Coin Collectors News

Bill Fivaz Will Update the Hobby on Cherrypicking Coin Die Varieties at the ANA National Money Show, February 27, 2020

Nov 23, 2019 | Announcements, Shows & Conventions

(Pelham, Alabama) — Bill Fivaz, coauthor of the Cherrypickers’ Guide to Rare Die Varieties of United States Coins, will give an overview of today’s hobby and market at the American Numismatic Association’s National Money Show on February 27, 2020, in Atlanta.

“Cherrypicking” is the act of examining coins that appear normal at first glance to find ones that have unusual characteristics—overdates, doubled and tripled dies, misplaced mintmarks, and similar features—that reveal them to be scarce and valuable.

Fivaz, accompanied by Whitman publisher Dennis Tucker, will highlight some of the most popular new varieties that will be in the next Cherrypickers’ Guide. The focus of their talk will be Bust, Liberty Seated, and Barber silver coins, plus modern dimes, quarters, and half dollars from 1916 to date, silver dollars, clad dollars, gold coins, commemoratives, and coins struck for the Philippines under U.S. sovereignty.

The “Money Talks” presentation will be given at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta, Thursday, February 27, 2020, at 11:00 a.m.

Dennis Tucker and Bill Fivaz reviewing die varieties at a November 21, 2019, editorial meeting.

Tucker called the presentation “A treat for everyone who dreams of finding a rare coin and cherrypicking it for a common-coin price.” Fivaz will answer these questions: “What are collectors today excited about? What has recent research revealed? What valuable treasures are waiting to be discovered?”

Bill Fivaz, a coin collector since 1950, has earned recognition as one of the country’s most respected authorities on numismatic errors and die varieties. He is a longtime contributor to the Guide Book of United States Coins (the “Red Book”). With the late J.T. Stanton he coauthored the first Cherrypickers’ Guide in 1990, launching the modern boom in interest in die varieties.

The Cherrypickers’ Guide uses close-up photographs and text descriptions to show collectors what to look for in die varieties. The sixth edition, volume II, is being edited by professional numismatist Larry Briggs. Its publication is scheduled for 2020, the thirtieth anniversary of the first edition’s release.

About the American Numismatic Association

The American Numismatic Association is a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating and encouraging people to study and collect coins, tokens, medals, paper money, and related items. The Association serves the academic community, collectors, and the general public with an interest in numismatics, through its vast array of educational programs including its museum, library, publications, conventions, and seminars. The ANA web site is www.money.org.

Monthly Production Reports for BEP Have Been Posted

Nov 20, 2019 | News

Monthly Production Reports for BEP Have Been Posted.

Please click here to access the reports.

Legend Rare Coin Auctions’ 35th Regency Auction Presents an Exciting Offering of Over 600 Hand Selected Lots

Nov 20, 2019 | Auctions, News

(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.

United States Mint’s Last America the Beautiful Quarters Three-Coin Set of 2019 on Sale Nov. 26

Nov 20, 2019 | Announcements, U.S. Mint

WASHINGTON – The United States Mint (Mint) will release the final America the Beautiful Quarters Three-Coin Set™ of 2019 on Nov. 26 at noon EST. The quarters in this set (product code 19AH) pay homage to Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness in Idaho.

This America the Beautiful Quarters Three-Coin Sets consist of an uncirculated quarter from the Philadelphia Mint, an uncirculated quarter from the Denver Mint, and a proof quarter from the San Francisco Mint. Quarters in the set honor Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness and feature a reverse (tails) design that depicts a piloted drift boat on the rushing river encompassed by the trees and rock formations of the Wilderness. Inscriptions are “RIVER OF NO RETURN,” “WILDERNESS,” “IDAHO,” “2019,” and “E PLURIBUS UNUM.” Pricing is set at $9.95.

The obverse (heads) of the coins depicts the 1932 portrait of George Washington by John Flanagan, which has been restored to bring out subtle details and the beauty of the original model. Inscriptions are “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,” “LIBERTY,” “IN GOD WE TRUST,” and “QUARTER DOLLAR.”

