Coin Collectors News

United States Mint Opens Sales for the 2019 Native American $1 Coin on February 13

Feb 7, 2019 | Announcements, U.S. Mint

WASHINGTON – The United States Mint (Mint) will begin accepting orders for products containing the 2019 Native American $1 Coin on February 13 at noon EST. The coin celebrates the accomplishments of Native Americans in the Space Program. Available options and their prices are below.

PRODUCT CODE	PRODUCT OPTION	PRICE
19NA	25-Coin Roll – “P”	$32.95
19NB	25-Coin Roll – “D”	$32.95
19NC	250-Coin Box – “P”	$275.95
19ND	250-Coin Box – “D”	$275.95
19NE	100-Coin Bag – “P”	$111.95
19NF	100-Coin Bag – “D”	$111.95

The 2019 Native American $1 Coin reverse (tails) design depicts renowned engineer Mary Golda Ross writing calculations. Behind her, an Atlas-Agena rocket launches into space, with an equation inscribed in its cloud. An astronaut, symbolic of Native American astronauts, including John Herrington, spacewalks above. In the field behind, a group of stars indicates outer space. Inscriptions include “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” and “$1.”

The coin’s obverse (heads) will continue to feature Sacagawea carrying her infant son, Jean Baptiste, by sculptor Glenna Goodacre. Inscriptions are “LIBERTY” and “IN GOD WE TRUST.” The year, mint mark, and “E PLURIBUS UNUM” are incused on the edge of the coin.

The Mint accepts orders at www.catalog.usmint.gov and at 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468). Hearing- and speech-impaired customers with TTY equipment may order at 1-888-321-MINT. Shipping options are available at www.catalog.usmint.gov/customerservice/shipping.html.

Native American $1 Coin products are also available for purchase through the Mint’s Product Enrollment Program. Visit catalog.usmint.gov/shop/product-enrollments/ to learn more.

United States Mint Launches 46th America the Beautiful Quarters® Program Coin

Feb 7, 2019 | Announcements, U.S. Mint

New quarter pays homage to the role of Lowell, MA, in America’s Industrial Revolution

WASHINGTON – The United States Mint (Mint) today officially launched the America the Beautiful Quarters® Program coin honoring Lowell National Historical Park in Massachusetts. This is the first quarter of 2019 and the 46th coin overall in the program.

The reverse (tails) design of the quarter representing this national site reflects Lowell’s role in the Industrial Revolution. The design depicts a mill girl working at a power loom with its prominent circular bobbin battery. A view of Lowell, including the Boott Mill clock tower, is seen through the window.

According to Marc Landry, the Mint’s Acting Associate Director for the Numismatic and Bullion Directorate, “The depiction of the mill girl takes us back to the past at the forefront of America’s Industrial Revolution. The physical coin takes us to present day manufacturing processes; and finally, the coin in its entirety takes us into the future–inspiring tomorrow’s innovators, workforce, and generations to follow.”

More than 1,500 enthusiastic school-aged children from the Lowell area celebrated the release of the new quarter. Guest speakers included former Congresswoman Niki Tsongas, National Park Service Regional Deputy Director Rose Fennell, and park superintendent Celeste Bernardo. An exchange of $10 rolls of the new quarter rounded out the event.

Products featuring the Lowell National Historical Park quarter are available for purchase directly from 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.

A Fresh and GEM Quality 1795 Eagle will Highlight Legend’s 31st Regency Auction

Feb 7, 2019 | Announcements, Auctions

The stunning coin is an historic trophy of American numismatics

(Lincroft, NJ—February 5, 2019) — Legend Rare Coin Auctions is honored to have been consigned and is proud to offer one of the FINEST 1795 $10 gold pieces that survives. This marvel of American numismatics is graded MS64+ by PCGS and is endorsed by CAC. The coin that is fresh to the market, was delivered to Legend Rare Coin Auctions at the recent Long Beach Expo and will be offered in the March 21, 2019 Regency Auction 31.

“We are honored to offer this incredible coin!” exclaimed Julie Abrams, president of Legend Auctions. “Any 1795 ten is a highlight, but coupled that with its extremely high grade, and virtually GEM technical and aesthetic appeal, this coin is in a class all its own! It is a very historically important issue, one of the first gold coins struck by the infant U.S. mint. Any time a Mint State example is offered, it is an opportunity that is of the utmost importance.”

Legend Auctions founder, and president of its sister-firm, Legend Numismatics, Laura Sperber, continued, “We have handled many of the greatest U.S. coins of all time, and this GEM 1795 eagle, ranks among the best early gold coins I have ever hand the pleasure of handling! When we saw this coin, our hearts were pounding! We regard this stunning coin as a once in a lifetime opportunity to acquire one of the absolute finest known examples—we believe it is either 3rd or 4th finest known.”

