Aug 8, 2019 | Announcements, U.S. Mint
WASHINGTON — The United States Mint (Mint) will begin accepting orders for the James Monroe Presidential Silver Medal (product code S805) on Aug. 8 at noon EDT. This medal is the third of four .999 fine silver presidential medals slated for release this year.
The obverse (heads) of the James Monroe Presidential Silver Medal was designed by Moritz Furst. The design features a portrait of the president with the inscriptions “JAMES MONROE,” “PRESIDENT OF THE U.S.,” and “A.D. 1817.”
The medal’s reverse (tails) was designed by John Reich. It bears the inscription “PEACE AND FRIENDSHIP” symbolized by two hands clasped in token of amity. On the cuff of the left wrist are three stripes and buttons, while the other wrist is bare. A crossed peace pipe and tomahawk are above the hands.
Each encapsulated medal comes with a Certificate of Authenticity.
The Mint accepts orders at catalog.usmint.gov/ and at 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.
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 Aug. 8, 2019, at noon EDT.
Aug 8, 2019 | Announcements, U.S. Mint
WASHINGTON — The United States Mint (Mint) will open sales for the American Eagle One Ounce Silver Proof Coins (product code 19EM) on Aug. 6 at noon EDT. This coin is struck at the San Francisco Mint. American Eagle One Ounce Silver Proof Coins are struck on 99.9 percent fine silver blanks.
For 33 years, the obverse (heads) of this iconic coin has prominently displayed Adolph A. Weinman’s full-length figure of Liberty in full stride, enveloped in folds of the flag, with her right hand extended and branches of laurel and oak in her left. Its reverse (tails) features former Mint Sculptor-Engraver John Mercanti’s rendering of a heraldic eagle with shield, an olive branch in the right talon and arrows in the left.
Each coin is encapsulated and packaged in a satin-lined blue velvet presentation case. A Certificate of Authenticity is included.
The San Francisco-minted American Eagle One Ounce Silver Proof Coin is priced at $55.95. Orders will be accepted at catalog.usmint.gov/ and at 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.
Jul 25, 2019 | Announcements
NGC has expanded its collaboration with the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation (ASF) to create limited-edition labels individually hand-signed by American astronauts.
The special NGC labels pair the autographs of 20 NASA veterans with the logo of the ASF, a nonprofit organization that annually provides more than 50 scholarships to the brightest and most talented college students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The ASF was created in 1984 by the six Mercury program astronauts then alive and the widow of the seventh.
The astronauts signing these labels include four who flew with the Apollo program, which put the first men on the moon 50 years ago. The other 16 astronauts, including two women, were part of the space shuttle program, which flew missions from 1981 to 2011.
The Apollo program astronauts signing NGC ASF labels are:
- Walt Cunningham, lunar module pilot for Apollo 7, the first manned Apollo mission
- Jim Lovell, commander of Apollo 13, which suffered a critical failure en route to the moon but managed a safe return. (Lovell was portrayed by Tom Hanks in the 1995 movie version of that dramatic tale of survival.)
- Al Worden, command module pilot for Apollo 15 in 1971 and one of only 24 people to have flown to the moon
- Charlie Duke, who, as lunar module pilot for Apollo 16 in 1972, was the 10th and youngest person to walk on the moon
Learn more →
Jul 19, 2019 | ANA, Announcements
Kagin’s Selected as Official Auctioneer
The American Numismatic Association’s (ANA) Board of Governors selected Phoenix, Ariz. as the host city for the 2021 National Money Show®. The event is scheduled for March 11-13, 2021 at the Phoenix Convention Center.
Host hotels are the Hyatt Regency Phoenix and the Hampton Inn & Suites Phoenix Downtown.
The Association also is pleased to announce that Kagin’s, Inc. will serve as the Official Auctioneer for the 2021 National Money Show. “The ANA has partnered with Kagin’s on the National Money Show since 2016 and we’re delighted to be working with them again in Phoenix,” said Kimberly Kiick, ANA executive director. “Their participation is sure to make the Phoenix National Money Show a premier numismatic event.”
Atlanta, Ga. is the site for the 2020 National Money Show, which is slated for Feb. 27-29 at the Cobb Galleria Centre. To consign items with Kagin’s for the Atlanta National Money Show, collectors can contact a consignment specialist by calling 1-888-852-4467 or email Don@Kagins.com.
The National Money Show offers hobbyists access to hundreds of dealers offering extensive numismatic inventory at all price levels, a live auction, exhibits of rare and historical treasures, and educational programming for both beginning and seasoned collectors. The show is hosted by the nonprofit American Numismatic Association, which is dedicated to encouraging the study and collection of coins and related items. The ANA helps its 25,000 members and the collecting public discover and explore the world of money through an array of instructional and outreach programs.
