United States Mint 2022 Product Schedule is Live
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Miles Standish Begins Next Chapter
Best-selling author announces resignation from NGC and looks forward to future projects in numismatics
November 3, 2021 — Prominent professional numismatist, philanthropist and award-winning author Michael “Miles” Standish has amicably submitted his resignation as Senior Vice President of Numismatic Guaranty Company (NGC).
“It’s been an excellent six years at NGC, but I want to take time now to write another book and create some new chapters of my own life,” said Standish, a resident of the Austin, Texas area.
He joined NGC as a coin grader and Vice President in 2015 after successful previous roles as an executive at ANACS, Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS), and Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA).
Standish is credited with spearheading and expanding the popular concept of autographs on encapsulation inserts with artists, engravers, former Mint Directors, celebrities, and star athletes signing inserts for certified coins and trading cards.
“In the past 37 years, I estimate I’ve examined, authenticated, and graded over ten million coins, cards, and sports memorabilia items,” said Standish.
In 1997, a photo of Standish wearing white cotton gloves while examining the Eliasberg 1804 Flowing Hair silver dollar appeared on the front page of the Orange County Register newspaper in California. In 1998, news media in St. Louis photographed him again wearing white gloves as he certified Mark McGwire’s record-setting 70th home run baseball.
Standish is the author of the reference book, “Morgan Dollar: America’s Love Affair with a Legendary Coin” which won the Best Specialized Book Award from the Numismatic Literary Guild in 2015. In 2012, he co-authored with former United States Mint Chief Engraver John Mercanti another best-selling book, “American Silver Eagles: A Guide to the U.S. Bullion Coin Program.”
In 2011, Standish was honored by United States Mint Director Edmund Moy with the Director’s Medal of Excellence. He also has created design concepts for more than 20 different numismatic and legal tender coins issued on behalf of the Cook Islands.
A native of Kalamazoo, Michigan, Standish began buying and selling coins at the age of 17 while still in high school. Soon after graduating in 1983, he was hired as a grader by ANACS. During his career at third-party certification companies, he served as ANACS Vice Chairman; PSA Vice President; PCGS Vice President, Senior Grader and Director Of Business Development; and was a Co-Founder of Collectors Universe, Inc., the parent company of PCGS and PSA.
In 2015, he became NGC Vice President and Coin Grader. Over the years, he also has worked for well-known dealers Michael G. DeFalco, Wayne Miller, and Steven L. Contursi.
In 2021 Standish was named one of the Top 10 Most Influential Persons 1960-2020 by Coin World magazine.
He assists his wife, Andrea Mangione Standish, a Certified Child Life Specialist who is Founder and President of the Standish Foundation for Children (https://standishfoundation.org), an international nonprofit organization that promotes child and family-centered healthcare in the United States and overseas.
During a “Shave Miles” fund-raising event for the foundation, Standish had his head shaved by Pawn Stars television show star Rick Harrison and a half dozen numismatic celebrities at the American Numismatic Association 2017 Denver World’s Fair of Money®. In 2019, he established a $250,000 trust fund to benefit education and sports programs at Portage Central High School in Michigan where he played varsity football and graduated in 1983. He also donated an eight-foot bronze statue of a mustang horse, a symbol of the school’s mascot name, the Mighty Mustangs.
Standish explains he got the nickname “Miles” around 1985 from Florence M. Schook who was President of the American Numismatic Association at the time. The nickname is a humorous reference to the historic figure Myles Standish, an English military officer who accompanied pilgrims on the Mayflower to establish the Plymouth Colony in Massachusetts in 1620.
“The key to my success has been focus, determination and never giving up or quitting on the goals I set out to accomplish,” Standish stated.
