Oct 2, 2020 | Announcements
Professional Coin Grading Service leads numismatic hobby with massive leap forward in anti-counterfeiting technology
(Santa Ana, California – October 1, 2020) – Professional Coin Grading Service (www.PCGS.com) has announced that it will begin embedding Near Field Communication (NFC) technology in all its encapsulated coins, medals, tokens, and banknotes in October 2020. This revolutionary advancement launches after an initial limited rollout earlier this year with coins graded in PCGS Gold Shield holders to test compatibility and user response, both of which were overwhelmingly positive.
“PCGS is the industry leader in fighting counterfeiting,” says PCGS President Brett Charville. “PCGS has always been ahead of the curve in the numismatic industry regarding technology, and the inclusion of NFC technology is just the latest way we can stay one step ahead of counterfeiters and ensure collectors and dealers that their PCGS coins and banknotes are exactly what the label promises.”
Adds Charville, “you collect, we protect.”
PCGS, which in the spring became the first company in the numismatic industry to utilize NFC technology and remains the sole third-party grading service offering this technology, enables collectors to tap their holders with a phone, launching certification information right on the device’s screen. This data ensure collectors, dealers, customers, and others that the coin or banknote stated on the label is indeed the piece inside the holder. The NFC technology has become necessary in a day and age when counterfeit coins and banknotes are more sophisticated than ever before. To combat this, PCGS partnered with HID Global to insert NFC technology in all holders, including PCGS Banknote holders, to provide peace of mind that collectibles within PCGS holders are 100% authentic and are in the grade or condition that is stated on the label.
NFC inserts require no new hardware or any software updates. They are solid-state and have no moving parts, do not contain any sort of battery, and will be encased in the same industry-leading holder that keeps your coins and banknotes safe. Therefore, without the risk of exposure to the elements and damage, expect these inserts to last beyond the general expected lifespan of 100,000+ scans and 40+ years. That means a collector scanning the NFC insert in any given PCGS holder can do so worry-free. NFC technology works by exchanging encrypted technology between itself and another NFC-enabled device, such as a smartphone.
“This technology, similar to the chip found in the credit cards in your wallet, is the single biggest leap forward for third-party grading since its inception. While it may affect our pocketbook down the line, I would hope that every other third-party grading service in the industry considers integrating similar technology into their product lines as well. It’s simply that important for the hobby as a whole,” urges Charville.
Those using an Android or iPhone XS (or newer) already have everything they need to benefit from PCGS’s NFC technology upgrade. All they need to do is put those devices close to the chip, opening a web browser on the phone with information about the slab and coin or banknote within. The PCGS Cert Verification will automatically load on phones that have that app installed; the app can be installed for free by visiting https://www.pcgs.com/apps.
For more information about PCGS’s NFC technology, please visit www.PCGS.com/security.
About Professional Coin Grading Service
Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) is a third-party coin and banknote grading company that was launched in 1986. Over nearly 35 years, PCGS has examined and certified some 44.7 million U.S. and world coins, medals, and tokens with a combined value of more than $41.9 billion. For more information about PCGS products and services, including how to submit your coins for authentication and grading, please visit www.PCGS.com or call PCGS Customer Service at (800) 447-8848.
Oct 2, 2020 | Announcements
The Royal Mint, the original maker of UK coins, has today (28 September) unveiled the world’s most visually secure bullion coin. The Britannia range contains four innovative security features, which enable customers to verify that the product is authentic by rotating it in the light.
The Royal Mint is the primary producer of bullion coins in Britain, as well as offering a range of other physical and digital precious metal products, safe storage and wealth management solutions.
Britannia has been The Royal Mint’s flagship bullion coin since it was first introduced in 1987. The new edition, which goes on sale from 19 October, introduces layers of new security features which combine to make it the most visually secure coin in the world. The features include:
- Latent image: First introduced on the £2 coin, the latent image acts like a hologram and changes from a padlock to a trident when the coin is seen from different angles.
- Surface Animation: Micro details on the coin combine to create the illusion of waves rolling behind the figure of Britannia. These are created using advanced picosecond lasers, and come to life as the coin is rotated.
- Micro-text: The addition of the inscription “DECUS ET TUTAMEN” which translates to “an ornament and a safeguard” surrounds the figure of Britannia, and is created using specialist lasers.
- Tincture lines: To reinforce security, The Royal Mint has reintroduced the traditional art of Tincture lines – depicting colours and patterns on metal.
