Coin Collectors News

National Coin Week Celebrates With Fun Activities

Apr 12, 2018 | ANA, Announcements

Opportunity to Win a Gold Coin During the 95th Annual Event

The American Numismatic Association (ANA) will host a variety of National Coin Week activities online and at the Edward C. Rochette Money Museum in Colorado Springs, Colo., April 15-21. Activities and educational content focuses on U.S. and world coins throughout history, commemorative medals, monetary unions, designs on euro notes, and more.

ANA-sponsored activities for National Coin Week recognize the role of numismatics in building bridges and promoting unity, and include:

A writing contest open to ANA members about how numismatics creates unity. Topics can be historical and research based, or personal experiences about people coming together through numismatics. Winning and high-quality entries will be featured on the ANA National Coin Week blog and webpage. Selected entries qualify for prizes.
An online trivia challenge. Every day from April 15-21, a new question will be released on the ANA’s social media channels and www.NationalCoinWeek.org. Participants submit their answers online for a chance to win proof sets and one-year memberships to the ANA.
The annual coin club trivia challenge, where ANA member clubs test their numismatic knowledge and compete for prizes.
A youth activity, “Bridges on Coins.” Children are provided close-up illustrations of bridges featured on coins and paper money, and challenged to identify the objects.
Online resources on www.NationalCoinWeek.org, including articles from The Numismatist, promotional documents, links and suggestions from the ANA library and more.
An open house at the Money Museum in Colorado Springs on Saturday, April 21, which will include free admission, activities for children and adults, and the minting of the 2018 National Coin Week medallette in the museum’s Mini-Mint.

For additional information, e-mail ncw@money.org, call 719-482-9814, or visit www.NationalCoinWeek.org.

The American Numismatic Association is a congressionally chartered, nonprofit educational organization dedicated to encouraging the study and collection of coins and related items. The ANA helps its 25,000 members and the public discover and explore the world of money through its vast array of instructional and outreach programs, as well as its museum, library, publications and conventions. For more information, call 719-632-2646 or visit www.money.org.

United States Mint Launches the 42nd Coin in the America the Beautiful Quarters® Program

Apr 12, 2018 | News, U.S. Mint

Latest quarter honors the beaches, sea caves, and lighthouses of Apostle Islands National Lakeshore in Wisconsin

RED CLIFF, WI – The United States Mint (Mint) joined the National Park Service today to celebrate the release of the America the Beautiful Quarters® Program coin honoring Apostle Islands National Lakeshore in Wisconsin. The coin is the second of five America the Beautiful Quarters coins to be issued in 2018, and the 42nd release in the series.

The Apostle Islands National Lakeshore quarter design marks the 100th new reverse (tails) of this coin denomination since 1932. This latest design depicts the sea caves at Devils Island with the lighthouse in the background and a kayaker paddling in the foreground. Inscriptions on the reverse are “APOSTLE ISLANDS,” “WISCONSIN,” “2018,” and “E PLURIBUS UNUM.” The obverse (heads) design 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 digital image is available here.

“Just as the guiding light beacons from the Devils Island lighthouse-as it has done for decades-the Apostle Islands Quarter will serve as a shining example of the inherent value of Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, and the people who protect it and frequent it…shedding light on its splendor, beauty and purpose, for future generations to follow,” said Marc Landry, Acting Associate Director of the Mint’s Numismatic and Bullion Directorate.

More than 500 people, including 200 schoolchildren, gathered in the nearby Legendary Waters Resort for the festivities that included performances by the Bayfield High School Choir, Red Cliff Veterans of Foreign Wars, Wiigwamm Express, Red Cliff Youth Drum Group, and the Washburn High School Jazz Band.

Former Bayfield mayor Larry MacDonald served as master of ceremonies. Guest speakers included Rick Peterson, Tribal Chairman of the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa; Mike Wiggins, Tribal Chairman of the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa; Henry Buffalo, Elder of the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa and descendant of Chief Buffalo; and Bob Krumenaker, Apostle Islands National Lakeshore superintendent. The ceremony, which culminated with a public exchange of $10 rolls of new quarters, included special recognition of United States Mint Artistic Infusion Program designer Richard Masters, creator of the coin’s design.

The United States Mint is offering products featuring the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore quarter at its online catalog. Click here for details.

Public Law 110-456 authorized the 2009 launch of the America the Beautiful Quarters Program. It is a 12-year initiative that honors 56 national parks and other national sites. Each year until 2020, the public will see five new national sites depicted on the reverses of the America the Beautiful Quarters coins, with a final coin scheduled for release in 2021. The Mint is issuing these quarters according to the date each location was designated a national site.

ANA School of Numismatics Offers Seminars in Philadelphia

Apr 12, 2018 | ANA, Announcements, Shows & Conventions

The American Numismatic Association (ANA) is offering several educational courses through its Florence Schook School of Numismatics, held in conjunction with the Philadelphia World’s Fair of Money®. “An Introduction to Collecting Ancient Greek & Roman Coins,” “Coin Grading, Problem Coins and Conservation” and “Fundamentals of Digital Photography” will be offered prior and during the show. The convention begins Aug. 14 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, located at 1101 Arch St, Philadelphia, PA. Register for the seminars by June 29 for early enrollment discounts.

