Fabled Brasher Doubloon and Historic New York Coppers in PCGS Exhibit at Next Long Beach Expo
(Long Beach, California) December 3, 2018 — After their acclaimed exhibit at the American Numismatic Association 2018 Philadelphia World’s Fair of Money®, eight historic early American coins including a legendary 1787 gold Brasher Doubloon will be exhibited by Professional Coin Grading Service (www.PCGS.com) at the next Long Beach Coin, Currency, Stamp and Sports Collectible Expo (www.LongBeachExpo.com), January 31 to February 2, 2019.
“The reaction from visitors to the exhibit at the PCGS booth in Philadelphia was more than just positive. The PCGS staff could hear some of the visitors literally saying ‘Oooh!’ and ‘Ahh!’ as they viewed these superb, early American rarities,” said PCGS Set Registry® Manager Cosetta Robbins.
The Brasher Doubloon and seven of the finest known 1780s New York colonial era copper coins will be displayed together for the first time on the West Coast in an educational exhibit hosted by PCGS at the Long Beach Expo. The show will be in the Long Beach, California Convention Center at 100 S. Pine Avenue, and the exhibit will be at the PCGS Set Registry® booth #401.
The discovery specimen for the legendary 1787 gold Brasher Doubloons will be displayed by PCGS along with historic New York copper coins at the Long Beach Expo, January 31-February 2, 2019. Photo credit: Professional Coin Grading Service www.PCGS.com.
“The lettering and some design elements of all of these distinguished coins are punch linked, and each of these coins is an important part of early American history and numismatics,” said Robbins.
The Brasher Doubloons are the first gold coins made in the United States proposed or intended for circulation. The design includes the obverse motto, NOVA EBORACA COLUMBIA EXCELSIOR (translated as “New York and America ever upward”).
The coin’s creator, Ephraim Brasher, was well known at the time as a silver and goldsmith and civic leader in New York City, and later was a neighbor of George Washington in lower Manhattan.
Only seven Brasher Doubloons are known; six with the designer’s “EB” hallmark on the eagle’s wing, one with it on the eagle’s breast.
The coin that will be displayed in Long Beach has the hallmark on the eagle’s right wing, and it is the discovery specimen for Brasher Doubloons that was first documented in 1840. It was exhibited at the 1964 New York World’s Fair, was a featured display in a nationwide touring exhibit for the 1987 bicentennial of the United States Constitution and was displayed at the Epcot theme park at Walt Disney World in 1988.
The anonymous current owner of the Brasher Doubloon is described by PCGS as a “West Coast collector,” and the owner of the New York copper coins is described as “a New York dealer and collector.”
The seven New York copper pieces are all either the finest known or among the finest known of their kind. All have impressive pedigrees to one or more collections of well-known numismatists of the past, such as Parmelee, Stickney, Boyd, Garrett, Ford and/or Newman. The coins are:
- 1786 Small Head Non Vi Virtute Vici (“Not by force, but by virtue we have won”) with a portrait believed to be George Washington. Less than two dozen examples are known.
- 1787 New York Excelsior, Eagle Left. This is the only Mint State example known and was formerly in the famous Garrett Collection.
- 1787 New York New York, George Clinton cent, with New York coat of arms, less than a dozen known.
- 1787 New York Excelsior, Indian/Arms, one of only about 12 known.
- 1787 N York Excelsior, Indian/Eagle on Globe design, one of the finest of only about 14 known.
- 1787 Copper Nova Eborac (“New York”), Large Head variety, one of the finest of only a few dozen known.
- 1787 Copper Nova Eborac, Small Head variety, less than a dozen known and closely linked to the Brasher Doubloons. This is the finest certified example and was formerly in the C.I. Bushnell and Eric P. Newman collections.
One of only about a dozen known examples, this 1787 “Nova Eborac” Large Head variety New York copper piece will be among the historic early American coins on display at the PCGS Set Registry® booth during the January 31-February 2, 2019 Long Beach Expo. Photo credit: Professional Coin Grading Service www.PCGS.com.
“The January-February 2019 Long Beach Expo will be an excellent opportunity for visitors to see and enjoy in person these impressive, early American rare coins,” said Expo President Cassi East.
For additional information about the Long Beach Expo, visit www.LongBeachExpo.com.
Since its founding in 1986, PCGS experts have certified over 40 million coins with a total market value of over $33 billion. For 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.
PCGS authenticates first known 1868/6 overdate Australia sovereign
The first known 1868/6 overdate Australia sovereign has been authenticated by PCGS. (Photo credit: Professional Coin Grading Service www.PCGS.com)
The historic gold coin depicting a young Queen Victoria recently was submitted by a sharp-eyed professional numismatist on the Australian island state of Tasmania, and it now is certified PCGS AU58+.
“The sovereigns from 1855 to 1870 are among the most important and valuable series in Australian numismatics. These were the first coins struck by the Royal Mint in Sydney that was established in 1855 as the first branch of the British Royal Mint,” said Scott Thompson, PCGS World Coin Department Manager.
