Mar 1, 2018 | Announcements, Shows & Conventions
Offenses related to USPS and FedEx shipments continue to plague the numismatic industry and in most cases are frustrating to the victims. The immediate challenge in these type of offenses is determining which law enforcement agency federal or local takes the lead role.
We are addressing these issues along with other topics including counterfeits during the 8hr “Numismatic Crime Investigations” seminar being held during the ANA National Money Show in Irving,Texas on March 8, 2018, said Doug Davis Founder/President of the Numismatic Crime Information Center. Representatives from the Postal Inspection Service,District Attorney offices, FedEx, the Banking industry and investigators from all over Texas have registered said Davis.
The seminar will provide attendees with the basic tools and resources to effectively conduct a numismatic crime investigation within their jurisdiction. The Numismatic Crime Information Center has partnered with the North Texas Regional Police Academy and attendees will receive 8hrs of accredited education from the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement.
NCIC through its educational initiatives seeks to promote partnerships between law enforcement and the numismatic community, pursuing collaborative strategies in numismatic crime investigations.
The seminar is free to all law enforcement attendees. Persons who wish to help sponsor the seminar can contact Doug@numismaticcrimes.org. NCIC is a 501(c)(3) non profit corporation and all donations and sponsorships are tax deductible.
Feb 27, 2018 | Announcements, U.S. Mint
WASHINGTON – The 2018 United States Mint Proof Set (product code 18RG) will be available for purchase beginning on March 6 at noon Eastern Time (ET).
Priced at $27.95, this year’s set includes the following coins from the San Francisco Mint:
- Five America the Beautiful Quarters® Program coins honoring Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore (Michigan); Apostle Islands National Lakeshore (Wisconsin); Voyageurs National Park (Minnesota); Cumberland Island National Seashore (Georgia); and Block Island National Wildlife Refuge (Rhode Island).
- One Native American $1 Coin with a reverse design featuring a likeness of Jim Thorpe, while the foreground highlights his achievements in football and as an Olympian. Inscriptions include “JIM THORPE,” “WA-THO-HUK” (which is Thorpe’s native name), “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,” and “$1.” The obverse design of the Native American $1 Coin continues to feature the central figure “Sacagawea” carrying her infant son, Jean Baptiste. Inscriptions are “LIBERTY” and “IN GOD WE TRUST,” while the year, mint mark, and “E PLURIBUS UNUM” are incused on the coin’s edge.
- One Kennedy half dollar
- One Roosevelt dime
- One Jefferson nickel and
- One Lincoln penny.
The coins are sealed in two protective lenses to accentuate and maintain their exceptional quality. The lenses are packaged in a decorative carton that features an image of the Washington Monument at sunrise on the front. The back of the carton displays images of each America the Beautiful Quarters national site honored in 2018 (along with the year in which it was first established as a national site, its name, and the host jurisdiction), and the partial obverses of the remaining coins. A Certificate of Authenticity accompanies each set.
Customers may place 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. Information about shipping options is available at catalog.usmint.gov/customer-service/shipping.html.
The United States Mint Proof Set can also be purchased through the Product Enrollment Program. Visit catalog.usmint.gov/shop/product-enrollments/ to learn more about this convenient ordering method.
Image courtesy of the U.S. Mint.
Feb 23, 2018 | Announcements, U.S. Mint
WASHINGTON – The United States Mint (Mint) will begin accepting orders for 2018 American Eagle Gold Proof Coins on March 1 at noon Eastern Time (ET).
The American Eagle Gold Proof Coins are the collector versions of the Mint’s American Eagle Gold Bullion Coins. Launched in 1986, these 22-karat gold coins display the “W” mint mark of the West Point Mint where they are produced. The coins’ obverse (heads) design features a version of Augustus Saint-Gaudens’ full-length figure of Liberty with flowing hair, holding a torch in her right hand and an olive branch in her left. The reverse design (tails), by sculptor Miley Busiek, features a male eagle carrying an olive branch while flying above a nest containing a female eagle and eaglets.
Highlights of this year’s coin release include new packaging and the implementation of product and household order limits.
New Packaging
Beginning this year, the Mint will now package individual coins and the four-coin sets in a satin-lined burgundy velvet presentation case, housed inside a burgundy outer box. All options include the customary Certificate of Authenticity.
