Bradford on July 18, 2019 for conduct prejudicial to the PNG, including violation of the Code of Ethics, according to PNG Executive Director Robert Brueggeman.
Bradford, of Legacy Currency Grading in Brentwood, Tennessee, joined the PNG in 2015 as member #765.
According to Brueggeman, the full PNG Board in accordance with the PNG Bylaws will decide if Bradford’s membership will be reinstated, if he will remain suspended or if he will be expelled from the organization.
The Professional Numismatists Guild is a nonprofit trade association composed of the country’s top rare coin and paper money dealers who must adhere to a strict Code of Ethics (www.PNGdealers.org/code-of-ethics) in the buying and selling of numismatic merchandise.
For additional information about the PNG, contact Robert Brueggeman, PNG Executive Director, 28441 Rancho California Road, Suite 106, Temecula, CA 92590. Phone: 951-587-8300. Email: info@PNGdealers.org. Online: www.PNGdealers.org.
Jun 15, 2019 | Announcements, PNG, Shows & Conventions
(Rosemont, Illinois) June 13, 2019 — The Professional Numismatists Guild (www.PNGdealers.org) will conduct its 2019 PNG Day show (www.pngdealers.org/png-events) on Monday, August 12, in Hall F of the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in the Chicago suburb of Rosemont, Illinois. It will be open to the public.
The show conveniently will be in the same location at 5555 N. River Road as the American Numismatic Association’s World’s Fair of Money® that begins the next day.
The first 50 public attendees at the 2019 PNG Day event will each receive a certificate good for $100 off any retail purchase of $500 or more at the show from a participating PNG member-dealer.
Representatives of Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (www.NGCcoin.com), the official rare coin authentication and grading service of PNG and ANA, and representatives of Professional Coin Grading Service (www.PCGS.com) will be on-site to accept submissions during the show. Visitors also can have access to lot viewing that day for the auctions to be held during the week by Heritage Auctions (www.HA.com) and Stack’s Bowers Galleries (www.StacksBowers.com).
“The PNG Day show gives you the upfront opportunity to see the best material available from the top dealers as well as an early opportunity to offer coins, bank notes, tokens and medals for sale to top buyers,” said PNG Executive Director Robert Brueggeman.
“The annual World’s Fair of Money is the USA’s biggest week in numismatics, but you can take your time in a less crowded, more relaxing environment the day before the general public arrives for the ANA show,” added PNG President Barry Stuppler.
The 2019 PNG Day Show will be open to the public from 11:00 am to 4:30 pm, August 12. Public admission is $5 at the door; however, admission will be free for everyone who pre-registers at www.pngdealers.org/png-events.
For additional information about the 2019 PNG Day, contact the Professional Numismatists Guild by phone at 951-587-8300 or by email at info@pngdealers.org.
May 28, 2019 | APMD, News, PNG
(Temecula, California) May 28, 2019 – If you’re purchasing modern precious metals coins strictly for their silver, gold or platinum content, beware of significantly overpaying simply because the coins may be housed in fancy holders or accompanied by autographs of celebrities or the coins’ designers, cautions the Professional Numismatists Guild (www.PNGdealers.org).
“The personal finance market is filled with slick advertisements touting gold bullion coins labeled with a superb grade or in holders with decorative, autographed inserts. These may be fine collectibles for some, but you could pay more than twice the value of the precious metal content of the coin. There certainly are better ways for investors to buy bullion coins much closer to their actual intrinsic value,” stated Barry Stuppler, president of the Professional Numismatists Guild (PNG).
The Professional Numismatists Guild is a nonprofit organization composed of many of the country’s top rare coin and bullion coin dealers. PNG oversees the Accredited Precious Metals Dealer program (https://apmddealers.org), whose members must adhere to a strict code of ethics in the buying and selling of numismatic bullion items and guarantee the authenticity of the merchandise they sell.
“We are seeing a lot of advertising and marketing of precious metal bullion coins in holders with ‘limited edition’ specialty labels. These designs may include autographs of former United States Mint officials, sports Hall of Fame members or other celebrities. However, virtually every specialty label coin we’ve seen was offered at a price 200 to as much as 1,000 percent higher than a comparable bullion coin in the same condition without the signature or specially designed labels. And when an investor sells the coins with special labels they might only get a 5 to 10 percent premium,” said Stuppler.
