Brasher Doubloon & rare NY coppers in PCGS Philadelphia exhibit

Jul 27, 2018 | Announcements, Shows & Conventions

(July 26, 2018) — One of the legendary 1787 gold Brasher Doubloons and seven of the finest known 1780s New York colonial era copper coins will be displayed together for the first time in an educational exhibit hosted by Professional Coin Grading Service (www.PCGS.com) at the American Numismatic Association 2018 Philadelphia World’s Fair of Money®, August 14-18.

“The lettering and some design elements of all seven of these distinguished coins are punch linked, and each of these coins is an important part of early American history and numismatics. They will be exhibited at the PCGS booth, #1431, during the 2018 ANA convention,” said PCGS President Don Willis.

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 discovery specimen for the legendary, seven known gold 1787 Brasher Doubloons will be displayed by PCGS along with historic New York copper coins at the ANA 2018 Philadelphia World’s Fair of Money®.
(Photo credit: Professional Coin Grading Service www.PCGS.com.)

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 Philadelphia has the hallmark on the eagle’s right wing, and it is the discovery specimen for Brasher Doubloons that was first documented in 1840.

This famous coin 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 Excelsior, Eagle facing left. This is the only Mint State example known and was formerly in the famous Garrett Collection.

    • The only known mint state example of a 1787 Excelsior, Eagle Left New York copper will be among the historic early American coins on display at the PCGS booth during the ANA 2018 Philadelphia World’s Fair of Money®.
    (Photo credit: Professional Coin Grading Service www.PCGS.com.)

  • 1787 George Clinton cent, with New York coat of arms, less than a dozen known.
  • 1787 Excelsior, Standing Indian/New York arms, one of only about 12 known.
  • 1787 Excelsior, Standing Indian/Eagle on Globe design, one of the finest of only about 14 known.

    • One of the finest of only about 14 known examples of the 1787 Excelsior, Standing Indian, Eagle on Globe design New York coppers will be part of the PCGS display of early American rarities at the ANA 2018 Philadelphia World’s Fair of Money®.
    (Photo credit: Professional Coin Grading Service www.PCGS.com.)

  • 1787 Nova Eborac (“New York”), rare Large Head variety, one of the finest of only a few dozen known.
  • 1787 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.

“PCGS is proud to work with the owners of these impressive, early American rare coins so visitors to the ANA convention can see and enjoy them in person,” said Willis.

Since its founding in 1986, PCGS experts have certified over 38 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.

NLG 2018 Symposium to Focus on Attracting New Collectors Online

Jul 18, 2018 | Announcements, Shows & Conventions

(Philadelphia, PA) July 16, 2018 — The Numismatic Literary Guild (www.NLGonline.org), a nonprofit organization composed of hobby writers, editors and content producers, will conduct its 2018 NLG Symposium from 10 am to 11 am, Thursday, August 16, at the American Numismatic Association World’s Fair of Money® (www.WorldsFairofMoney.com) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The group’s annual dinner and awards ceremony, known as “The Bash,” will be held that evening.

The symposium topic will be “Cultivating New Collectors with Online Blogs and Publicity,” and the symposium will be open to the public.

The award-winning speakers include blogger, author and CDN Publishing Editor Joshua McMorrow-Hernandez; CoinWeek Editor and podcast host Charles Morgan; NLG Acting Executive Director and former journalist and broadcaster Donn Pearlman; and blogger, author and former ANA Vice President Scott A. Travers.

“The internet has become an absolutely crucial part of daily communications for nearly everyone with WiFi access. Whether it’s using a tabletop computer or a small smartphone, the numismatic hobby as a whole must do more online to educate current collectors and attract new people to the hobby,” said Pearlman. “We’ll be discussing ideas at the symposium and certainly welcome participation by all collectors, dealers and the public.”

The one-hour symposium will be held in Room 117 of the Pennsylvania Convention Center, 1101 Arch St. in Philadelphia’s Center City, site of the ANA convention.

