Numismatic News November 26, 2024

The Board of Trustees of the American Numismatic Society (ANS) is pleased to announce the 2025 Trustees’ Award to the New York International Numismatic Convention (NYINC), to be presented at the ANS Annual Gala on January 16, 2025, at the Century Association. This award honors the organizers of NYINC, as the convention is one of the most significant events in the United States for the numismatic community, bringing together collectors, dealers, and enthusiasts of world and ancient coins, including many supporters of the ANS. The first NYINC was held in December 1971, and in the decades since has become the most prominent convention in the United States for dealers and auction houses for world and ancient coins. Today, in addition to the bourse and auction sessions, the convention hosts club…

America is home to some of the greatest innovators in history. The lightbulb, airplane and telephone are just a few to name. Some inventions we use every day, and others not so much, but are still great and have impacted not only our great country but people across the world. This is just part of what makes the U.S. Mint’s innovation dollars so interesting. The reverse proof set includes the Illinois, Alabama, Maine and Missouri innovation coin. The Illinois coin recognizes the steel plow invented by John Lane. Alabama’s coin celebrates the Saturn V rocket that successfully launched the Apollo 11 Mission. Maine’s $1 innovation coin honors Dr. Bernard Lown, who invented the direct current defibrillator, which revolutionized cardiac care. Last but not least, Missouri honors George Washington Carver, who…

Here are some answers sent from our e-newsletter readers. Read more responses at www.numismaticnews.com. What is the best coin collecting advice you’ve ever recieved? Learn to grade! The corollary to that is to learn the characteristics of a series or design, such as which Buffalo nickels tend to be struck with worn dies, that Mercury dimes can have full split bands, Standing quarters can have fully defined heads and Walking halves can have full hand detail, even on S-mints. A knowledgeable, selective buyer will be well rewarded. Gary Burhop Memphis, Tenn. Never clean a coin. Rob Nebraska The best advice that I ever got was to keep all of your coins in albums and coin tubes. With the albums, you can see many of your coins at one quick glance.…

■ I’ve seen 1837 dimes identified as being Large Date or Small Date, or as Flat Top or Curly Top. Which descriptions are the same? The 1837 Large Date Capped Bust dime has a peaked 1, while the date curves, following the contour of the rim. The Small Date variety has a flat top 1, with the date arranged in a straight line. Thus, the Large Date and the Curly Top are the same, as are the Flat Top and Small Date. ■ I’m considering collecting original coin rolls. Can you give me some guidance on what I should consider collecting? The choice is always up to the taste of the collector. There is significant interest in pre-1964 Uncirculated rolls of silver dimes, quarters, and half dollar rolls. There are…

I call the fractional “coin” illustrated here a replica of a replica. Period authentic California Fractional gold pieces did not have bears in their design (Fig.1). Fractional gold pieces were made after the Gold Rush Era to help alleviate the shortage of money. Later, in the early part of the Twentieth Century, imitations made of gold were reproduced as souvenir charms. Later still, a series of these pieces were produced in a set called “Coins of the Golden West.” The authentic pieces, charms, and souvenir pieces made of gold are popular and have become expensive over the decades. That has caused the market to be flooded by virtually worthless gold-colored reproductions. Note the copper color showing through the gilt surface as the piece became worn; I’m preparing a future column…

Our nation’s experiment with two-cent pieces over one hundred and fifty years ago produced a series of copper coins that have been forgotten by virtually everyone, with the exception of collectors and a select group of historians. There are probably a bunch of reasons for this. Maybe it’s that the entire series ran from only 1864 to 1872, with an additional proof-only issue in 1873. Maybe it’s that the design work of Mr. James Longacre doesn’t stand out when we compare it to other classic designs of the nineteenth century. Perhaps it’s simply that these are copper pieces, and despite being classic United States coins, they contain no precious metal. Whether it is one of these reasons or a combination of them all, two-cent pieces always tend to be beyond…