A Royal Mint employee examines the Britannia coin small
Together these tiny indents can create spectacular special effects – such as the movement of waves seen in the background of the Britannia coin. The advanced technology and intricacy of the design makes it incredibly difficult to replicate, and gives the owner confidence that they have a genuine gold product simply by rotating it in the light.
Andrew Dickey, Divisional Director of Precious Metals for The Royal Mint, said:: “Our Britannia bullion range is already one of the most sought after in the world, and these innovative new security features make it even more appealing for investors. Simply by moving the coin you can authenticate it as a genuine Royal Mint product, giving investors complete confidence, whether they are buying directly from us or from our partners.”
“Our precious metals division has experienced its busiest year on record, and we know that investors value the trust and authenticity that comes with a Royal Mint product. We have seen demand for gold increase significantly since March 2020, which has included a large proportion of customers investing in gold for the first time as they diversify their portfolios.”
Gordon Summers, Chief Engraver at The Royal Mint, said:: “Britannia is one of our most iconic and enduring designs, so it was vital we retained the beauty of the coin whilst adding sophisticated new anti-counterfeit measures. By focusing on the natural reflection of the metal, and using advanced new technology, we have created a unique and highly safe coin which gives customers complete confidence.”
Demand for gold has significantly increased over the last six months as investors look for ways to diversify their portfolio through ‘safe haven’ assets such as Precious Metals. The Royal Mint has seen website sales of gold Britannia coins increase by 236% from 1st April – September 2020, when compared with the same period last year. UK net gold bar and coin demand in Q1 (April-June) increased 86% when compared to the same period last year according to data from the World Gold Council.
Britannia bullion coins are renowned for their reliability, with their weight and quality verified at the centuries-old annual Trial of the Pyx in Goldsmith’s Hall. Gold Britannia coins are VAT free for non VAT registered private individuals and UK capital gains tax free for UK residents only, due to being legal tender.
| |
Britannia 2021 UK One Ounce Gold Bullion Coin |
Britannia 2021 UK Half- Ounce Gold Bullion Coin |
Britannia 2021 UK Quarter-Ounce Gold Bullion Coin |
Britannia 2021 UK Tenth-Ounce Gold Bullion Coin |
Britannia 2021 UK One Ounce Silver Bullion Coin |
| Denomination |
£100 |
£50 |
£25 |
£10 |
£2 |
| Issuing Authority |
UK |
| Metal |
999.9 Au |
999.9 Au |
999.9 Au |
999.9 Au |
999.9 Ag |
| Weight |
31.21g |
15.60g |
7.80g |
3.13g |
31.21g |
| Diameter |
32.69mm |
27.00mm |
22.00mm |
16.50mm |
38.61mm |
| Obverse Designer |
Jody Clark |
| Reverse Designer |
Philip Nathan |
| Quality |
Bullion |
Sep 26, 2020 | Announcements, U.S. Mint
WASHINGTON–The United States Mint (Mint) will open sales for Connecticut American Innovation $1 Coins packaged in collectible rolls and bags beginning on September 29 at noon EDT. These new additions to the Mint’s product lineup contain uncirculated $1 coins from the Philadelphia and Denver facilities. Available product options and pricing are below.
| PRODUCT CODE |
PRODUCT OPTION |
PRICE |
| 20GRA |
25-Coin Roll–P |
$34.50 |
| 20GRE |
25-Coin Roll–D |
$34.50 |
| 20GBA |
100-Coin Bag–P |
$117.50 |
| 20GBE |
100-Coin Bag–D |
$117.50 |
The reverse (tails) of the Connecticut American Innovation $1 Coin depicts the Gerber Variable Scale being used to increase a geometric shape by 200%, a shape which resembles the state of Connecticut. Inscriptions are “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,” “GERBER VARIABLE SCALE,” and “CONNECTICUT.” The year of minting (“2020”), mint mark (“P” or “D”), and the inscription “E PLURIBUS UNUM” are incused on the coin’s edge.
The obverse (heads) of American Innovation $1 Coins features a dramatic representation of the Statue of Liberty in profile with the inscriptions “IN GOD WE TRUST” and “$1.” The obverse also includes a privy mark of a stylized gear, representing industry and innovation.
The Mint is currently accepting orders for the bags and rolls of Connecticut American Innovation $1 Coins only at https://catalog.usmint.gov/american-innovation-1-coin-2020-rolls-and-bags-connecticut-MASTER_INNOVATIONCT.html. For all products available in the American Innovation $1 Coin Program, visit https://catalog.usmint.gov/coins/coin-programs/american-innovation-dollar-coins.