Now celebrating its 50th anniversary, the Numismatic Literary Guild conducts an annual symposium and a separate awards ceremony (“The Bash”) at each ANA summer convention. Open to the public, the 2018 Bash will begin at 7:30 pm on Thursday, August 16, in Liberty Ballroom A&B of the Philadelphia Marriott Hotel, 1201 Market St. Admission is $15 at the door and includes a buffet dinner and dessert.

Sponsors and underwriters for the NLG Bash and awards are: Certified Acceptance Corporation, CDN Publishing, CoinWeek.com, Eric P. Newman Numismatic Education Society, Michael Fuljenz, Heritage Auctions, Ira and Larry Goldberg, Numismatic Guaranty Corporation, Professional Coin Grading Service and Stack’s Bowers Galleries.

For information about joining the NLG, visit www.nlgonline.org/membership.

Crème de la crème of SS Central America S Mint gold revealed

Jul 18, 2018 | News, Shows & Conventions

Public can see them for the first time at the ANA 2018 Philadelphia World’s Fair of Money®.

(July 16, 2018) — The latest recovery of sunken treasure from the legendary “Ship of Gold,” the SS Central America, includes six coins that now comprise the finest known “San Francisco Mint denomination set” for $1, $2.50, $3, $5, $10 and $20 gold pieces, according to the California Gold Marketing Group (CGMG).

The Double Eagle in the recently assembled set is graded PCGS MS67+, the highest grade ever given to any 1857-S $20 by Professional Coin Grading Service.

“It’s the King of Siam set of the SS Central America,” declared CGMG Managing Partner Dwight Manley, referring to the coveted special set of United States coins presented in 1836 to the King of Siam (now Thailand) as a diplomatic gift on behalf of President Andrew Jackson.

“Just like they assembled the crème de la crème of coinage from a youthful America for that presentation gift, this stunning San Francisco Mint type set from the California Gold Rush we’ve assembled from the sunken treasure is the greatest set of all the finest known coins. And they all were discovered during the most recent recovery expedition. Some were found securely wrapped inside a ship’s safe,” said Manley.

The six coins will be publicly displayed for the first time at booth #225 during the American Numismatic Association 2018 Philadelphia World’s Fair of Money®, August 14-18.

A total of 3,134 gold federal, private mint and world coins from the SS Central America were carefully retrieved from various debris fields and miners’ pokes on the Atlantic Ocean seabed during the last recovery expedition in 2014.

“We now know that dozens of those coins are either the finest known of their kind or tied for finest,” said Manley. “Among the best-of-the-best are five exceptionally special 1857-S coins and a stunning 1856-S that are the crème de la crème of all San Francisco Mint coinage, surpassing even the coins in the famous Clapp and Eliasberg collections.”

These are the six superlative San Francisco Mint coins recently examined and cataloged by CGMG and will be in the upcoming World’s Fair of Money display:

  • 1856-S Type II Liberty Head $1, graded PCGS MS65+, the finest known.

    • The finest known 1856-S Type II Liberty Head $1, PCGS MS65+, will be part of the San Francisco Mint “gold denomination set” of recovered SS Central America coins on display at the 2018 ANA Philadelphia convention.
    Photo credit: Professional Coin Grading Service www.PCGS.com.

  • 1857-S Liberty Head $2.50, PCGS MS64+, tied for finest known.

    • Tied for finest known, this 1857-S Liberty Head $2.50, PCGS MS64+, will be one of the crème de la crème of recovered San Francisco Mint SS Central America coins exhibited in Philadelphia at the 2018 ANA convention.
    Photo credit: Professional Coin Grading Service www.PCGS.com.

  • 1857-S Indian Princess $3, PCGS MS67, the finest known of all San Francisco Mint $3 gold coins.

    • The finest known of all San Francisco Mint $3 gold coins, this 1857-S Indian Princess, PCGS MS67, can be seen with other recovered SS Central America sunken treasure at the 2018 ANA Philadelphia convention.
    Photo credit: Professional Coin Grading Service www.PCGS.com.

  • 1857-S Liberty Head $5, PCGS MS66, finest known.

