Apr 16, 2019 | Announcements, Auctions
(April 15, 2019) — A Virginia coin collector is about to get his second windfall from finding one of the first, elusive West Point Mint 2019 Lowell National Historical Park quarter-dollars.
Only two of those recently released 2019-W Lowell quarters have the distinctive Professional Coin Grading Service (www.PCGS.com) designation, PCGS First Discovery, and are the first 2019-W quarters certified by any third party grading service.
Graded PCGS MS 66, the coin owned by the lucky Virginia collector has now been consigned to a public auction to be conducted by GreatCollections® (www.GreatCollections.com) and can be viewed at www.GreatCollections.com/coin/700841.
The noteworthy coin is being sold with no reserve. Bidding started at $1 on the morning of April 15. Within six hours there were 35 bidders and it had reached $1,150. The online auction will end on Sunday, April 28, 2019.
“It’s great to see the United States Mint thinking outside of the box to stimulate new collectors by introducing the first W mint mark on a circulating quarter-dollar,” said GreatCollections President Ian Russell.
“The first coins have already caused a frenzy, with thousands of people around the U.S. searching through quarter rolls looking for W mint marks. Personally, I haven’t found one yet, but there is still time and I am determined to find one in change!” Russell stated.
The PCGS encapsulation insert indicates a pedigree of “PCGS First Discovery 1 of 2.”
“PCGS offered a $5,000 reward to whoever submitted the first America the Beautiful series 2019-W Lowell quarter for authentication and grading. The submitter would get their coin certified by PCGS and returned along with a $5,000 bounty. Two qualifying coins arrived at our offices at almost the same time; this one from Virginia and another, now graded PCGS MS65, from Kansas. The submitters agreed to split the reward,” explained PCGS President Brett Charville.
“Now the winning bidder in the GreatCollections auction will have the exciting opportunity to own one of the most historically significant coins of 21st century U.S. numismatics: an example of the very first circulating quarter-dollar with a West Point mint mark certified by any third-party grading service,” Charville stated.
“Excitement should only grow as special find pedigrees from the 2019-W quarter releases will have registry set bonuses for their respective sets in the PCGS Set Registry program,” he added.
Since its founding in 1986, PCGS experts have certified over 41 million coins with a total market value of over $33 billion. For information about PCGS products and services, including how to submit your coins for authentication and grading, visit www.PCGS.com or call PCGS Customer Service at 800-447-8848.
GreatCollections of Irvine, California is an auction house for certified coins and paper money, as well as coins approved by CAC. Sales have exceeded $30 million over the past 12 months. For additional information, contact GreatCollections by phone at 949-679-4180 or by email at info@GreatCollections.com.
Apr 14, 2019 | ANA, Announcements
American Numismatic Association (ANA) members are encouraged to share their ideas and research with fellow hobbyists by delivering a Money Talks presentation at the 2019 World’s Fair of Money® in Chicago, Aug. 13-17 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center.
Those interested in giving a Money Talks presentation should submit an online proposal at www.money.org/numismatic-events/money-talks. Proposals are due no later than May 15. The informative 30- to 45-minute presentations are presented by some of the hobby’s most noted authorities and allow collectors to share their expertise with the numismatic community. Presentations from previous shows include “Siege Notes: The Currency of War,” “Strategies to Dispose of Your Collection” and “Curious Currency of the World.”
Money Talks presentations should be accompanied with digital images. Speakers should arrive 15 minutes prior to their presentation to set-up. Contact Sam Gelberd, the ANA’s numismatic educator, at (719) 482-9846 for additional information.
Proposals can be submitted online, emailed to sgelberd@money.org, or mailed to:
The American Numismatic Association
Attn: Education Department
818 N. Cascade Ave.
Colorado Springs, CO 80903
The World’s Fair of Money is one of the largest, most educational coin shows in the country and features nearly a thousand numismatic dealers with extensive inventories. The show includes a wide range of technical seminars and educational presentations; an exhibits area; major auctions by Heritage Auctions and Stack’s Bowers Galleries; and the ANA Museum Showcase, exhibiting some of the world’s most rare and valuable coins and paper money. For more information, visit www.worldsfairofmoney.com.