Information about shipping options is available at https://catalog.usmint.gov/customer-service/shipping.html.
To reduce the risk of employee exposure to COVID-19 in the workplace, the Mint’s sales centers are closed until further notice. Additionally, due to operational adjustments in response to COVID-19, our customer service representatives are available to assist with any questions you may have, but are unable to accept credit card information or place your order over the phone. Please use our website for all order placements at this time.
The American Innovation $1 Coin Program is a multi-year series featuring distinctive reverse 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.
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 Sept. 29, 2020, at noon EDT.
Sep 24, 2020 | ANA, Announcements
New Guidelines Encourage Public Safety Amid COVID-19 Concerns
The Money Museum in Colorado Springs has reopened to the public after being closed for nearly six months due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The museum is open on a revised schedule with limited days and hours – Wednesdays through Fridays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
To remain in compliance with restrictions mandated by the state of Colorado, to protect museum staff and patrons, the museum has implemented the following guidelines:
- No more than 25 visitors in the museum at a time.
- Masks are required for safety.
- Social distancing rules will be observed; guests are requested to maintain a 6-foot distance from other visitors (with the exception of family groups).
- Contact with cases and other surfaces within the museum should be minimized.
- No more than six people in the Harry W. Bass Jr. Gallery at one time.
- No more than three individuals (or up to six if part of a group) in the theater at one time.
The Money Museum is the largest museum in the U.S. dedicated to numismatics. The museum explores art, history, science and culture to promote the diverse nature of money and related items.
Visitors can find spectacular rarities in its three main galleries and learn about the history of our nation and the world as seen through money. The main exhibit, “Money of Empire: Elizabeth to Elizabeth” uses money and medals to illustrate the development of the British Empire from its beginnings under Elizabeth I to the present day.
Also on display is the Harry W. Bass Jr. Gallery, one of the most complete U.S. gold coin collections ever assembled; and “The History of Money,” which maps out the evolution of money from its invention to the modern day.
The Money Museum is located at 818 N. Cascade Ave., adjacent to the campus of Colorado College and next door to the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center. Current museum hours of operation are Wednesday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Regular admission is $8 ($6 for seniors and students). Kids 12 and under are always free. Guided tours of the museum are available by reservation only. For more information, call (719) 632-2646 or visit money.org/money-museum.
The Money Museum is operated by the nonprofit American Numismatic Association, which is dedicated to encouraging the study and collection of coins and related items. The ANA helps its 28,000-plus members and the public discover and explore the world of money through its vast array of educational programs including its museum, library, publications, conventions and webinars. For more information, call (719) 632-2646 or visit money.org.
Sep 17, 2020 | Announcements, U.S. Mint
WASHINGTON–The United States Mint (Mint) will begin accepting orders for the 2020 American Eagle One Ounce Palladium Uncirculated Coin (product code 20EK) on September 24 at noon EDT.
The coin contains one ounce of 99.95 percent palladium and is the collector version of the official United States Mint American Eagle One Ounce Palladium Bullion Coin, which launched in 2017. Finishes on collector coins in this program may alternate each year. In 2018, the Mint issued a proof finish palladium coin followed by a reverse proof finish coin in 2019.
Palladium coin designs are based on those by famed American 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,” “2020,” and Weinman’s distinct initials. The coin’s reverse (tails) features a high-relief version of Weinman’s 1907 American Institute of Architects Gold Medal reverse design, which includes an eagle and a branch. Inscriptions are “UNITED STATES of AMERICA,” “$25,” “1 OZ. Pd .9995 FINE,” and “E PLURIBUS UNUM.” Pd is the chemical symbol for palladium.
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 Uncirculated Coin will be determined according to the range in which it appears on the Mint’s “Pricing of Numismatic Gold, Commemorative Gold, Platinum, and Palladium Products” table. Click here for the most current pricing information.
The Mint is currently accepting orders for this product only at https://catalog.usmint.gov/american-eagle-2020-one-ounce-palladium-uncirculated-coin-20EK.html. Information about shipping options is available at catalog.usmint.gov/customer-service/shipping.html.
Orders are limited to one coin per household for the first 24 hours of sales, after which the Mint will remove the limit. This coin will not be available for purchase through the bulk program. The mintage and product limits are set at 10,000 units.
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 Sept. 24, 2020, at noon EDT.