    • Recovered from the legendary SS Central America, this 1857-S Liberty Head $5, PCGS MS66, is the finest known and will be exhibited with other crème de la crème San Francisco Mint coins at the ANA 2018 Philadelphia World’s Fair of Money®.
    Photo credit: Professional Coin Grading Service www.PCGS.com.

  • 1857-S Liberty Head $10, PCGS MS64+, finest known of all San Francisco Mint No Motto variety Eagles.

    • Retrieved from the fabled “Ship of Gold” sunken treasure and now ready to be exhibited by the California Gold Marketing Group at the 2018 ANA Philadelphia convention, this 1857-S Liberty Head $10, PCGS MS64+ is the finest known of all S Mint No Motto Eagles.
    Photo credit: Professional Coin Grading Service www.PCGS.com.

  • 1857-S Liberty Head $20 Spiked Shield variety, PCGS MS67+, with an original, gorgeous red glow luster, and the finest known of any Liberty Head Double Eagle.

    • Exhibiting original, gorgeous red glow luster, the finest known of any Liberty Head Double Eagles, this 1857-S $20 Spiked Shield variety, PCGS MS67+, will be one of the highlights of the SS Central America sunken treasure to be displayed at the 2018 ANA Philadelphia convention.
    Photo credit: Professional Coin Grading Service www.PCGS.com.

“If we’d seen just one gem 1857-S $20 in the 1970s, it would have been the talk of the coin show! The SS Central America treasure is probably the greatest numismatic discovery of all time,” asserted PCGS Co-Founder and Collectors Universe, Inc. President David Hall. “All of these finest knowns and the rarities galore are one of the greatest things to happen in the coin market.”

In addition to the San Francisco Mint gold denomination set, CGMG will exhibit other SS Central America treasure, including historic assayers’ ingots as well as California Gold Rush era Fractional and Territorial coins recovered during the 2014 expedition.

Bob Evans, the chief scientist on the 1980’s mission that first located and recovered a portion of the fabulous sunken treasure and who assisted with the 2014 recovery, will be at the exhibit each day during the show to meet with visitors. At 11 am on Friday, August 17, he will present a lecture, “The Many (and New) Treasures of the SS Central America: Revelations & Stories from the 2014 Recoveries,” in room 121B of the convention center.

“This certainly will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for many people to see an important portion of America’s greatest sunken treasure,” said Manley.

The SS Central America was a 280-foot long, three-masted side-wheel steamship carrying tons of California gold that had been shipped from San Francisco to Panama when she sank in a September 1857 hurricane during a voyage from Aspinwall (now Colón), Panama to New York City. The loss of the gold cargo was a major factor in the economically devastating financial panic of 1857 in the United States.

PCGS Co-Founder David Hall and California Gold Marketing Group Managing Partner Dwight Manley hold the finest known Liberty Head Double Eagle, an 1857-S recovered from the SS Central America and now graded PCGS MS67+. It will be publicly displayed for the first time at the 2018 ANA Philadelphia World’s Fair of Money®.
Photo credit: Donn Pearlman

The California Gold Marketing Group LLC of Brea, California acquired the 2014 treasure from Ira Owen Kane, Receiver for Recovery Limited Partnership and Columbus Exploration, LLC in a court-approved transaction in November 2017. In 1999, the group acquired all of the available treasure that was recovered in the 1980s.

“Wow factor” commems in PCGS exhibit at World’s Fair of Money

Jul 2, 2018 | Announcements, Shows & Conventions

July 2, 2018) — Visitors to the ANA 2018 World’s Fair of Money in Philadelphia can see an impressive exhibit of classic United States commemorative coins, many of them the finest known and many with spectacular, original toning. The 144-coin collection, “The J&L 144 Complete Set,” is ranked as both the Current Finest and All-Time Finest in the Professional Coin Grading Service (www.PCGS.com) Set Registry®.

“This amazing set will be publicly displayed at the PCGS booth (#1431) during the ANA convention, August 14-18, and we anticipate it will attract quite a bit of attention because of its tremendous quality,” said PCGS President Don Willis.