PCGS Certifies Regular-Strike Quarter-Ounce 2021 American Gold Eagles With “W” Mint Marks
Submitted by GreatCollections, the Type 2 Reverse bullion coins with West Point mint marks were found by Gerald Medel and are now classified as Unfinished Proofs
This photo supplied by GreatCollections Coin Auctions shows a close-up look at the West Point mint mark on one of the regular-issue Type 2 Reverse quarter-ounce American Gold Eagle bullion coins mistakenly struck with an obverse proof die.
Discovered by Gerald Medel of Lakeside Coins in San Diego, California, the coins were submitted to PCGS on his behalf by Ian Russell, president of GreatCollections Coin Auctions (www.GreatCollections.com) in Irvine, California. PCGS has classified the coins as Unfinished Proofs, and some of the coins now are being offered at auction by GreatCollections.
“These discovery coins show how full of surprises our industry can be. While we eagerly await the details on how these coins came to be, the exciting discovery during a live Instagram auction highlights the adaptation of our hobby to social media and further underscores the rapid growth of the numismatic market over the past two years,” said PCGS President Stephanie Sabin. “We are proud to see more groundbreaking coins find permanent homes in PCGS holders, and there is still plenty of time left in 2021 for more breaking news from PCGS.”
“This is an impressive discovery in a day and age when the United States Mint strives for perfection. Errors on gold coins are always rare and attract significant interest. We are thankful to Gerald for entrusting us with the first coins he discovered,” stated Russell.
Now PCGS-certified, this is one of the regular-issue Type 2 Reverse quarter-ounce American Gold Eagle bullion coins mistakenly struck with an obverse proof die and found in the discovery roll by Gerald Medel of Lakeside Coins. (Photo credit: Professional Coin Grading Service.)
GreatCollections is offering the first 10 error coins in auction without reserve. Bidding ends for five of the coins on Sunday, October 31, with bidding ending for the other five a week later on Sunday, November 7, 2021.
“It would appear that a W mint mark proof die was used in making some of the non-proof bullion coins that are sold through the Mint’s Authorized Purchaser program,” said Russell. “Something similar happened in 1999, when $5 and $10 denomination American Eagle gold coins were also mistakenly struck with W mint marks. Those examples are highly sought after today.”
The first 2021-W quarter-ounce American Eagle Unfinished Proof coin was discovered by Medel in late September when he was live on his Instagram account for Lakeside Coins (www.lakesidecoins.com) while opening a roll of 2021 quarter-ounce American Eagles with the new reverse design. He remained silent when he saw the mint mark and put that coin aside.
“All 40 coins in the roll had the West Point mint mark! The next day I began researching and over next three and a half weeks I located an additional 21 coins for a total of 61 while searching through thousands of coins,” Medel recalled.
“I’ve known Ian since he launched GreatCollections in 2011, and I contacted him about submitting the coins to PCGS. I was so excited about the discovery, my wife and our three children accompanied me from San Diego to Irvine when I delivered the coins to Ian,” Medel said.
The first 40 W mint mark coins found together in one roll are being labeled by PCGS as pedigreed to the “Discovery Roll.”
Steve Feltner, PCGS director of numismatic education and grading team leader, recalled the surprise he felt when he saw the coins for the first time.
“When Ian Russell and PCGS President Stephanie Sabin showed me a few groups of raw gold coins, Ian first handed me a standard business strike 2021 Type 2 quarter-ounce American Gold Eagle and then one in proof. I was wondering where this was going since these two coins are extremely common. I immediately started thinking that the reason for the visit could be a cool repeating ‘struck through’ error or even a newly discovered ‘mule.’ My mind was racing,” said Feltner.
“Then Ian handed me another business strike and gave a knowing smile. My eyes automatically caught the W mint mark and knew he was onto something. After a few seconds of processing, we began to discuss the discovery; a group of American Gold Eagles struck using unfinished proof dies!”
For additional information, contact GreatCollections at 949-679-4180 or visit online at www.GreatCollections.com.