Sep 12, 2020 | Announcements, U.S. Mint
WASHINGTON – The United States Mint (Mint) will begin accepting orders for the America the Beautiful Five Ounce Silver Uncirculated Coin™ honoring Salt River Bay National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve in the U.S. Virgin Islands on September 18 at noon EDT. The coin is priced at $178.25. Production of this coin is capped at 13,750 units. There is no household order limit.
The coin’s reverse (tails) depicts a red mangrove tree in an early stage of its life cycle, as it evolves from a very small plant to an adult tree. The design brings awareness to the park’s endangered mangrove forests and the unique and delicate nature of how the species reproduces in salt water. Inscriptions include “SALT RIVER BAY,” “U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS,” “2020,” and “E PLURIBUS UNUM.” The coin’s obverse (heads) features a 1932 restored portrait of George Washington.
Each encapsulated coin comes with a Certificate of Authenticity.
The Mint is currently accepting orders only at https://catalog.usmint.gov/salt-river-bay-national-historical-park-and-ecological-preserve-2020-uncirculated-five-ounce-silver-coin-20AL.html. Information about shipping options is available at catalog.usmint.gov/customer-service/shipping.html. To reduce the risk of employee exposure to COVID-19 in the workplace, the Mint’s sales centers are closed until further notice.
The America the Beautiful Five Ounce Silver Uncirculated Coins are also available for purchase through the Mint’s Product Enrollment Program. Visit us online at https://catalog.usmint.gov/shop/enrollments/ for details.
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 of Sept. 18, 2020, at noon EDT.
Sep 5, 2020 | Announcements
New Book Will Appeal to Coin Collectors and Other Hobbyists
(Pelham, Alabama) — Whitman Publishing announces the release of A Guide Book of Collectible Postcards, by Q. David Bowers and Mary L. Martin. The 432-page book will be available for preorder Labor Day weekend, 2020. In mid-September it will be available from booksellers and hobby shops nationwide and online (including at www.Whitman.com) for $39.95.
Postcard collecting has been a popular American pastime since the hobby’s Golden Age (the 1890s through World War One). For today’s collector, postcards offer historic photography, snapshots of pop culture and everyday life, colorful works by famous artists—and the thrill of the hunt while building a collection.
The Guide Book covers the hobby from the earliest postcards of the 1870s to the modern chrome cards found on store racks today.
Leonard A. Lauder, in the book’s foreword, wrote, “Together, Mary Martin and Dave Bowers have raised the bar for the serious recognition of the postcard as one of the most important forms of mass media in history.”
The Guide Book includes:
- more than 1,500 illustrations
- Real Photo Postcards (RPPCs), linens, chromes, signed artist cards, sets and series, hand-colored cards, error cards, composites, mechanicals and novelties, and more
- Christmas, Halloween, comics, and other popular categories
- famous artists like Charles Dana Gibson, Winsor McCay, Alphonse Mucha, and many others
- history of the hobby and postcard production methods
- advice for smart buying and collecting
- valuation charts for hundreds of card types
- grading instructions
- check lists for sets and series, to keep track of your collections
- high-resolution images of more than 1,300 example postcards
- a comprehensive appendix describing more than 2,000 historic postcard manufacturers and distributors
- extensive indexes for further research
“Collectors and dealers have been waiting for a full-color overview and in-depth reference to this fascinating hobby,” said Whitman publisher Dennis Tucker. “The Guide Book of Collectible Postcards is a one-stop resource for newcomers and experienced collectors alike.”
Coauthors Bowers and Martin.
Coauthor Mary Martin grew up in the postcard business when her parents were among the nation’s leading dealers. She is recognized as an organizer of collector shows, a prolific researcher and author, and one of the field’s most active buyers and sellers.
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Collectors of coins, tokens, medals, and paper money also find postcards to be an appealing hobby.
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Various United States Treasury facilities pictured on vintage postcards.
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Beautifully embossed and colored U.S. and world coin images.
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The Bureau of Engraving and Printing, and U.S. postage stamps, shown on old postcards.
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Banks are a popular postcard theme, with crossover appeal for numismatists.
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Sep 4, 2020 | Announcements, U.S. Mint
WASHINGTON–The United States Mint (Mint) and The Royal Mint (United Kingdom) have collaborated to create two limited-edition sets marking the 400th anniversary of the Mayflower voyage.
The story of the Mayflower is one that connects multiple communities, cultures, and countries. This transatlantic voyage brought 102 Pilgrims and migrants from Europe across the Atlantic and established a new foundation for governance in the New World.
