Innholdsfortegnelse for December 31, 2024 i Numismatic News

An exceedingly rare double eagle from the Carson City Mint will take flight into a new collection when it is sold in Heritage’s Dec. 12-15 US Coins Signature® Auction. The discovery of gold and silver ore in the Comstock Lode led to the establishment of the Carson City Mint, which opened in 1870 and struck its last coins 23 years later. However, the Nevada branch mint was the subject of much government controversy, particularly because of the competing influences regarding silver mining interests. The Mint’s coin production was suspended from 1886-88 after efforts to close down Comstock’s personal branch mint came as early as the facility’s first few days in operation. Congressman Thomas Fitch, the Representative for Nevada’s at-large district, made what was called a “strong and effective speech” against…

The Dec. 10 issue eLetters about coin cleaning were interesting to read but highlighted an issue that perhaps requires more attention by the numismatic community. There is more than one kind of coin cleaning. F. Michael Fazzari, in his articles, has discussed a good kind of cleaning he called coin conservation, which includes the removal of surface contaminants. This was, as I recall, contrasted with other harsher cleaning methods that were deemed inappropriate. It seems obvious one should remove surface contaminants from any coin taken from circulation or that has any foreign material stuck to its surface. Virtually all coins taken from circulation are covered with dirt and oil, and I can’t count the number of times a coin covered in PVC residue has ended up in my possession. Even…

It was not that long ago that I was struck by a thunderbolt, a metaphorical one, concerning my writing life. Up until that time, I had never seen my writing as being special or unique in any way whatsoever. I had just exploited my strengths: research and storytelling. I had seen my ability to write about different topics as a knack, considering myself to be a “generalist-specialist.” However, I recently came to the realization that, in the field of numismatic writing, I am a polymath. Turning towards numismatic writing At one time, an interest of mine was researching and writing about the Holocaust and the resistance against Nazism in Berlin. I saw the publication of my book Berlin Ghetto: Herbert Baum and the Anti-fascist Resistance (Spellmount 2012, United Kingdom). However,…

California Fractional gold is a popular collectible in a small package, but you must know what you are buying. I’ve noticed that many reproductions are selling for prices substantially higher than they are worth to unsuspecting collectors. The genuine pieces were issued as circulating small change over several periods beginning around 1852 by different makers (some are “signed”) until outlawed by the government. Around the turn of the Twentieth Century, they appeared again in different styles as souvenir charms. Later, a popular set of fantasy California Fractionals was produced under the name of “Coins of the Old West,” but they don’t contain any precious metal. By the 1960s, many imitations were on the market, and more recently, a flood of fakes, replicas, and imitations became widespread as the popularity and…

The National Stock and Bond Show, the largest annual event for collectors of historical stocks, bonds, and scripophily, is set to return to Herndon, Va., on Jan. 31– Feb. 1, 2025. Long known for its dedication to the collecting and preservation of financial history, this premier gathering has been a cornerstone for collectors, historians, and enthusiasts from all over the United States and around the world. The show offers attendees an opportunity to explore rare and unique documents that tell the story of global economic evolution and the development of capital markets. Scripophily [scrip-ah-fil-ly] is the hobby’s name for collecting old stock and bond certificates. Historical certificates, which otherwise have no value as financial claims, are bought for their artistic and historical value by collectors. Tens of thousands of Scripophily…

This year’s fall season was, by any measure, a pleasant one here in east Central Wisconsin. The weather was unusually warm, mild and dry. I reveled in the happenstance of finding myself largely unobligated where out-of-town travels were concerned. The first weekend of September did find me taking in the 65th annual ILNA convention in Finley Park while I hit the road to attend the 86th-anniversary INA convention in Des Moines on the last weekend of October. The following weekend, I did close the season out running down to the annual MNS show in Milwaukee. I’d also planned to attend the Nicolet Coin Club’s annual fall show in Green Bay, as usual, on the first Sunday of October, but an unexpected family development precluded taking in that event. The drive…

The year 2025 marks the United States Marine Corps’ 250th Anniversary. The Second Continental Congress passed a resolution on Nov. 10, 1775, stating that “two Battalions of Marines be raised” for service as landing forces with the fleet. Thus, the U.S. Marine Corps was established. The U.S. Mint’s U.S. Marine Corps 250th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Program is celebrating this milestone with three new coins: a $5 gold coin, a $1 silver coin and a half dollar clad coin. All three have a common reverse featuring an Eagle, Globe, and Anchor – the Marine Corps’ official emblem. The obverse of the gold coin depicts a Marine Corps color guard with the inscriptions “LIBERTY,” “IN GOD WE TRUST,” 1775,” and “2025.” The silver dollar obverse design shows the classic depiction of the…

■ How are coins shipped from the U.S. Mint? At one time, the mint shipped via the U.S. Post Office. This was followed by convoys of contracted armored vehicles. Today, armored cars still deliver circulation coinage to Federal Reserve banks. However, bullion and presidential dollar coins going to retailers and financial institutions are sent with “the mint paying shipping and handling fees for standard shipping, but customers are responsible for special handling fees.” ■ Are the terms numismatist and coin collector the same, or is there some distinction worth noting between them? Coin collecting is a hobby pastime. Granted, it is also a business for some people. Numismatics is a science, the science of money and how money impacts society, trade, politics, and more. When an archaeologist studies a find…