About Professional Coin Grading Service
Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) is a third-party coin and banknote grading company that was launched in 1986. Over 35 years, PCGS has examined and certified more than 47 million U.S. and world coins, medals, and tokens with a combined value of over $46 billion. For more information about PCGS products and services, including how to submit your coins for authentication and grading, please visit www.PCGS.com or call PCGS Customer Service at (800) 447-8848.
About GreatCollections
GreatCollections is an auction house for certified coins and banknotes, handling transactions from start to finish. Since its founding in 2010, GreatCollections has successfully auctioned over 950,000 certified coins, making it one of the leading certified coin companies in the United States. Ian Russell, owner/president of GreatCollections, is a member of the prestigious Professional Numismatists Guild and member of the National Auctioneers Association. For more information, visit www.GreatCollections.com or call (800) 442-6467.
Treasury Announces Appointment of Ventris Gibson as Deputy Director of the U.S. Mint
WASHINGTON — Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury announced the appointment of Ventris Gibson to serve as Deputy Director of the U.S Mint. Ms. Gibson brings decades of senior federal service to the role and is a United States Navy veteran. She will serve as Acting Director, making her the first Black person to head this bureau.
“Ventris’ decades of federal service will be an asset to the U.S Mint and the dedicated workers who carry out its operations,” said Deputy Secretary Wally Adeyemo. “Her historic appointment reflects our ongoing commitment to building a qualified, diverse workforce at Treasury and its bureaus that will serve the American people well.”
“Thank you to the Secretary of the Treasury for entrusting me with this important responsibility,” said Ventris Gibson. “I am delighted to join the U.S. Mint and excited to continue connecting America through coins alongside the highly dedicated and professional workforce of this agency.”
Prior to joining the Mint, Ms. Gibson served as the Director of Human Resources for Washington, DC’s Department of Human Resources. During her tenure with the DC government, she provided executive oversight and execution of human capital programs and services for nearly 37,000 employees.
Ms. Gibson, a United States Navy veteran, also previously served as the Associate Deputy Assistant Secretary for Human Resources for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. In this capacity, she was responsible for the development, articulation, and delivery of Department-wide human resources policies, plans, and programs.
Ms. Gibson’s career with the Federal government also includes the Federal Aviation Administration where she served as the Assistant Administrator for Human Resources and in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Human Resource Management and its first Deputy Assistant Secretary for Resolution Management. She was VA’s highest-ranking woman veteran and directed human resources management and civil rights programs affecting 230,000 employees.
With a career that spans more than 40 years in both human resources executive and professional positions, Ms. Gibson is the recipient of numerous awards and commendations. She has received the Exceptional and Meritorious Service Awards, FAA Manager Association’s Leadership Award, National Hispanic Coalition’s President’s Award, and the Northern New Jersey Metropolitan Area’s prestigious “Woman of the Year” award.
A graduate of the Federal Executive Institute, Executive Technique, and Aspen Institute, Ms. Gibson attended the University of Maryland, University College. Ms. Gibson has three children, 4 grandchildren, and 2 golden retrievers.
Support Campaigns to Protect Your Business from State Greed
In light of the Supreme Court’s South Dakota v. Wayfair decision, what would it mean for your business to be free of the burden of collecting sales tax on the coins, currency, and precious-metals bullion you sell?
Even if your business is not located in one of the states below, if any of your customers—be they wholesale or retail—are located in any of these states, you may be required to collect and file state taxes on their behalf.
The National Coin & Bullion Association, in conjunction with coalitions of coin and bullion dealers from each state, is seeking to protect coin- and bullion-based businesses from government overreach by supporting sales-tax exemptions in every state across the country. Our current battles are at critical junctures, and we need your help!
The average cost for a campaign lobbyist in each state is $30,000. Expenses for expert witnesses and NCBA staff typically amount to another $5,000.
Your contribution of $300, $500, or even $1,000—today—is essential to our success. Many have already given time and money—and even pledged additional amounts for these campaigns—and we are so grateful to them. But these laws affect more than just the business owners living in the states below. If you do business with anyone in these states, we want and need your help.