The American Numismatic Association is a congressionally chartered nonprofit educational organization dedicated to encouraging people to study and collect 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 education an, outreach programs, as well as its museum, library, publications, conventions and seminars. For more information, call (719) 632-2646 or go to www.money.org.
Apr 11, 2019 | Announcements, U.S. Mint
WASHINGTON – Sales will open for the 2019 United States Mint Silver Proof Set® (product code 19RH) on April 17 at noon EDT. The set is priced at $54.95.
The following proof finish coins from the United States Mint’s San Francisco facility make up the set:
- Five America the Beautiful Quarters® Program Coins honoring Lowell National Historical Park (Massachusetts), American Memorial Park (Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands), War in the Pacific National Historical Park (Guam), San Antonio Missions National Historical Park (Texas), and Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness (Idaho). The obverse (heads) of all coins bears John Flanagan’s 1932 portrait of George Washington. Inscriptions are “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,” “LIBERTY,” “IN GOD WE TRUST,” and “QUARTER DOLLAR.”
- One Native American $1 Coin with a reverse design (tails) that honors Native Americans in the U.S. space program and features Mary Golda Ross writing calculations. Behind her, an Atlas-Agena rocket launches into space, with an equation inscribed in its cloud. An astronaut, symbolic of Native American astronauts, including John Herrington, spacewalks above. In the field behind, a group of stars indicates outer space. Inscriptions are “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” and “$1.” The obverse design retains the central figure Sacagawea carrying her infant son, Jean Baptiste. The inscriptions are “LIBERTY” and “IN GOD WE TRUST.”
- One Kennedy half dollar
- One Roosevelt dime
- One Jefferson 5-cent coin (nickel)
- One Lincoln one-cent (penny)
The quarters, half dollar, and dime make up the United States Mint’s first silver proof set to contain .999 percent silver. A Certificate of Authenticity is included with each set.
This year’s set comes with an additional 2019 Lincoln penny with a reverse proof finish and a “W” mint mark. This special coin is packaged separately in clear United States Mint plastic wrap.
The 2019 United States Mint Silver Proof Set® is the second of three annual sets to include an additional, separately packaged premium penny from the West Point facility this year. The United States Mint Proof Set® comes with an additional premium penny in a proof finish, and the United States Mint Uncirculated Coin Set® will come with an additional premium penny in an uncirculated finish.
The Mint accepts orders at www.catalog.usmint.gov and 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468). Hearing and speech-impaired customers with TTY equipment may order at 1-888-321-MINT. Visit www.catalog.usmint.gov/customer-service/shipping.html for information about shipping options.
The United States Mint Silver Proof Set is also available for purchase through the Mint’s Product Enrollment Program. Visit https://catalog.usmint.gov/shop/product-enrollments/ for details.
Apr 9, 2019 | Announcements
The Certified Collectibles Group (CCG) has announced major initiatives in India, the world’s second-most populous country with more than 1.3 billion people. CCG’s independent member companies include Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC), Numismatic Conservation Services (NCS) and Paper Money Guaranty (PMG).
CCG has appointed Peacock Bloom Numismatic LLP (Peacock Bloom) an Official Submission Center to NGC, NCS, and PMG in India. As an Official Submission Center in India, Peacock Bloom will assist collectors and dealers with submissions to NGC, NCS, and PMG. Peacock Bloom can also answer questions about the services and benefits of NGC, NCS, and PMG.
NGC and PMG provide third-party authentication, grading and encapsulation services for collectible coins and paper money, respectively. Each company is a leader in its category. NGC has certified more than 43 million coins since 1987, while PMG has certified nearly 4 million notes since 2005. NCS is a respected professional coin conservation service that has handled more than 1 million coins since 2001.
In another effort, PMG will conduct an on-site grading event in Chennai, India, June 10–15, 2019. During this event, a team of PMG graders and operations specialists will perform their normal services in India with significantly faster turnaround time. Submissions for the PMG India June On-site Grading Event should be made to Peacock Bloom on or before May 25, 2019.