“The 144-piece silver commemorative set includes all of the 50 different type coin commemoratives issued from 1892 through 1954, plus each date and mintmark of the multiple issues,” explained PCGS Set Registry Manager BJ Searls. “The J&L Set has a ‘Wow Factor’ because of its near-perfect overall grade and the beautiful toning on so many of these coins.”

Named after the first names of the collection’s owners, John and Linda, the J&L commemoratives collection has a set rating of 68.705, just a few points away from perfection. Also, 27 of the coins are the single finest graded of their kind, and 77% of the coins are “Top Pop” in the PCGS Population Report, according to Searls.

“The J&L Set illustrates the owners’ search for not only highly graded coins, but also coins that come alive with glorious toning,” explained Searls.

Highlights of the collection that can be seen at the ANA convention include:

  • 1920 Pilgrim half dollar, graded PCGS Gold Shield MS68, one of only two ever certified at that top grade by PCGS;

    • This 1920 Pilgrim half dollar, PCGS Gold Shield MS68, is one of the many highlights of the J&L commemorative coin collection — the PCGS Set Registry® Current and All-Time Finest Set — that will be exhibited by PCGS at the ANA 2018 World’s Fair of Money®. Photo credit: Professional Coin Grading Service www.PCGS.com.

  • 1922 Grant Star half dollar, PCGS Gold Shield MS67+, finest known;
  • 1923-S Monroe half dollar, PCGS Gold Shield MS67+, finest known;
  • 1925 Lexington half dollar, PCGS Gold Shield MS68+, finest known;

    • The finest known 1925 Lexington half dollar, graded PCGS Gold Shield MS68+, is part of the 144 coin set in the J&L Collection of commemoratives that can be seen at the PCGS booth during the ANA 2018 World’s Fair of Money®. Photo credit: Professional Coin Grading Service www.PCGS.com.

  • 1926 Oregon Trail half dollar, PCGS Gold Shield MS68+, finest known;

    • Many of the coins in the J&L Collection of U.S. commemoratives have spectacular, original toning, including this 1926 Oregon Trail half dollar, graded PCGS Gold Shield MS68+ and the finest known. Photo credit: Professional Coin Grading Service www.PCGS.com.

  • 1936 Cleveland half dollar, PCGS Gold Shield MS68, finest known;
  • 1937 Roanoke half dollar, PCGS Gold Shield MS68+, the finest known; and
  • 1936 Wisconsin half dollar, PCGS Gold Shield MS68+.

“The J & L Collection is a perfect example of what collectors can achieve when they put their hearts into their hobby,” said Searls. “PCGS is honored to display John and Linda’s beautiful set of commemoratives at the upcoming ANA 2018 World’s Fair of Money in Philadelphia, and also at the Long Beach Coin, Currency Stamp & Sports Collectible Expo (www.LongBeachExpo.com), September 6-8.

The set can be viewed online at https://www.pcgs.com/SetRegistry/commemoratives/commemoratives-major-sets/silver-commemoratives-144-piece-mintmark-variety-set-circulation-strikes-1892-1954/alltimeset/142776.

Since its founding in 1986, PCGS experts have certified over 38 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.

Rittenhouse 1792 Half Disme, 1861-P Paquet $20 at 2018 World’s Fair of Money

May 17, 2018 | ANA, Announcements, Shows & Conventions

ANA Governor Brian Hendelson will provide historic
multi-million dollar Philadelphia Mint coins and early United States Mint appointment documents for ANA Museum Showcase exhibit

The finest known 1792 Half Disme, formerly owned by the first United States Mint Director David Rittenhouse, and the finer of the two known 1861 Philadelphia Mint Paquet Reverse Liberty Head Double Eagles, will be featured exhibits in the Museum Showcase at the American Numismatic Association’s 2018 Philadelphia World’s Fair of Money® (www.WorldsFairofMoney.com).

The two historic coins, along with George Washington and/or Thomas Jefferson-signed papers appointing Rittenhouse, Elias Boudinot and Robert Patterson as the first, third and fourth Mint Directors respectively, are being loaned for the exhibit from the personal collection of ANA Governor Brian Hendelson, President of Classic Coin Company of Bridgewater, New Jersey (www.ClassicCoinCo.com).