We know how to approach these campaigns. We have marshaled our arguments, and we have the expertise to frame them properly to legislators. We have already obtained backing from legislators who will sponsor bills. However, we must have the financial resources necessary to make it happen.
The benefits to you and your business will be significant. Do not put this off. This will be the most important investment in your business you will make this year. You will be proud to say, “I helped!” instead of “I wish I had.”
Alabama: Seeking to remove the sunset provision that expires on June 1, 2023. For more information or to contribute toward lobbyist fees and other campaign expenses, please contact Phil Darby at (256) 335-2352 or via email at phil.darby@comcast.net.
Kentucky: Seeking to create a new exemption. To contribute toward lobbyist fees and other campaign expenses, please make your check payable to Bluegrass Coin Club and mail the check to C/O Mid-American Rare Coin Galleries, 1707 Nicholasville Road, Lexington, KY 40503. Write on the check “Kentucky Campaign.” For more information, please contact Jeff Garrett (Mid-American Coin Galleries, Lexington) at (859) 276-1551 or via email at coinman4u@aol.com; Johnathan Kern (Johnathan Kern Coins, Lexington) at (859) 269-1614 or email jkerncoins@aol.com; or Byrd Saylor (Louisville Numismatic Exchange, Louisville) at (502) 584-9879 or email bsaylor@louisvillenumismatic.com.
New Jersey: Seeking to create a new exemption. To kick off fundraising for the lobbyist fees and other campaign expenses, member Richard Cohen (National Watch & Coin) will match other contributions dollar-for-dollar, up to $10,000. To contribute, please make your check payable to NCBA, P.O. Box 237, Dacula, GA 30019. Write on the check “New Jersey Campaign.” For more information, please contact NCBA at (678) 430-3252 or via email at icta@ictaonline.org.
Tennessee: Seeking to create a new exemption. To contribute toward lobbyist fees and other campaign expenses, please make your check payable to Tennessee Precious Metals, Coin & Currency Coalition, P.O. Box 2869, Brentwood, TN 37024. For more information, please contact Col. Steven Ellsworth (Butternut, Brentwood) at (703) 932-6331 or via email at butternut@butternut.org; David Hall (Hallmark Rare Coins, Kodak) at (865) 643-8435 or email david@hallmarkrarecoins.com; or Bruce Paulhamus (Southern Precious Metals Exchange, Chattanooga) at (423) 825-4653 or email southernpmx@gmail.com.
Virginia: Seeking to remove the sunset provision that expires on July 1, 2022. To kick off fundraising for the initiative, John Brush (David Lawrence Rare Coins) will match other contributions dollar-for-dollar, up to $10,000. To contribute toward lobbyist fees and other campaign expenses, please make your check payable to DLRC, P.O. Box 9174, Virginia Beach, VA 23450. Write on the check “Virginia Campaign.” For more information, please contact John Brush at (757) 491-1060 or via email at john@davidlawrence.com.
About NCBA
The National Coin & Bullion Association, the new trade name for the Industry Council for Tangible Assets, is a 501(c)(6) tax-exempt trade association dedicated to the coins, currency, and precious-metals bullion communities for over 38 years. NCBA exists to promote and safeguard the interests of its members, serving as the industry watchdog to maintain a favorable legislative and regulatory climate in the United States federal government and individual state governments. For more information, visit nationalcoinbullionassoc.org or email icta@ictaonline.org.
PCGS Names Stephanie Sabin Permanent President
Sabin served as PCGS interim president and has more than 15 years of experience at the company
Stephanie Sabin named PCGS President (photo: PCGS)
“Stephanie has more than proven her talent and fitness for the role as PCGS president,” says Nat Turner, CEO of PCGS parent company Collectors Universe. “She is someone who has served PCGS for more than 15 years and has helped expand our company to become the international brand it is today. She also comes from a numismatic background and knows our company inside and out. There is simply nobody more qualified or prepared to serve as PCGS president than Stephanie. Her steadfast leadership during a quarter of record growth for PCGS is icing on the cake.”
