Explore Money Museum from Comfort of Home

Dec 6, 2018 | ANA, Announcements

Virtual Exhibits Transform the Way History is Seen

Money derives its value by being a medium of exchange, a unit of measurement and a storehouse for wealth; it can be a shell, a metal coin or a piece of paper. Money also provides a substantial record of the history and culture of civilizations dating to ancient times.

The American Numismatic Association’s (ANA) Money Museum in Colorado Springs, Colo., is a treasure trove of such artifacts. In its three main galleries, visitors can see spectacular rarities and explore the diverse nature of money as it relates to art, history, science and much more. For those unable to visit in person – or hoping to see a temporary exhibit that has since closed, the museum offers a dozen fascinating virtual exhibits and tours that can be enjoyed free of charge from the comfort of an overstuffed chair.

“Trenches to Treaties: World War I in Remembrance” is the museum’s most recent virtual exhibit, showcasing money and medals to illustrate the events and effects of the war politically, economically and socially. Called “The Great War,” and more optimistically, “The War to End All Wars,” World War I was an event that changed the world’s political map and the fabric of civilization. In addition to coins and paper money from combatant nations, the exhibit features artistic medals, military decorations, historical background about the crash of the gold standard, merchant submarines and the colonization of the African continent. To learn more, visit www.money.org/money-museum/virtual-exhibits/wwi.

Other virtual exhibits from the Money Museum include:

  • Money of the Civil War
  • Colorado Numismatic History
  • The legendary Bebee Collection, which includes 500-plus notes of a pedigreed paper money collection
  • The famous 1913 “Nickel that Never Was,” valued at $5 million
  • Colorado Gold
  • The “King of U.S Coins” – the 1804 dollar, which is valued at $3 million
  • The Harry Bass Jr. Collection, the most complete U.S. gold coin collection ever assembled

All the virtual exhibits can be accessed at www.money.org/money-museum/virtual-exhibits.

For questions or more information about the virtual exhibits or the Money Museum, contact pr@money.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 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.

COMING SOON – Year of the Pig 2019

Dec 4, 2018 | Announcements, Bureau of Engraving and Printing

Washington, DC (November 30, 2018) – In celebration of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) is pleased to announce the newest addition to its Lucky Money Collection: Year of the Pig 2019!

The “Pig” is one of 12 zodiac signs associated with the Chinese Lunar Calendar. Year of the Pig 2019 is exquisitely designed with decorative Chinese symbolism and is packaged in a symbolic, red folder with embossed, gold foil. This product features an uncirculated, $1 Federal Reserve note with a serial number beginning with “8888.” The Year of the Pig 2019 symbolizes the character traits of loyalty and honesty. This product is $5.95 and only 108,888 will be available for sale.

The Year of the Pig 2019 first day of sale is Tuesday, December 18, 2018 at 12:00 p.m. (ET). Household quantity purchase limit restrictions of 250 units for the Year of the Pig 2019 will be imposed for the first two days of release. On December 20, 2018 household purchase restrictions will be waived.

New Shopping Process:

The BEP and U.S. Mint have merged their online sales operations and customers can now purchase currency and coin products in one place, while enjoying the benefits and conveniences of the U.S. Mint website. BEP customers are encouraged to set up a Mint website account in order to easily check order statuses and track packages.

BEP products may be ordered toll free, at 1(800) USA-MINT (872-6468) and through the United States Mint’s online store, https://catalog.usmint.gov/. For information about bulk pricing for quantities of 1,000 or more Year of the Pig 2019, contact the BEP at 1(800) 456-3408.

Fabled Brasher Doubloon and Historic New York Coppers in PCGS Exhibit at Next Long Beach Expo

Dec 4, 2018 | Announcements, Shows & Conventions

(Long Beach, California) December 3, 2018 — After their acclaimed exhibit at the American Numismatic Association 2018 Philadelphia World’s Fair of Money®, eight historic early American coins including a legendary 1787 gold Brasher Doubloon will be exhibited by Professional Coin Grading Service (www.PCGS.com) at the next Long Beach Coin, Currency, Stamp and Sports Collectible Expo (www.LongBeachExpo.com), January 31 to February 2, 2019.