“These sovereigns have a distinctive ‘Sydney Mint’ reverse. This is the only time the Royal Mint permitted a design unique to a branch mint,” explained Thompson.
John Haddad, Managing Director of Tasmanian Numismatics in Moonah, Tasmania, recently submitted the coin to PCGS. He obtained it six months earlier from England, and when PCGS confirmed it is a previously unknown overdate Haddad said he “was filled with joy, so happy, fist pumping and over the moon!”
“I have a keen eye for varieties and I enjoy finding and studying them. This particular coin was advertised at the time as being an 1868/6 overdate, although it was not formally recognized as such. I was skeptical at first but after enlarging images of the coin I could clearly see the overdate. I had to have it with intentions of having this variety authenticated by PCGS,” Haddad explained.
“Since obtaining the coin I have researched images for this variety from past sales going back 30 years and have not seen another. There may be others out there but as I have not seen another, it may be the only example in existence,” he stated.
The coin has been consigned to Heritage Auctions and it will be offered on January 6, 2019 in their New York International Numismatic Convention World Coins Signature Auction.
How did the overdate occur at the Sydney Mint?
“Logistically, getting supplies and skilled labor was challenging for the branch mints in the 1800s. Reworking dies and creating overdates was a practical solution for getting around the difficulty of obtaining new dies from the Royal Mint in England. Only a handful of overdates in the Australia sovereign series are known, and of those seen in person by PCGS experts, this 1868/6 is the most pronounced with a good portion of the 6 still visible underneath the 8,” said Thompson.
Other overdate examples of the Australian Reverse sovereigns PCGS has graded are: 1861/0, 1865/4, 1865 6/5. There are some other combinations listed in numismatic publications, but not yet confirmed by PCGS.
A close up image of the date on the first known 1868/6 Australia sovereign. (Photo credit: Professional Coin Grading Service www.PCGS.com)
“In a series that is already rare, these overdates are in a category all their own. Many examples known today are unique, such as the 1868/6,” Thompson stated.
Founded in 1986, Professional Coin Grading Service has authenticated, graded and certified more than 40 million coins. PCGS has offices in the United States, Paris, Shanghai and Hong Kong. For additional information about PCGS and its services, visit www.PCGS.com.
PNG Steps Up Fight Against Fakes
PNG Leaders Step Up Fight Against Fakes With Anti-Counterfeiting Educational Foundation
New nonprofit entity created to accept donations for important 2019 work by Anti-Counterfeiting Task Force
(Temecula, California) November 29, 2018 – The Anti-Counterfeiting Task Force (ACTF) accomplished major victories combatting fakes and educating the public about counterfeits in the marketplace in 2018, according to ACTF Coordinator Beth Deisher. She envisions continued success in 2019 following the recent major reorganization of the group’s parent organization, the Anti-Counterfeiting Educational Foundation (ACEF).
The nonprofit Foundation originally was operated by the Industry Council for Tangible Assets (ICTA) but recently left ICTA. As of November 20, 2018, the Foundation’s Board of Directors now is composed of volunteer members of the Professional Numismatists Guild (www.PNGdealers.org) Board who will handle the administrative duties and assist with fund-raising needed to support ACTF’s efforts to fight fakes.
“The Foundation continues as a 501(c)(3) corporation and is separate from PNG. All donations to ACEF are tax deductible,” emphasized the Foundation’s and PNG’s Executive Director Robert Brueggeman whose background is in law enforcement and security.
“PNG will continue to provide $10,000 a year to the Foundation and individual PNG members also are making donations, such as Wayde Milas and Brett Charville who each pledged $10,000 a year for five years. The Foundation and its Anti-Counterfeiting Task Force operate solely on donations, and there is a large need for additional funds of any amount from individuals as well as hobby and trade organizations so this crucial work can continue,” Brueggeman emphasized.
Among other recent donations, the Central Ohio Numismatic Association again contributed $1,000 to ACEF.
Deisher explained, “The ongoing influx of counterfeit rare coins, bullion coins and grading service holders in the marketplace is a potential problem for virtually every collector and dealer. Among our goals for 2019 is to increase educational programs for the collecting community and the public about how to protect themselves from being defrauded by counterfeit coins and precious metals bars they encounter. One of the ways to do that will be with a new ACEF website, which we expect to be operational by mid to late December.”
“We also want to expand the task force’s network of experts who can assist law enforcement agencies in identifying counterfeits. Another planned effort in the coming year is seeking changes in local, state and federal laws and regulations to give higher priority and faster adjudication for counterfeiting crimes,” said Deisher.
Deisher will serve as Director of Anti-Counterfeiting for the Foundation and Coordinator for its Anti-Counterfeiting Task Force.
