Coin Collectors News

U.S. Mint Opens Sales for New York American Innovation® $1 Coin Products August 31

Aug 31, 2021 | Announcements, U.S. Mint

WASHINGTON – The United States Mint (Mint) is releasing the third coin of 2021 in the American Innovation $1 Coin Program on August 31 at noon EDT. The coin recognizes innovation from the State of New York and will be available in the following packaging options from the Mint’s facilities in Philadelphia and Denver:

Product Code	Product Option	Price
21GRC	25-Coin Roll–P	$34.50
21GRG	25-Coin Roll–D	$34.50
21GBC	100-Coin Bag–P	$117.50
21GBG	100-Coin Bag–D	$117.50

The American Innovation $1 Coin Program is a multi-year series featuring distinctive reverse (tails) designs that pay homage to America’s ingenuity and celebrate the pioneering efforts of individuals or groups from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. territories.

The New York $1 Coin honors the Erie Canal. Considered an engineering marvel of its day, the canal unlocked the western interior for trade and settlement, and played a critical role in the development of the state as well as the Nation. The reverse design depicts a packet boat being pulled from a city in the east toward the country areas to the west. Inscriptions are “UNITED STATES of AMERICA” and “NEW YORK.” The design was created by Mint Artistic Infusion Program (AIP) Designer Ronald D. Sanders and sculpted by Mint Medallic Artist Phebe Hemphill.

The obverse (heads) of all coins in this series features a dramatic representation of the Statue of Liberty in profile with the inscriptions “IN GOD WE TRUST” and “$1.” It also includes a privy mark of a stylized gear, representing industry and innovation. The design was created by AIP Designer Justin Kunz and sculpted by Ms. Hemphill.

The year of minting, mint mark, and inscription “E PLURIBUS UNUM” are incused on the edge of the coins.

To set up a REMIND ME alert for the New York American Innovation $1 Coin product options, please visit: https://catalog.usmint.gov/american-innovation-1-coin-2021-rolls-and-bags-new-york-MASTER_INNOVATIONNY.html

Additional products in the American Innovation $1 Coin Program are available at: https://catalog.usmint.gov/coins/coin-programs/american-innovation-dollar-coins/.

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 and time of August 31,2021, at noon EDT.

To reduce the risk of employee exposure to COVID-19 in the workplace, the Mint’s sales centers are closed until further notice. Please use the United States Mint catalog site at https://catalog.usmint.gov/ as your primary source of the most current information on product and service status.

U.S. Mint 2021 Palladium Proof Coin Available September 2

Aug 31, 2021 | Announcements, U.S. Mint

WASHINGTON – The United States Mint (Mint) will accept orders for the 2021 American Eagle One Ounce Palladium Proof Coin™ beginning on Sept. 2 at noon EDT. Production of this coin is limited to 12,000, with orders limited to one per household for the first 24 hours of sales.

Struck in one ounce of 99.95 percent palladium, this coin is the collector version of the official United States Mint American Eagle One Ounce Palladium Bullion Coin, which launched in 2017. The finish on this recurring collector coin changes each year. In 2018, the Mint issued a proof finish palladium coin followed by a reverse proof finish coin in 2019 and an uncirculated finish coin in 2020. The 2021 coin will return to a proof finish.

Palladium coin designs are based on those by famed coin designer and medallic artist Adolph A. Weinman. The obverse (heads) features a high-relief likeness of “Winged Liberty” from the “Mercury Dime” obverse. In keeping with the original coin, inscriptions are “LIBERTY,” “IN GOD WE TRUST,” “2021,” and Weinman’s distinct initials. The reverse (tails) features a high-relief version of Weinman’s 1907 American Institute of Architects Gold Medal reverse, which includes an eagle and a branch. Inscriptions are “UNITED STATES of AMERICA,” “$25,” “1 OZ. Pd (the chemical symbol for Palladium) .9995 FINE,” and “E PLURIBUS UNUM.”