The three coins are mounted on a durable plastic card with an image of Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness. A Certificate of Authenticity is printed on the back of the card.

The Mint accepts orders at 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 catalog.usmint.gov/customer-service/shipping.html.

A limited supply of sets will be available for purchase over the counter at various United States Mint sales centers in Washington, Philadelphia, and Denver.

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. 26, 2019, at noon EST.

PCGS Banknote Accepting Paper Money Submissions January 2020

Nov 20, 2019 | Announcements

November 19, 2019 – Professional Coin Grading Service (www.PCGS.com) will again be authenticating, grading, and certifying United States and world paper money domestically with the launch of a new service, PCGS Banknote (www.PCGS.com/banknote), in early January 2020.

The company has successfully provided PCGS Gold Shield brand grading of U.S. and world paper money at its international Asia and Europe offices for the past four years. It now will offer those services in the United States and overseas under the new name, PCGS Banknote, with technologically advanced note holders for greater security.

PCGS Banknote rendering of Gold Certificate

Example image of a note in a new PCGS Banknote holder. (Image credit: Professional Coin Grading Service www.PCGS.com.)

“We are expanding our expert services to again assist collectors and dealers in the United States with paper money experts at our Southern California headquarters,” said Bruce Thornton, PCGS Director of Banknote Grading. “All notes certified and holdered by the PCGS Banknote service have a lifetime guaranty of authenticity and grade.”

PCGS will be accepting submissions of all denominations and types of U.S. paper money from Colonial-era and Continental Currency to modern-era notes. PCGS Banknote expert services include grading, re-grading, crossover, and re-holdering.

Qualifying notes will be evaluated on a 70-point grading scale with 27 possible grade designations ranging from Good (G04) to MS70 PPQ (Premium Paper Quality).

“PCGS Banknote also will use “Details” designations to accurately describe the condition of certain notes that exhibit damage or problems exceeding what is expected for any particular grade, such as heavy staining, significant trimming, or repairs,” explained Thornton.

“We’ve been preparing for this launch for the past year, assembling additional paper money experts and expanding our existing operations and technology so that banknote submitters can receive the consistent, high-level of service and the top expertise PCGS has offered since opening for business in 1986,” said PCGS President Brett Charville.

“Extensive research went into the development of state-of-the-art security features, both covert and overt, for our new banknote holder and insert. Customers also will continue to benefit from the world’s only collectibles guarantee program offered by a publicly held company, and they’ll get the same convenient assistance as always from our experienced Customer Service staff,” stated Charville.

Membership and benefits in the PCGS Collectors Club are now extended to banknotes and those who submit them. PCGS Collectors Club members will be able to submit coins and banknotes without purchasing an additional membership. Collectors Club Vouchers will also be eligible for use on PCGS Banknote submissions.

PCGS Banknote customers will be able to enjoy utilizing PCGS Cert Verification, Pop Reports, message boards, and educational materials, and the PCGS Set Registry will be expanding to include PCGS Banknote sets.

PCGS will officially begin accepting banknote submissions by mail and via take-home submissions at shows on January 2, 2020.

Collectors Universe, Inc. (Nasdaq: CLCT), parent company of PCGS, operated PCGS Currency from 2005 until 2009 when it sold the banknote grading division to another company and licensed the trademark and brand name for 10 years until this past January.

For information about PCGS Banknote services, including how to submit your notes for authentication and grading, visit www.PCGS.com/banknote. More detailed information coming soon.

About Professional Coin Grading Service

Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) represents the industry standard in third-party coin authentication and grading. Since 1986, PCGS has examined and certified over 42.5 million coins, medals, and tokens with a combined value of over $36.1 billion. For more information about PCGS products and services, including how to submit your coins for authentication and grading, visit www.PCGS.com or call PCGS Customer Service at (800) 447-8848.