The United States Mint and The Royal Mint have produced a joint two-coin gold proof set and a silver coin and medal proof set that will be released for sale this fall. The coin and medal designs come together to tell the story of the Pilgrims, the Mayflower‘s journey, and the impact the Pilgrims’ arrival had on the native Wampanoag people.
The 24-karat gold set features a one-quarter ounce proof U.S. $10 coin and a one-quarter ounce proof U.K. £25 coin. The silver ounce-proof £2 coin and medal set are struck in .999 fine silver.
The reverse of the U.K. coins and the U.S. coin and medal contained in the sets were designed by Chris Costello, who used multiple stylistic elements to tie them together. These include the choice of font and North Star on the U.K. coin, which connects to the image of the sun in the U.S. coin, symbolizing a new day. That symbolism is also a reference to the Wampanoag people who inhabited the region, and were known as the “People of the Dawn.”
“I am extremely proud of these coins and medals,” said United States Mint Director David J. Ryder. “These designs are yet another chapter in the long history of the United States Mint’s commitment to producing stunning medallic art. These sets are tangible representations of our longstanding friendship and alliance with Britain.”
Clare Maclennan, Director of Commemorative coins for The Royal Mint, said: “We are delighted to have created two unique sets which commemorate such a pivotal moment in our combined history. Chris Costello has beautifully retold the Mayflower story through numismatic art, while also highlighting important themes which continue to resonate with us in the U.K. and U.S. today.”
About the Designs
The British and American coin designs come together to tell the story of the departure and arrival of the Mayflower. The story begins on the obverse of the British coin depicting Queen Elizabeth II and the Monarchy. The reverse depicts a dynamic and exciting image of the Mayflower in the early stages of the voyage, guided by the North Star, carrying the hopes and dreams of the Pilgrims and their life in the New World. The story then continued on the obverse of the U.S. gold coin depicting a Wampanoag family watching from their world as the Mayflower arrives from foreign shores.
U.S. 24K Gold Coin Obverse
- Depicts a Wampanoag family from the border of the design as the Mayflower arrives from foreign shores. A young boy steps on the border, representing the intersection of the Wampanoag people in their Patuxet homeland and the Mayflower passengers. Inscriptions are “E PLURIBUS UNUM,” “PATUXET,” and “$10.”
U.S. 24K Gold Coin Reverse
- Depicts portraits of a Pilgrim man and woman, representing the beginnings of a transition from a monarchy to democracy. The dual portraits symbolize a democratic organization, with their resolute expressions focused on a self-determined future. A pair of mayflower blossoms flank the design. Inscriptions are “1620,” “PLYMOUTH,” “2020,” “IN GOD WE TRUST,” “AU 24K ¼ OZ.” and “UNITED STATES of AMERICA.”
U.K. 24k Gold Coin Obverse
- All U.K. currency features the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on the obverse, designed by Jody Clark.
U.K. 24k Gold Coin Reverse
- The coin depicts the Mayflower bursting out of the frame as it sails through the rough seas.
- This dramatic interpretation of the ship on its journey to the New World represents the determination of the passengers and crew to find a new way of life.
Silver Medal Obverse
- Features a Mayflower family bracing against the cold and windy weather, foreshadowing their coming hardships, while the ship is anchored in the harbor. A pair of mayflower blossoms flank the design. Inscriptions are “A CIVIL BODY POLITICK,” “1620-2020,” and “MAYFLOWER COMPACT.”
Silver Medal Reverse
- Depicts a Wampanoag man and woman employing a planting technique used to grow several crops that were staples for the Wampanoag people. This method helped keep the soil healthy, maintaining the resources for annual plantings and successful harvests. The inscription “SUSTAINERS OF LIFE” recalls not only this sustainable planting technique, but also the critical skills the Wampanoag people afforded the Pilgrims by teaching them how to successfully plant and harvest the land. The additional inscription is “PEOPLE OF THE DAWN.”
Images
The Royal Mint and the United States Mint retain copyrights © on all images, as appropriate. These may only be used for editorial purposes and cannot be sold or used for other marketing purposes without the permission of The Royal Mint or the United States Mint, as appropriate.
About The Royal Mint
The Royal Mint has an unbroken history of minting British coinage dating back over 1,100 years. Based in the Tower of London for over 500 years, by 1812 The Royal Mint had moved out of the Tower to premises on London’s Tower Hill. In 1967, the building of a new Royal Mint began on its current site in South Wales, U.K., to accommodate the minting of U.K. decimal coinage.