Each coin is encapsulated and packaged in a satin-lined gray leatherette presentation case. A Certificate of Authenticity is included.

Pricing for the American Eagle One Ounce Palladium Proof Coin is in accordance with the United States Mint’s pricing range table for palladium coins. These products are priced according to the range in which they appear on the “Pricing of Numismatic Gold, Commemorative Gold, Platinum, and Palladium Products” table. The most current pricing information is available here.

To learn more about the Mint’s numismatic palladium program, or to set up a REMIND ME alert for this product, visit https://catalog.usmint.gov/coins/precious-metal-coins/palladium/ (product code 21EK).

To View the Mint’s complete selection of products, please visit https://catalog.usmint.gov/.

Gold At $1,897, Silver $28 At Year-End, Predicts Professional Numismatists Guild

Aug 31, 2021 | APMD, News

Accredited Precious Metals Dealers see busy bullion marketplace

(Temecula, California) August 30, 2021 – A bullion dealer’s organization is predicting that at year-end gold will close at $1,897, silver $28, and platinum $1,153, and perhaps go higher before dropping back.

The forecast was made by members of the Accredited Precious Metals Dealers program (www.APMDdealers.org) of the Professional Numismatists Guild (www.PNGdealers.org). Founded in 1954, the PNG is a non-profit organization of dealers who adhere to a strict code of ethics in the buying and selling of bullion, rare coins, and vintage paper money.

Their estimates for the year-end prices for gold, silver, and platinum are the mean averages of price predictions made by 25 accredited dealers across the country who responded to an informal survey.

“We’re hearing from dealers that many long-time customers are taking advantage of the recently lower bullion prices to cost average their precious metals investments. We’re also hearing about new buyers entering the marketplace because of the high demand for new designs of the 2021-dated United States Mint American Eagle gold and silver bullion coins,” explained Richard Weaver, president of the Professional Numismatists Guild.

“Some of the dealers think gold will go over $2,000 but settle back by year’s end,” said Barry Stuppler, a former PNG president who conducted the survey.

“No one has a crystal ball to know exactly what the future will be. The Accredited Precious Metals Dealers program members who responded to our survey based their forecasts on years of being on the front lines of the bullion markets,” said Weaver.

He advised investors to make price comparisons before making purchases and to beware of counterfeits offered online by unscrupulous sellers.

“Always be mindful of the premiums being charged over the intrinsic value of the precious metal coins or ingots. You absolutely need to know your precious metals dealer,” he cautioned.

There are 48 members of the Professional Numismatists Guild Accredited Precious Metals Dealers (PNG-APMD) and each underwent a background check before being admitted to the program. They now must adhere to a strict code of ethics in the buying and selling of bullion and numismatic items and guarantee the authenticity of the coins and bars they sell.

A directory of PNG-APMD members can be found at www.APMDdealers.org/apmd-dealers. For additional information, contact the Professional Numismatists Guild at 951-587-8300 or info@PNGdealers.org.

Exceptional Numismatic Writers Receive ANA Awards

Aug 27, 2021 | ANA, News

2021 Adult Numismatist Literary Award Winners

The American Numismatic Association’s 2021 literary awards – recognizing articles published in the 2020 volume of its official magazine, The Numismatist – were presented during the Member and Awards Celebration at the Chicago World’s Fair of Money® on Aug. 12. The Numismatist was launched by ANA founder and first editor Dr. George F. Heath in 1888.

The Heath Literary Award, introduced in 1949, acknowledges outstanding articles published in the preceding 12 months.

First place went to David W. Lange for “Birth of the Blue Folder” (December 2020). The author will receive $250 and an engraved nickel-silver medal designed in 2013 by artist and ANA member Jamie Franki.
David Schenkman earned second place ($100 and an engraved bronze medal) for “America’s First Superstar: The Musical Genius of Patrick Gilmore & His Peace Jubilees” (May 2020).
In third place (engraved bronze medal) is Eric Brothers for “More than Pocket Change: Adolph A. Weinman’s Medallic Works” (June 2020).