“Don’t make any purchase until you have shopped around and learned the competitive prices for bullion items sold by others who don’t have high marketing expenses. Make sure you are not getting ripped off,” he advised.
“Modern gold, silver and platinum bullion coins, such as the American Eagle or Canadian Maple Leaf series, usually trade at a small premium over the actual spot precious metal content. Many major gold bullion dealers typically will sell a single, one-ounce gold American Eagle gold coin at approximately four to five percent over the current spot/melt value. The premiums are larger for 1/10th, 1/4th and 1/2-ounce coins,” explained Stuppler.
“Buyers also should distinguish between bullion coins whose values generally fluctuate according to the current price of gold, silver or platinum, and ‘rare coins’ that can carry a significant collector premium based on historical supply and demand. Some vintage U.S. gold and silver coins may be readily available in circulated condition for a modest premium over their bullion content, but those same coins in superb condition may have significantly higher value — perhaps thousands of dollars above their melt value,” added Stuppler.
“If you don’t’ know precious metals coins, you’d better know your precious metals coins dealer,” he cautioned.
A directory of PNG Accredited Precious Metals Dealers (APMD) members can be found at www.apmddealers.org/apmd-dealers. For additional information, contact the Professional Numismatists Guild at 951-587-8300 or by email at info@PNGdealers.org.
Apr 10, 2019 | News, PNG
Young Connecticut numismatist will attend a six-day session of the ANA Summer Seminar
(Temecula, CA) April 9, 2019 — The Professional Numismatists Guild (www.PNGdealers.org) 2019 Young Numismatist Scholarship has been awarded to Christian Hartch, 18, of Greenwich, Connecticut. The scholarship will pay for him to attend one of the six-day American Numismatic Association Summer Seminar sessions this June.
Hartch began his enjoyment of numismatics at the age of five when his father gave him a Whitman folder to begin collecting Lincoln cents. He has worked at a local coin store while in high school the past four years to learn more about the hobby, the marketplace and the business-side of numismatics.
His YouTube channel, Treasure Town, has more than 18,000 subscribers with over 1.5 million views of weekly coin collecting videos he produces.
“I was super excited, super happy when I was told about winning the scholarship,” explained Hartch who has been accepted as a freshman at Princeton University this coming fall.
His parents, Greg and Christa Hartch, are proud of their son’s accomplishments.
“We are so thankful that Christian will have the opportunity to attend the ANA conference in Colorado. Christian has worked hard to grow his coin YouTube channel, and we are thrilled that he is being recognized for his interest in numismatics,” stated Greg Hartch.
“This is the 15th consecutive year that PNG is providing airfare, tuition for one of the educational ANA Summer Seminar (www.money.org/summerseminar) sessions, meals and five nights of dormitory accommodations on the campus of Colorado College, site of the ANA headquarters,” said PNG Executive Director Robert Brueggeman.
Hartch wants to take a grading class at the ANA Summer Seminar and plans to study either economics or art and archaeology at Princeton.
He said PNG member-dealer Christopher Moran, owner of The Happy Coin store in Cos Cob, Connecticut, “has been a big influence to me.”
At the age of 13, Hartch was the store’s first customer when it opened in early 2014, purchasing an 1864 two-cent piece for his collection. He began working at the store a year later in the summer before he entered high school.
“Working at the shop allows me to be immersed with rare coins, and across the board coins, currency, U.S. and world coins. I can see the numismatic world from both a collector’s perspective and the business side, and I’ve learned a lot about the market,” he explained.
He launched his YouTube channel to promote the hobby and wants to create additional informative and entertaining videos for the channel from his upcoming experiences at the ANA Summer Seminar.
“The money to pay for the annual PNG YN Scholarship is administered from the PNG’s Gerald Bauman Memorial Fund. Bauman, who died in 2001, served for many years as a prominent coin dealer with Manfra, Tordella & Brookes in New York City,” explained PNG President Barry Stuppler.