The April 12, 1792 act of Congress that established the United States Mint, called for three denominations to be struck in gold, with the $10 Eagle as the largest denomination. The act required mint officials to post a surety bond before precious metal coinage could commence. Thus, only copper half cents and cents were struck in 1793; silver half dollars and dollars were struck in 1794; it was not until 1795 when the first $5 and $10 gold coins were coined.

The $10 gold piece, or Eagle was designed by Robert Scot, and featured a bust of Liberty facing right, wearing a Phrygian cap (a symbol of freed slaves in ancient Roman times). The reverse has a small eagle holding a palm branch in his talons and a circular olive wreath is held in his beak. Only 5,083 examples were reported to have been struck, although early mint records show the number of each coin struck in the calendar year. Since die steel was hard to come by, dies were used until they could not be used any more, making it possible some additional 1795 Eagles were struck later on. In all, five die pairs were employed, four with the 13 Leaves reverse, and one with the rare 9 Leaves reverse. Today, approximately 500 are known in all grades per PCGS CoinFacts and the Bass-Dannreuther reference estimates 430 to 582 survive.

The presently offered MS64+ is very high end for the grade with a rich, original “skin” and wonderful toning. A bold strike shows full crisp definition on both sides, including the highest points in the central areas of Robert Scot’s classic design. A bold, radiant luster has a wonderfully thick frost that adds to the coin’s stunning visual allure. The fields are very clean and are free of any distracting marks or lines; there are no distracting adjustment marks from the minting process seen anywhere.

There is just one other coin graded MS64+ at PCGS (the other coin is impounded in the Simpson Collection) and only three coins are graded finer, including the Garrett-Pogue MS66+ and the Eliasberg MS65. No MS64 has sold in auction since July 2008. The 1795 Eagle has always been prized for its impressive look, as well as its place in the annals of U.S. numismatics, dating back to the mid-1800s when American collecting began to become a popular hobby. While the majority of known examples are circulated, clustered in the XF and AU range, precious few do have original surfaces (they have been cleaned, polished, scratched, tooled, or have some other conditional issues). There are a small number of lower Mint State coins graded, however, anything finer than MS62 is a major rarity. Today, high grade coins carry high six-figure to seven-figure prices.

The coin will carry an estimate of $800,000-$1,000,000. The most recent example was the MS66+ Garrett-Pogue coin, which realized $2,585,000 in September 2015. The Eliasberg coin was graded by NGC when it last sold in auction over five years ago (it has since crossed over to PCGS and has a current asking price of $1,750,000).

Legend Rare Coin Auctions is a boutique numismatic auction company specializing in the finest and rarest U.S. coins. Founded in 2012 by Laura Sperber, the owner and president of Legend Numismatics, the premier rare coin retail firm. LRCA was, from the outset designed to be a different kind of rare coin auction firm. LRCA’s staff of numismatic auction industry veterans includes Julie Abrams, president; Greg Cohen, senior numismatist; and Jessica Berkman, consignment coordinator. The firm’s Regency Auctions serve as the official auction for the PCGS Members’ Shows, held six times per year. Since its founding, LRCA has sold many important collections, resulting in world-record prices, including the Coronet Collection of Morgan Dollars (#1 all time PCGS set); the David Hall—Bob Simpson Collection of Liberty Head Eagles; the Sunnywood-Simpson Collection of Morgan Dollars; the Phil Flannagan Collection of Territorial Gold, Toned Dollars, and 1795 coins; duplicates from the Gerald Forsythe Collections of Buffalo Nickels and Mercury Dimes; the Bob Simpson Collection of Standard Silver Patterns; the Northern Lights Collection of Monster Toned Morgan Dollars; the Crow River Collections of Indian Head $10s and Peace Dollars; the P.F.M Collection (former #6 PCGS Set of Morgan Dollars with varieties); the Oak Crest Collection of Carson City $5 gold; the Konstantine Collection of Capped Bust Half Dollars, the #1 PCGS Set of Red Book varieties, 1807-1836. The firm’s impressive record also includes the 2nd highest APR in 2016 with the sale of Bob Simpson’s duplicate 1879 $20 “Quintuple Stella” which realized $1,880,000. To consign to an upcoming auction, visit www.legendauctions.com and contact a consignment specialist today.

United States Mint Announces New Products for Young Collectors

Feb 7, 2019 | Announcements, U.S. Mint

WASHINGTON – The United States Mint (Mint) is pleased to announce a new family of youth products in 2019 – the Mint’s first new youth products in five years.

