Coin Collectors News

Final 2020 America the Beautiful Quarters® Three-Coin Set Available on November 5

Nov 6, 2020 | Announcements, U.S. Mint

WASHINGTON–The United States Mint (Mint) will release the final 2020 America the Beautiful Quarters Three-Coin Set featuring coins honoring Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve on November 5 at noon EST.

Priced at $11.50, the set includes the following coins:

One uncirculated quarter from the Philadelphia Mint
One uncirculated quarter from the Denver Mint
One proof quarter from the San Francisco Mint

The reverses (tails) of these coins depict a skyward view of a Regal Fritillary butterfly against a backdrop of Big Bluestem and Indian grasses, iconic to Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve. Inscriptions are “TALLGRASS PRAIRIE,” “KANSAS,” “2020,” and “E PLURIBUS UNUM.” The design was created by Mint Artistic Infusion Program artist Emily Damstra and sculpted by Mint medallic artist Renata Gordon.

The coins’ obverses (heads) depict 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.”

A durable plastic card with an image of Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve holds the coins. The Certificate of Authenticity is printed on the back of the card.

To sign up for Remind Me alerts, visit: https://catalog.usmint.gov/tallgrass-prairie-national-preserve-2020-quarter-3-coin-set-20AH.html.

One final three-coin set with coins honoring Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site in Alabama, the final quarter of the America the Beautiful Quarters® Program, will be released in 2021. For more information about this program and all products on sale in the series, visit: https://catalog.usmint.gov/coins/coin-programs/america-the-beautiful-quarters-program/.

To reduce the risk of employee exposure to COVID-19 in the workplace, the Mint’s sales centers are closed until further notice. Additionally, due to operational adjustments in response to COVID-19, our customer service representatives are available to assist with any questions you may have, but are unable to accept credit card information or place your order over the phone. Please use our website for all order placements at this time.

The Mint launched the America the Beautiful Quarters Program in 2010 as authorized by Public Law 110–456, the America’s Beautiful National Parks Quarter Dollar Coin Act of 2008 (Act). The Act called for the Mint to issue 56 quarter-dollar coins with reverse designs depicting national parks and other national sites in each state or territory and the District of Columbia. The year 2020 marks the 11th year of the program. The program will conclude with one final coin to be issued in 2021.

Note: To ensure that all members of the public have fair and equal access to United States Mint products, the United States Mint will not accept and will not honor orders placed prior to the official on-sale date of Nov. 5, 2020 at noon EST.

The Royal Mint Museum announces Wales-wide story competition to mark 50 years since Decimalisation

Nov 6, 2020 | Announcements

To mark the 50th anniversary of decimalisation, The Royal Mint Museum has announced a new short-story competition for school children in Wales. The competition is open to all pupils in years five and six, and the winning story will be selected by guest judge and celebrated children’s author, Eloise Williams.

Pupils are asked to write a short story of no more than 500 words inspired by Decimal Day in 1971 and the change to decimal money. Pupils are able to write about any topic that relates to decimalisation, but some inspiration ideas for the story are:

“What if coins could talk, what would they tell us?”
“What do you think decimal day was like for people using the new money for the first time?”
“Imagine you are a shiny, new, decimal coin. What sort of adventures might you have once you have left the Royal Mint?”

2021 will mark the 50th anniversary of decimalisation. In February 1971 Britain took the historic step of changing its coinage from pounds, shillings and pence to a decimal currency system, with 100 pennies to the pound, which we use today. This change impacted the entire nation, bringing people together as they learnt to master this new money. It was also the start of a new chapter in the long history of The Royal Mint, moving to a site in South Wales to cope with the demands of making billions of new coins.

Eloise Williams, Children’s Laureate Wales and judge for the competition said, “I am thrilled to have been asked to judge this inspiring competition. I grew up very near The Royal Mint and have such wonderful memories of Llantrisant. As Children’s Laureate Wales I am very excited to encourage creative writing in young people and look forward to reading the stories. The key ingredients I am looking for are creativity and imagination – use those in abundance and you can’t go wrong. Looking forward to reading the stories!”

Dr Kevin Clancy, Director of the Royal Mint Museum says “The team at the Royal Mint Museum have been planning a project to commemorate decimalisation for a long time so it is very exciting to see the first element of the project, our short-story competition, being launched. We are very much looking forward to reading the stories written by primary school children in Wales.”

