Coin Collectors News

Fresh, High-End Coins Star in Legend Rare Coin Auctions’ Regency Auction 40

Aug 29, 2020 | Auctions, News

(Lincroft, NJ—August 29, 2020)—Legend Rare Coin Auctions just concluded an immensely successful Regency Auction, the firm’s 40th, in Las Vegas. The official auction of the PCGS Members Only Show, LRCA’s hand-curated, boutique-style offered a wide array of popular coins in many different series. The sale was highlighted by fresh, collector oriented coins that yet again proved the depth and breadth of the coin market. A wave of bidders came in during the last 24 hours of prebidding or live during the sale; participating online, leaving absentee bids, or phone bidding. While the sale did not have any six-figure rarities, there were a number of mid-five figure coins that found new homes. Starting strong was lot 4, the fabulous 1837 N-16 cent from the Naftzger Collection, graded PCGS MS65+ RD CAC, which sold for a record $42,300. (Note: this and all prices reported here include the 17.5% buyer’s premium). A few lots later, lot 11, the finest known 1861 Proof Indian Head cent in PCGS PR66+ CAM CAC, smashed the previous auction record for a Cameo 1861 cent when it sold for $55,813 (the prior record was $15,000 for a PR65 CAM). Near the end of the sale, lot 358, a superb MS66+ CAC 1915-S $20 realized $52,875, also smashing a recent record for the issue (in January 2020, another example sold for $36,000).

“Bidding activity was very strong, fierce in fact for many coins during the sale,” said Matthew Bell, C.E.O. of Legend Rare Coin Auctions. “Live participation was incredibly strong, continuing the trend we have seen throughout the year, as buyers continue to bid live instead of prebidding.”

“With limited coin shows and other opportunities for collectors and dealers to buy great, world-class quality coins, auctions have almost exclusive attention, free of those other venues,” explained LRCA founder, Laura Sperber. “As we continue with these trends of no major, national conventions, to get top dollar and exposure, you have to put your coins in auction, and no one has proved this more than we have in the last six months!”

Among the highlight prices realized of Regency Auction 40 are:

Lot 4. 1C 1837 N-16. Medium Letters. PCGS MS65+ RD CAC, realized $42,300
Lot 11. 1C 1861 PCGS PR66+ CAM CAC, realized $55,813
Lot 18. 1C 1922 No D. Strong Reverse. PCGS MS64 BN CAC, realized $47,000
Lot 29. 1C 1950 PCGS MS67+ RD CAC, realized $10,575
Lot 123. 25C 1927-S PCGS MS65, realized $12,338
Lot 150. 50C 1920-S PCGS MS66, realized $38,775
Lot 218. 50C 1963 NGC MS66 FBL, realized $15,275
Lot 319. $2.50 1892 PCGS PR66 DCAM, realized $27,025
Lot 321 $2.50 1911-D PCGS MS65 CAC, realized $64,625
Lot 347. $20 1865 NGC MS64 CAC, ex S.S. Republic, realized $21,150
Lot 358. $20 1915-S PCGS MS66+ CAC, realized $52,875
Lot 366. $10 1860 Clark Gruber. PCGS XF40, realized $21,738

Legend Rare Coin Auctions’ Regency Auction 41 is up next and will be one of the greatest auctions of the decade with the sale of the Bruce Morelan Collection, featuring the world’s most expensive coin, the Specimen 1794 silver dollar, along with the Dexter-Dunham-Pogue 1804 silver dollar, and an impressive offering of 18th-century type coins, including two gorgeous near-Gem caliber 1795 $5 and $10 gold pieces. Selling alongside these American numismatic treasures is Part 2 of the Roadrunner Toned Dollar Collection, which features a superb 1895 Proof only dollar in PR67+ CAM CAC and an 1896 MS68 CAC. A collection of $10 Indians anchors an impressive array of gold coins. The consignment deadline has passed, and cataloging is in full swing.

LRCA is now accepting consignments for Regency Auction 42, being held on December 3rd. To consign to this important auction event, contact a consignment specialist today. Call the office at 732-935-1168 or email info@legendauctions.com.

Updated Whitman Encyclopedia of Colonial and Early American Coins Debuts in a New Second Edition

Aug 29, 2020 | Announcements

(Pelham, Alabama) — Whitman Publishing announces the release of the Whitman Encyclopedia of Colonial and Early American Coins, second edition, by Q. David Bowers. The 352-page hardcover book will debut in September 2020, available from booksellers and hobby shops nationwide, and online (including at www.Whitman.com), for $49.95.