The two coins will be insured for a combined $10.5 million for their “homecoming” display, August 14-18.

“Because this year’s ANA World’s Fair of Money is being held in Philadelphia, I thought this would be an excellent opportunity for collectors and the general public to see in person these two important rare coins that were made in Philadelphia,” said Hendelson.

“The Half Disme was the first denomination produced by the young United States for circulation, and this particular superbly struck and preserved coin could be the first one made. It was exhibited at Mount Vernon, Washington’s home, in 2014 and 2015. I’m happy to share it and the Paquet Reverse Double Eagle at the 2018 ANA convention for everyone to enjoy and to learn about the hobby and history,” explained Hendelson.

The finest known 1792 Half Disme, graded PCGS MS-68, returns “home” for display at the ANA 2018 Philadelphia World’s Fair of Money, August 14-18, courtesy of ANA Governor Brian Henelson.
(Photo credit: Professional Coin Grading Service)

The rainbow toned 1792 Half Disme (LM-1, Judd-7, Pollock-7) is graded PCGS MS-68 and the 1861 Paquet Reverse Double Eagle is graded PCGS MS-67.

In the narrative text for the upcoming exhibit, ANA Money Museum Curator Doug Mudd wrote: “On July 13, 1792, the first U.S. Mint coins were struck for distribution at the request of President George Washington in a basement close to the site for the new Mint. Legend has it they were struck from Martha Washington’s silverware, but recent research has shown that Thomas Jefferson provided the $75 of silver required to make 1500 Half Dismes. The coins were distributed by Jefferson to foreign dignitaries, members of the government and others — a calling card for the establishment of the U.S. Mint and an announcement of the new American Republic.”

The coin remained carefully preserved by Rittenhouse and then his descendants from 1792 to 1919. Subsequent owners have included the Knoxville Collection, California coin dealer Steven L. Contursi, and the Cardinal Collection.

The Paquet Reverse Double Eagle is described in the upcoming exhibit as “A Coin Worthy of a King” as one of its previous owners was an Egyptian king.

The finer of the two known 1861-P Paquet Reverse Liberty Head Double Eagles, graded PCGS MS-67 and from the Brian Hendelson Collection, will be among the Museum Showcase highlights at the ANA 2018 Philadelphia World’s Fair of Money, August 14-18.
(Photo credit: Professional Coin Grading Service)

In 1861 nearly three million $20 denomination gold coins were struck at the Philadelphia Mint, but today only two are known with a slightly modified design on the reverse made by Assistant Mint Engraver Anthony Paquet. He made the letters taller and slenderer in appearance compared to the previous design.

Mint Director James Ross Snowden was unhappy with the revision and subsequently recalled the new dies and ordered the melting of all 1861 double eagles struck at the Philadelphia Mint. The entire Philadelphia run was destroyed except for the two known remaining examples.

Among the well-known previous owners of the coin now in Hendelson’s collection were Baltimore banker Waldo Newcomer, Chicago beer baron Virgil M. Brand, eccentric Texas and Massachusetts business executive and investor Col. E.H.R. Green, Egypt’s King Farouk and Ambassador and Mrs. R. Henry Norweb of Ohio.

The Museum Showcase display at the ANA 2018 Philadelphia World’s Fair of Money will be the first time the Rittenhouse, Boudinot and Patterson appointment documents have ever been exhibited together.

Rittenhouse served as the first Mint Director from April 1792 to June 1795 and his appointment paper is signed by both Washington as President and Jefferson as Secretary of State. Boudinot was the third Mint Director from October 1795 to July 1805, and that document is signed by Washington and Secretary of State Timothy Pickering. Patterson’s appointment as the fourth Mint Director from January 1806 to July 1824 is signed by Jefferson as President and Secretary of State James Madison.

A fourth presidential appointment document in the exhibit, for Joseph Richardson as Assayer in 1795, is signed by Washington and Pickering.