Schools will receive their invitation to participate by post and can seek further information by going to the Museum’s website: royalmintmuseum.org.uk. Closing date for entries to the competition is 11th December and stories can be submitted digitally or posted to the Royal Mint Museum.

United States Mint Opens Sales in November for the End of World War II 75th Anniversary Coins and Medal Program

Nov 5, 2020 | Announcements, U.S. Mint

WASHINGTON– Beginning in November, the United States Mint (Mint) is releasing four products to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the End of World War II.

November 5

End of World War II 75th Anniversary American Eagle Gold Proof Coin (20XE)
Product Limit: 1,945
Price: Per Pricing Grid

The obverse 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 (tails) features a male eagle carrying an olive branch flying above a nest containing a female eagle and eaglets. The 22-karat gold coin is struck in West Point and bears the “W” mintmark. The coin is packaged in burgundy velvet, satin-lined presentation case.

End of World War II 75th Anniversary American Eagle Silver Proof Coin (20XF)
Product Limit: 75,000
Price: $83.00

The obverse features Adolph A. Weinman’s full-length figure of Liberty in full stride, enveloped in folds of the flag, with her right hand extended and branches of laurel and oak in her left. The reverse (tails) features a heraldic eagle with shield, an olive branch in the right talon and arrows in the left. The coin is struck in West Point and bears the “W” mint mark. The coin is packaged in a blue velvet satin-lined presentation case.

Both coins include a special privy mark incorporated on the obverse symbolizing the 75th anniversary of the triumph of World War II with “V75.” The design outline of the privy mark represents the aerial view shape of the Rainbow Pool located at West Potomac Park in Washington, D.C., which is now an integral part of the World War II Memorial.

November 9

End of World War II 75th Anniversary 24-Karat Gold Coin (20XG)
Product Limit: 7,500
Price: Per Pricing Grid

Packaged in a burgundy velvet presentation case, this West Point-minted 99.99 percent gold coin bears an obverse design featuring an eagle in flight grasping an olive branch, symbolizing peace, in its right talon. Mint Artistic Infusion Program (AIP) artist Ronald Sanders created the design, which was sculpted by Mint Medallic Artist Phebe Hemphill. The design is inspired by the 1945 version of the Great Seal of the United States, where the eagle faces to the right, toward the olive branch. Inscriptions are “LIBERTY,” “1945,” and “WORLD WAR II.” The reverse (tails) design echoes the sun element featured on the obverse of the 1945 Victory Medal. The sun from that medal has, 75 years later, risen to noonday brilliance. It shines on the symbolic olive branches on the left. Inscriptions are “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,” “E PLURIBUS UNUM,” “IN GOD WE TRUST,” “75th ANNIVERSARY,” “2020,” “AU 24K 1/2 OZ.,” and “$25.” AIP artist Donna Weaver created this design, which Mint Medallic Artist Renata Gordon sculpted.

End of World War II 75th Anniversary Silver Medal (20XH)
Product Limit: 20,000
Price: $75.00

This medal is produced at the Philadelphia Mint and displays the same obverse design and inscriptions as that of the 24-karat gold coin. The medal also displays the same reverse design as the 24-karat gold coin, but with the sole inscription “75th ANNIVERSARY.” The medal is packaged in a blue velvet satin-lined presentation case. A decorative sleeve and Certificate of Authenticity with WWII-related information accompanies each of the coins and the silver medal.

Sales for all products begin at noon EST on the respective dates. Orders for each option will be limited to one per household for the first 24 hours of sales. The Mint will remove the limit following the initial 24-hour sales period. Please use our website for all order placements at this time.

To sign up for Remind Me alerts, visit:

To reduce the risk of employee exposure to COVID-19 in the workplace, the Mint’s sales centers are closed until further notice. Additionally, due to operational adjustments in response to COVID-19, our customer service representatives are available to assist with any questions you may have but are unable to accept credit card information or place your order over the phone. Please use our website for all order placements at this time.

Introducing NCIC Forums

Nov 4, 2020 | Announcements, NCIC

Good morning, this is Doug Davis from the Nonprofit, Numismatic Crime Information Center.

Today I would like to introduce you to our new forums section of NCIC. Please take the time to visit our site, check out our forums, and start conversations about the crimes being committed in our industry. Keep up to date on the newest crimes in your area and feel free to post any information you may have pertaining to a particular crime.