Product Limits
The Mint established product limits for each coin option, which are in the table below:
| PRODUCT CODE |
PRODUCT OPTION |
PRODUCT LIMIT |
| 18EB |
One Ounce Coin |
25,000 |
| 18EC |
One-Half Ounce Coin |
7,100 |
| 18ED |
One-Quarter Ounce Coin |
7,100 |
| 18EE |
One-Tenth Ounce Coin |
22,000 |
| 18EF |
Four-Coin Set |
18,000 |
Household Order Limit
The Mint will limit orders to one per household per product option, across all sales channels, including bulk purchases for the first 24 hours of sales, after which the Mint will remove the limit.
The American Eagle Gold Proof Coins are priced according to the range in which they appear on the Mint’s “2018 Pricing of Numismatic Gold, Commemorative Gold, and Platinum Products” table, available here.
Customers may place orders at catalog.usmint.gov/ 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468). Hearing- and speech-impaired customers with TTY equipment may order at 1-888-321-MINT. Information about shipping options is available at catalog.usmint.gov/customer-service/shipping.html.
Feb 21, 2018 | Announcements, Bureau of Engraving and Printing
First Day of Sale: February 21, 2018 (8:00 a.m., ET) – The Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) is pleased to introduce the “America’s Founding Fathers 2018 Currency Set.” Each historic set features a Series 2013 $1 note from the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia and a Series 2013 $2 note from the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco bearing the portraits of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, respectively with matching serial numbers beginning with 2018. This set is attractively packaged in a tri-fold folder, and each note is protected by a clear acid-free polymer sleeve.
Act now and be among the first to own this historic, presidential set! The America’s Founding Fathers 2018 Currency Set is $21.95. Bulk pricing is available at $18.95 for quantities of 50 or more. This exclusive set is limited to 5,000 units and is offered during calendar year 2018 only.
Please visit our website for additional product information at www.moneyfactorystore.gov.
Feb 19, 2018 | Announcements, Shows & Conventions
(Long Beach, California) February 19, 2018 – Many of the historic English coins that will be displayed at the February 22-24, 2018 Long Beach Expo (www.LongBeachExpo.com) in the upcoming inaugural exhibit of rarities from the privately owned Tyrant Collection (www.TyrantCollection.com) are so rare that normally they may be seen only in European museums. Some of the coins in the “Tyrants of the Thames” exhibit have never before been publicly displayed in the United States.
For three days, though, it will be possible to examine, up close, examples of these coins as well as popular styles and designs such as superb coins of Queen Victoria. The anonymous owner of the Tyrant Collection wants the public to see these coins in person for their educational value.
Veteran professional numismatist and English coinage specialist Bruce Lorich, on behalf of the Tyrant Collection’s anonymous owner, has cataloged the more than 500 “Tyrants of the Thames” exhibit coins to be displayed at the February 2018 Long Beach Coin, Currency, Stamp & Sports Collectible Expo in Long Beach, California. This is the fourth in a series of four articles by him about the historical significance of some of the coins in that unprecedented exhibition.
Gleaming Gold Coins: Treats For The Eye
Among the many special qualities of this exhibit will be exceptionally fine examples of gold coins issued by England’s kings and queens, including almost every style and denomination of coin made by hammer during the Middle Ages and Renaissance. These historical coins present viewers with images of the rulers as well as emblems of royalty which are part of the coins’ designs. Dozens of hammered gold rarities will be on view, among the most important being a marvelous, lustrous gold sovereign (1526-1544) of King Henry VIII certified and graded PCGS MS-63.
A gold sovereign of King Henry VIII, issued 1526-1544 and the largest coin of his turbulent reign, is one of the great treasures in the “Tyrants of the Thames” exhibit at the February 22-24, 2018 Long Beach Expo. Photo credit: Professional Coin Grading Service
Beginning with Oliver Cromwell’s coinage of 1656-58, England turned to modern-looking coins made by machine, called “milled” issues. The exhibit will portray the entire history of milled gold coinage beginning with one of the finest known of Cromwell’s gold Broad of 1656.