The ANA 2018 Philadelphia World’s Fair of Money will be held in the Pennsylvania Convention Center, 1101 Arch St. in Philadelphia, Tuesday-Saturday, August 14-18. For additional information, visit www.WorldsFairOfMoney.com

Tyrant Collection’s Historic Ancient Coin Treasures Coming to Long Beach

May 7, 2018 | Announcements, Shows & Conventions

“Tyrants of the Tigris & Euphrates” exhibit showcases nearly 2,600 years of numismatic history at June 2018 Long Beach Expo

(Long Beach, California) – The second public display of a portion of the extensive numismatic treasures in the recently revealed Tyrant Collection (www.TheTyrantCollection.com) will include outstanding examples from the origins of coinage including a rare example of the world’s first gold coin. “The Tyrants of the Tigris & Euphrates” exhibit will be at the June 14-16, 2018 Long Beach Coin, Currency, Stamp & Sports Collectible Expo (www.LongBeachExpo.com).

The exhibition will showcase more than 350 important ancient to modern coins of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers valley including rulers of the Mesopotamia region from Cyrus the Great in 546 B.C. through Saddam Hussein in 2003. Many of the coins in the $10 million dollar display are the finest known of their kind.

The owner of The Tyrant Collection wants to remain anonymous while he shares the collection’s coins with the public for their educational value through a multi-year series of displays at the Long Beach Expo. The owner has assembled an unprecedented private collection of coins of tyrants of every age and every major civilization. Each section of the far-reaching collection is named after the principal water source of the civilization.

The second exhibition in the series will focus on coins from well-known early civilizations, such as the Lydians, Ionians, Parthians, and Ottomans, as well as lesser-known coin-issuing empires and tribes, such as the Abbasids and Ilkhans.

“The inaugural Tyrant Collection exhibition of English coins, ‘Tyrants of the Thames,’ this past February was a tremendous success and we heard many compliments from collectors, dealers, and the general public,” said Ira Goldberg, President of Goldberg Coins and Collectibles, Inc. (www.GoldbergCoins.com) in Los Angeles, California.

“This next display will feature nearly 2,600 years of superb condition coins from Ionia, Persia, Turkey and Western Asia. In Greek, Mesopotamia means ‘(land) between the rivers.’ Mesopotamia is the land between the two great rivers, the Tigris and the Euphrates. Mesopotamia spawned the earliest civilization, which included writing, mathematics, metal working, the wheel, and spectacular wealth,” explained Goldberg who provided guidance in assembling The Tyrant Collection.

“The Tyrants of Mesopotamia is the longest collectible series of coins. Quite a challenge!” he added.

Highlights of “The Tyrants of the Tigris & Euphrates” exhibition will include:

  • Ionia, Ephesus Phanes electrum Stater, circa 625-600 B.C., one of the earliest recorded coins to bear both a type and inscription. It is one of only five known and one of the most historic of all ancient coins.
  • King Kroisos gold Stater prototype, Sardes mint, circa 564-539 B.C., one of only about two dozen known of the world’s first coin struck in gold. The Kroisos type coinage is one of the most recognizable of all ancient Greek kings of Lydia coinage, and this example was formerly in the Zurich Money Museum Collection.
  • Darius gold Daric, circa 500-485 B.C., Kings of Persia. A magnificent, exceptionally well-struck example of the rare Type III variety (with two pellets behind the beard) struck during the period of the Ionian Revolt.
  • Mazaios Stater, Satrap of Cilicia, circa 361-334 B.C. depicting King Artaxerxes III on one side and a lion on the other. Formerly in the Eduardo Levante Collection.
  • Antiochos gold Stater, Seleukid Empire, circa 280-271 B.C., an apparently unique variety of the exceedingly rare issue depicting a bridled horse head to the right, with braided, horn-like forelock.
  • Mysia, Pergamum gold Stater struck during the reign of Alexander the Great, circa 334-332 B.C. with less than 20 examples known.
  • Parthian Kingdom Tetradrachm of Mithradates I, circa 164-132 B.C. depicting a magnificent Hellenistic portrait of the king.
  • Kings of Parthia, Tetradrachm depicting King Phraatakes on one side and Queen Musa on the other, Seleukeia on the Tigris mint, circa 2 B.C.-5 A.D.
  • Sasanian Kingdom, Khusru II gold Dinar, 590-628 A.D. A magnificent example, formerly in the Sunrise Collection, with King Khusru II depicted on one side and Anahit, the goddess of fertility, healing, wisdom and water, on the other side.
  • Sasanian kings, Azarmidokht silver Drachm, 631 AD, an extremely rare coin depicting King Husrav (Khosrau) II, and formerly in the William B. Warden, Jr. Collection.