For more information, call 719-632-2646 or visit www.money.org.
Jul 16, 2019 | Announcements, Bureau of Engraving and Printing
In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) is pleased to introduce the Apollo 11 $50 Currency Set!
The Apollo 11 $50 Currency Set features an uncirculated, Series 2013 $50 Federal Reserve note, with a serial number beginning with “1969,” and an engraved representation of the famous “Buzz Aldrin on the Moon” photograph, taken July 20, 1969. The reflection in Aldrin’s visor – that includes Neil Armstrong, the United States flag, and the lunar lander – is embossed. The note is protected by a clear, acid-free, polymer sleeve, and the engraved print features a limited edition number that corresponds with the last four digits of the serial number on the $50 note.
The first day of sale for the Apollo 11 $50 Currency Set is Tuesday, July 16, 2019, at 12:00 p.m. (ET), and is limited to 6,000 units. This product is $85.95, with a discounted price of $82.95 for quantities of 10 or more. Household quantity purchase limit restrictions for 10 units will be imposed during the first 24-hours of release. To order, click here.
Jul 14, 2019 | ANA, Announcements
Every year, the American Numismatic Association (ANA) recognizes members who go above and beyond with their service and dedication in numismatics. Awards are given to those who display a passion for the hobby, a willingness to expand it and a pride in being involved. The following awards will be presented at the Chicago World’s Fair of Money® in Rosemont, Ill., during the Member and Awards Celebration, Aug. 15.
The Adna G. Wilde Jr. Memorial Award for Exemplary Service recognizes ANA members who dedicate their time and resources to further the educational purposes of the Association and the hobby, and who set an example for others.
The award this year will be presented to life member Kerry K. Wetterstrom of Millersville, Penn.
Wetterstrom joined the ANA in 1974 at age 14. The recipient of a young numismatic scholarship, he attended the ANA Summer Seminar in Colorado Springs in 1979. Not long after, Wetterstrom actively began recruiting new members and making charitable donations of cash and numismatic material to the Association. He became a life member in 1986.
Since 1996, he has served as president, secretary, treasurer, education chair and bourse chair for four international, regional and local organizations. In addition, he is a member of more than 15 other numismatic groups. Over the past two decades, he has written many articles for educational publications and also is a contributing editor for The Numismatist.
Named a Numismatic News Numismatic Ambassador in 1998, Wetterstrom has demonstrated his passion for promoting the hobby in the ANA’s District Representative Program, in which he served for many years in local and regional capacities. He has delivered informative lectures to audiences in 12 states; presents three to four educational programs annually to clubs in central Pennsylvania; and speaks to school classrooms and civic organizations. He has taught courses at the ANA Summer Seminar for more than 20 years and has been an ANA exhibit judge since 1996.
The Medal of Merit is bestowed on members who have dedicated years of service to numismatics.
The medal is being presented to coin dealer and ANA Past President H. Robert Cambell. At age 11, he became a collector, and not long after founded a club with four boys from his neighborhood. By 21 he had turned a hobby into his profession.
Since 1996, the knowledgeable dealer has taught courses on counterfeit, altered and artifically toned coins at the Association’s Summer Seminar. In recognition of his years of teaching collectors, Campbell received an honorary “Doctor of Numismatics” degree at the event in 2016.
First elected to the ANA Board of Governors in 1997, Campbell became president just two years later. During this time, he testified before a U.S. Senate committee that was studying U.S. coinage design practices. He’s remained active in the ANA, serving on the Advisory Council since 2001.
In 2007 Campbell chaired the state committee to select potential designs for Utah’s entry in the U.S. Mint’s 50 State Quarters® program. He has contributed to A Guide Book of United States Coins (the “Red Book”) and the Coin Dealer Newsletter. His 2014 book, Utah Trade Tokens, is considered the go-to reference on the topic and received a Numismatic Literary Guild award for “Best Token and Medal Book.”
Campbell owns and operates a successful firm, All About Coins, Inc., which he used to frequent as a young collector. He belongs to and has led almost every coin club in the state. Campbell has received numerous accolades during his decades in the hobby. Most notably, Numismatic News recognized him as a Numismatic Ambassador in 1988, and he received an ANA Glenn Smedley Memorial Award in 1999.
The Numismatic Art Award for Excellence in Medallic Sculpture recognizes an individual whose imaginative compositions transcend circulating coins. This year’s recipient is Magdalena Dobrucka of Poland.
Dobrucka studied medal engraving at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw in 1971-76, where she learned the basics of low relief. Dobrucka says her work is characterized by deep relief, which is not typical of medals, and that each piece represents her search for an unconventional solution.