“I am thrilled to become the president of a company that has been like family to me for more than 15 years,” says Sabin, who joined PCGS in 2006. “When I started at PCGS all those years ago I was a bulk dealer liaison. To become president of this outstanding organization just underscores the incredible opportunities this company offers.”
In 2013, Sabin oversaw the opening of PCGS offices in China and managed the operations of the office in Shanghai. She rose to chief of staff in 2019 and became senior director of international operations in 2020. In those leadership roles she managed day-to-day and long-term projects while piloting tactical and strategic operations alongside the PCGS president in a dynamic role that encompassed everything from company finances and investment opportunities to coordinating interoffice and external communications. Named interim president in the late summer of 2021, Sabin led PCGS through a period of unprecedented growth as the company closes in on its 50 millionth encapsulation.
“As someone who comes from a family of numismatists and who loves this hobby so much, becoming the permanent president of PCGS is a dream come true for me,” she said. “Looking ahead during this time of exceptional growth for PCGS, I am excited to serve alongside our amazing team and engage with the needs of our customers so we can continue leading the industry as the premier third-party coin and banknote grading company.”
About Professional Coin Grading Service
Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) is a third-party coin and banknote grading company that was launched in 1986. Over 35 years, PCGS has examined and certified more than 47 million U.S. and world coins, medals, and tokens with a combined value of over $46 billion. For more information about PCGS products and services, including how to submit your coins for authentication and grading, please visit www.PCGS.com or call PCGS Customer Service at (800) 447-8848.
ANA College Scholarship Renamed
On September 14, the ANA Board of Governors voted unanimously to name the Association’s annual higher education scholarship the Gerome Walton Memorial College Scholarship to honor Gerome Walton’s countless contributions to the ANA. An accomplished numismatist and longtime ANA volunteer, Walton procured a Modern Woodmen grant, which helps to fund the scholarship.
Walton served as the ANA’s assistant treasurer from 1988 until his passing in August 2021. He was an avid numismatic author and researcher who generously contributed his expertise to the ANA. In 1978 he wrote A History of Nebraska Banking and Paper Money, which became the preeminent reference on the topic. His August 2020 Numismatist article, “The Women Behind Nebraska Bank Notes,” earned the second-place ANA Catherine Sheehan Literary Award for U.S. Paper Money Studies.
The Gerome Walton Memorial College Scholarship is awarded annually to two deserving students based on exceptional academic performance, numismatic accomplishments and financial need. The scholarship provides $1,000 to go toward the winners’ tuition, books or supplies, and recipients are eligible to receive the scholarship for up to four years.
Applications for the 2022 Gerome Walton Memorial College Scholarship will be available in January. Applicants must be high school seniors and members of the Association.
For additional information, contact ANA Education Director Rod Gillis at (719) 482-9845 or email gillis@money.org.
World’s Most Valuable Numismatic Item, $48 Million Gold 1,000 Bitcoin Physical Coin, Submitted by GreatCollections to PCGS
Described as “a new Goliath,” the “Gold Cas” was purchased in 2011 for only $4,905, but its value today is staggering
(Irvine, California) October 4, 2021 — Not seen for a decade, a one-ounce gold coin with a denomination of 1,000 Bitcoins (BTC) is the world’s most valuable numismatic item. Purchased in December 2011 for $4,905, it is now worth $48 million at the BTC value as of Monday morning, October 4, 2021.
On behalf of its anonymous owner, GreatCollections Coin Auctions of Irvine, California (www.GreatCollections.com) submitted the gold 1,000 Bitcoin physical coin under armed guard for certification to Professional Coin Grading Service. It has been certified PCGS Proof-70 DCAM.
Ian Russell, president of GreatCollections in Irvine, California, holds the gold-plated 25 Bitcoins physical coin (on the left) and the one-ounce gold 1,000 Bitcoins “Gold Cas” coin (on the right) that is the world’s most valuable numismatic item worth $48 million. (Photo courtesy of GreatCollections.)