In addition, representatives from NGC, NCS, and PMG will attend the Shukla Day Coin & Philately Fair in Mumbai, India, April 19–21, 2019, to answer questions about the companies’ services and benefits.
Learn more →
Apr 9, 2019 | Announcements
Special designations available for West Point quarters submitted during first week and first 45 days of first discovery
April 8, 2019 – The first person to submit for grading one of the 2019 “America the Beautiful” Lowell National Historical Park quarter-dollars with a West Point mint mark will receive a $5,000 reward from Professional Coin Grading Service (www.PCGS.com).
PCGS also is offering special designation insert labels for W mint mark quarters submitted within the first week and first 45 days of the initial discovery, as well as a discounted rate for qualifying submissions.
“PCGS applauds the United States Mint for the unprecedented placement of a West Point mint mark on a limited number of circulating coins to support 2019 National Coin Week, April 21-27, and promote collecting. To celebrate, we’ve launched a quarter quest by offering $5,000 to the first person to submit a 2019-W Lowell quarter to PCGS for grading and encapsulation,” said PCGS President Brett Charville.
“The West Point mint mark on a relatively small number of America the Beautiful quarters is an exciting concept that is virtually unheard of in the lifetime of most of today’s collectors. Imagine, you can have the chance to pull a circulating rarity directly out of your change, submit it and add it to your collection,” Charville stated.
“The first qualifying 2019-W Lowell quarter certified by PCGS will be attributed with a unique pedigree of PCGS First Discovery. Any qualifying 2019-W Lowell quarter submitted within the first week after that First Discovery will receive a First Week of Discovery pedigree. Also, after the First Week of Discovery, any qualifying 2019-W Lowell quarter certified within 45 days after the First Discovery will receive an Early Find pedigree,” explained PCGS Director of Marketing Heather Boyd.
The PCGS First Discovery and Early Find pedigrees will be available for each of the five qualifying 2019-W America The Quarters: Lowell National Historical Park, American Memorial Park, War in the Pacific National Historical Park, San Antonio Missions National Historical Park and Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness.
The special discounted grading fee for any of the 2019 West Point mint mark quarters submitted to PCGS will be only $20 per coin until the end of the 45-day Early Find period for each of the five different quarters.
Additional information, including terms and conditions about the PCGS quarter quest, can be found at https://www.pcgs.com/2019quarterquest.
“By minting and then placing scarce West Point quarters into circulation, the United States Mint is allowing anyone the opportunity to collect rare coins from their pocket change. PCGS is happy to help collectors commemorate their early discoveries with special encapsulation labels and the chance for one lucky submitter to get a unique pedigree and $5,000 reward,” stated Charville.
Since its founding in 1986, PCGS experts have certified over 41 million coins from over 100 different countries with a total market value of over $34 billion. For information about PCGS products and services, including how to submit your coins for authentication and grading, visit www.PCGS.com or call PCGS Customer Service at (800) 447-8848.
Apr 9, 2019 | Announcements, Shows & Conventions
Unprecedented display of over 400 ancient Roman and Papal coins from The Tyrant collection will be publicly exhibited together for the first time
(Long Beach, California) – Julius Caesar and the 11 other Caesars of long-ago Rome, along with more than 400 other superb quality ancient and Papal coins from the unparalleled Tyrant Collection (www.TheTyrantCollection.com), will be publicly displayed together for the first time at the Long Beach Coin, Currency Stamp & Sports Collectible Expo (www.LongBeachExpo.com), June 6-8, 2019.
Entitled “Tyrants of the Tiber,” this will be the fourth exhibition in a multi-year series of different displays of portions of the extensive Tyrant Collection, described as the world’s most valuable rare coin collection in private hands.
“There has never been such an extensive public exhibit of exquisite, ancient Roman gold coins in Southern California,” stated Ira Goldberg President of Goldberg Coins and Collectibles, Inc. (www.GoldbergCoins.com) in Los Angeles, California. Goldberg is one of the numismatic professionals providing guidance in assembling the wide-ranging Tyrant Collection of superb quality, historic U.S. and world coins.