Today, The Royal Mint is the world’s largest export mint, supplying coins to the U.K. and overseas countries. The Royal Mint has also diversified into a number of other complementary businesses, building on the values that have been at the heart of the organisation throughout its history – authenticity, security, precious metals, craftsmanship, and design:
Precious Metals
Throughout history, The Royal Mint’s name has been synonymous with precious metals and bullion. The organisation trades physical and digital precious metal worldwide and has a global network of distributor partners.
Consumer coin division
The organisation runs a thriving commemorative coin business, gifting, and a collector services division retailing historic coins, an authentication and valuation service and secure storage.
The Royal Mint Experience
The Royal Mint entered the tourism business in 2016 when it opened its popular visitor centre, The Royal Mint Experience, at its home in Llantrisant, South Wales. The attraction welcomes around 100,000 visitors a year.
Aug 29, 2020 | ANA, Announcements, News
American Numismatic Association to Honor Recipients Virtually
The American Numismatic Association (ANA) is honoring several numismatists who not only lead by example, but pave new avenues within the numismatic hobby. Recognized for their dedication, hard work, passion and contributions, these recipients will be acknowledged during the ANA’s virtual Membership & Literary Awards and Service Awards on Sept. 1 and 2 at 12 p.m. MT.
Those being recognized are:
- Garrett Ziss for the Young Numismatist of the Year
- Walter A. Ostromecki Jr. for the Farran Zerbe Memorial Award for Distinguished Service
- Mark Borckardt for Numismatist of the Year
- Tom DeLorey for the Lifetime Achievement Award
Garrett Ziss: Young Numismatist of the Year
The American Numismatic Association recognizes that the future of the hobby depends on the recruitment and education of young numismatists. The Young Numismatist of the Year award honors young collectors for outstanding contributions to the hobby and industry. Receiving this year’s award on Sept. 1 is Garrett Ziss. He is an active member of ten numismatic organizations, including the Liberty Seated Collectors Club (LSCC), Wilmington Coin Club and the Currency Club of Chester County.
Already an accomplished author, he has written eight numismatic articles over the span of four years that were published in the John Reich Journal, the official publication of the John Reich Collectors Society (JRCS). He also creates Excel spreadsheets that simplify the organization of U.S. half-cent and large-cent collections, which he shares with Early American Coppers (EAC) for members to use.
Since July 2019, Ziss has been organizing an oral history project, which includes interviewing and videotaping members of the JRCS and LSCC to preserve club history for future generations. He coordinated the EAC table at the 2019 World’s Fair of Money in Chicago, headed a successful YN Benefit Auction during the 2019 ANA Summer Seminar and volunteered with the ANA Kids Zone. He also organized a JRCS video projected entitled “Early U.S. Silver Coins and the JRCS” to attract new club members and gives yearly presentations at the Wilmington Coin Club Show’s kids program.
Ziss has prepared a number of exhibits, include a six-case display titled, “The Face and Stories Behind the Treasury Signers of U.S. Paper Money.” He’s also presented many programs to local clubs and given talks at national numismatic shows.
Ziss received several first-place honors in the ANA’s YN Literary Awards between 2013 and 2017.
Walter Ostromecki: Farran Zerbe Memorial Award for Distinguished Service
In six-and-a-half decades following his first West Valley Coin Club meeting in 1955, Walter Ostromecki has worked tirelessly to further the ANA’s mission by advancing education initiatives in numismatics. His efforts have earned him the highest honor conferred by the Association: the Farran Zerbe Memorial Award for Distinguished Service. He will be recognized on Sept. 2.
With over 40 years of service as an educator and administrator for Los Angeles schools before his retirement in 2009, Ostromecki continues to use his talents as an educator to promote numismatics to young people. He enjoys sharing the hobby with grade school youngsters through games like “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” and “Treasure Trivia.”
Ostromecki became an ANA member in 1975 at the ANA convention in Los Angeles. Since then, he has served on various committees, the first of which was tasked with the creation of the Club Representative Program and national coordinator position.
First elected to the ANA Board of Governors in 2005, he went on to become vice president and then president in 2015-17, before finishing his final term.
Always teaching, Ostromecki is a volunteer leader, Coin Collecting Merit Badge counselor and Executive Committee member for the Boy Scouts.
His accolades are many, but some of which he is most proud include several top honors, such as the Numismatic Association of Southern California’s Richard P. Goodson Memorial Award (1995), the Pacific Northwest Numismatic Association’s Bob Everett Memorial Award (2007) and the Nina Nystrom Memorial Goodwill Ambassador Award (2011). He also received the International Coin Club of El Paso’s first Life Membership Award (2018) and the Central States Numismatic Society’s Mitch Ernst Sower Award (2019), along with many awards from the ANA.
