Robert Leonard’s Updated “Curious Currency,” 2nd Edition, Explores Money From the Stone Age to the Internet Age

Mar 6, 2019 | Announcements

(Pelham, Alabama) — Whitman Publishing announces the release of the second edition of Robert D. Leonard Jr.’s award-winning Curious Currency: The Story of Money from the Stone Age to the Internet Age. The 160-page hardcover book will debut March 12, 2019, two weeks before the American Numismatic Association’s National Money Show. It will be available from booksellers and hobby shops nationwide, and online (including at www.Whitman.com), for $16.95.

The first edition of Curious Currency earned the Numismatic Literary Guild’s prestigious “Best Specialized Book on World Coins” award. The updated second edition includes new information from the most recent era of the money spectrum—PayPal and e-gold, proximity payments, cellphone payments, and cryptocurrencies like bitcoin.

The rest of the book is a treasure chest of cold, hard cash—and also feathery, leathery, tiny, gigantic, edible, and incredible cash. Leonard, a fellow of the American Numismatic Society and author of more than twenty studies on specific unusual monies, gives a colorful, entertaining, and authoritative tour of hundreds of strange things people have used as money through the ages, including:

• woodpecker scalps, whiskey, and gigantic stones
• wooden nickels, porcelain tokens, and playing cards
• elephant tails, iron nails, and whale teeth
• ostrich shells, bricks of tea, blocks of salt, human skulls, and more

The essence of Leonard’s exploration is to answer the question, “What is money?” He writes, “We use it every day without giving it a thought. But money isn’t limited to coins and paper. It includes a wide range of so-called primitive or traditional currency, surrogates for cash, and even things that are quite invisible. The study of these odd and curious monies has lessons for our economy today.”

Kenneth Bressett, Editor Emeritus of the Guide Book of United States Coins, calls Curious Currency “a fresh approach to understanding the nature of money . . . an entertaining overview . . . a provocative study.”

Q. David Bowers, past president of the American Numismatic Association, says, “Bob Leonard’s magnificent book is the ‘missing link’ in hobby publications. We know about silver dollars, Gold Certificates, colonial coins, and ancient decadrachms, but odd and curious money is equally important and fascinating. The subject is strange and wondrous. This is money like you’ve never seen it before.”

Scott Semans, expert and longtime dealer in ethnographic money, calls Curious Currency “Both a popular work with 200 color photos, and a meticulously researched reference with footnotes, bibliography, and a good index” and “Highly recommended both for collectors desiring perspective, and as a gift for those who appreciate beauty in utilitarian things.”

New rare coin & bullion firm launched

Mar 6, 2019 | Announcements

Veteran Collector, Prominent CPA and Advisor, Robert Fligel, Launches Bullion and Rare Coin Firm

RF Precious Metals is a CAC Authorized Dealer

(Greenwich, Connecticut) March 5, 2019 – Robert Fligel, a prominent New York City and former Big 4 Certified Public Accountant and CPA firm advisor, has opened a rare coins and precious metals consulting company, RF Precious Metals, LLC (http://www.rfpreciousmetals.com), to assist collectors, investors, financial planners and asset and estate managers with buying and selling of rare coins and bullion coins.

The Greenwich, Connecticut-based company is a Certified Acceptance Corporation (CAC) Authorized Dealer and offers advice on IRA and other strategies in the acquisition and disposition of bullion and coins, as well as assistance with insurance and storage.

“I’ve always believed it is prudent to have a small percentage, maybe 5 to 10% of investable assets, in alternative assets, such as precious metals and coins,” Fligel emphasized.

A veteran collector as well as successful entrepreneur and former “Big 4” CPA, Fligel explained he started RF Precious Metals because “worrisome national and international economic developments have led me to turn a serious personal interest into an additional advisory business. Economic red lights have been flashing for me for months, even more so than during the recession of 2008. Long term, I am an optimist, but the upcoming years will be turbulent.”

Fligel explained that his approach to coins and precious metals is the same as his approach to his business interests: “It is always conservative, low-key and grounded in verifiable data. I have been active in these endeavors for over 20 years and have been fortunate to work with some of the industry’s most respected leaders and competitive suppliers.”