“The entire Tyrant Collection undoubtedly is the world’s most valuable rare coin collection in private hands, worth hundreds of millions of dollars,” said Goldberg. “These exhibits with different coins displayed at upcoming Long Beach Expos will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for many collectors, dealers, and the public to see in person some of the world’s most significant rare coins. Visitors to the June Long Beach Expo can receive a free, illustrated booklet about this latest, amazing exhibit.”

The June 2018 Long Beach Expo will be held in the Long Beach, California Convention Center located at 100 S. Pine Ave. Additional information is available at www.LongBeachExpo.com.

ANA School of Numismatics Offers Seminars in Philadelphia

Apr 12, 2018 | ANA, Announcements, Shows & Conventions

The American Numismatic Association (ANA) is offering several educational courses through its Florence Schook School of Numismatics, held in conjunction with the Philadelphia World’s Fair of Money®. “An Introduction to Collecting Ancient Greek & Roman Coins,” “Coin Grading, Problem Coins and Conservation” and “Fundamentals of Digital Photography” will be offered prior and during the show. The convention begins Aug. 14 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, located at 1101 Arch St, Philadelphia, PA. Register for the seminars by June 29 for early enrollment discounts.

An Introduction to Collecting Ancient Greek & Roman Coins
(Prior to the Philadelphia World’s Fair of Money)

Students will learn the basics of collecting ancient Greek and Roman coins in this two-day class, designed specifically for new and beginning collectors. Topics include a general survey of ancient coins, how to build a basic reference library, utilizing the Internet for collecting and research, and learning the basics of detecting counterfeits. Participants are encouraged to bring their own coins for discussion.

Instructor: Kerry K. Wetterstrom
Date & Time: August 12-13; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Cost: $259; Register by June 29 for a $25 discount. ANA life members save an additional $40.
Location: Philadelphia Marriott Downtown

Coin Grading, Problem Coins and Conservation
(Prior to the Philadelphia World’s Fair of Money)

The biggest mistake collectors and dealers make is buying coins they shouldn’t have purchased in the first place—coins that have grade, surface or conservation issues that they didn’t see. This seminar will help students avoid costly mistakes by developing their grading skills and teaching them to spot a wide variety of surface problems, enhancements, alterations and conservation issues that can adversely affect a coin’s grade. The material covered is comprehensive and suitable for novice and experienced collectors. The seminar uses images, discussion and hands-on examination of hundreds of coins in the ANA’s Grading Sets.

Instructor: Brian Silliman
Date & Time: August 12-13; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Cost: $259; Register by June 29 for a $25 discount. ANA life members save an additional $40.
Location: Philadelphia Marriott Downtown

Fundamentals of Digital Photography
(During the Philadelphia World’s Fair of Money)

Learn the basics of numismatic photography, from shooting images to preparing them for the web, presentations or publication using Adobe Photoshop. Students should bring their own “macro-capable” cameras and several coins they would like to photograph and are encouraged to bring their own high-speed laptops and software.

Instructor: Clark Fogg and David Heinrich
Date & Time: August 16-17; 10 a.m. to 3 p.m
Cost: $359; Register by June 29 for a $25 discount. ANA life members save an additional $40.
Location: Pennsylvania Convention Center

For additional information, contact Meghan Reed, the ANA’s seminar representative, at seminars@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 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.

Local, State and Federal Investigators Learn Basics of Numismatic Crime Investigations at the National Money Show in Irving, Texas

Mar 16, 2018 | News, Shows & Conventions

Thirty two local, state and federal investigators from across the State of Texas attended an 8 hr seminar on “Numismatic Crime Investigations presented by the Numismatic Crime Information Center. The seminar was hosted by the American Numismatic Association and sponsored by the Texas Numismatic Association, Pantego Police Department, and Stacks Bowers.