The Whitman Encyclopedia is the definitive reference on the coins, tokens, and related issues of colonial America and the early years of the fledgling United States. Before the first edition was published in 2009, collectors and dealers had no single, authoritative guide to these fascinating relics of everyday American life dating from the mid-1600s to the early 1800s.

In the fully revised and updated second edition, Bowers and his panel of dozens of specialists add coins newly discovered over the past ten years. They bring fresh historical research to the text, updating hundreds of catalog entries with new information, rarity figures, retail market pricing and auction records, and new photographs.

The Whitman Encyclopedia of Colonial and Early American Coins covers:

how to collect, grade, and identify colonial coins and tokens
how money was made and spent in early America
minting and distribution
silver coins of Massachusetts
early British coins and tokens struck for America
French New World issues
American coins and tokens from 1783 to 1788
other early American pieces
later European coins and tokens minted for America
George Washington coins, tokens, and medals
foreign coins traditionally collected along with colonials
nineteenth-century copies and fantasies

Bowers, widely known as the “Dean of American Numismatics” and the most published author in the field, has written an engaging text supported by nearly 2,000 full-color photographs, extensive auction data, market values and commentary, historical price trends, rarities, a selected bibliography, and an index with more than 700 entries.

The first edition earned the praise of the hobby community, including the Numismatic Literary Guild’s award for “Best Specialized Book, United States Coins.”

Kenneth Bressett, editor emeritus of the Guide Book of United States Coins, said, “Each coin type has been carefully documented, as are all of the notable variations. The story of money in early America—of the winning of financial freedom for our emerging nation—is reflected and amplified in each of the coins described.” The first edition won recognition from experts in the state coinages of New York, Virginia, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Connecticut, Fugio coppers, coinage of the Republic of Vermont, Nova Constellatio coins, and other specialties. Numismatic researcher George J. Fuld predicted that it would replace Sylvester S. Crosby’s seminal Early Coins of America. Louis E. Jordan III, Head of Special Collections and the Medieval Institute Library at the University of Notre Dame, called the book “very easy to read, while presenting a great deal of useful information.” Jordan in particular noted the finding guides included for the major coin series. Numismatist Eric P. Newman praised Bowers’s “encyclopedic knowledge and devotion to American colonial and Confederation coinage.” Historian Joel J. Orosz said the Whitman Encyclopedia “covers expert information with authority, yet is written with such marvelous clarity that even novice collectors will find it indispensable.”

# # #

Whitman Encyclopedia of Colonial and Early American Coins, second edition.
By Q. David Bowers; foreword by Kenneth Bressett; valuations editor Jeff Garrett; research editor Julia H. Casey.
ISBN 0794847277.
Hardcover, 8.5 x 11 inches.
352 pages.
Full color.
Retail $49.95 U.S.

PCGS Will Grade Historic Colorized United States Mint Coins

Aug 29, 2020 | Announcements

2020 Basketball Hall of Fame Coins will be a first for the Mint

(Santa Ana, California) – August 26, 2020 – Professional Coin Grading Service (www.PCGS.com) will grade and have special insert labels for colorized 2020 Basketball Hall of Fame Clad Half Dollars and Silver Dollars, the first colorized coins to ever be officially issued by the United States Mint. These special United States Mint Commemorative Coins, being colorized post-strike by private vendor Lularose, will be sold to the public through the United States Mint in limited quantities and are scheduled to be released starting August 28.

“We are excited to work with the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on grading these historic colorized United States coins,” remarks PCGS President Brett Charville. “Not only is it a thrill to be involved with this unprecedented United States Mint Commemorative Coin program, but we looking forward to adding United States coins to the growing list of colorized coins that we’ve been grading from other nations around the world for years now.”

PCGS will be offering a special label recognizing these Basketball Hall of Fame Commemorative Coins as the first colorized coinage issued by the United States Mint. The Mint has stipulated a relatively small mintage limit of only 75,000 colorized half dollars and 75,000 colorized dollars – mere fractions of the total production limits of 750,000 and 400,000, respectively, for those curved coins.