“The reaction from visitors to the exhibit at the PCGS booth in Philadelphia was more than just positive. The PCGS staff could hear some of the visitors literally saying ‘Oooh!’ and ‘Ahh!’ as they viewed these superb, early American rarities,” said PCGS Set Registry® Manager Cosetta Robbins.

The Brasher Doubloon and seven of the finest known 1780s New York colonial era copper coins will be displayed together for the first time on the West Coast in an educational exhibit hosted by PCGS at the Long Beach Expo. The show will be in the Long Beach, California Convention Center at 100 S. Pine Avenue, and the exhibit will be at the PCGS Set Registry® booth #401.

The discovery specimen for the legendary 1787 gold Brasher Doubloons will be displayed by PCGS along with historic New York copper coins at the Long Beach Expo, January 31-February 2, 2019. Photo credit: Professional Coin Grading Service www.PCGS.com.

“The lettering and some design elements of all of these distinguished coins are punch linked, and each of these coins is an important part of early American history and numismatics,” said Robbins.

The Brasher Doubloons are the first gold coins made in the United States proposed or intended for circulation. The design includes the obverse motto, NOVA EBORACA COLUMBIA EXCELSIOR (translated as “New York and America ever upward”).

The coin’s creator, Ephraim Brasher, was well known at the time as a silver and goldsmith and civic leader in New York City, and later was a neighbor of George Washington in lower Manhattan.

Only seven Brasher Doubloons are known; six with the designer’s “EB” hallmark on the eagle’s wing, one with it on the eagle’s breast.

The coin that will be displayed in Long Beach has the hallmark on the eagle’s right wing, and it is the discovery specimen for Brasher Doubloons that was first documented in 1840. It was exhibited at the 1964 New York World’s Fair, was a featured display in a nationwide touring exhibit for the 1987 bicentennial of the United States Constitution and was displayed at the Epcot theme park at Walt Disney World in 1988.

The anonymous current owner of the Brasher Doubloon is described by PCGS as a “West Coast collector,” and the owner of the New York copper coins is described as “a New York dealer and collector.”

The seven New York copper pieces are all either the finest known or among the finest known of their kind. All have impressive pedigrees to one or more collections of well-known numismatists of the past, such as Parmelee, Stickney, Boyd, Garrett, Ford and/or Newman. The coins are:

  • 1786 Small Head Non Vi Virtute Vici (“Not by force, but by virtue we have won”) with a portrait believed to be George Washington. Less than two dozen examples are known.
  • 1787 New York Excelsior, Eagle Left. This is the only Mint State example known and was formerly in the famous Garrett Collection.
  • 1787 New York New York, George Clinton cent, with New York coat of arms, less than a dozen known.
  • 1787 New York Excelsior, Indian/Arms, one of only about 12 known.
  • 1787 N York Excelsior, Indian/Eagle on Globe design, one of the finest of only about 14 known.
  • 1787 Copper Nova Eborac (“New York”), Large Head variety, one of the finest of only a few dozen known.

    • One of only about a dozen known examples, this 1787 “Nova Eborac” Large Head variety New York copper piece will be among the historic early American coins on display at the PCGS Set Registry® booth during the January 31-February 2, 2019 Long Beach Expo. Photo credit: Professional Coin Grading Service www.PCGS.com.

  • 1787 Copper Nova Eborac, Small Head variety, less than a dozen known and closely linked to the Brasher Doubloons. This is the finest certified example and was formerly in the C.I. Bushnell and Eric P. Newman collections.

“The January-February 2019 Long Beach Expo will be an excellent opportunity for visitors to see and enjoy in person these impressive, early American rare coins,” said Expo President Cassi East.

For additional information about the Long Beach Expo, visit www.LongBeachExpo.com.

Since its founding in 1986, PCGS experts have certified over 40 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.