The exhibit continues chronologically, from Charles II to Elizabeth II. Most impressive of course are the largest pieces, called 5 guineas from the 1660s through the 1770s. Every type is present in this collection and will be on display. These include the extremely rare 5 guineas 1670 proof of Charles II, 5 guineas of all the styles of the Stuart kings and queens including a wonderful example of the exquisite 1701 Fine Work design for William III. There are examples of all the 5 guinea types minted for the Hanover monarchs beginning with George I, perhaps the most spectacular coin being the pattern Young Bust 1770 of George III. Each of these coins ranks among the finest known.
Near the end of King George III’s long reign, a series of new denominations emerged, called the New Coinage. The largest gold issues were the 5 pounds, replacing the earlier 5 guineas coins. One of the great rarities of this series is the 1820 pattern, engraved by Pistrucci and struck at the then-new Tower Hill Mint in London, and a lovely example appears in the Tyrant Collection display. George IV’s large gold proof of 1826 in this collection is a superb piece, as are two examples of the young Queen Victoria’s famous Una & the Lion issue. Her 1887 Jubilee Head and 1893 Veiled Head 5 pound coins are also shown in superb Proof conditions.
Victoria’s son Albert became King Edward VII in 1902, and his matte proof set is infamous for often being marred by abrasions and hairlines, but the Tyrant Collection exhibit will show a truly magnificent and, therefore, very rare example. George V’s 1911 5 pound is represented by another superb piece, in brilliant proof.
Next comes one of the rarest coins of the world, the gold 5 pounds of the abdicated King Edward VIII dated 1937. The Tyrant Collection contains the only privately owned complete set of Edward VIII’s coins, and the 5 pound coin in the set is a splendid proof.
The only complete 1937 Edward VIII proof set in private hands will be displayed for the first time in the United States as part of the Tyrants of the Thames exhibit at the February 2018 Long Beach Expo. This coin from the historic set is the gold proof 5 pounds. Photo credit: Professional Coin Grading Service
When Edward abdicated, his younger brother became king, and his coronation set of 1937 was typically a brilliant proof assemblage. In the “Tyrants of the Thames” exhibit, his 5 pound coins are represented by two pieces, the normal one having brilliant surfaces and the special matte proof, of extreme rarity. Each of these coins is of wonderful eye-appeal, and each is part of a complete set.
Elizabeth II’s coins in the main are commonly available. Each type is on view in this exhibit, but two are so rare that this could be the public’s only chance ever to see them. The first is the 1953 gold proof sovereign, one of perhaps as few as two in private collections. Queen Elizabeth’s coronation occurred in 1953; as a result of World War II’s financial impact on the country, the Royal Mint issued no gold coins for collectors in that year, and just a handful of pieces were struck for the queen and for museums.
The other great rarity of this reign in the collection is a unique 5 pound gold proof dated 2010 which shows the queen’s portrait on one side and a facing image of the famous musician John Lennon on the other side. This coin was made by the Royal Mint for collectors in silver. A single piece was struck in gold as a present for Lennon’s widow, Yuko Ono, who auctioned it and donated the proceeds to charity. It is now part of the Tyrant Collection and will be on view in this special exhibit.
A unique 2010 gold 5 pound coin depicting Queen Elizabeth II and musician John Lennon was given to Lennon’s widow, Yoko Ono, who subsequently donated it to an auction to benefit a children’s hospital in Liverpool, England. It will be displayed for the first time in the United States at the February 2018 Long Beach Expo. Photo credit: Professional Coin Grading Service.
All of the other types of milled gold coins of England will also be shown as part of the Long Beach display, alongside the larger pieces mentioned above. These include the 2 guineas and 2 pounds issues, the guineas and sovereigns issues and their halves. Many are rarities, but all of the types are represented by beautiful examples. Among the rarest are early pieces bearing the famous Elephant hallmark of the 1660s or the Elephant & Castle hallmark of the 1670s to the 1690s, a 1702 proof guinea of Queen Anne, coins showing the VIGO hallmark of Queen Anne and LIMA hallmark of George II to depict gold seized by the British navy from Spain, and an amazing collection of proofs and patterns.
All of these coins will be on display in the Tyrants of the Thames exhibition at the February 2018 Long Beach Expo. The one-of-a-kind exhibit is being presented by The Tyrant Collection’s anonymous owner with the assistance of Ira and Larry Goldberg Coin & Collectibles of Los Angeles.