“Usually, the deadline is late March for young collectors to submit essays for our annual scholarship competition; however, we are moving up the deadline for next year to late January 2020. The PNG will make an announcement in early November about the next YN scholarship competition,” explained Brueggeman.
The PNG is a nonprofit organization composed of many of the top rare coin and paper money dealers in the United States and four other countries. PNG member-dealers must adhere to a strict Code of Ethics in the buying and selling of numismatic merchandise.
For additional information about the PNG or the young numismatists scholarship program, visit online at www.PNGdealers.org or call (951) 587-8300.
Mar 29, 2019 | ACEF/ACTF, News, PNG
(Temecula, California) March 28, 2019 – Recently adopted anti-counterfeiting language in the Bylaws of the Professional Numismatists Guild (www.PNGdealers.org) has been revised to clarify the organization’s commitment to fighting against modern fakes entering the marketplace.
PNG leaders also have now amended anti-counterfeiting language in their Code of Ethics.
“A few people mistakenly thought our recent Code of Ethics change meant that we were endorsing the right of dealers to sell any counterfeit U.S. coins if they simply disclosed to buyers that they were fakes. That’s certainly not the position of the PNG, so our Board of Directors again revised the Bylaws language to address those misconceptions,” explained PNG Executive Director Robert Brueggeman.
“Our Code of Ethics has contained anti-counterfeiting language for decades, and now we have updated that section,” added Brueggeman. “We realize that contemporary counterfeits, dating back to ancient coins as well as unauthorized coins that appeared, for example, during the U.S. Colonial era, are part of numismatic collectibles history. Our fight is against the onslaught of dangerous fresh fakes coming in from China and elsewhere.”
The PNG Board originally adopted these changes, indicated in italics, in the Code of Ethics: “To refrain from knowingly participating in, abetting or dealing in counterfeit, altered, repaired or ‘doctored’ numismatic items without fully disclosing their status to my customers.”
Two sections of the Code of Ethics now have been updated (with new text indicated here in italics) to read:
6) To refrain from knowingly dealing in stolen numismatic items, or buying and selling known modern counterfeit coins, currency or other numismatic materials that are, by law, not legal to possess. 7) To refrain from knowingly participating in, abetting or dealing in altered, repaired or “doctored” numismatic items, contemporary counterfeits, electrotypes, or published forgeries, without fully disclosing their status to my customer and/or making any attempt to deceive.”
“Combatting fakes in the marketplace is a major priority for the Professional Numismatists Guild,” emphasized PNG President Barry Stuppler.
PNG provides administrative assistance to the Anti-Counterfeiting Educational Foundation (www.ACEFonline.org), an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. ACEF oversees the important work of the Anti-Counterfeiting Task Force.
For additional information about the Professional Numismatists Guild or the Anti-Counterfeiting Educational Foundation, contact the organizations at 28441 Rancho California Road, Suite 106, Temecula, CA 92590. The phone number is 951-587-8300. Or contact ACEF Director of Anti-Counterfeiting Beth Deisher at 567-202-1795.
Mar 12, 2019 | News, PNG
Temecula, California) March 11, 2019 – As part of the organization’s anti-counterfeiting efforts, the Professional Numismatists Guild (www.PNGdealers.org) has added additional conduct restrictions to its Code of Ethics regarding involvement with fakes.
Four words, indicated here in italics, have been added and are now part of section seven of PNG’s By laws: “To refrain from knowingly participating in, abetting or dealing in counterfeit, altered, repaired or ‘doctored’ numismatic items without fully disclosing their status to my customers.”
The entire, revised PNG Code of Ethics can be found online at www.PNGdealers.org/code-of-ethics.
Combatting fakes in the marketplace is a major priority for the Professional Numismatists Guild. With its experienced leadership and financial support, PNG is providing administrative assistance to the Anti-Counterfeiting Educational Foundation (ACEF), an independent 501-c-3 nonprofit organization. ACEF oversees the important, ongoing work of the Anti-Counterfeiting Task Force.
ACEF recently launched a new website, www.ACEFonline.org, to provide information to the public. Additionally, ACEF is providing education and awareness training for law enforcement agencies about counterfeit coins and fake third-party encapsulation holders.