PNG Steps Up Fight Against Fakes

Nov 30, 2018 | ACEF/ACTF, Announcements, PNG

PNG Leaders Step Up Fight Against Fakes With Anti-Counterfeiting Educational Foundation

New nonprofit entity created to accept donations for important 2019 work by Anti-Counterfeiting Task Force

(Temecula, California) November 29, 2018 – The Anti-Counterfeiting Task Force (ACTF) accomplished major victories combatting fakes and educating the public about counterfeits in the marketplace in 2018, according to ACTF Coordinator Beth Deisher. She envisions continued success in 2019 following the recent major reorganization of the group’s parent organization, the Anti-Counterfeiting Educational Foundation (ACEF).

The nonprofit Foundation originally was operated by the Industry Council for Tangible Assets (ICTA) but recently left ICTA. As of November 20, 2018, the Foundation’s Board of Directors now is composed of volunteer members of the Professional Numismatists Guild (www.PNGdealers.org) Board who will handle the administrative duties and assist with fund-raising needed to support ACTF’s efforts to fight fakes.

“The Foundation continues as a 501(c)(3) corporation and is separate from PNG. All donations to ACEF are tax deductible,” emphasized the Foundation’s and PNG’s Executive Director Robert Brueggeman whose background is in law enforcement and security.

“PNG will continue to provide $10,000 a year to the Foundation and individual PNG members also are making donations, such as Wayde Milas and Brett Charville who each pledged $10,000 a year for five years. The Foundation and its Anti-Counterfeiting Task Force operate solely on donations, and there is a large need for additional funds of any amount from individuals as well as hobby and trade organizations so this crucial work can continue,” Brueggeman emphasized.

Among other recent donations, the Central Ohio Numismatic Association again contributed $1,000 to ACEF.

Deisher explained, “The ongoing influx of counterfeit rare coins, bullion coins and grading service holders in the marketplace is a potential problem for virtually every collector and dealer. Among our goals for 2019 is to increase educational programs for the collecting community and the public about how to protect themselves from being defrauded by counterfeit coins and precious metals bars they encounter. One of the ways to do that will be with a new ACEF website, which we expect to be operational by mid to late December.”

“We also want to expand the task force’s network of experts who can assist law enforcement agencies in identifying counterfeits. Another planned effort in the coming year is seeking changes in local, state and federal laws and regulations to give higher priority and faster adjudication for counterfeiting crimes,” said Deisher.

Deisher will serve as Director of Anti-Counterfeiting for the Foundation and Coordinator for its Anti-Counterfeiting Task Force.

In addition to Deisher, there are 44 volunteer members of the Anti-Counterfeiting Task Force. Among the ACTF’s major accomplishments in 2018 were:

  • Provided assistance in more than 30 active cases of counterfeit coins and precious metal bullion products being investigated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Secret Service, and U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Inspector General.
  • Expanded the Anti-Counterfeiting Task Force’s Expert Network and providing experts to assist law enforcement in identification of counterfeit coins and bars. The largest case prosecuted during 2018 involved seizure of thousands of counterfeits. If the fakes in this single case had been genuine they would have had a retail market value of more than $48 million.
  • Sponsored and mounted an unprecedented five-case, public education exhibit of counterfeit coins and bars during the American Numismatic Association’s World’s Fair of Money® in Philadelphia. The counterfeit items were made available through special arrangement with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations.
  • Developed and conducted the first survey to determine prevalence of counterfeit coins and precious metals bars in the U.S. marketplace.
  • Worked with supervisors of Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) regional centers to determine the best methods of providing educational materials and training CBP agents to create awareness of counterfeit coins and precious metals bars illegally entering the United States.

For additional information and to make a donation, contact the Anti-Counterfeiting Educational Foundation at 28441 Rancho California Road, Suite 106, Temecula, CA 92590. The phone number is 951-587-8300. Or contact ACTF Coordinator Beth Deisher at 567-202-1795.

A section of the educational exhibit of confiscated counterfeit coins displayed by the Anti-Counterfeiting Educational Foundation in cooperation with U.S. Homeland Security at the 2018 ANA World’s Fair of Money. (Photo credit: Donn Pearlman.)

Canadian Numismatic Advisory Board is Accepting Applications

Nov 30, 2018 | Announcements

Collectors, Dealers, and Researchers Invited to Apply

(Atlanta, Georgia) — Whitman Publishing is accepting applications for appointment to its Canadian Numismatic Advisory Board (CNAB).