The accomplished artist has won numerous awards, and her work is part of many private and museum collections. She has participated in every exhibition sponsored by the International Art Medal Federation since 1976 and has been a member of the organization since 1993. In 1994 she was surprised and honored to win its Grand Prix for her cast bronze medal The Violoncellist. She also is proud of her Columbus quincentenary medal, the 57th issue of the American Numismatic Society (ANS). Her highly sculptural design was selected in an international competition that elicited more than 100 entries from 16 countries.
Dobrucka says her art is inspired by humanity, and every award she has received “is a joy and encouragement for [my] work.”
Harry J. Forman Dealer of the Year honors a professional numismatist who shows uncommon dedication to strengthening the hobby and the ANA, and displays exemplary ethical standards as a numismatic dealer.
Mark Salzberg is this year’s recipient. As chairman and grade finalizer at Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC) and chairman and co-founder of Certified Collectibles Group, the dealer’s numismatic roots run deep.
Born in Flemington, New Jersey, Salzberg became interested in collecting at age seven, when he received a 1903 Indian Head cent. His father gave him his first coin book, and a lifelong passion began.
He was hired by John Albanese to work in a local coin shop only four years later. When Albanese founded NGC in 1987, he asked his longtime friend to join his new company. Salzberg started as a grading finalizer in 1988, became president in 1991, and was promoted to CEO in 1998.
Salzberg worked as a vest-pocket dealer in high school and during his time as a college student. “I was making more money than the teachers,” he recalls. In 1978 he became a full-time dealer.
A member of the Professional Numismatists Guild, Salzberg is serious about hobby education. He has been an instructor at the ANA Summer Seminar and avidly supports its programs. In 1998 he was presented an ANA Presidential Award, and he was named the ANA’s Numismatist of the Year in 2006.
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 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.
Jul 10, 2019 | ANA, Announcements, Shows & Conventions
Red Book Celebrities in the Spotlight
To recognize hobby icons and create a record of their contributions, the American Numismatic Association (ANA) conducts the Legacy Series – live interviews with notables in the coin community. The events, held in conjunction with ANA conventions, is intended to honor individuals who have profoundly influenced the hobby and to give listeners some insight into their lives, personalities and achievements.
The eleventh installment of this series will be presented on Thursday, Aug. 15, at 5 p.m. during the ANA World’s Fair of Money® at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center (Room 44) in Rosemont, Ill. The guests of honor will be Kenneth E. Bressett, editor emeritus of A Guide Book of United States Coins (the “Red Book”), and Jeff Garrett, who was named senior editor of the essential hobby reference in May 2018.
Conducted by Numismatist Editor-in-Chief Barbara Gregory, the interview will focus on their early years (including numismatic background and interests), their challenges and crowning achievements in the publishing world, how the Red Book has affected their careers and perspectives, what inspires them, and what’s in store for them, both personally and professionally.
Admission to the Legacy Series interview is free and open to all ANA members and guests, but reservations are requested. To reserve a seat, call 1-800-514-2646. Members can register online.
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 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.
Jul 7, 2019 | Announcements
(Rosemont, Illinois) July 3, 2019 – Former American Numismatic Association authenticator, grader and instructor, Dr. Michael Fuljenz, will give expert advice about counterfeits in the marketplace during his Money Talks seminar at the ANA 2019 Chicago World’s Fair of Money® (www.WorldsFairofMoney.com).
Fuljenz, President of Universal Coin & Bullion (www.UniversalCoin.com) in Beaumont, Texas, will present an illustrated talk entitled, “Fake(s) News: The proliferation of counterfeits & how to avoid becoming a victim,” at 1 pm on Friday, August 16. It will be in Room 6 of the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in the Chicago suburb of Rosemont, Illinois, site of the ANA convention.
He will show examples of counterfeit coins and fake third-party certification holders that are entering the marketplace. Fuljenz will explain how to avoid becoming a victim and what to do if you discover you’ve unwittingly purchased a counterfeit.
He has personally assisted collectors and investors recover hundreds of thousands of dollars after they unsuspectingly purchased counterfeits from dealers who knowingly or unknowingly sold them.
“Counterfeit coins are costing unsuspecting buyers millions of dollars nationwide. Fakes are often manufactured in China and sometimes in the Middle East then brought into the U.S., and you must be very cautious,” he advised.
“For the past three decades I have lectured about counterfeit detection at law enforcement seminars. I have seen numerous counterfeit silver dollars and gold coins of all kinds, and I’ve seen mint marks added to many altered coins. Be aware that the counterfeit coin industry has grown exponentially in recent decades. Buyer and seller must beware,” Fuljenz emphasized.
In 2012, he worked with Texas Congressman Lamar Smith and former Congressman Jimmy Hayes to win approval of the Collectible Coin Protection Act to provide additional help to protect the public and combat counterfeits. In 2017, Fuljenz assisted the Texas Attorney General to create a consumer/investor protection advisory about buying and selling gold coins.