An Introduction to Collecting Ancient Greek & Roman Coins
(Prior to the Philadelphia World’s Fair of Money)

Students will learn the basics of collecting ancient Greek and Roman coins in this two-day class, designed specifically for new and beginning collectors. Topics include a general survey of ancient coins, how to build a basic reference library, utilizing the Internet for collecting and research, and learning the basics of detecting counterfeits. Participants are encouraged to bring their own coins for discussion.

Instructor: Kerry K. Wetterstrom
Date & Time: August 12-13; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Cost: $259; Register by June 29 for a $25 discount. ANA life members save an additional $40.
Location: Philadelphia Marriott Downtown

Coin Grading, Problem Coins and Conservation
(Prior to the Philadelphia World’s Fair of Money)

The biggest mistake collectors and dealers make is buying coins they shouldn’t have purchased in the first place—coins that have grade, surface or conservation issues that they didn’t see. This seminar will help students avoid costly mistakes by developing their grading skills and teaching them to spot a wide variety of surface problems, enhancements, alterations and conservation issues that can adversely affect a coin’s grade. The material covered is comprehensive and suitable for novice and experienced collectors. The seminar uses images, discussion and hands-on examination of hundreds of coins in the ANA’s Grading Sets.

Instructor: Brian Silliman
Date & Time: August 12-13; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Cost: $259; Register by June 29 for a $25 discount. ANA life members save an additional $40.
Location: Philadelphia Marriott Downtown

Fundamentals of Digital Photography
(During the Philadelphia World’s Fair of Money)

Learn the basics of numismatic photography, from shooting images to preparing them for the web, presentations or publication using Adobe Photoshop. Students should bring their own “macro-capable” cameras and several coins they would like to photograph and are encouraged to bring their own high-speed laptops and software.

Instructor: Clark Fogg and David Heinrich
Date & Time: August 16-17; 10 a.m. to 3 p.m
Cost: $359; Register by June 29 for a $25 discount. ANA life members save an additional $40.
Location: Pennsylvania Convention Center

For additional information, contact Meghan Reed, the ANA’s seminar representative, at seminars@money.org.

Michigan Student Wins 2018 PNG YN Scholarship

Apr 11, 2018 | News, PNG

Andrew Blinkiewicz

(Temecula, California) April 11, 2018 – A Michigan State University economics major, Andrew Blinkiewicz, 21, of Kalamazoo, Michigan, has been selected by the Professional Numismatists Guild (www.PNGdealers.org) to be the recipient of the PNG’s 2018 Young Numismatist Scholarship.

“The PNG will pay for tuition, meals and five nights of dormitory accommodations so Blinkiewicz can attend one of the six-day sessions of the 2018 American Numismatic Association (www.money.org) Summer Seminar on the campus of Colorado College, site of the ANA headquarters, in Colorado Springs, Colorado,” explained PNG Executive Director Robert Brueggeman.

A member of the Kalamazoo Coin Club and currently the Secretary of the Michigan State Numismatic Society (www.michigancoinclub.org), Blinkiewicz said he “caught the collecting bug” at the age of 13 from his grandfather. Today he enjoys collecting Walking Liberty half dollars and Swiss shooting medals among other numismatic items.

Blinkiewicz wants to eventually become a professional coin dealer, and during the summer of 2017 he worked as an intern at Heritage Auctions in Dallas, Texas.

“Summer Seminar provides me with another step toward a full-fledged career in numismatics,” he stated. He plans to take the advanced coin grading class during the 2018 ANA Summer Seminar.

“This is the 14th consecutive year of PNG YN scholarships for the popular, annual ANA educational programs. The money to pay for the annual 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 PNG Promoting Numismatic Growth internship program, visit online at www.PNGdealers.org or call (951) 587-8300.

United States Mint to Release Three-Coin Set Honoring Apostle Islands National Lakeshore on April 17

Apr 10, 2018 | Announcements, U.S. Mint

WASHINGTON – The United States Mint (Mint) will release the 2018 America the Beautiful Quarters Three-Coin Set™-Apostle Islands National Lakeshore (product code 18AE) on April 17 at noon Eastern Time (ET).

This set is priced at $9.95 and includes one uncirculated quarter from the Philadelphia Mint, one uncirculated quarter from the Denver Mint, and one proof quarter from the San Francisco Mint. The coin’s reverse (tails) design depicts the sea caves at Devils Island with the lighthouse in the background and a kayaker paddling in the foreground. Inscriptions are “APOSTLE ISLANDS,” “WISCONSIN,” “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 Apostle Islands National Lakeshore and the Certificate of Authenticity.

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. Visit catalog.usmint.gov/customer-service/shipping.html for information about shipping options.