The CNAB was established to advise the publisher and editors of Whitman Publishing on topics relating to Canadian coins and tokens, medals, paper currency, and related numismatic items. These include colonial and provincial coinage; bank and trade tokens; money of the French regime; private and semiregal tokens; pre-decimal and decimal coinage of the 1800s; British colonial items, circulating and otherwise; patterns; bullion coins; error coins; coinage sets; and circulating issues of the Dominion of Canada, 1867 to date. The board also advises on grading, auction records, photography, authentication, third-party certification, the Royal Mint, and other hobby-related topics.

Board members are appointed for a term of two years. Membership is open to professional numismatists as well as hobbyists, and anyone with an interest in Canadian numismatics—collectors, dealers, historians, researchers, students, museum curators, coin designers, etc.

Candidates should have an interest in Canadian history and have demonstrable experience in the study of Canadian numismatics; a history of honorable professional and personal conduct; and successful standing in their communities. Candidates must be free of professional, political, or financial interests that could negatively affect their ability to provide impartial advice.

Board candidates are invited to submit a description of the skills, abilities, talents, and credentials that support their applications.

Application Deadline: Friday, February 1, 2019.

Receipt of Applications: Those wishing to be considered for participation on the CNAB should submit a resume and cover letter describing their reasons for seeking and qualifications for membership, by email to dennis.tucker@whitman.com or by mail to Dennis Tucker, Publisher; Whitman Publishing; PO Box 191884; Atlanta GA 31119. Submissions must be postmarked no later than Friday, February 1, 2019.

Final America the Beautiful Quarters Three-Coin Set™ of 2018 Goes On Sale Nov. 27

Nov 28, 2018 | Announcements, U.S. Mint

WASHINGTON – The United States Mint (Mint) will begin accepting orders for the America the Beautiful Quarters Three-Coin Set™ honoring Block Island National Wildlife Refuge in Rhode Island on Nov. 27 at noon Eastern Standard Time (EST).

America the Beautiful Quarters Three-Coin Sets contain one uncirculated quarter from the Philadelphia Mint, one uncirculated quarter from the Denver Mint, and one proof quarter from the San Francisco Mint. Coins in the set representing Block Island National Wildlife Refuge feature a reverse (tails) design depicting a snowy egret perched on a branch on the edge of a salt marsh, ready for flight. Inscriptions are “BLOCK ISLAND,” “RHODE ISLAND,” “2018” and “E PLURIBUS UNUM.” The obverse (heads) depicts the 1932 restored portrait of George Washington by John Flanagan. Inscriptions are “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,” “LIBERTY,” “IN GOD WE TRUST,” and “QUARTER DOLLAR.”

A durable plastic card holds the three coins and displays an image of Block Island National Wildlife Refuge and the Certificate of Authenticity.

The America the Beautiful Quarters Three-Coin Set™–Block Island National Wildlife Refuge is priced at $9.95. Orders will be accepted at 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 catalog.usmint.gov/customer-service/shipping.html for information about shipping options.

The America the Beautiful Quarters Three-Coin Sets are also available for purchase through the Product Enrollment Program. Visit catalog.usmint.gov/shop/product-enrollments/ to learn more about this convenient ordering method.

Summer Seminar Scholarships Available for Young Collectors and Adult Hobbyists

Nov 27, 2018 | ANA, Announcements

Expand Your Numismatic Knowledge: Apply for Summer Seminar Scholarships

Available for Young Collectors and Adult Hobbyists

Full and partial scholarships are available to both youths and adults who wish to attend the American Numismatic Association’s highly acclaimed 2019 Summer Seminar in Colorado Springs, Colo. Dates for the two one-week sessions are June 15-20 and June 22-27.

Scholarships will be awarded on the basis of merit. Successful applicants need to demonstrate involvement, leadership and accomplishments in numismatics, as well as a desire to learn more about the hobby. In addition to learning from the hobby’s most prominent leaders and scholars, full scholarships cover tuition for a one week-long class, accommodations in a Colorado College dormitory, meals and airfare; partial scholarships cover tuition only.