The Wayte and Olga Raymond Memorial Literary Award, endowed in 1978 by the late John J. Ford Jr., is presented for articles that display original and comprehensive research in U.S. numismatics.

William Eckberg received first place ($400 and a certificate) for “The Earliest Hubs of the U.S. Mint” (August 2020).
Second place ($200 and certificate) goes to Mitchel Olszak for “Laura Gardin Fraser’s Washington & the Gold $5” (January 2020).
Matthew Campbell received third place (certificate) for “Ivah Coles’ Carnegie Hero Medal” (March 2020).

Founded by an anonymous donor, the Catherine Sheehan Literary Award for U.S. Paper Money Studies includes $50 for first place.

David Schenkman took the top prize for “From Doty & Bergen to Doty & McFarlan” (February 2020).
Second place (certificate) went to the late Gerome Walton for “The Women Behind Nebraska Bank Notes” (August 2020).
Michael E. Marotta received third place (certificate) for “Pay Warrants of the Texas Navy” (November 2020).

The Prue and Arthur Fitts Literary Award for Ancient and Medieval Coinage Studies recognizes literary excellence in those fields.

Michael T. Shutterly received first place ($250 and a plaque) for “Leaves of Silver: The Art & Artistry of Bracteates” (April 2020).
Earning second place (certificate) was Antonino Crisá, Ph.D., for “Ancient Tokens of Sicily” (February 2020).
Steve M. Benner received third place (certificate) for “The Year of Six Emperors, Parts 1 & 2” (March-April 2020).

All feature articles published in The Numismatist automatically are considered for the Heath Literary Award; likewise, all qualifying articles are evaluated for the Raymond, Sheehan and Fitts Awards. For information about submitting manuscripts for review and possible publication, email Editor-in-Chief Caleb Noel at cnoel@money.org.

2021 Young Numismatist Literary Award Winners

The 2021 ANA Young Numismatist (YN) Literary Awards were announced Thursday, August 12, at the ANA Member & Awards Celebration at the World’s Fair of Money in Chicago. The three award categories are generously funded by Whitman Publishing and named after authors dedicated to educating the next generation of numismatists.

The Bill Fivaz Young Numismatist Literary Award honors numismatist writers who are aged 8 to 12. This year’s first place recipient was Caleb Meier for “Indian Head cents.” Collin Bube received second place with “What a 12 Year Old’s Coin Collection Looks Like.” In third place was Trevor Martin for “Trevor Martin’s ANA YN Essay.”

The Q. David Bowers Young Numismatist Literary Award honors numismatist writers that are aged 13 to 17. This year’s first place recipient was Christopher Buchanan for “Third Times the Charm.” Paige Price placed second with “Why We Won with West Point,” and Alexandre Bojko took third with his paper “An Analysis of Jacksonian Banking Policies & Politics through the Study of Hard Times Tokens.”

The Kenneth E. Bressett Young Numismatist Literary Award is given to writers between the ages of 18 and 22. This year, first place was won by William Cather for “The Coinage Act of 1783: The Crime of the Century.”

The first-place winners received a $500 cash prize, plus a $500 voucher with which to build a personal library of numismatic books produced by Whitman Publishing. Second- and third-place winners received book vouchers for $200 and $100, respectively. To learn more about this program, visit money.org. Select “Awards” from the “Community” dropdown menu.

$24 Million in 24 Hours: GreatCollections Top Bidder for Three Historic Rare Coins

Aug 22, 2021 | Auctions, News

(Irvine, California) August 20, 2021 – Three of the world’s most valuable rare coins were acquired within a 24-hour time span, in two different auction locations, by Ian Russell, president of GreatCollections Coin Auctions (www.GreatCollections.com) of Irvine, California. The three numismatic treasures were purchased for a combined total of $21.5 million on behalf of collectors, and now two of those coins may be exhibited alongside the fabled 1933 Double Eagle, also acquired by a GreatCollections client for a record-smashing $18.9 million earlier this year.