For the past 15 years he has been a big fan of U.S. double eagle gold coins for their numismatic and bullion characteristics, high-grade early gold, Trade dollars, and special coins: generally certified Mint State 65 or better and in older holders, usually with CAC stickers.

Fligel is a member of the American Numismatic Association and the Industry Council for Tangible Assets. RF Precious Metals is an accredited member of the Better Business Bureau.

A graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Fligel began his accounting career providing audit and tax services at a New York City CPA firm. He became an audit manager at a Fortune 500 firm, an associate at a national search and recruiting firm, and director of human resources for a “Big 4” accounting firm. He then co-founded one of New York’s largest and most successful executive search firms.

Fligel is an active member in the American Institute of CPAs, the New York State Society of CPAs and the National Conference of CPA Practitioners. He is a past president of the Accountants Club of America

For additional information, contact Robert Fligel at RF Precious Metals by phone at 203-989-9203 or email at rfligel@rfpreciousmetals.com.

NGC Celebrates First 2019-W Cent

Mar 2, 2019 | Announcements

The US Mint has announced that a 2019-W Proof Cent will be included with all purchases of the 2019 United States Mint Proof Set, which goes on sale March 1. This is the first cent to feature the “W” mint mark of the West Point Mint.

NGC is celebrating this historic coin with a special attribution of First “W” Mint Mark Cent, as well as NGC’s West Point Mint Gold Star Label, both of which are provided for no additional fee.

Lincoln Cents have been struck for the past 111 years, typically with no mint mark (if struck in Philadelphia), a “D” mint mark (if struck in Denver) or an “S” mint mark (if struck in San Francisco). In 2017, a “P” mint mark was included on the Philadelphia issues for the first time to celebrate the 225th anniversary of the US Mint.

Today, the US Mint branch in West Point, New York, is best known for minting commemorative and bullion coins in precious metals including silver, gold, platinum and palladium. However, before it was elevated to a branch mint, the West Point facility produced Lincoln Cents for circulation from 1974 to 1986. These had no mint mark and are indistinguishable from the Philadelphia issues.

Now, in addition to the existing array of mint marks, collectors will be able to obtain Lincoln cents with the W mint mark.

Learn more →

Whitman Publishing Debuts Expanded Second Edition of Harlan Berk’s ‘100 Greatest Ancient Coins’

Mar 2, 2019 | Announcements

(Pelham, Alabama) — Whitman Publishing announces the release of the second edition of 100 Greatest Ancient Coins, by the noted historian of the ancient world and professional coin dealer Harlan J. Berk. The 144-page hardcover coffee-table book will debut March 12, 2019, two weeks before the American Numismatic Association’s National Money Show. It will be available from booksellers and hobby shops nationwide, and online (including at www.Whitman.com), for $29.95.

In this richly illustrated volume, Berk—one of the world’s best-known ancient-coin dealers—takes the reader on a personal guided tour of the numismatic antiquities of Greece, Rome, the Eastern Roman (so-called Byzantine) empire, and other parts of the ancient world.

The first edition of 100 Greatest Ancient Coins was the fifth entry in Whitman Publishing’s “100 Greatest” library (which now includes nearly a dozen volumes) and the first title in that collection to focus on non-American collectibles. It earned the Numismatic Literary Guild’s prestigious award for Best Specialized Book on World Coins.

The new second edition includes a foreword by British numismatist and author Italo Vecchi, who calls the book “a remarkable catalog of 100 exceptional coins” and “invaluable for all serious ancient-numismatic academics, historians, dealers, and amateurs alike.” In addition to coin-by-coin essays updated with the latest research, the second edition features many upgraded photographs and new content. The latter includes a narrative on “How to Collect Ancient Coins, and What to Avoid,” written in Berk’s engaging, often humorously direct style, with real-world advice from his 55-plus years of experience. This includes insight on how to get started, where to find ancient coins, how to specialize, wise long-term decision-making, and storage and insurance. Berk discusses how to authenticate, grade, and assign a value to ancient coins. His newly expanded introduction also includes a three-page image gallery of denominations of ancient coins, showing 55 Greek, Roman, and Byzantine coins—gold, silver, bronze, and copper—ranging in size from the tiny 4.5 mm obol to the hefty 47 mm silver dodecadrachm. Berk offers an illustrated guide to grading ancient coins from the perfection of Fleur de Coin (FDC), a term the author considers over-used (“As a dealer, out of several thousand coins I grade each year, only one or two can truly be called FDC”), to worn Good condition. He describes the importance of artistic quality in ancient coinage, and how it changed over time. His market-oriented advice covers determining the value of ancient coins, being aware of counterfeits, and buying online. Berk offers market values for each of the individual specimens pictured in the book. And “The Education of a Numismatist” gives the reader resources on major numismatic associations, the importance of building a personal library for research, and extensive suggested readings, both general and specialized.