Download the application forms here. Applications must be postmarked by Feb. 1, 2019.

Summer Seminar is a once-a-year opportunity for numismatic learning and camaraderie that offers students an array of week-long courses designed for discovery or continued study. For over 40 years, Summer Seminar has featured classes to suit virtually every collector’s hobby needs, including “Detecting Counterfeit and Altered Coins,” “Grading United States Coins,” “Early American Copper Coinage,” “Digital Numismatic Photography,” “Morgan Silver Dollars,” “Coins of Colonial America,” and many more.

Scholarships are made possible through funding programs such as the Robert Lecce Advanced Scholarship, the Eric P. Newman Young Numismatist Scholarship Program and the Summer Seminar Young Numismatist Scholarship, which are funded by generous donations from members and member organizations.

For additional information, please contact Seminars Manager Brianna Victor at bvictor@money.org or call her at (719) 482-9865.

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.

Holabird Western Americana Collections (Dec. 5-9 in Reno, Nev.)

Nov 26, 2018 | Announcements, Auctions

HOLABIRD WESTERN AMERICANA COLLECTIONS’ FIVE-DAY ‘TO DIE FOR’ SALE, DECEMBER 5th thru 9th, WILL FEATURE 3,500 LOTS IN AN ARRAY OF CATEGORIES

The auction will be held online and in Holabird’s gallery, at 3555 Airway Dr. (Ste. 308) in Reno.

RENO, Nev. – Holabird Western Americana Collections has planned a sale “to die for” that spans five days – from December 5th thru the 9th – featuring a massive offering of token dies (hence the name) from the Northwest Territorial Mint Liquidation, plus other items in a wide array of collecting categories, a staggering 3,500 lots in all, at 8 am Pacific time all five days.

The auction will be held online and in Holabird’s gallery located at 3555 Airway Drive (Suite 308) in Reno. For those unable to attend the sale in person, online bidding will be facilitated by iCollector.com and Invaluable.com. “This is the second sale in what promises to be an exciting fall and winter season for us,” said Fred Holabird of Holabird Western Americana Collections.

In addition to the token dies, the auction will also feature more of the Ken Prag American stock certificate collection, with categories such as railroads, mining and imprinted revenue stamps; a Texas token collection; the Joe Elcano Nevada History Collection; the Ben-Tchahvtchavadze Collection (Native Americana, rugs, weavings and art); and the Daniel Manassillian Collection.

Day 1, on Wednesday, December 5th, will be packed with minerals, vintage and antique bottles, tokens from Alabama to Oregon, and a wide selection of numismatics, to include banks, books, catalogs, coins, counterfeit directories, currency, medals, scales and “so-called” dollars – a total of 582 lots for the day. In the mix will also be 67 lots of tantalizing bargains and dealer specials.

An expected top lot on Day 1 is a circa 1873-1881 Phil Caduc Napa Soda Botte (Sacramento, Calif.) mineral water bottle, seven inches tall (est. $1,000-$1,200). The blob top bottle has a very deep teal green color, an extremely rare color variant and one of fewer than five known in good condition. The bottle, one of four Phil Caducs in the sale, is clean, shiny and in like-new shape.

Other star lots of Day 1 will include a collection of turquoise specimens from the Pilot Mountain Turquoise Mine in western Nevada, in a vast array of colors and quality, plus some spiderweb stones (est. $400-$1,000); and a Columbia Club (Pioneer, Nevada) token (“Good for 12 ½ cents in Trade”), round in shape and 21 mm across, in almost uncirculated condition (est. $300-$500).

Day 2, Thursday, December 6th, will contain 663 lots of tokens (from Texas on) and dies. One lot worthy of mention is the group of about 49 5-point star dies hubs from the Northwest Territorial Mint Historical Token Die Collection, circa 1903-1950. The group should sell for $500-$1,000.

Day 3, on Friday, December 7th, will be a collector’s field day, bursting with 654 lots of general Americana, militaria, political items, postal history items, Wells Fargo & Express memorabilia, cowboy collectibles, firearms, weaponry, saloon, gaming and lots pertaining to Alaska mining.