His numismatic interests include paranormal currency (money depicting the supernatural, including dragons, witches, vampires, etc.), elongates, world currency featuring women, Biblical coinage and “dumb” coins (those issued without a country name or denomination). He has a complete collection of 1870- to 1893-CC half eagles (gold $5) graded Fine to Uncirculated and is constantly adding to his 12,000-plus collection of 1976 bicentennial $2 bank notes postmarked by various cities and states.
Mark Borckardt: Numismatist of the Year
The Numismatist of the Year, first presented in 1995, was established to recognize individuals within the numismatic community who have demonstrated long-term leadership and impact in the field. Their accomplishments should have a significant impact on the numismatic community.
This year’s Numismatist of the Year is Mark Borckardt. His contributions as a researcher and writer are almost too numerous to list. He has discovered at least one new variety of Bust half dollar, rediscovered a major large-cent variety that was believed not to exist, and was part of the team of numismatists who confirmed the authenticity of the Walton 1913 Liberty Head nickel.
Borckardt has contributed to various important numismatic texts, including A Guide Book of United States Coins (the “Red Book”), 100 Greatest U.S. Coins and Walter Breen’s Encyclopedia of Early United States Cents, 1793-1814. He is the author of Coinage of the Confederacy, and he co-authored Million Dollar Nickels with Paul Montgomery and Ray Knight. He also has written many articles for The Numismatist and other publications.
Borckardt served in the U.S. Army, Ohio National Guard, and in 1986 graduated with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Findlay College (now University of Findlay). He and his father operated a coin shop in Findlay, Ohio, throughout most of the 1980s, until a fire destroyed the building. In 1989 he was hired as a cataloger for Bowers and Merena Galleries and later became vice president of the company. Borckardt joined Heritage Auctions in 2004. He currently is a senior numismatist and acts as sole cataloger of over a dozen major collections. During his long and illustrious career, he has cataloged numerous varieties and handled some of the greatest United States coins ever struck.
Borckardt is a life member of the ANA, Early American Coppers (serving as the club’s historian) and Numismatic Literary Guild (NLG). He also has been a member of the Rittenhouse Society since 1994 and participates in other hobby organizations. He has been recognized with many numismatic awards, including an ANA Presidential Award (2018). He also received the NLG’s highest recognition, the Clemy Award (2016), among other literary and merit honors.
His award will be formally presented on Sept. 2 during the virtual Service Awards.
Tom DeLorey: Lifetime Achievement Award
The Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to an individual, family, firm or judicial entity that has made outstanding contributions to organized numismatics.
Tom DeLorey, recipient of the 2020 Lifetime Achievement Award, has been passionate about numismatics since childhood. He will be recognized for his efforts on Sept. 2.
“My favorite subjects in school were history and geography, which are particularly useful in numismatics, though I did not plan it that way,” DeLorey recalled in a 2009 interview.
His career has centered around the “Hobby of Kings” ever since 1973, when he began a five-year stint as a writer for Coin World. Subsequent jobs include an authenticator at the American Numismatic Association Certification Service (1978-84), numismatist at the Rare Coin Company of America (RARCOA, 1984-88) and senior numismatist for Harlan J. Berk, Ltd. (1989-2010).
DeLorey previously collected medals and tokens of Thomas Elder and coins of Honduras, and he wrote articles on both topics for The Numismatist in the 1980s. Past honors include the Numismatic Literary Guild’s Writer of the Year (1978) and Clemy Award, the organization’s highest honor (1999); and the ANA’s Numismatist of the Year (2009). He also has earned six ANA Literary Awards.
DeLorey also is a respected numismatic editor and researcher. He served as editor of the Token and Medal Society’s TAMS Journal in 1981 and was technical editor of the Comprehensive Catalog & Encyclopedia of U.S. Coins.
Notably, he discovered the 1857 Flying Eagle cent clashed with a Seated Liberty half dollar, which he called his “greatest discovery” in the field of coin varieties.
An ANA life member, DeLorey also holds memberships in many other prestigious organizations, chief among them the American Numismatic Society, Professional Numismatists Guild, Numismatic Literary Guild, Token and Medal Society, Liberty Seated Collectors Club, Chicago Coin Club and Michigan State Numismatic Society.
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 28,000-plus members and the public discover and explore the world of money through its vast array of educational and outreach programs as well as its museum, library, publications, and conventions. For more information, call 719-632-2646 or visit www.money.org.