There will be three new products for kids in 2019, featuring the Mighty Minters™ — Kendra, Timothy, Sophie, Lina, Alex, Eli and Layla. They are fun, approachable, and wholesome coin collecting ambassadors to children and gift givers intended to pique the interest of kids seven to 12 years of age.

The first product offered in this series is the United States Mint Rocketship™. This product is expected to go on sale in February 2019, with detailed information to be released later in the month.

Other products in the new youth family line will include:

United States Mint Explore and Discover Coin Set™

Look for this set in Spring of 2019. It features Mighty Minters Alex, Eli, Sophie, and Timothy, and contains the following proof finish 2019-dated coins: one Native American $1 Coin, one Kennedy Half Dollar, and one America the Beautiful Quarters® Program coin. The set also contains one dime, one nickel, and one penny, all in uncirculated finish and capable of being removed. A penny planchet is also included. There are four openings for the remaining 2019 quarters, which kids can fill as they find the quarters in their change. This interactive set comes with an activity booklet with games, and links to United States Mint videos.

United States Mint Youth Coin and Currency Set™

This set contains one each of the five 2019 America the Beautiful Quarters® Program Coins in proof finish and one $2 bill from the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. Mighty Minters Timothy, Alex, and Eli adorn the colorful folder. The target release date for this set is late October 2019.

As we introduce each product, we will also introduce you to the Mighty Minters™.

Joe Menna Named Chief Engraver of the United States Mint

Feb 4, 2019 | News, U.S. Mint

WASHINGTON – United States Mint Director David J. Ryder announced that Sculptor-Engraver Joe Menna has been named Chief Engraver of the United States Mint.

Menna joined the Mint in 2005, and he brings 32 years of professional experience and classical training to the position. He was the first full-time digitally skilled artist hired by the United States Mint. Menna was instrumental in the development of the United States Mint’s first digitally sculpted coins and continues to distinguish himself as a leader in this constantly evolving craft.

Prior to joining the Mint, Menna worked as a sculptor and instructor at the Johnson Atelier Fine Art Foundry in Mercer County, N.J., creating life-sized figures and working digitally on projects for a variety of clients. Concurrently, he pursued his own sculpting and created many works, notably a seven-foot-tall cupro-nickel statue for the Grounds for Sculpture and a temporary 30-foot tall monument for the Hamilton train station in Hamilton, N.J.

His work has won multiple Krause Publications’ Coin of the Year awards in various categories. Menna has been honored both for coins he sculpted and designed and for coins he sculpted from other artists’ designs. In addition to his work at the United States Mint, he maintains an active freelance career in toys and collectibles, and he is recognized as one of the world’s leading practitioners of digital sculpture.

Menna holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in sculpture from the University of the Arts, a Master of Fine Arts degree in sculpture from the New York Academy of Art, with postgraduate study at the Saint Petersburg Stieglitz State Academy of Art and Design in St. Petersburg, Russia. His continuing professional education includes studies at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art, the Sculpture Center, and the Art Students League.

Menna’s full catalog of works for the Mint are listed below:

Design and Sculpting Credits

The Secretary of the Treasury selected these designs by Menna for use on a coin or medal. Menna also executed the sculpts required to produce these coins and medals.

2018 World War I Centennial Silver Medals (Marine Corps) – reverse
2018 World War I Centennial Silver Medals (Air Service) – reverse
2017 Bob Dole Congressional Gold Medal – obverse
2016 National Park Service 100th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Program – Silver obverse
2015 Presidential $1 Coins – Dwight D. Eisenhower obverse
2014 Presidential $1 Coins – Franklin Roosevelt obverse
2014 Shimon Peres Congressional Gold Medal – reverse
2013 Presidential $1 Coins – Theodore Roosevelt obverse
2013 America the Beautiful Quarters® Program – Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine reverse
2013 America the Beautiful Quarters® Program – Mount Rushmore National Park reverse
2012 First Spouse Gold Coin Program and Medal Program – Frances Cleveland (Term 2) reverse
2011 Fallen Heroes of 9/11 Congressional Gold Medals – Flight 93 obverse
2011 Medal of Honor Commemorative Coin Program – Gold reverse
2009 District of Columbia and U.S. Territories Quarters Program – Commonwealth of Puerto Rico reverse
2009 District of Columbia and U.S. Territories Quarters Program – U.S. Virgin Islands reverse
2009 Presidential $1 Coins – William Henry Harrison obverse
2008 Code Talkers Recognition Congressional Medals Program – Cherokee Nation reverse
2008 Code Talkers Recognition Congressional Medals Program – Seminole Nation reverse
2008 Presidential $1 Coins – James Monroe obverse
2008 First Spouse Gold Coin and Medal Program – Louisa Adams reverse
2007 First Spouse Gold Coin and Medal Program – Martha Washington obverse
2007 First Spouse Gold Coin and Medal Program – Abigail Adams obverse
2007 50 State Quarters Program – Utah reverse
2007 Presidential $1 Coins – George Washington obverse
2007 Presidential $1 Coins – Thomas Jefferson obverse
2006 Dalai Lama Congressional Gold Medal – reverse