The colorization is being performed on the common reverse shared by the half dollar and dollar, depicting a closeup of a thrown basketball entering a netted hoop. On the colorized half dollar, there is red colorization on the rim, white laces of the netting, and fully colorization of an orange and black basketball. The colorized dollar features a red rim, white laces, and black grooves in the basketball.

The colorized half dollar will be issued for $55 while the colorized dollar will sell for $95, with both prices being higher than for the non-colorized versions of those two coins. The United States Mint is implementing an ordering limit of two coins for each option during the first 24 hours after release on Friday, August 28 at Noon Eastern Time. Those who submit their colorized 2020 Basketball Hall of Fame Coins for grading at PCGS will receive a free, limited-edition Orange PCGS Storage Box while supplies last.

For more information about submitting your colorized 2020 Basketball Hall of Fame Half Dollars and Dollars to PCGS and to find out how to receive the free, limited-edition Orange PCGS Storage Box, please visit www.PCGS.com/hof.

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 nearly 35 years, PCGS has examined and certified some 44.4 million U.S. and world coins, medals, and tokens with a combined value of more than $41.8 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.

United States Mint Opens Sales of Colorized Basketball Hall of Fame Commemorative Coins on August 28

Aug 26, 2020 | Announcements, U.S. Mint

WASHINGTON – The United States Mint (Mint) will begin accepting orders for colorized Basketball Hall of Fame Commemorative Coins on August 28 at noon EDT. The colorization will be featured on the reverses (tails) of the Basketball Hall of Fame Silver Dollar and the Basketball Hall of Fame Clad Half Dollar. Mintage is set at 75,000 coins for each denomination.

: Colorized Basketball Hall of Fame Half Dollar Clad Coin (Image courtesy of the U.S. Mint)

: Colorized Basketball Hall of Fame Silver Dollar Coin (Image courtesy of the U.S. Mint)

These historic coins are the first in the Mint’s history to have color applied to their design elements. The reverse design of the colorized silver dollar depicts a basketball with black seams about to pass through a white net, with its rim rendered in a familiar orange hue associated with the sport and the Hall of Fame. Inscriptions are “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,” “E PLURIBUS UNUM,” and “ONE DOLLAR.”

The reverse design of the colorized half dollar depicts an orange basketball with black seams about to pass through a white net, with the basketball and net’s rim rendered in two distinct shades of the familiar orange hue associated with the sport and the Hall of Fame. Inscriptions are “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,” “E PLURIBUS UNUM,” and “HALF DOLLAR.”

The obverse (heads) design of all coins in the Basketball Hall of Fame Commemorative Coin Program portrays the fast pace, intensity, and hands-on action of a basketball game–the constant, competitive struggle for possession of the ball and the skill required to clear the hoop. The design features three players reaching for the ball in unison, reflecting how the sport of basketball has brought together diverse people around the world through a simple, universal, and unifying athletic experience. Their arms are slightly elongated to emphasize the full exertion of physical and mental energy required to excel in this sport. The rim and net are subtle background design elements complementing the three players. Inscriptions are “LIBERTY,” “IN GOD WE TRUST,” and “2020.”

A Certificate of Authenticity accompanies each coin. A limited quantity of Certificates of Authenticity for each of the Basketball Hall of Fame Colorized Coins will be hand-signed and numbered by the Mint Director David J. Ryder. The signed and numbered Certificates of Authenticity will be randomly included in shipments for these products from the United States Mint’s fulfillment center.

The Basketball Hall of Fame Colorized Silver Dollar (product code 20CN) is priced at $95.00, and the Basketball Hall of Fame Colorized Clad Half Dollar (product code 20CP) is priced at $55.00. The Mint is currently accepting orders only at its online catalog at

https://catalog.usmint.gov/basketball-hall-of-fame-2020-colorized-silver-dollar-20CN.html?cgid=commemoratives#start=1 (product code 20CN)
https://catalog.usmint.gov/basketball-hall-of-fame-2020-colorized-half-dollar-20CP.html?cgid=commemoratives#start=1 (product code 20CP).

Orders will be limited to two coins per household for each product option for the first 24 hours of sales, after which the limit will be removed. Information about shipping options is available at catalog.usmint.gov/customer-service/shipping.html.

Due to the impact of COVID-19, the Mint’s sales centers are closed until further notice.

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 and time of Aug. 28, 2020, at noon EDT.