“This unprecedented display will encompass the tyrants of Rome from the earliest Roman Republic portrait coins over 2,200 years ago through the Imperatorial and Empire Periods, and ending with the fall of Rome and the invading tribes. In addition, since the Vatican practically sits on the Tiber River, this amazing exhibit will include the coinage of the Popes,” explained Goldberg.
Most of the 400 coins in the exhibit are gold, including an extremely rare set of the famous 12 Caesars in gold with many of the coins recorded as the finest known. Goldberg described the set as “breathtaking.”
The entire Tyrants of the Tiber display will be insured for more than $30 million for its inaugural debut.
Highlights of the exhibit include:
- T. Quinctius Flamininus gold Stater, ca. 196 B.C., of the first living person to be depicted on a Roman coin. This nearly Mint State example is considered the finest of only eight known.
- Brutus, Proconsul and Imperator, 42 BC, EID MAR silver Denarius and probably the most celebrated of all the coins of ancient Rome. A portrait of Brutus is on the obverse with the reverse boldly exhibiting the celebration of the Ides of March murder of Julius Caesar. It is nearly Mint State and one of the finest examples in existence.
- Mark Antony and Cleopatra silver Tetradrachm struck in 36 BC in Syria. Cleopatra VII, the last queen of the Ptolemaic kingdom, remains to this day a colossal figure of legend as much as history. It is superb Extremely Fine condition and possibly the finest known example.
- Otho gold Aureus. He reigned only from January – April 69 AD. Struck at Rome and perhaps the most difficult of the 12 Caesars to obtain in choice condition. The Tyrant Collection coin is a superb, nearly Mint State specimen. Ex Metropolitan Museum, New York, and ex Boscoreale Hoard, 1895.
- Romulus Augustus, October 31 – September 476 AD, gold Solidus of Rome depicting the last line of Roman emperors in the West. All the coinage of Romulus Augustus is scarce and the gold solidi are extremely rare. This nearly Mint State specimen is probably the finest in existence.
- Justinian I, 527-565, gold Solidus struck in Rome. During his reign, Italy was liberated from the Goths and North Africa was recovered from the Vandals. This very rare Roman mint example is magnificent Mint State.
- Pope Alexander VI, gold Doppio Fiorino di Camera, Mint State. Born Rodrigo de Borja and Pope from August 11, 1492 until his death on August 18, 1503. He is one of the most controversial of the Renaissance Popes, partly because he acknowledged fathering several children by his mistresses.
- Pope Innocent XI, extremely rare Quadruple Scudi d’oro, Nearly Mint State. Born Benedetto Odescalchi, his papacy was from 1676 to 1689. He is known in Budapest as the “Savior of Hungary,” and much of his reign was concerned with tension with Louis XIV of France.
- Pope Innocent XII, Quadruple Scudi d’oro, Mint State. Born Antonio Pignatelli, his papacy was from 1691 to 1700. Innocent XII appears as one of the narrators in Robert Browning ‘s long, 1869 poem “The Ring and the Book,” based on the true story of the Pope’s intervention during his papacy in a famous murder trial in Rome.
The owner of The Tyrant Collection wants to remain anonymous while he shares the collection’s coins with the public for their educational value.
Visitors to the June 2019 Long Beach Expo exhibit (booth #1540) can receive a free, illustrated educational booklet about this latest, amazing display. Detailed catalogs with information and illustrations about each coin in the “Tyrants of the Tiber” exhibit will be available for $10 each.
The Long Beach Expo will be held in the Long Beach, California Convention Center at 100 S. Pine Ave. Public hours are Thursday and Friday, June 6 and 7, from 10 am to 7 pm, and Saturday, June 8, from 10 am to 5 pm.
Apr 7, 2019 | Announcements, U.S. Mint
WASHINGTON – The United States Mint (Mint) will open sales for the 2019 American Buffalo One Ounce Gold Proof Coin (product code 19EL) on April 12 at noon EDT.