For additional information about the Professional Numismatists Guild or the Anti-Counterfeiting Educational Foundation, contact the organizations at 28441 Rancho California Road, Suite 106, Temecula, CA 92590. The phone number is 951-587-8300. Or contact ACEF Director of Anti-Counterfeiting Beth Deisher at 567-202-1795.
PNG recently welcomed six new full members: James Collier of Nobel House Precious Investments in Fort Collins, Colorado; Carl Fusco of NPA Associates in Trumbull, Connecticut; Chris Dempsey of Dempsey & Baxter in Erie, Pennsylvania; Matthew McCormick of Missouri Coin Coin Des Peres, Missouri; David Melamud of ENUMISMAT in Staten Island, New York; and Barton Reames of Crossroads Coin, Inc. in Vandalia, Ohio.
PNG also recognized three new associate members: Elizabeth Coggan of Elizabeth Coggan Numismatics, LLC, in North Easton, Massachusetts; Chris Gehringer of Keystone Estate Specialists in Allentown, Pennsylvania and Russell Augustin of ACUM/RARCOA in Willowbrook, Illinois.
Hugh Wood of insurance broker Hugh Wood, Inc. in New York, New York recently joined as a PNG affiliate member.
Feb 13, 2019 | Announcements, PNG
(Temecula, California) February 11, 2019 – The Professional Numismatists Guild (www.PNGdealers.org) now is accepting nominations for its 2019 awards, according to PNG Executive Director Robert Brueggeman and President Barry Stuppler.
“Each year the PNG publicly recognizes outstanding achievements in the hobby and the profession by honoring deserving recipients with awards in a half-dozen categories. We cordially welcome and strongly encourage nominations from all collectors and dealers,” said Brueggeman.
“The award winners will be announced at the annual PNG Day banquet on August 12, 2019 following the PNG Day show (www.PNGdealers.org/png-events). The PNG Day show, at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in the Chicago suburb of Rosemont, Illinois, will be open to the public and conducted the day before the start of the American Numismatic Association’s World’s Fair of Money® (www.www.money.org/worldsfairofmoney) at the same convention center,” explained Stuppler.
Award nominations must be made by May 31, 2019 directly to the appropriate award category officials. The categories and contacts are:
Abe Kosoff Founders Award: Presented to a PNG member-dealer with steadfast dedication to the entire numismatic community and who has made a significant contribution to the Guild or to the numismatic fraternity in general the past year. The award is named after PNG’s Founding President who spearheaded the 1953 launch of the organization. Committee Chairs: Richard Weaver and Wayde Milas. Emails: RWeaver@dvrcc.com and WMilas@rarecoa.com.
Sol Kaplan Award: To recognize efforts and contributions in combatting crimes against the numismatic community, this award is presented to someone who has given their time in an attempt to rid the profession of fraud and thievery. The award is jointly presented by the PNG and the Lewis M. Reagan Foundation. It is named after a former PNG President and Ohio dealer who was personally responsible for the apprehension of several people suspected of committing numismatic-related crimes. Committee Chair: Robert Brueggeman. Email: Bob@ppius.com.
Robert Friedberg Award: Presented to an author in recognition for an outstanding book or other literature. Named in honor of a publisher and author of numismatic reference books, this award is not automatically given each year. It is only given when there is deemed to be a worthy recipient or recipients. Committee Chair: James A. Simek. Email: nge3@comcast.net. Note: A copy of each book nominated for this year’s award must be submitted for delivery no later than May 31, 2019 to James A. Simek, P.O. Box 7157, Westchester, IL 60154-7157.
Lifetime Achievement Award: Presented to a numismatist for his/her extraordinary devotion to numismatics and who, over their lifetime, significantly contributed to the hobby or profession. Committee Co-Chairs: Brett Charville and John Brush. Emails: Brett@collectors.com and John@DavidLawrence.com.
Significant Contribution Award: Given to those who have made exceptional, beneficial efforts over the years on behalf of PNG and the profession, and also added to the hobby. Committee Co-Chairs: Barry Stuppler and Dana S. Samuelson. Emails: Barry@Stuppler.com and Dana@AmerGold.com.