Aug 29, 2020 | Announcements
(Pelham, Alabama) — Whitman Publishing announces the release of the Whitman Encyclopedia of Colonial and Early American Coins, second edition, by Q. David Bowers. The 352-page hardcover book will debut in September 2020, available from booksellers and hobby shops nationwide, and online (including at www.Whitman.com), for $49.95.
The Whitman Encyclopedia is the definitive reference on the coins, tokens, and related issues of colonial America and the early years of the fledgling United States. Before the first edition was published in 2009, collectors and dealers had no single, authoritative guide to these fascinating relics of everyday American life dating from the mid-1600s to the early 1800s.
In the fully revised and updated second edition, Bowers and his panel of dozens of specialists add coins newly discovered over the past ten years. They bring fresh historical research to the text, updating hundreds of catalog entries with new information, rarity figures, retail market pricing and auction records, and new photographs.
The Whitman Encyclopedia of Colonial and Early American Coins covers:
- how to collect, grade, and identify colonial coins and tokens
- how money was made and spent in early America
- minting and distribution
- silver coins of Massachusetts
- early British coins and tokens struck for America
- French New World issues
- American coins and tokens from 1783 to 1788
- other early American pieces
- later European coins and tokens minted for America
- George Washington coins, tokens, and medals
- foreign coins traditionally collected along with colonials
- nineteenth-century copies and fantasies
Bowers, widely known as the “Dean of American Numismatics” and the most published author in the field, has written an engaging text supported by nearly 2,000 full-color photographs, extensive auction data, market values and commentary, historical price trends, rarities, a selected bibliography, and an index with more than 700 entries.
The first edition earned the praise of the hobby community, including the Numismatic Literary Guild’s award for “Best Specialized Book, United States Coins.”
Kenneth Bressett, editor emeritus of the Guide Book of United States Coins, said, “Each coin type has been carefully documented, as are all of the notable variations. The story of money in early America—of the winning of financial freedom for our emerging nation—is reflected and amplified in each of the coins described.” The first edition won recognition from experts in the state coinages of New York, Virginia, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Connecticut, Fugio coppers, coinage of the Republic of Vermont, Nova Constellatio coins, and other specialties. Numismatic researcher George J. Fuld predicted that it would replace Sylvester S. Crosby’s seminal Early Coins of America. Louis E. Jordan III, Head of Special Collections and the Medieval Institute Library at the University of Notre Dame, called the book “very easy to read, while presenting a great deal of useful information.” Jordan in particular noted the finding guides included for the major coin series. Numismatist Eric P. Newman praised Bowers’s “encyclopedic knowledge and devotion to American colonial and Confederation coinage.” Historian Joel J. Orosz said the Whitman Encyclopedia “covers expert information with authority, yet is written with such marvelous clarity that even novice collectors will find it indispensable.”
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Whitman Encyclopedia of Colonial and Early American Coins, second edition.
By Q. David Bowers; foreword by Kenneth Bressett; valuations editor Jeff Garrett; research editor Julia H. Casey.
ISBN 0794847277.
Hardcover, 8.5 x 11 inches.
352 pages.
Full color.
Retail $49.95 U.S.
(Santa Ana, California – October 1, 2020) – Professional Coin Grading Service (www.PCGS.com) has announced that it will begin embedding Near Field Communication (NFC) technology in all its encapsulated coins, medals, tokens, and banknotes in October 2020. This revolutionary advancement launches after an initial limited rollout earlier this year with coins graded in PCGS Gold Shield holders to test compatibility and user response, both of which were overwhelmingly positive. 
NFC inserts require no new hardware or any software updates. They are solid-state and have no moving parts, do not contain any sort of battery, and will be encased in the same industry-leading holder that keeps your coins and banknotes safe. Therefore, without the risk of exposure to the elements and damage, expect these inserts to last beyond the general expected lifespan of 100,000+ scans and 40+ years. That means a collector scanning the NFC insert in any given PCGS holder can do so worry-free. NFC technology works by exchanging encrypted technology between itself and another NFC-enabled device, such as a smartphone. 
Those using an Android or iPhone XS (or newer) already have everything they need to benefit from PCGS’s NFC technology upgrade. All they need to do is put those devices close to the chip, opening a web browser on the phone with information about the slab and coin or banknote within. The PCGS Cert Verification will automatically load on phones that have that app installed; the app can be installed for free by visiting https://www.pcgs.com/apps.