The process for determining the 100 Greatest Ancient Coins was complex. Berk submitted to Whitman Publishing a roster of about one hundred well-known scholars, active coin collectors, and professional dealers from around the world. Each was asked to list and prioritize, from 1 to 100, their choices for the most significant ancient coins. Their feedback was compiled and analyzed, resulting in the ranking of the 100 greatest. These include unique and high-valued pieces that most collectors can only dream about, but also more widely available and popular ancient coins.

“Some of the 100 Greatest ancient coins are famous from passages in the Bible or other texts,” said Whitman publisher Dennis Tucker. “Some are so beautiful and iconic that every collector wants one. Others have dramatic or poignant stories or are connected to legendary figures. Each coin is steeped in history and has a unique tale to tell.”

Berk has pointed out that a good number of the 100 Greatest are readily collectible for $100 or less. Others are valued in the thousands, or even hundreds of thousands, of dollars.

A two-page spread is devoted to each of coins No. 1 through No. 10, with Nos. 11 through 100 enjoying a full page. In the banner at the top of each page is the coin’s rank; a descriptive title; the city, state, or region from which it hails; and its date of striking (or an approximation). Beneath is an enlarged illustration of the coin; a notation of its actual size in millimeters; and, ghosted in the background, the numerals of its 1–100 rank. This is followed by an essay that sets the coin in its historical foundation and describes the virtues of its numismatic greatness. At the bottom of the page, a timeline charts the coin’s position in history, with the birth of Christ marked for context.

The book is rounded out by a gallery of relative sizes, showing each coin in its actual diameter, and a selected bibliography of research sources.

“100 Greatest Ancient Coins is not just a price guide or a fancy picture book,” said Tucker. “This is a fascinating introduction to collecting and studying these important coins. Many hobbyists have been inspired and energized to start or expand their collections after reading Harlan Berk’s work.”

New 2020 Red Book Reports Dramatic Market Changes; Covers Circulating, Commemorative, and Bullion Coins

Feb 28, 2019 | Announcements

Best-Selling Annual Guide Prices Nearly 8,000 Items

(Pelham, AL) — The newest edition of the coin hobby’s annual Guide Book of United States Coins (popularly known as the “Red Book”) will debut on April 9, 2019, two weeks before National Coin Week. The 73rd edition (with a cover date of 2020) features extensively updated pricing and auction data reflecting the current market for collectible coins, which has seen dramatic ups and downs in the past year. The Red Book can be pre-ordered online (including at Whitman.com) in several formats, and will be available from booksellers and hobby shops nationwide.

Coin collectors have used the Red Book to value their collections since the 1st edition was published in 1946. Senior Editor Jeff Garrett attributes the book’s strength to its network of experts. “Our contributor system covers every segment of American coinage,” Garrett said. “The 2020 edition reflects many changes in pricing and discoveries in numismatic scholarship made over the past year.”

Editor Emeritus Kenneth Bressett remarked on the changing market: “Coin collecting has seen some major adjustments in prices and participation over the past couple of years. For those who are relatively new to the hobby this may seem unsettling and worrisome. Others, who have been involved for a decade or more, have witnessed similar trends and changes over the years and understand that such things are market adjustments that respond to collecting trends and interests. Values shown in the 2020 Red Book reflect these changes. Some are up and others are down. The most evident trend is that common, low-grade coins have lost some of their value because of the declining demand or participation by neophytes. Conversely, many rare coins, especially those in high grade, are regularly in demand and have seen dramatic price increases. Ultimately interest in coin collecting will continue along its rocky path as it has for hundreds of years. I look forward to the future utilizing all of the many innovative features of mass media and electronic communications that will make the hobby even more enjoyable to a new generation of collectors.”