“This is the greatest return on investment for any numismatic item, a staggering 9,786 times the purchase price in just ten years. It may be the world’s greatest investment in that time span,” stated Ian Russell, President of GreatCollections.
“Its value eclipses classic coins, such as the 1933 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle recently auctioned by Sotheby’s for $18,872,250 or the Sultan of Muscat 1804 Draped Bust dollar GreatCollections recently purchased at auction for $7,680,000 on behalf of a client,” he said.
The gold 1,000 BTC is not for sale, but Russell announced that a gold-plated 25 BTC coin, now certified PCGS MS-67, will be offered without reserve by GreatCollections in an auction that closes on November 14.
“Bidding will start at $1, although I anticipate this 25 BTC will sell for more than $1 million,” predicted Russell.
The cryptocurrency community refers to the 1,000 BTC coin as “the Gold Cas.” That is a reference to “Casascius”, the brand of BTC coins produced from 2011 to 2013. The company was created by Mike Caldwell to create physical “Casascius coins” in increments of 0.1, 0.5, 1, 5, 10, 25, 100 and 1,000 BTC units. Caldwell also produced some BTC ingots.
PCGS Interim President Stephanie Sabin stated: “PCGS sets the standard for grading and authenticating rare coins, tokens, medals, and paper currency. As such, we have been entrusted with the encapsulation of the majority of auction-topping items year after year. This coin is set apart in its cultural significance in merging the worlds of cryptocurrency and traditional numismatics. Combine this with the staggering value of the Bitcoins it contains and we have a new Goliath.”
Only six 1,000 gold BTC Casascius coins were made and four of them have not been redeemed including the one owned by Russell’s client.
The gold coin is dated “2012 CASASCIUS.” The legend on the obverse includes “1 TROY OZ .999 FINE GOLD” and the motto, “VIRES IN NUMERIS,” Latin for STRENGTH IN NUMBERS. There is a multi-color, tamper-resistant hologram design on the reverse. It was in fact the first produced by Casascius.
Forgotten in a desk drawer for years, this 1,000 Bitcoins denomination “Gold Cas” physical coin purchased in December 2011 for $4,905 is now worth over $48 million. Graded PCGS Proof-70 DCAM, it is the world’s most valuable numismatic item. (Photo courtesy of GreatCollections.)
Russell said the current owner of this 1,000 gold BTC is not the presumed founder of the digital currency Bitcoin, Satoshi Nakamoto. There have been suggestions that the founder of Bitcoin owns iconic Bitcoin items such as the “Gold Cas”.
“The Gold Cas owner wanted to have his fortune encapsulated and graded by PCGS. GreatCollections arranged the process from start-to-finish, including an armed guard escort to take it to PCGS headquarters in Santa Ana, California,” said Russell.
“It’s the ultimate 21st century collectible, merging gold with crypto-currency; a cultural phenomenon considering the vast numbers of people under 30 who own some cryptocurrency as investments,” he stated.
“The $48 million coin now resides in an overseas bank vault, and it’s unlikely to ever be redeemed or spent as Bitcoin, but you may be able to see it in person someday. GreatCollections is in talks with the owner to publicly display it at an upcoming coin convention,” Russell explained.
For additional information, contact GreatCollections at 949-679-4180 or visit online at www.GreatCollections.com.
About GreatCollections
GreatCollections is an auction house for certified coins and banknotes, handling transactions from start to finish. Since its founding in 2010, GreatCollections has successfully auctioned over 950,000 certified coins, making it one of the leading certified coin companies in the United States. Ian Russell, owner/president of GreatCollections, is a member of the prestigious Professional Numismatists Guild and member of the National Auctioneers Association. For more information about GreatCollections, visit www.GreatCollections.com or call (800) 442-6467.