Feb 16, 2018 | Announcements, U.S. Mint
WASHINGTON – Sales will open for the 2018 United States Mint America the Beautiful Quarters Silver Proof Set™ (product code 18AQ) on February 22 at noon Eastern Time (ET).
The five quarters in this set—all struck in 90 percent silver at the San Francisco Mint—have reverse (tails) designs honoring Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore (Michigan), Apostle Islands National Lakeshore (Wisconsin), Voyageurs National Park (Minnesota), Cumberland Island National Seashore (Georgia), and Block Island National Wildlife Refuge (Rhode Island). The obverse (heads) of all coins bear John Flanagan’s 1932 portrait of George Washington. A Certificate of Authenticity accompanies each set.
The 2018 United States Mint America the Beautiful Quarters Silver Proof Set is priced at $33.95. Orders will be accepted at www.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. Information about shipping options is available at catalog.usmint.gov/customer-service/shipping.html.
This set is also available for purchase through the bureau’s Product Enrollment Program. Learn more about this convenient ordering method at catalog.usmint.gov/shop/product-enrollments/.
Feb 14, 2018 | ANA, Announcements
Services for former American Numismatic Association President and Executive Director Edward C. Rochette are scheduled for 1 pm on Saturday, Feb. 17 at Shove Chapel on the grounds of Colorado College, 1010 N. Nevada Avenue in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Rochette, 90, died on Jan. 18 in Colorado Springs, where he lived most of his life. He was born on Feb. 17, 1927, in Worcester, Massachusetts.
Friends and family remember Rochette’s sparkling wit, creative spirit, astute mind and strong moral compass, which he relied upon to guide his life and family. He developed a love for numismatics as a youngster, when he regularly searched the cash drawer at his grandfather’s diner for collectable coins.
He served as an electrician in the U.S. Navy during World War II, and attended Clark University in Worcester and Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri.
Rochette began his professional numismatic career as a cartoonist and editor for Numismatic News, printed in lola, Wisconsin, by Krause Publications. Later, he served the company as executive editor. In 1966 he left Iola to become editor of The Numismatist, the ANA’s official journal. In this role, Rochette had a front-row seat for the construction of the Association’s new headquarters, which began on the Colorado College campus about the same time he (and later his family) moved to Colorado Springs.
He sat in the editor’s chair until 1972, when he was tapped to serve as ANA executive vice president. Rochette was at the helm when a drive was launched in 1980 to finance a second-story addition that would expand the ANA’s Money Museum, Library and staff offices. On June 10, 1982, he was on hand to welcome guests and dignitaries to the official dedication.
Rochette retired as ANA executive vice president in 1986, and in 1987 was elected to its Board of Governors, going on to serve as vice president in 1989-91 and president in 1991-93. In 1998 Rochette was called out of retirement to serve as ANA executive director, and in 2000 he spearheaded and oversaw a second renovation of the headquarters.
Rochette officially retired from the ANA in July 2003. Thanks to a $500,000 contribution from an anonymous donor and his longtime friend, mentor and employer Chester Krause, the ANA Money Museum was renamed in Rochette’s honor in 2005. Two years later, he ran successfully for the ANA Board and served a term as governor.
Rochette was a prolific and popular author, penning columns for The Numismatist, COINage and a nationally syndicated column for the Los Angeles Times. His books included Medallic Portraits of John F. Kennedy (1966), Making Money: Rogues and Rascals Who Made Their Own (1986) and The Romance of Coin Collecting (1991).
In the late 1960s, Rochette collaborated with Lieutenant Colonel. Adna G. Wilde Jr., then ANA executive director, to introduce the weeklong ANA Summer Seminar in Colorado Springs. He also was instrumental in developing a numismatic exhibit for the International Olympic Committee’s museum in Lausanne, Switzerland, and served as a numismatic consultant to the U.S. Olympic Committee and the U.S. Air Force Academy.
In 1987 he was general chairman of the 50th Anniversary Congress and Exhibition of the Fédération Internationale de la Médaille (FIDEM), a global organization of medallic artists. The event was hosted by the American Numismatic Association, marking the first time FIDEM convened in the United States.