The American Buffalo One Ounce Gold Proof Coin is a 24-karat gold proof coin struck by the Mint and is the collector version of the official United States Mint American Buffalo One Ounce Gold Bullion Coin.
The original 1913 Type I Buffalo nickel by James Earle Fraser served as the basis for the designs on this coin. The obverse (heads) portrays a profile representation of a Native American with the inscriptions “LIBERTY” and “2019.” The reverse (tails) features an American Buffalo (also known as a bison). Inscriptions are “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,” “E PLURIBUS UNUM,” “IN GOD WE TRUST,” “$50,” “1 OZ.,” and “.9999 FINE GOLD.”
An elegant matte-finish hardwood box with a leather-like inset that houses each coin, which comes with the Mint’s Certificate of Authenticity.
Pricing for the 2019 American Buffalo One Ounce Gold Proof Coin is in accordance with the range in which it appears on the Mint’s Pricing of Numismatic Gold, Commemorative Gold, Platinum, and Palladium Products table. Current pricing information is available here.
The Mint accepts orders at www.catalog.usmint.gov and 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468). Hearing and speech-impaired customers with TTY equipment may order at 1-888-321-MINT. Visit www.catalog.usmint.gov/customer-service/shipping.html for information about shipping options.
Apr 4, 2019 | ANA, Announcements
The 96th annual National Coin Week, April 21-27, a reminder that money is history you can hold
Every coin and piece of money in your pocket, purse or piggy bank not only has a story to tell about people, places and events, it has its own special week.
National Coin Week, April 21-27, celebrates the historical, cultural, artistic and economic importance of money.
Sponsored by the nonprofit American Numismatic Association (ANA) to foster the enjoyment of coins and paper money collecting, the 96th annual event recognizes discoveries and innovation with the theme, “Discover the Past, Envision the Future.”
The ANA will host a variety of National Coin Week activities online and at the Edward C. Rochette Money Museum in Colorado Springs, Colo., including:
- A contest for ANA members to use their creative talents to design a coin released in 2069.
- Online daily trivia challenges. Every day of National Coin Week, a new question will be released on the ANA’s Facebookand Twitter accounts and www.NationalCoinWeek.org. Participants submit their answers online for a chance to win prizes.
- The annual coin club trivia challenge, where ANA member clubs test their numismatic knowledge and compete for prizes.
- Online resources including articles from The Numismatist, promotional documents, links and suggestions from the ANA library.
- An open house at the Money Museum on Saturday, April 27, which will include free admission, activities for children and adults, and the minting of the 2019 National Coin Week medallette in the museum’s Mini-Mint.
“Money has long been used to commemorate discovery and invention,” said Andy Dickes, ANA collections manager and coordinator of National Coin Week. “Feats such as the printing press, vaccines, the automobile and reaching the summit of Mount Everest are featured in numismatics. The 50th anniversary of the first lunar landing this year is a great time to celebrate all these achievements.”
Prizes for the design contest and club trivia challenge include:
- Grand prize – Apollo 11 50th Anniversary 2019 Five Ounce Proof Silver Dollar
- Second prize – Apollo 11 50th Anniversary 2019 Proof Silver Dollar
- Third prize – Apollo 11 50th Anniversary 2019 Proof Clad Half Dollar
Other prizes will be awarded as well.
During the week, the public should be on the lookout for any rare or unique coins in pocket change. This year, coin dealers will release thousands of collectible coins across the nation, kicking off the “Great American Coin Hunt.” Historic, old money will be deliberately placed into circulation by more than 200 members of the group Coin Dealers Helping Coin Dealers to inspire people to closely look at their money. According to Rob Oberth, coordinator of the Great American Coin Hunt, some coins could have a value of $100 or more.
For additional information, email ncw@money.org, call 719-482-9814, or visit www.NationalCoinWeek.org.