“The seminar provided attendees with the basic tools and resources to conduct a thorough numismatic crime investigation”, said Doug Davis Founder/President of NCIC. To enhance the information being taught in the classroom, attendees were escorted through the bourse floor where they were able to observe and ask questions to dealers in attendance. “Since the majority of the attendees had never investigated a numismatic crime, the experience was extremely valuable,” said Davis.

Each investigator was also given examples of slabbed coins and paper money provided by PCGS, PCGS Currency, NGC, PMG, and ANACS. “Attendees were encouraged to take the examples back to their respective departments and share information they learned with other investigators within their investigative units”, said Davis.

The attendees were presented with certificates of attendance and received 8 hours of accredited training through the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement.

Postal Inspectors, FedEx, District Attorney Investigators and Banking Investigators to Attend Law Enforcement Seminar at ANA National Money Show in Irving, Texas

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.

Glittering Ship of Gold Exhibit Attracts Record Crowd In Long Beach

Mar 1, 2018 | News, Shows & Conventions

(Long Beach, California) February 28, 2018 – The “Ship of Gold” exhibit, with $40 million of never-before-displayed California Gold Rush sunken treasure recovered in 2014, attracted record-setting attendance during the February 22-24, 2018 Long Beach Coin, Currency, Stamp & Sports Collectible Expo.

The exhibit of gold and silver coins, nuggets and California gold dust was housed in a 40-foot long re-creation of the hull of the legendary SS Central America that sank in 1857, and sponsored by California Gold Marketing Group, owner of the trove.

“The three-day February 2018 Long Beach Expo set an overall attendance record for any Long Beach Expo since Collectors Universe, Inc. acquired the show a decade ago, and also set daily attendance records for Thursday, Friday and Saturday visitors. Overall, attendance at the February 2018 show was 43 percent higher than in February 2017,” said Cassi East, President of the Long Beach Expo (www.LongBeachExpo.com).

“Many members of the public told me they came to see a part of history, and many dealers told me that this was the coolest thing they’ve ever seen,” said East.

Los Angeles area television stations and TV networks covered the exhibit, and earlier there were stories by Associated Press and CBS This Morning about the treasure and the display. Crowds lined up to view the exhibit each morning when the Long Beach Expo doors opened to the public.

“We had visitors from across the United States and overseas. One collector told me he came from London, England just to see the exhibit,” said Dwight Manley, managing partner of the California Gold Marketing Group.

This was the first public display of a portion of the historic gold and silver coins, gold ingots and gold dust recovered during the 2014 expedition to the Atlantic Ocean site where the Gold Rush-era cargo was lost at sea 161 years ago. The California Gold Marketing Group LLC acquired the treasure from Ira Owen Kane, Receiver for Recovery Limited Partnership and Columbus Exploration, LLC in a court-approved transaction this past November.

“The exhibit included a new type of historic SS Central America item never before seen or displayed: leather satchels (pokes) filled with more than 1,000 ounces of gold bounty mined from the California Gold Rush!,” exclaimed Manley.

“The gold dust, mother lode quartz gold nuggets and other treasure have been in the original pokes since before Abraham Lincoln was president,” he said.

The ship sank 160 miles east of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina during a hurricane on September 12, 1857 while carrying tons of gold. There were 578 passengers and crew onboard, and 425 of them perished in the tragedy.

Bob Evans, the chief scientist and historian who has been on all three SS Central America recovery missions dating back to 1988, met with visitors during each day of the show and conducted two standing-room-only seminars about the treasure and its retrieval.

He created a prominent display at the Ship of Gold exhibit by stacking 35 of the 45 recently recovered assayers’ ingots, ranging in size from 7.54 to 319.22 Troy ounces. He dubbed the display “Goldhenge.”

Evans now is curating and cataloging more than 15,000 U.S. and world gold, silver, and copper coins. A portion of the hoard is currently being certified by Professional Coin Grading Service (www.PCGS.com). The first of the treasure items are expected to be made available in the marketplace by selected dealers in April.

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