The general Americana is a virtual entire category unto itself, with autographs, badges, checks, circus memorabilia, firemen collectibles, music items, navigation material, automobilia, outlaw and lawman memorabilia, silverware and flatware, World’s Fair & Expos collectibles and more.

The headliner of Day 3, in terms of high pre-sale estimate, is a completely restored 1929 DeSoto Model K Roadster “Espanol” with double side mounts and trunk (est. $25,000-$30,000). The car, shown at the National DeSoto Club convention in Reno in 2011, has been garaged and covered for the past 31 years and features Chrysler disc brakes, which later became an industry standard.

Also sold on Day 3 will be a unique shaving mug from one of the West’s most famous sheriffs – Seth Bullock of Deadwood, S.D. – porcelain, with the body showing Bullock’s worn gilt name (est. $2,000-$5,000); and an archive pertaining to Bill Pettite, the Reno judge, writer, historian and boxing aficionado, comprising five notebooks and over 1,000 pieces (est. $2,000-$4,000).

Other Day 3 offerings will include a spectacular Seven Troughs (Nev.) hotel brass key tag for room 16, with a postage return insignia on the bottom and superb patina (est. $1,200-$2,500); and a hand-colored 1746 map of the Americas, written entirely in Latin and rendered by August Gottlieb Boehemius, with ‘Quivera’ written about where Comstock is today (est. $1,000-$2,500).

Day 4, on Saturday, December 8th, will be jam-packed with 746 lots of mining material, to include artifacts, books, explosives, spoons and geographic sort from Arizona on. One of the top lots is a stock certificate #949, from The Gold Mining Company (Muni Mountain District, Ariz.), dated 1895 for 75 shares, signed by the company president and secretary (est. $4,000-$7,000).

Also sold on Day 4 will be an original three-page handwritten letter from a California Gold Rush miner, Benjamin P. Dunning, datelined Panama, to his mother in Maine, dated Dec. 21, 1851, in which he tells of his travels and travails (est. $1,000-$1,500); and a choice old wood ore car from a mine in Utah, 3 feet long by 2 feet wide, showing character and eye appeal (est. $800-$1,700).

Day 5, on Sunday, December 9th, will feature 752 lots of textiles, Native Americana, jewelry and watches, entertainment industry items, furnishings, sculptures, art, railroadiana (to include passes and other items) and imprinted revenue stamps. A Pacific Rail Road (Sacramento, Calif.) bond #446 for $500, issued in 1863, with redemption coupons attached, should realize $500-$1,500.

Top lots of the day figure to be a Frederic Remington bronze titled Coming Through the Rye, one of Remington’s all-time classic sculptures, 20 inches tall, #22 of 100 (est. $4,000-$6,000); and an early 20th century half-round early casting from a wood original of what may be an aftcastle for a clipper ship, the Lady Liberty, correlating to the California Gold Rush (est. $3,000-$5,000).

In addition to in-person and online bidding, telephone and absentee bids will also be accepted.

Color catalogs are available by calling 1-844-492-2766, or 775-851-1859. Also, anyone owning a collection that might fit into an upcoming Holabird Western Americana Collections auction is encouraged to get in touch. The firm travels extensively throughout the U.S., to see and pick up collections. Last year it visited Boston, Florida, Seattle, and New York, among other destinations.

Holabird Western Americana is always seeking quality bottle, advertising, Americana and coin consignments for future auctions. To consign a single piece or a collection, you may call Fred Holabird at 775-851-1859 or 844-492-2766; or, you can e-mail him at fredholabird@gmail.com. To learn more about Holabird Western Americana’s Dec. 5th-9th auction, visit www.fhwac.com.

Pittsburgh to Host National Money Show in March

Nov 17, 2018 | ANA, Announcements

Build Your Collection from the Best Numismatic Inventory Anywhere

It’s not too early to make plans for the American Numismatic Association’s (ANA) 2019 National Money Show in Pittsburgh. The convention takes place Mar. 28-30 in Hall B of the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.