Art Kagin Ambassador Award: This award is named after a former PNG President and nationally-known Iowa dealer who provided distinguished service as an advocate of numismatic goodwill. Committee Co-Chairs: Don Ketterling and Don Rinkor. Emails: DHKconsulting@verizon.net and Don@rinkor.com.
The Professional Numismatists Guild is a nonprofit trade association composed of the country’s top rare coin and paper money dealers who must adhere to a strict Code of Ethics (www.PNGdealers.org/code-of-ethics) in the buying and selling of numismatic merchandise.
For additional information about the PNG awards, contact Robert Brueggeman, PNG Executive Director, 28441 Rancho California Road, Suite 106, Temecula, CA 92590. Phone: 951-587-8300. Email: info@PNGdealers.org. Online: www.PNGdealers.org.
Jan 24, 2019 | Announcements, PNG
(Temecula, California) January 24, 2019 — The annual Professional Numismatists Guild (www.PNGdealers.org) Young Numismatist (YN) Scholarship Competition has opened. The PNG will provide a scholarship to a deserving YN to attend one session of the 2019 American Numismatic Association (www.money.org) Summer Seminar in Colorado Springs, Colorado, June 15-20 or June 22-27.
“This is the 15th consecutive year that PNG will be providing airfare, tuition for one of the ANA Summer Seminar sessions, meals and five nights of dormitory accommodations on the campus of Colorado College, site of the ANA headquarters,” said PNG Executive Director Robert Brueggeman.
“All young numismatists between the ages of 13 and 22 are eligible to enter and are cordially invited to apply for the scholarship. Entrants must submit a short essay outlining why they should be chosen as this year’s scholarship recipient. The deadline for receipt of the entries is Friday, March 29, 2019,” explained Brueggeman.
Entries must include the applicant’s name, age and contact information. The essays can be sent by email to info@PNGdealers.org or by mail to the PNG Executive Director, 28441 Rancho California Road, Suite 106, Temecula, CA 92590.
“We’re most appreciative to PNG for again making a scholarship available to a young numismatist,” said ANA Executive Director Kim Kiick. “It’s a tremendous opportunity to learn and grow into a more informed collector. Many previous Summer Seminar attendees have gone on to become hobby leaders and successful dealers.”
The two separate Annual ANA Summer Seminar six-day sessions will be held on Saturday, June 15, to Thursday, June 20, and from Saturday, June 22, to Thursday, June 27, 2018. Participants ranging from teenagers to seniors take class instruction on specific numismatic-related topics or the hobby’s technical and business aspects. Additional information about the ANA Summer Seminar can be found on the ANA website at www.money.org/summerseminar.
“The money to pay for the annual PNG YN Scholarship is administered from the PNG’s Gerald Bauman Memorial Fund. Bauman, who died in 2001, served for many years as a prominent coin dealer with Manfra, Tordella & Brookes in New York City,” explained PNG President Barry Stuppler.
The PNG is a nonprofit organization composed of many of the top rare coin and paper money dealers in the United States and four other countries. PNG member-dealers must adhere to a strict Code of Ethics in the buying and selling of numismatic merchandise.
For additional information about PNG or the young numismatists scholarship program, visit online at www.PNGdealers.org or call (951) 587-8300.
Jan 2, 2019 | APMD, News, PNG
(Temecula, California) January 2, 2019 – “Gold is starting 2019 with increasing price support and growing demand. I believe gold will reach its next major resistance level of $1,300 very soon, and after a short period of time should break above,” stated Barry Stuppler of Woodland Hills, California, President of the Accredited Precious Metals Dealers (https://apmddealers.org), a division of the Professional Numismatists Guild (https://pngdealers.org).
“The gold fundamentals have never looked better. Interest rates, such the U.S. 10-Year Treasury Note which is under to 2.7%, and the U.S. dollar are dropping. Demand is increasing from hedge funds, ETFs and central banks. While the global equity markets remain a question mark, we are seeing increasing gold demand from stock investors moving to a proven safe haven from the volatility they are seeing,” explained Stuppler.
“As global equity markets continue to move lower, gold buying in Asia, the Middle East and Europe is increasing as the price moves above $1,285 per ounce. January has an excellent history of showing higher gold prices, and last year gold hit its highest price in January,” he pointed out.
