Coin Collectors News

U.S. Mint VIDEO: “Making Money” Ep. 06: Bullion Coins

May 26, 2017 | U.S. Mint, video

West Point Superintendent Ellen McCullom describes the process of making a gold bullion coin.

James Earl Jones Coin Collecting Video Available Free on New PNG YouTube Channel

May 26, 2017 | News, PNG, video

(Temecula, California) May 25, 2017 – The award-winning educational video, “Money: History in Your Hands,” narrated by acclaimed actor James Earl Jones, now is available for free viewing on the Professional Numismatists Guild YouTube.com channel.

“We currently have more than a dozen videos about rare coins, paper money and precious metals available for complimentary viewing on PNG’s YouTube channel. They will be helpful for beginners to advanced collectors and investors with informative advice about buying, storing and selling numismatic items as well as gold, silver and platinum bullion items,” said PNG Executive Director Robert Brueggeman.

“An important part of our educational effort is the video, ‘Money: History in Your Hands,’ jointly created by PNG and the American Numismatic Association, and hosted on camera by James Earl Jones. It gives viewers a compelling overview of the history of money, and how it relates to art, culture, history, politics and religion,” explained Brueggeman. “The 29-minute video is available for convenient viewing in two parts.”

Other informative PNG videos focus on topics of discovering the enjoyment of coin collecting, how to determine the value of your coins, and the importance of working with a reputable, knowledgeable dealer when you buy or sell.

All of the videos are can be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCb5co6ZLKPitRAw-6pDxeCw

Founded in 1955, the Professional Numismatists Guild is a nonprofit organization composed of many of the country’s top rare coin and paper money dealers. A directory of dealers, the PNG Member Code of Ethics and the organization’s Collector’s Bill of Rights can be found at www.PNGdealers.org. For additional information, contact the PNG by email at info@PNGdealers.org or by phone at 951-587-8300.

Money: History in Your Hands – Part I (Posted June 3, 2016)

Money: History in Your Hands – Part II (Posted April 3, 2017)

Whitman Publishing Offers Free John F. Kennedy Book on Medallic and Coinage Art to Celebrate President’s 100th Birthday, 1917–2017

May 25, 2017 | Announcements

(Pelham, Alabama) — John F. Kennedy, the only American president ever honored on a circulating half dollar coin, was born May 29, 1917. To celebrate the 100th anniversary of his birth, Whitman Publishing is offering a free copy of The Kennedy World in Medallic Art: John F. Kennedy and His Family in Medals, Coins, Tokens, and Other Collectibles, by William R. Rice, in a promotion throughout the month of June.

Normally The Kennedy World in Medallic Art is available from booksellers and hobby shops nationwide and online for $19.95. From May 29 through June 30, 2017, collectors who spend $25 or more at www.Whitman.com may request a free copy of the 304-page hardcover book by entering code JFK at checkout.

In this monumental book, Kennedy historian William Rice offers fresh insight on the life and times of the president. His exploration includes the history of the Kennedy family; JFK’s boyhood; his military service and early political career; his inauguration and presidency; Jacqueline and the children; life in the White House; the November 1963 assassination; and the world’s mourning and remembrance.

The story is told through touching and insightful essays illustrated by more than 1,500 images including coins, medals, tokens, stamps, and other memorabilia. Many are popular and collectible, like the 1964 silver Kennedy half dollar (with its mintage of 429 million coins) and the recent best-selling 2014 gold Kennedy halves. Other items are rare and seldom seen, and some one-of-a-kind.

“John F. Kennedy is one of the most popular presidents in American history,” says Whitman publisher Dennis Tucker. “Edward Rochette and Aubrey Mayhew started numismatic studies of Kennedy in the 1960s, and William Rice builds on their foundation. Today’s collectors benefit from full-color images and 50 years of ongoing research. Savvy buyers can find many JFK coins, medals, and tokens at local coin shows, flea markets, antique malls, and online.”

Special book sections discuss subjects like satirical and critical pieces; brothers Robert F. and Teddy Kennedy; the Peace Corps; and paper money issued during the Kennedy administration.

Military challenge coins are given extra attention (with more than 180 images) as are foreign and domestic “march” medals, commemorative postage covers, world coins, and medal sets. Rice discusses and illustrates Chinese Hell notes, carved hobo coins, Wedgwood pottery, silver bullion bars, elongated coins, and many of other categories of Kennedy collectibles.