Known as America’s Gold Expert®, Fuljenz is a former authenticator, grader and Summer Seminar instructor for the American Numismatic Association Certification Service, and currently is a member of the Anti-Counterfeiting Task Force. He teaches about combatting counterfeiting and numismatic fraud to law enforcement agencies on behalf of the Numismatic Crime Information Center. Fuljenz has received prestigious anti-counterfeiting service awards from the Professional Numismatists Guild and the Industry Council for Tangible Assets (ICTA) and has sponsored the American Numismatic Association’s highest honor, the Farran Zerbe Award, for the past eight years.
In addition to his work as a top executive at Universal Coin & Bullion and his volunteer civic work in Beaumont, he has served with distinction as a consultant to the Federal Trade Commission, U.S. Postal Service, Attorney General of Texas, the United States Mint and Royal Canadian Mint, and is on the Boards of Directors of Crime Stoppers of Beaumont, ICTA and the Numismatic Literary Guild. He also is serving his third term on the State Bar of Texas Advertising Review Committee.
Jul 3, 2019 | Announcements
You’ll Like This PCGS Announcement About Prooflike
Now, all qualifying mint state U.S. and world coins, tokens and medals can be PCGS-certified as PL
(Santa Ana, California) July 2, 2019 – Any and all qualifying mint state United States and world coins, as well as tokens and medals submitted to Professional Coin Grading Service (www.PCGS.com), are now eligible to receive the desirable designation, Prooflike (PL). The formal announcement about the expansion of PL eligibility is yet another positive opportunity for collectors and dealers to showcase their PCGS-certified coins.
According to PCGS standards, a coin’s surface is Prooflike when there is a clear reflection in the fields on both sides as viewed from two to four inches away. A cloudy effect or striations may impede the reflectivity.
The PL designation was available first for qualifying Morgan silver dollars when PCGS opened for business in February 1986. Since then, additional U.S. coin denominations and types have been added, such as California fractional gold and world coins, in the past year.
“As of July 1, all mint state coins, tokens and medals, U.S. and world, that meet the PCGS Prooflike standards now are eligible for PL designation,” said Brett Charville PCGS President.
“During the Ask Me Anything we conducted on our U.S. Coin Forum, it became clear that there was confusion regarding what coins are eligible for Prooflike designation and a desire for expanding this designation to all mint state coins. We decided to take a hard look at Prooflike designations, and this announcement is the continuation of addressing the requests of our community in The Year of the Customer,” stated Charville.
“While Prooflike surfaces on vintage coins other than Morgan Dollars are infrequently encountered, we felt it was appropriate to formally recognize them. Two perfect cases in point are the PCGS MS68PL 1899-S Liberty Head $5 and PCGS MS65+PL 1871-CC Dime. They are dazzling examples that ideally display the attributes we are looking for,” said Mike Sherman, PCGS Director of Numismatics.
The first notable coin to receive the PL designation is the 1899-S Liberty Head $5 gold coin. Struck in San Francisco, the coin exemplifies the incredible quality of the mint during that time with nearly flawless fields. The grade of PCGS MS68PL makes it one of the finest known.
This 1899-S Half Eagle is graded PCGS MS68PL. (Photo credit: Professional Coin Grading Service www.PCGS.com).
The second notable coin, the 1871-CC 10C recently graded MS65+PL, is by far the finest known of this scarce date with an estimated survival of around 100 pieces. “The surfaces are fully PL, where all other mint state examples display a more satiny luster. Calling this amazing, rare coin PL and having it be a highlighted example for the new PCGS PL program was an easy choice,” said PCGS Director of Numismatic Education and Outreach, Steve Feltner.
This 1872-CC Liberty Seated dime, graded PCGS MS65+PL, is the finest known of this scarce date and mint mark. (Photo credit: Professional Coin Grading Service www.PCGS.com).
A convenient guide to submitting coins to PCGS for authentication and grading is available online at www.pcgs.com/submissionguide.
For information about PCGS products and services, visit www.PCGS.com or call PCGS Customer Service at (800) 447-8848.
Jun 28, 2019 | Announcements
The US Mint has announced the Pride of Two Nations 2019 Limited Edition Two-Coin Set, which will go on sale July 3. It consists of a 2019-W US Silver Eagle with an Enhanced Reverse Proof finish and a 2019 Canadian One Ounce Silver Maple Leaf with a Modified Proof finish.
NGC is celebrating the coins in this set with a special label featuring the flags of the US and Canada, as well as a special pedigree of Pride of Two Nations. There is no additional fee for the label or pedigree.
This is the first time that the US and Canada have collaborated on a coin release. Both coins contain 1 troy ounce of silver in the standard fineness for each respective nation (.999 fine for the Eagle, .9999 fine for the Maple Leaf).
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