The Royal Mint’s latest research shows new interest in childhood character coins
Owl 2021 UK 50p Silver Proof Coin reverse edge – UK21OWSSP
As well as minting the coins found in our pockets, The Royal Mint makes collectable coins celebrating key themes and milestones and featuring some of Britain’s most-loved childhood characters on UK coin.
The new findings mark the launch of the latest coin in the collection inspired by Disney’s Winnie the Pooh, which features Pooh’s trusted friend Owl on a 50p at The Royal Mint.
According to the new research, more than half of 35–44-year-olds said that childhood character coins were the main reason for starting a collection. The childhood character coins also inspired almost three quarters of Royal Mint’s collectors aged 18-24.
- 51% of 35- to 44-year-olds state childhood character coins as the main reason for collecting
- 74% of 18- to 24-year-olds consider character coins as one of the reasons for collecting
The research also found that the timeless hobby of treasuring Britain’s favourite collectable item remains an interest which is passed down through generations – 45% started collecting because a grandparent or older relative introduced a collection to them, according to the survey results.
Mum of two, Januarie Braganza, from London, is a keen childhood character coin collector, on behalf of her 75-year-old mother Sunny Hall and children; 2-year-old Blaise and 1-year-old Winnie. She said:
My children Winnie and Blaise collect coins with their Nanna Sunny, who has been collecting coins for years. It is a wonderful hobby they can enjoy together, and they regularly speak on Facetime and show their new coins. It makes her so happy to see the children sharing her passion and helps to keep her mind sharp.
Speaking of the launch of the latest Owl 50p which celebrates 95 years of Winnie the Pooh with a design based on the original E.H Shepard decorations, she added:
We love the Winnie the Pooh coins best as my daughter has the same name! The latest Owl 50p coin is beautiful, and the colour really brings the character to life. We’re so excited to receive this coin as part of Blaise and Winnie’s collection and Nanna Sunny loves it too!
Earlier this month, The Royal Mint revealed that coins are officially the most popular collectable item in the UK, with over a third of collectors having a passion for coins (36%). Stamps (30%) and books (26%) came in second and third most popular. The Royal Mint’s Divisional Director of Commemorative Coin Clare Maclennan said:
Coins are Britain’s favourite collectable item, and their appeal continues to reach new collectors with the increasing popularity of our childhood character coins which celebrate some of the greatest childhood stories and characters we know and love on official UK coin.
The collectable Owl 50p is the latest release in Winnie the Pooh series, marking the 95th anniversary of the lovable bear. Inspired by the original watercolour decorations of E.H. Shepard, and available in a vibrant special colour edition, the coin is itself a beautiful work of art for collectors of all ages, and we’re so thrilled to see these pieces are inspiring new and younger collectors to get involved.
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- Owl 2021 UK 50p Brilliant Uncirculated bu pack front (standard) reverse – UK21OWBU
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- Owl 2021 UK 50p Brilliant Uncirculated (standard) reverse on edge – UK21OWBU
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- Owl 2021 UK 50p Brilliant Uncirculated reverse (Coloured) – UK21OWBC
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- Owl 2021 UK 50p Gold Proof Coin reverse edge – UK21OWGP
The Owl 2021 UK 50p is the fifth release in the nine-coin Winnie the Pooh and Friends collection. See the full Winnie the Pooh commemorative collection, and others, at The Royal Mint.
ANA Recognizes Membership Boosters, Numismatic Author & Medallic Artist
At this year’s World’s Fair of Money®, several hobby supporters were honored for encouraging coin enthusiasts to join the American Numismatic Association (ANA). The recruitment period was January 1 to December 30, 2020. The John and Nancy Wilson Booster Award (named after the duo who have recruited more than 2,000 new members) went to ANA Past President Steven K. Ellsworth, Ronald I. Macfarlane and John Youngblood III.