“I was able to bid in person on the 1794 and 1804 dollars and an 1861 Paquet Double Eagle, along with several other important coins at two different auctions for a combined total of $24 million in winning bids. That’s even after my original flight from California to Texas was canceled. It is extremely fulfilling to help collectors with their passion, as it’s my passion as well,” explained Russell.

Russell was the top bidder for the top three most valuable coins sold in conjunction with the American Numismatic Association’s 2021 World’s Fair of Money® by Stack’s Bowers Galleries on August 17 in Costa Mesa, California and Heritage Auctions on August 18 in Dallas, Texas. They are:

1804 Class I Original Draped Bust dollar, PCGS Proof-68, from Stack’s Bowers, the finest known of its kind. It was presented as a diplomatic gift on behalf of President Andrew Jackson to the Sultan of Muscat in 1835 and most recently was in the Pogue family collection. Winning bid: $7,680,000, making it the fifth most valuable U.S. coin ever sold.

1804 Class I Original Draped Bust dollar, PCGS Proof-68 and the finest known of its kind, acquired for a client by GreatCollections for $7.68 million. (Photo credit: Professional Coin Grading Service.)

1861 Paquet Reverse Double Eagle, PCGS MS-67 with CAC approval, from Heritage, the finer of only two known examples and formerly in the collections of Virgil Brand, King Farouk of Egypt, and Ambassador & Mrs. R. Henry Norweb, among others. Winning bid: $7,200,000 is the sixth highest price ever for a U.S. coin.

Graded PCGS MS-67 CAC and acquired for a GreatCollections client for $7.2 million, this is the finer of only two known 1861 Paquet Reverse Double Eagles. (Photo credit: Professional Coin Grading Service.)

1794 Flowing Hair dollar, PCGS MS-66+ with CAC approval, also sold by Heritage and previously in the collections of Lord St. Oswald, Jimmy Hayes, D. Brent Pogue, and Bob R. Simpson, among others. Winning bid: $6,600,000 is the highest price ever paid at auction for a Mint State 1794 dollar.

1794 Flowing Hair dollar, PCGS MS-66+ CAC, purchased on behalf of a client by GreatCollections for a record $6.6 million. (Photo credit: Professional Coin Grading Service.)

“While we have managed to broker many rarities quietly in private transactions over the years, it was quite a coincidence that three of the major rarities we hoped to acquire were auctioned in a 24-hour period,” said Russell. “For the 1794 dollar, we represented a serious collector with a long history in coins. For the 1804 dollar, we represented a relatively new client to GreatCollections who contacted us after reading about the 1933 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle. We also acquired two rare gold patterns for a 45+ year veteran collector who recognized the ‘once in a lifetime”’ opportunity to add them to his collection,” explained Russell.

Russell exhibited the 1933 Double Eagle at the recent 2021 Chicago World’s Fair of Money. He said the exposure gained from that display introduced a new group of collectors to GreatCollections over the past month.

‘We are discussing with the new owners of the 1804 and 1794 dollars about displaying the pair at an upcoming coin show so that other collectors can see them in person. Perhaps we’ll even be able to display the 1933 Saint again. It would be a ‘mic drop’ presentation to have three of the most famous U.S. rarities on display at a single show,” he said.

Who are the new owners of these coins?

“Many bidders like to remain anonymous, especially high-profile collectors or celebrities. They trust us to secure ultra-rarities. I personally place the bids as if I was buying them for my own collection. Sometimes, they are on the phone with me so I can explain the bidding in real time; others just want to receive a text message saying, ‘We won,’” explained Russell.

“Aside from actually placing the bids, GreatCollections also offers detailed advice and strategy on acquisitions, as well as financing for larger purchases. For August, our sales figures are expected to exceed $40 million, a new company record for a single month,” he added.

For additional information, contact GreatCollections at 949-679-4180 or visit online at www.GreatCollections.com.