The 73rd-edition Red Book is 464 pages long and prices nearly 8,000 entries in up to 9 grades each, with more than 32,000 retail valuations in total. Its panel of retail-pricing contributors includes more than 100 active coin dealers and market analysts with decades of experience.

Research Editor Q. David Bowers said, “The annual Red Book stands as the one volume I keep at my side when buying, selling, or writing about coins. Year by year it has improved since I bought my first copy as a young teenager in 1952. The 2020 edition is the best ever.”

The book covers United States coins from 1792 to date, from half cents to $20 gold double eagles, commemoratives, and bullion, plus earlier coins and tokens that circulated in colonial times. The latest coins from the United States Mint—Lincoln cents, Jefferson nickels, Roosevelt dimes, America the Beautiful quarters, Kennedy half dollars, Native American dollars, American Innovation dollars, commemorative coins, bullion coins, and government-packaged coin sets—are kept up to date. The book also includes error coins, Civil War tokens, Confederate coins, Philippine coins struck under U.S. sovereignty, private and territorial gold pieces, pattern coins, Hawaiian and Puerto Rican coinage, Alaska tokens, So-Called Dollars, special modern gold coins, and other specialized topics.

These are illustrated by 2,000 photographs, including enlarged close-ups of rare and valuable die varieties.

The 73rd-edition Red Book features the Mint’s new 2019 commemorative coins. The Apollo 11 coins include a half dollar, a traditional silver dollar, a $5 gold piece, and the nation’s first three-inch, five-ounce silver dollar. These coins are all cupped in shape, with the reverse convex to recreate the view of Buzz Aldrin’s helmet, as photographed by Neil Armstrong on the surface of the Moon—with Armstrong, the U.S. flag, and the lunar module Eagle visible in the reflection. The new Red Book also includes the 2019 American Legion 100th-anniversary commemorative coins.

The 73rd edition covers 125 more individual coin issues than the 72nd edition, and 14 new coin sets. Mintages have been updated across the board using the latest numismatic research and government-supplied data.

Collectors will also find complete coverage of the full range of American Eagle and other bullion coins and sets (in silver, gold, platinum, and palladium), with mintages and values for each. “Last year we condensed the bullion sections to make room for new content,” said Whitman publisher Dennis Tucker. “This year we’re bringing back the full bullion catalog because we know how important these popular coins are to collectors.”

The 73rd edition continues a section that debuted with the 70th, an overview of foreign coins that circulated as legal tender in the British American colonies and in the United States until the late 1850s. This section includes photographs, history, and pricing for collectible Spanish-American, Dutch, French, and English coins dating from the 1550s to the 1820s.

Edits based on recent research can be seen in the pre-federal sections. The text for collectibles such as the Pitt tokens, Rhode Island Ship medals, Fugio coppers, Georgivs Triumpho tokens, and 1792 “quarter dollar” patterns has been updated.

As in past years, collectors benefit from the Red Book’s recent auction records provided for significant rare coins. Typeset throughout the charts are nearly 200 notable auction results. Combined with the listed retail prices, the auction data help advanced collectors understand the modern market for high-priced rarities.

In addition, the appendix of the “Top 250 U.S. Coin Prices Realized at Auction” has been fully updated. “This is the first year the Top 250 includes more than 100 auction sales higher than $1 million each,” observed P. Scott Rubin, the compiler of the records. “This is also the first year coins had to sell for more than $600,000 just to make the list.” The coin at #250, a 1792 No Silver Center pattern cent, sold for $603,750, which is $26,250 more than #250 in last year’s edition.

In a positive measure of the health of the hobby and ongoing numismatic research, the Red Book’s newly revised and updated bibliography includes 37 standard references published within the past five years.

The cover of the spiral-bound 73rd edition shows a mix of old and modern American coins: an 1850 Baldwin && Co. $10 Horseman gold piece; the 2019 Apollo 11 commemorative silver dollar; and a World War II–era Liberty Walking half dollar.

All versions and formats (hardcover; spiralbound hardcover; spiralbound softcover; and Large Print) of the 73rd-edition Red Book will be available the second week of April 2019.