Numismatic professionals and companies who have sponsored members through their business activities are recognized with the Dealer Booster Award. This year’s recipient is Coin World. The 2021 Century Club Award, presented to those who have signed up a cumulative total of 100 or more ANA members, was awarded to Michael Contursi, Governor Mark Lighterman and Mike Dinger.
Recognized Researcher
The Burnett Anderson Memorial Award for Excellence in Numismatic Writing is presented annually to a researcher, author or journalist in recognition of their body of work and career contributions to numismatics. First conferred posthumously on its namesake in 1999 at the ANA’s 108th Anniversary Convention, the award is intended to recognize quality and integrity in numismatic wordsmithing of every kind. The recipient is selected in a cooperative process by the ANA, the American Numismatic Society and the Numismatic Literary Guild.
This year’s recipient is Joel J. Orosz, a prolific researcher and writer who has been working in the field for four decades. Burnett Anderson’s son Mark Anderson accepted the ward on Orosz’s behalf at the Awards Banquet held August 13 at the World’s Fair of Money®.
Orosz found a vocation in philanthropy and an avocation in numismatics. These interests brought balance to his life, for, as he puts it, he dedicated his workdays to giving away large sums of money and spent his leisure hours trying to claw a little bit of it back. Over the years, he has focused on tracing the literary byways of early American numismatics and also on gathering association copies (books inscribed by their authors and notable previous owners).
His numismatic corpus originated in the early 1980s. His research has been published in Rare Coin Review, The Numismatist, The American Journal of Numismatics and several other periodicals, and he is currently a columnist for The Asylum and Coin World. He’s authored two numismatic books and co-authored three more. His three most recent works – The Secret History of the First U.S. Mint (2011); Truth Seeker: The Life of Eric P. Newman (2016); and 1792: Birth of a Nation’s Coinage (2017) – all received the Numismatic Literary Guild’s (NLG) prestigious Book of the Year Award.
The philanthropic numismatist also has been honored with three first-place ANA Heath Literary Awards (2000, 2010 and 2017) and the Wayte and Olga Raymond Memorial Literary Award (2018). In addition to the NLG, Orosz has earned numerous accolades from the Professional Numismatists Guild, the John Reich Collectors Society and the Society of Paper Money Collectors. The Numismatic Bibliomania Society named its annual writer’s award after Orosz, who shared the 2020 NLG Clemy Award (the organization’s highest honor) with Len Augsburger.
Recognized Medallic Artist
The ANA’s Numismatic Art Award for Excellence in Medallic Sculpture is an annual honor given to an artist whose lifetime work in the field rises above all others. The 2021 recipient is Belgian artist Paul Huybrechts.
Over the course of 50 years, Huybrechts has designed countless medals, coins and dies. His work displays exceptional quality and innovation.
In his younger years, Huybrechts honed his artistic skills in Belgium and Germany. He spent time in Switzerland engraving at the firm Huguenin to further refine his technique. At age 23, Huybrechts returned to Belgium to establish himself as a professional in medal engraving and currency art.
In an interview with the Société Archéologique de Namur, Huybrechts explains that his desire to enter the field blossomed during his childhood. He recalls digging through the trash and cutting out stamps from letters his father received from various European countries. Huybrechts notes that history – and what we can learn from it – serves as a major source of inspiration for his work. He enjoys learning from ancient cultures and significant past events while employing modern artistic techniques.
While Huybrechts has designed dies for over 40 postage stamps and 12 coins for the Belgian government, his medallic work is where his artistry truly shines. Shown here is Huybrechts’s 2005 Kraepelin-Alzheimer medal that was exhibited during the 2007 International Art Medal Federation (FIDEM) congress. The obverse of this bronze piece features Emil Kraepelin, a German doctor who is considered to be the founder of modern scientific psychiatry. The reverse depicts Alois Alzheimer, a German psychiatrist who helped identify the disease that later became his namesake.
A retrospective of Huybrechts’s work commemorating his 50-year career will be on display in Leuven, Belgium, in April-June 2022.
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 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 money.org.
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