Design Credits

The Secretary of the Treasury selected these designs for use on a coin or medal:

2010 America the Beautiful Quarters® Program – Yosemite National Park reverse
2008 Code Talkers Recognition Congressional Medals Program – Kiowa obverse
2008 Code Talkers Recognition Congressional Medals Program – Kiowa reverse

Sculpting Credits

Menna executed the sculpts required to produce these coins and medals:

2019 American Legion Commemorative Coin Program – Clad reverse
2019 American Legion Commemorative Coin Program – Gold reverse
2018 America the Beautiful Quarters® Program – Voyageurs National Park reverse
2018 World War I Centennial Silver Medals (Air Service) – obverse
2017 Office of Strategic Services (OSS) Congressional Gold Medal – obverse
2017 Filipino Veterans of World War II Congressional Gold Medal – reverse
2017 Lions Clubs International Centennial Silver Dollar Coin – obverse
2017 Boys Town Centennial Commemorative Coin Program – Silver obverse
2017 Boys Town Centennial Commemorative Coin Program – Silver reverse
2016 Presidential $1 Coins – Ronald Reagan obverse
2016 First Spouse Gold Coin and Medal Program – Nancy Reagan obverse
2016 America the Beautiful Quarters® Program – Cumberland Gap National Historical Park reverse
2016 America the Beautiful Quarters® Program – Fort Moultrie (Fort Sumter National Monument) reverse
2016 Mark Twain Commemorative Coin Program – Gold reverse
2015 America the Beautiful Quarters® Program – Kisatchie National Forest reverse
2015 America the Beautiful Quarters® Program – Blue Ridge Parkway reverse
2015 U.S. Marshals Service 225th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Program – Silver reverse
2014 American Eagle Platinum Proof Coin Program – reverse
2014 America the Beautiful Quarters® Program – Everglades National Park reverse
2014 Native American $1 Coin – reverse
2014 First Spouse Gold Coin and Medal Program – Florence Harding obverse
2013 First Spouse Gold Coin and Medal Program – Edith Roosevelt obverse
2013 16th Street Baptist Church Bombing Victims Congressional Gold Medal – reverse
2013 Girl Scouts of the USA Centennial Silver Dollar Coin – reverse
2013 5-Star Generals Commemorative Coin Program – Gold reverse
2013 5-Star Generals Commemorative Coin Program – Silver obverse
2013 5-Star Generals Commemorative Coin Program – Silver reverse
2012 Star-Spangled Banner Commemorative Coin Program – Gold obverse
2012 Star-Spangled Banner Commemorative Coin Program – Gold reverse
2012 America the Beautiful Quarters® Program – Acadia National Park reverse
2011 Native American $1 Coin – reverse
2011 America the Beautiful Quarters® Program – Vicksburg National Military Park reverse
2011 United States Army Commemorative Coin Program – Gold reverse
2011 United States Army Commemorative Coin Program – Clad reverse
2011 First Spouse Gold Coin and Medal Program – Lucy Hayes reverse
2011 September 11 National Medal – reverse
2010 America the Beautiful Quarters® Program – Hot Springs National Park reverse
2010 American Veterans Disabled for Life Silver Dollar Coin – reverse
2010 Lincoln Bicentennial One-Cent Coin – Preservation of the Union reverse
2010 First Spouse Gold Coin and Medal Program – Abigail Fillmore reverse
2010 First Spouse Gold Coin and Medal Program – James Buchanan’s Liberty reverse
2009 Lincoln Bicentennial One-Cent Coin – Presidency in Washington, DC reverse
2009 Louis Braille Bicentennial Silver Dollar Coin – reverse
2009 First Spouse Gold Coin and Medal Program – Anna Harrison obverse
2008 50 State Quarters Program – Arizona reverse
2008 Bald Eagle Commemorative Coin Program – Clad obverse
2008 Code Talkers Recognition Congressional Medals Program – Tonto Apache Tribe obverse
2008 Code Talkers Recognition Congressional Medals Program – Tlingit Tribe obverse
2008 Code Talkers Recognition Congressional Medals Program – White Mountain Apache Tribe obverse
2008 Arnold Palmer Congressional Gold Medal – reverse
2006 San Francisco Old Mint Commemorative Coin Program – Gold obverse