All nationwide members of the Temecula, California-based Professional Numismatists Guild Accredited Precious Metals Dealer (PNG-APMD) program undergo a background check, must adhere to a strict code of ethics in the buying and selling of numismatic items and guarantee the authenticity of the numismatic merchandise they sell.
A directory of PNG-APMD members can be found at www.apmddealers.org/apmd-dealers.
Dec 29, 2018 | News, PNG
Record Prices in 2018 U.S. Rare Coin Market, Reports Professional Numismatists Guild
Dealers organization estimates the U.S. rare coin market was over $4 billion in 2018
(Temecula, California) December 27, 2018 – Quality was in the eyes of the bidders in the multi-billion dollar United States rare coin market during 2018, according to a year-end tabulation 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.
While prices declined during the year for some U.S. coins in easily available lower grades, hundreds of noteworthy coins from early American to modern that are among the finest known of their kind set auction price records.
Based on responses to a year-end PNG questionnaire, the aggregate prices realized for all U.S. coins sold at major public auctions in 2018 totaled more than $345 million, compared to $316 million in 2017. The PNG estimates the overall U.S. rare coin market in 2018 was over $4 billion not including sales by the United States Mint or bullion coins, such as gold and silver American Eagles.
“With the stock market dropping during the fourth quarter of 2018 we saw an increase in interest in the rare coin market with some people taking profits from stocks and buying coins that have proven to show sizeable and consistent increases in value over the years, as well as buying precious metals,” said Professional Numismatists Guild President Barry Stuppler.
Four significant, historic vintage U.S. coins and three 19th century U.S. bank notes sold for $1 million or more each during the year in public auctions, and several other U.S. rare coins reportedly were purchased for $1 million or more in private transactions.
“There was continuing strong demand in the numismatic market on superb quality and rarity throughout the past year. In addition to high-grade vintage coins that set records, some modern coins that are the finest known, what we call ‘condition rarity,’ also commanded amazing prices,” explained Stuppler.
One of those examples is a 1987-dated Kennedy half dollar graded by Numismatic Guaranty Corporation as Mint State 68 (on a scale of 1 to 70) which sold for a record-smashing $4,800 in a Stack’s Bowers Galleries auction. A similar 1987 half dollar, graded by Professional Coin Grading Service also as MS 68, sold in 2014 for $3,290 by Heritage Auctions, an increase of over 45 percent in only four years. In circulated condition, 1987 Kennedy half dollars are simply worth face value, 50 cents each.
Among the most popular U.S. coins are Morgan silver dollars, struck from 1878 to 1904 and again in 1921, and named after their designer, George T. Morgan. An 1897-dated Morgan dollar struck at the New Orleans Mint and graded PCGS MS 66 was sold by Sotheby’s in 2018 for a record $262,500. The same coin sold in 2015 in a Legend Rare Coin Auctions sale for a then-record $108,688, an increase of over 140 percent in three years.
The U.S. coins that each sold at auction for $1 million or more in 2018 were:
- $4,560,000 by Stack’s Bowers for the finest example of one of the five known 1913 Liberty Head nickels, graded by PCGS as Proof 66, the highest price ever paid at auction for one of these legendary rare coins;
- $2,640,000 by Heritage Auctions for an original 1804 silver dollar, graded PCGS Proof 62;
- $2,160,000 by Heritage Auctions for the recently discovered fourth known 1854 San Francisco Mint Half Eagle ($5 denomination gold coin), graded NGC Extremely Fine 45;
- and $1,740,000 by Heritage Auctions for a 1792 Washington Eagle ($10 denomination gold coin), graded NGC Extremely Fine 45.
The auction firms that responded to a PNG year-end questionnaire are: Archives International Auctions; Ira & Larry Goldberg Auctioneers; GreatCollections Coin Auctions; Heritage Auctions; Kagin’s, Inc.; David Lawrence Rare Coins; Legend Rare Coin Auctions; Sotheby’s; and Stack’s Bowers Galleries.
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 member-dealers, visit online at www.PNGdealers.org or call the PNG headquarters in Temecula, California at (951) 587-8300.