The three-day show offers access to hundreds of dealers offering the best numismatic inventory available; a live auction; a wide range of technical seminars and educational presentations; and spectacular exhibits of priceless rarities from the ANA’s Edward C. Rochette Money Museum in Colorado Springs, Colo. Many coin dealers in attendance will provide free, informal evaluations of the public’s old coins and paper money.

Among the special displays of extraordinary items from the Money Museum will be the famous 1913 Liberty Head nickel. One of only five known to exist, the specimen is valued in excess of $3 million. Also on display will be “The King of U.S. Coins,” an extremely rare 1804 Draped Bust U.S. silver dollar insured for $4 million.

Kagin’s of Tiburon, Calif., will conduct a public auction of rare coins and paper money.

The ANA is offering two educational courses in conjunction with the show: “Detecting Counterfeit U.S. Gold Coinage” an “https://www.money.org/NMS-seminars#seminar2” Enroll for a seminar by January 25 for an early enrollment discount.

The Westin Convention Center, Pittsburgh is offering special rates to ANA conventioneers. The hotel features on-site underground parking, a fitness studio, car rental services, restaurants, an on-site Starbucks and a skywalk to the convention center. The stylish and contemporary traditional rooms are among the largest in the city and offer views of downtown or the river.

With the David L. Lawrence Convention Center conveniently located between Pittsburgh’s downtown cultural district, the historic strip district and the Allegheny River, there is much to explore throughout the city. Take a Walk the Burgh Tour, enjoy the collection of art at the Andy Warhol Museum or get your history fix at the Senator John Heinz History Center. An abundance of restaurants are just steps away.

Show hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, Mar. 28 and 29; and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Mar. 30. ANA members can enter the show 30 minutes before the public. Last admission is 30 minutes prior to closing. Admission is $8 for adults; ANA members and children 12 and under are always free. Admission is free on Saturday, Mar. 30.

For up-to-the-minute show information and a $2 admission discount coupon, visit www.nationalmoneyshow.com.

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 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.

United States Mint Rolls Out Final America the Beautiful Quarters® Program Coin of 2018

Nov 16, 2018 | Announcements, U.S. Mint

CHARLESTOWN, RI – The United States Mint (Mint) joined representatives of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today to launch the America the Beautiful Quarters® Program coin honoring Block Island National Wildlife Refuge in Rhode Island. This is the fifth and final coin in the program for 2018.

Block Island National Wildlife Refuge is a critical migratory bird stopover point on the Atlantic coast. The reverse (tails) design of the quarter representing this site depicts a black-crowned night-heron flying above a view from the beach at Cow Cove that looks towards Sandy Point. The North Lighthouse is seen in the background. The design is by Chris Costello, a Mint Artistic Infusion Program artist. He was recognized for his artwork during the livestreamed ceremony.

“Coins are symbols of our past, our present, and our future, said Mint Director David Ryder. “This new coin will stand as a tribute to the National Wildlife Refuge–a safe haven for migratory creatures and a testament to what dedicated humans can do to protect our world.”

Mr. Ryder shared the stage with James Kurth, deputy director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Janet Coit, director of the Department of Environmental Management, who spoke on behalf of Governor Gina Raimondo; and Charlie Vandemoer, manager for the Rhode Island National Wildlife Refuge, which oversees the Block Island National Wildlife Refuge. The Chariho High School Student Choir, students from Chariho Middle School, and members of Boy Scout Troop #15 also participated in the event. The customary coin exchange rounded out the event.

The Block Island National Wildlife Refuge quarter is the 45th release in the United States Mint America the Beautiful Quarters Program. The program is authorized by Public Law 110-456 and is a 12-year initiative to honor 56 national parks and other national sites. Each year for the duration of the program, the public will see five additional national sites depicted on the reverses of the America the Beautiful Quarters coins. The final coin will be issued at the end of the program in 2021. The Mint issues these quarters in the order in which the honored sites were first established as national sites.

Products featuring the Block Island National Wildlife Refuge quarter are available for purchase directly from the Mint’s online catalog at catalog.usmint.gov/coin-programs/america-the-beautiful-quarters-program/ or by calling 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468).

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