Rochette received numerous numismatic accolades and awards, including the highest honor conferred by the ANA, the Farran Zerbe Memorial Award for Distinguished Service (1987), and the ANA’s Lifetime Achievement Award (1999). In 2000 he was inducted into the Numismatic Hall of Fame at the ANA’s Colorado Springs facility. According to author and ANA Past President Q. David Bowers, “Next to the Association’s founder George F. Heath, no one has done more for the ANA than Ed Rochette.”
Rochette is survived by his wife of 40 years, Mary Ann; three sons (Edward, Paul and Philip) by his first wife, Faye (who died in 1977); four stepchildren (Joseph, Michael, Paul and Susan); fourteen grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. Donations in his memory can be made to the ANA Money Museum, 818 N. Cascade Ave., Colorado Springs, CO 80903.
Feb 14, 2018 | Announcements, U.S. Mint
WASHINGTON –The United States Mint will accept orders for the 2018 America the Beautiful Quarters Three-Coin Set-Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore (product code 18AD) beginning February 20 at noon Eastern Time (ET).
This set includes an uncirculated quarter from the Philadelphia Mint, an uncirculated quarter from the Denver Mint, and a proof quarter from the San Francisco Mint featuring Chapel Rock and the white pine tree that grows atop it on their reverse (tails). Inscriptions are “PICTURED ROCKS,” “MICHIGAN,” 2018,” and “E PLURIBUS UNUM.” The obverse (heads) depicts the 1932 portrait of George Washington by John Flanagan, which has been restored to bring out subtle details and the beauty of the original model. Inscriptions are “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,” “LIBERTY,” “IN GOD WE TRUST,” and “QUARTER DOLLAR.”
All three coins are mounted on a durable plastic card featuring an image of Michigan’s Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. The Certificate of Authenticity is printed on the back of the card.
The America the Beautiful Quarters Three-Coin Set-Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is priced at $9.95. 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. Information about shipping options is available at catalog.usmint.gov/customer-service/shipping.html.
Feb 8, 2018 | Announcements, U.S. Mint
WASHINGTON – Sales will open for United States Mint product options featuring the 2018 Native American $1 Coin on February 15 at noon Eastern Time (ET).
Since 2009, this $1 coin has displayed an annually-changing reverse design that recognizes the important contributions made by Indian tribes and individual Native Americans to the history and development of the United States. This year’s coin recognizes the accomplishments of Olympian and multi-talented athlete Jim Thorpe. The reverse (tails) design depicts Thorpe, with the foreground elements highlighting his football and Olympic achievements. Inscriptions are “JIM THORPE,” “WA-THO-HUK” (his native name), “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,” and “$1.”
The obverse (heads side) design retains the central figure “Sacagawea” carrying her infant son, Jean Baptiste. The inscriptions are “LIBERTY” and “IN GOD WE TRUST.”
Available product options and their prices are as follows:
| PRODUCT CODE |
PRODUCT OPTION |
PRICE |
| 18NA |
25-Coin Roll – “P” |
$32.95 |
| 18NB |
25-Coin Roll – “D” |
$32.95 |
| 18NC |
250-Coin Box – “P” |
$275.95 |
| 18ND |
250-Coin Box – “D” |
$275.95 |
| 18NE |
100-Coin Bag – “P” |
$111.95 |
| 18NF |
100-Coin Bag – “D” |
$111.95 |
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. Information on shipping options is available at www.catalog.usmint.gov/customer-service/shipping.html.
The rolls and bags of Native American $1 Coins are also available for purchase through the United States Mint Product Enrollment Program. To learn more about this convenient ordering method, please visit catalog.usmint.gov/shop/product-enrollments/.
Feb 7, 2018 | Announcements, Bureau of Engraving and Printing
First Day of Sale: February 21, 2018 (8:00 a.m., ET) – The Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) is pleased to introduce the “America’s Founding Fathers 2018 Currency Set.” Each historic set features a Series 2013 $1 note from the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia and a Series 2013 $2 note from the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco bearing the portraits of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, respectively with matching serial numbers beginning with 2018. This set is attractively packaged in a tri-fold folder, and each note is protected by a clear acid-free polymer sleeve.
Act now and be among the first to own this historic, presidential set! The America’s Founding Fathers 2018 Currency Set is $21.95. Bulk pricing is available at $18.95 for quantities of 50 or more. This exclusive set is limited to 5,000 units and is offered during calendar year 2018 only.
Please visit our website for additional product information at www.moneyfactorystore.gov.