The American Numismatic Association is a congressionally chartered, nonprofit educational organization dedicated to encouraging the study and collection of coins and related items. The ANA helps its 25,000 members and the public discover and explore the world of money through its vast array of instructional and outreach programs, as well as its museum, library, publications and conventions. For more information, call 719-632-2646 or visit www.money.org.
Apr 3, 2019 | Announcements, U.S. Mint
This video shows the production of circulating quarters at the West Point Mint and U.S. Mint Director David Ryder mixing the quarters into bulk bags for circulation at the Philadelphia Mint.
Do you see something strange in your change? For National Coin Week, the U.S. Mint is mixing things up and launching a limited amount of America the Beautiful quarters with the “W” mint mark into circulation – a first for the U.S. Mint in 227 years of minting coins. While West Point has produced quarters in the past, they didn’t have a mint mark and were indistinguishable from Philadelphia quarters.
The goal of the initiative is to create excitement about coin collecting by introducing rare coins into circulation, allowing anyone the opportunity to collect the quarters from their pocket change.
In total, the West Point Mint will strike 10 million quarters that will be mixed into bulk bags of quarters at the Philadelphia and Denver Mints. In early April, the first of the W mint mark quarters will be shipped and distributed to banks and financial institutions by the Federal Reserve. The coins will likely begin to appear in circulation within four to six weeks and will be available throughout 2019.
The announcement of the W mint mark quarters ties in with the American Numismatic Association’s National Coin Week from April 21-27, 2019. Also during the month of April, independent coin dealers will place approximately one million of their own collectible coins into circulation across the United States as part of the Great American Coin Hunt.
Mint Releases First Ever W Quarters Into Circulation
Since 1835, the Mint has issued coins with mint marks, which identify the facility that struck the coin. The most common mint marks are a “P”, which denotes coins made in Philadelphia or “D” for coins made in Denver. Typically, circulating coins are made in Philadelphia or Denver.
The two other mint marks currently in use are an “S” for coins struck in San Francisco and a “W” for coins produced at West Point. The San Francisco and West Point Mints primarily produce proof, commemorative, and/or bullion coins.
This year, however, the Mint is producing approximately 1% of the total circulating quarters at West Point, making the “W” mint mark quarters the first of it’s kind. This is a limited initiative, so go search for your W quarter today!
Join the Conversation
Follow the W quarter on social media using the hashtag #WQuarter and follow the Mint on Facebook or Twitter.
Mar 29, 2019 | Announcements, U.S. Mint
WASHINGTON – The United States Mint (Mint) will begin accepting orders for the 2019 America the Beautiful Five Ounce Silver Uncirculated Coin honoring American Memorial Park in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (product code 19AK) on April 4 at noon EDT. The coin is priced at $154.95.
The America the Beautiful Five Ounce Silver Uncirculated Coins are struck in .999 fine silver at the Philadelphia Mint. These coins are three inches in diameter and bear the same designs featured on their America the Beautiful Quarters® Program Coin counterparts.
The reverse (tails) of the American Memorial Park five ounce coin depicts a young woman in traditional attire at the front of the Flag Circle and Court of Honor. She is resting her hand on the plaque whose text honors the sacrifice of those who died in the Marianas Campaign of World War II. Inscriptions are “AMERICAN MEMORIAL PARK,” “N. MARIANA ISLANDS,” “2019,” and “E PLURIBUS UNUM.” The obverse (heads) features a 1932 restored portrait of George Washington.
A presentation case holds each encapsulated coin, which comes with a Certificate of Authenticity.
The mintage limit for the America the Beautiful Five Ounce Silver Uncirculated Coin honoring American Memorial Park is set at 20,000 units.
The Mint accepts orders at www.catalog.usmint.gov and 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468). Hearing and speech-impaired customers with TTY equipment may order at 1-888-321-MINT. Visit www.catalog.usmint.gov/customer-service/shipping.html for information about shipping options.
The America the Beautiful Five Ounce Silver Uncirculated Coins™ are also available for purchase through the Mint’s Product Enrollment Program. To learn more, visit us online at catalog.usmint.gov/shop/product-enrollments/ for details.