In addition to Deisher, there are 44 volunteer members of the Anti-Counterfeiting Task Force. Among the ACTF’s major accomplishments in 2018 were:
- Provided assistance in more than 30 active cases of counterfeit coins and precious metal bullion products being investigated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Secret Service, and U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Inspector General.
- Expanded the Anti-Counterfeiting Task Force’s Expert Network and providing experts to assist law enforcement in identification of counterfeit coins and bars. The largest case prosecuted during 2018 involved seizure of thousands of counterfeits. If the fakes in this single case had been genuine they would have had a retail market value of more than $48 million.
- Sponsored and mounted an unprecedented five-case, public education exhibit of counterfeit coins and bars during the American Numismatic Association’s World’s Fair of Money® in Philadelphia. The counterfeit items were made available through special arrangement with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations.
- Developed and conducted the first survey to determine prevalence of counterfeit coins and precious metals bars in the U.S. marketplace.
- Worked with supervisors of Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) regional centers to determine the best methods of providing educational materials and training CBP agents to create awareness of counterfeit coins and precious metals bars illegally entering the United States.
For additional information and to make a donation, contact the Anti-Counterfeiting Educational Foundation at 28441 Rancho California Road, Suite 106, Temecula, CA 92590. The phone number is 951-587-8300. Or contact ACTF Coordinator Beth Deisher at 567-202-1795.
A section of the educational exhibit of confiscated counterfeit coins displayed by the Anti-Counterfeiting Educational Foundation in cooperation with U.S. Homeland Security at the 2018 ANA World’s Fair of Money. (Photo credit: Donn Pearlman.)
Canadian Numismatic Advisory Board is Accepting Applications
Collectors, Dealers, and Researchers Invited to Apply
(Atlanta, Georgia) — Whitman Publishing is accepting applications for appointment to its Canadian Numismatic Advisory Board (CNAB).
The CNAB was established to advise the publisher and editors of Whitman Publishing on topics relating to Canadian coins and tokens, medals, paper currency, and related numismatic items. These include colonial and provincial coinage; bank and trade tokens; money of the French regime; private and semiregal tokens; pre-decimal and decimal coinage of the 1800s; British colonial items, circulating and otherwise; patterns; bullion coins; error coins; coinage sets; and circulating issues of the Dominion of Canada, 1867 to date. The board also advises on grading, auction records, photography, authentication, third-party certification, the Royal Mint, and other hobby-related topics.
Board members are appointed for a term of two years. Membership is open to professional numismatists as well as hobbyists, and anyone with an interest in Canadian numismatics—collectors, dealers, historians, researchers, students, museum curators, coin designers, etc.
Candidates should have an interest in Canadian history and have demonstrable experience in the study of Canadian numismatics; a history of honorable professional and personal conduct; and successful standing in their communities. Candidates must be free of professional, political, or financial interests that could negatively affect their ability to provide impartial advice.
Board candidates are invited to submit a description of the skills, abilities, talents, and credentials that support their applications.
Application Deadline: Friday, February 1, 2019.
Receipt of Applications: Those wishing to be considered for participation on the CNAB should submit a resume and cover letter describing their reasons for seeking and qualifications for membership, by email to dennis.tucker@whitman.com or by mail to Dennis Tucker, Publisher; Whitman Publishing; PO Box 191884; Atlanta GA 31119. Submissions must be postmarked no later than Friday, February 1, 2019.
Final America the Beautiful Quarters Three-Coin Set™ of 2018 Goes On Sale Nov. 27
WASHINGTON – The United States Mint (Mint) will begin accepting orders for the America the Beautiful Quarters Three-Coin Set™ honoring Block Island National Wildlife Refuge in Rhode Island on Nov. 27 at noon Eastern Standard Time (EST).
America the Beautiful Quarters Three-Coin Sets contain one uncirculated quarter from the Philadelphia Mint, one uncirculated quarter from the Denver Mint, and one proof quarter from the San Francisco Mint. Coins in the set representing Block Island National Wildlife Refuge feature a reverse (tails) design depicting a snowy egret perched on a branch on the edge of a salt marsh, ready for flight. Inscriptions are “BLOCK ISLAND,” “RHODE ISLAND,” “2018” and “E PLURIBUS UNUM.” The obverse (heads) depicts the 1932 restored portrait of George Washington by John Flanagan. Inscriptions are “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,” “LIBERTY,” “IN GOD WE TRUST,” and “QUARTER DOLLAR.”
A durable plastic card holds the three coins and displays an image of Block Island National Wildlife Refuge and the Certificate of Authenticity.
The America the Beautiful Quarters Three-Coin Set™–Block Island National Wildlife Refuge is priced at $9.95. Orders will be accepted 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. Visit catalog.usmint.gov/customer-service/shipping.html for information about shipping options.
The America the Beautiful Quarters Three-Coin Sets are also available for purchase through the Product Enrollment Program. Visit catalog.usmint.gov/shop/product-enrollments/ to learn more about this convenient ordering method.
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