Today is the very first day of our new forums, under the Resources drop-down menu on the main page of the website. The following is a direct link to the forums, http://numismaticcrimes.org/ncic-forums/. When you register you will notice there isn’t much activity, so please be one of the first people to start a post so we can make this a place you regularly visit and have discussions! If you have questions, please post a new topic and we will help!

We are also adding a second section related to security and risk assessment.

We want to hear about and have you share the ways you have been protecting yourself, your coin shop, and traveling to and from shows.

The Numismatic Crime Information Center is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation whose mission is to serve as a national and international resource for collectors, dealers, and law enforcement in the education, prevention, and investigation of crimes involving coins, paper money, tokens, medals, and related numismatic items.

NCIC disseminates current crime-related issues to the numismatic industry and provides local, state and federal law enforcement agencies with the fundamental investigative techniques, knowledge, and understanding to respond effectively to the complex challenges encountered during a numismatic crime.

Sincerely,

Doug Davis
817-723-7231
Doug@numismaticcrimes.org

Tower of London’s role as the ‘infamous prison’ to be marked with new coin by The Royal Mint

Nov 2, 2020 | Announcements

The Royal Mint have today released a new £5 coin which reflects on the Tower of London’s historic role as a state prison. The coin was created by the Royal Mint in collaboration with Historic Royal Palaces – the independent charity which cares for the Tower of London – and is the final coin in a collection of four commemorative Tower of London coins.

The coin’s design includes the inscription, ‘My Libertie Denied’ which was carved onto the wall of the Beauchamp Tower in 1581 by prisoner Thomas Miagh, who was accused of leading a rebellion against Queen Elizabeth I. The reverse design features a special Tower mint mark, which can also be found on the other coins within The Tower of London collection.

The Tower of London was built as a fortress and royal palace, but also served as a prison for those who were deemed to pose the greatest threat to national security. The first prisoner of the Tower of London was Ranulf Flambard, Bishop of Durham who was charged with embezzlement in 1100; although he was also the first person to escape the prison, just a year later in 1101. Other famous prisoners of the Tower include Anne Boleyn, Guy Fawkes and even Princess Elizabeth, who was later crowned Elizabeth I. The last people held at the Tower of London were the Kray twins in 1952.

Clare Maclennan, Divisional Director of Commemorative Coin at The Royal Mint said: “The final coin in our special Tower of London collection commemorates the history of the prisoners held at the Tower. Designer Timothy Noad explores the story of the prisoners themselves, by featuring a haunting piece of graffiti etched onto the Tower’s wall in the 16th century; ‘My Libertie Denied’, truly encapsulating the human side of what we think of today as the infamous prison.”

Emma Saunders, Head of Brand Licensing and Business Development at Historic Royal Palaces commented: “The Prisoners coin, the final release of what has been such a special collection, commemorates one of the most notorious functions of the Tower – as a prison. It is little known that many of the Tower’s prisoners sought to be remembered by leaving detailed and artistic carvings in the Tower’s stone walls. These graffiti, which can still be seen by visitors today, give us a visceral connection to this important part of the building’s history.”

The 2020 Tower of London Series Coin Specifications
Coin title	The Tower of London Collection – The Infamous Prison 2020 UK £5 Brilliant Uncirculated Coin	The Tower of London Collection – The Infamous Prison 2020 UK £5 Silver Proof Coin	The Tower of London Collection – The Infamous Prison 2020 UK £5 Silver Proof Piedfort Coin	The Tower of London Collection – The Infamous Prison 2020 UK £5 Gold Proof Coin
Denomination	£5	£5	£5	£5
Alloy	Cupro-nickel	925 Ag	925 Ag	916.7 Au
Weight	28.28g	28.28g	56.56g	39.94g
Diameter	38.61mm	38.61mm	38.61mm	38.61mm
Obverse Designer	Jody Clark	Jody Clark	Jody Clark	Jody Clark
Reverse Designer	Timothy Noad	Timothy Noad	Timothy Noad	Timothy Noad
Quality	Brilliant Uncirculated	Proof	Proof	Proof
Edge Lettering	–	THE INFAMOUS PRISON	THE INFAMOUS PRISON	THE INFAMOUS PRISON
Maximum Coin Mintage	Unlimited	1510	410	135
RRP	£13.00	£82.50	£155.00	£2,640