In addition to colorful historical images and narrative, the book’s scholarly appeal is expanded by multiple appendices, a bibliography, and a full index. Collectors benefit from the catalog numbering system and commentary on today’s buy-sell-trade market. A 52-page appendix catalogs more than 2,670 individual items by date, size, composition, and description.

“Historians will remain deeply indebted to William Rice for his gigantic addition to the field of John F. Kennedy medallic art and related historical memorabilia,” says noted Kennedy historian Dr. Gerald J. Steinberg.

# # #

The Kennedy World in Medallic Art: John F. Kennedy and His Family in Medals, Coins, Tokens, and Other Collectibles
By William R. Rice; foreword by Dr. Gerald J. Steinberg
ISBN 0794842364
Hardcover, 8.5 x 11 inches · 304 pages · Full color
Retail $19.95 U.S.

Watch for your ANA Election eBallot

May 24, 2017 | ANA, Announcements

The American Numismatic Association has partnered with Election Services Corp. to conduct the 2017 Board of Governors Election. Your eBallot should have arrived in your email inbox on Wed, May 24.

Visit money.org/election or read the June issue of The Numismatist to review candidates’ biographies and election statements. Then follow the simple instructions outlined in the email you received. (Biographies also can be accessed on the eBallot). Individuals that are the point of contact for their club may have received two emails – one is for your personal vote, the second ballot represents your club.

Need assistance? Email anahelp@electionservicescorp.com or call 1-866-720-4357.

The deadline to vote is 11:59 pm (MDT) on Saturday, July 1, 2017.

NOTE: I will make my endorsements in early June. Watch the blog for that post.

Whitman Publishing Releases New Search & Save™ Coin Books on Dimes, Quarters, and Half Dollars

May 24, 2017 | Announcements, News

(Pelham, Alabama) — Whitman Publishing announces the release of two new volumes in its series of combination book-albums trademarked under the name Search & Save. Each new volume consists of a 96-page hardcover book bound with a Whitman Classic Coin Album page for storing and displaying a customized coin collection. The Search & Save volumes are intended for beginning to intermediate hobbyists, as a fun way to introduce newcomers to active coin collecting. Volume 5 covers dimes and quarters, and volume 6 covers half dollars. Each retails for $9.95 and is available from booksellers and hobby shops nationwide, and online (including at www.Whitman.com).

The Whitman Classic® Coin Album page has protective plastic slides that are inserted on each side of the page’s openings, holding each coin firmly in place while allowing its obverse and reverse to be displayed.

Many of the Search & Save coins can be collected from circulation. Others require some hunting at local coin shops, online, or at a coin show. The two new volumes discuss coins going back to the earliest years of the Philadelphia Mint, in the 1790s. Their album pages start with more common and easily collectible coins beginning with the Capped Bust types of the early 1800s.

“Readers of our Search & Save books learn about each coin in the context of American and world history, and enjoy the fun and pride of building their own valuable collections,” said Whitman publisher Dennis Tucker. “The books encourage readers to explore beyond their pocket change, to build relationships with coin dealers and go to coin shows. When they’re done, they not only have a personalized coin collection, but they can tell each coin’s story and share them with their friends and family.”

Search & Save: Old U.S. Dimes and Quarters begins with a richly illustrated chapter on the history of coinage in America. It includes chapters on Capped Bust, Liberty Seated, and Barber dimes and quarters of the 1800s and early 1900s, Mercury dimes, Standing Liberty quarters, Roosevelt dimes, and Washington quarters. A final chapter gives advice on collecting each coin type. The book’s album page provides openings to assemble a collection of 16 different coins dating from the early 1800s to today.

Search & Save: U.S. Half Dollars offers a colorful exploration of American commerce and coinage from the colonial era to the start of the Philadelphia Mint in 1792. Subsequent chapters cover Capped Bust, Liberty Seated, and Barber half dollars (spanning from 1807 to 1915), Liberty Walking half dollars, Franklin half dollars, and Kennedy half dollars. A special chapter explores the field of U.S. commemorative half dollars from 1892 to date, and a final chapter tells how to collect each coin type. The book’s album page allows the collector to display 12 coins of different types and varieties, ranging from Capped Bust half dollars of the early 1800s to today’s Kennedys, plus three of their favorite commemorative half dollars.

The first four Search & Save books covered Lincoln cents, nickels, State quarters, and America the Beautiful quarters.

Because Whitman Publishing is the Official Supplier of the American Numismatic Association, ANA members receive 10% off the Search & Save books when purchasing directly.