Stack’s Bowers Galleries presented its highly anticipated November 2024 Showcase Auction, in which incredibly fresh anchor collections saw intense bidding as many rarities set new price records. The offerings ranged from the earliest years of the colonial era to the most recent U.S. Mint issues, as well as United States currency and physical cryptocurrencies – something for every taste and budget. Across ten live and internet-only sessions, the November Showcase Auction realized an impressive total in excess of $30 million; the Rarities Night session alone realized an astonishing $15,334,140 (all prices include the buyer’s fee). Record prices were led by the newly discovered New England Threepence, unique in private hands, which realized $2,520,000, the finest PCGS-graded 1870-CC double eagle that sold for $1,440,000 and one of the finest known Baldwin…

Internationally known business executive, investor, journalist, author, and television personality Kevin “Mr. Wonderful” O’Leary believes gold is a smart investment. O’Leary will be a spokesman for Universal Coin & Bullion (www.UniversalCoin.com) of Beaumont, Texas in a series of national television and print advertisements about precious metal bullion coins and rare coins. “Knowing what makes a smart investment is my job. I believe everyone should own some gold as a hedge against inflation and for portfolio diversification,” said O’Leary. “When it comes to quality and reliability, I turn to my partner Universal Coin & Bullion. With their expertise and top-tier selection, they’re my go-to for high-quality gold and silver products,” O’Leary stated. “Kevin is a renowned, respected global investor, venture capitalist, and capital markets expert. His advocacy for gold ownership is…

Perhaps in relation to the beginning of a two-part, in-depth review of the history of coinage and coinage metals by Dr. Vladimir Clain-Stefanelli, then curator of the national numismatic collections at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History, Coins magazine publisher, Chester L. Krause, wrote in the October 1965 issue: “OF ALL THE DOCUMENTS that record world history, coins best combine the qualities of durability, beauty and availability. They’re collectible—for all of us. “The ruins of ancient Greece and Rome are dramatic monuments to the past, durable records from which the historian gains knowledge. But who can collect them? “Historic inscriptions on stone, papyrus and parchment are superb records of their eras, but how many exist, and, again, who can collect them? They’re museum pieces. “The weapons and utensils…

Professional Coin Grading Service (www.PCGS.com) recently encapsulated an outstanding example of a Canada 1954 Queen Elizabeth II Dollar revealing the appearance of the Devil’s likeness in the monarch’s hair. Widely known as the Queen Elizabeth II Devil’s Hair Dollar, the specimen submitted to PCGS Banknote is a Replacement Note graded Gem Uncirculated 66PPQ. “This is one of the quirkiest, dare I say most infamous, of all numismatic pieces from Canada,” said PCGS President Stephanie Sabin. “It’s the kind of novelty that has a lot of crossover collector appeal from various market segments. It’s a relatively common note in the absolute sense, but when it comes to the conditional rarity of this Replacement Note, a Gem Uncirculated 66PPQ like this is almost unheard of. We were very excited when this rarity…

Here are some answers sent from our e-newsletter readers. Read more responses at www.numismaticnews.com. What’s one feature you’d add to modern coins to make them more collectible? Tap into the hundreds of thousands of fine artists in this country to create new designs for all circulating coinage. So many of the quarter designs were just plain boring. Any college-level fine arts major could have done a MUCH better job and saved those programs. Name and Address withheld My thought on the subject of collecting would be making the running series shorter. State quarters nine years. American women quarters four years. That seems like a good period. But maybe it’s because it’s the dollar and not exactly pocket change. Ricky Laliberte Address withheld I would remove all dead presidents from the…

Although Thomas Jefferson sailed for France on July 5, 1784, and his new post as Minister to that country, his “Notes on the Coinage” continued to circulate among his fellow Confederation congressmen. In due course, there was sufficient interest among the delegates that Congress resolved in July 1785 that the monetary unit of the United States be the dollar and that the smallest copper coin pass at a rate of 200 to the dollar. Other coins were suggested in a decimal ratio between these two coins but not precisely named. As a result of the Congressional interest, a Grand Committee was appointed to consider the entire question of a mint and national coinage. Chaired by Congressman James Monroe, the committee made several suggestions that generally followed the Jefferson proposals. In…

Coins and bank notes are two of the major sectors of what is usually classified as being numismatic. The question often arises about if they are equal partners in the eyes of the collector. Since coins were invented prior to paper money and its equivalents, bank note collecting is sometimes viewed as a collectible stepchild to coins. One handicap bank note collectors face is that the value of this form of currency is not going to be impacted by intrinsic value, as can be coins. Should the hobby of bank note collecting be considered to be ragpicking, or should that designation be left to philatelists? I consider ragpicking to be a philatelic term for those people collecting stamps canceled but still on envelopes. Bank note collecting is still in its…

The Lincoln cent has a prominent place in United States numismatics. Many older collectors remember getting into the hobby by looking through hoards or rolls of these cents, much like newer collectors look through quarters today. Beyond this, there is a debate that has yet to be settled about the future of our humble one-cent coin. Some people, with some collectors included, think we should just phase it out and see how long the uncountable supply that already sits in coffee cans, ashtrays, and automobile cup holders can last, servicing everyday transactions. Other people are in favor of finding some less expensive material than the current zinc plated with copper and making one-cent coins from that – even if it is a heavy-duty type of plastic. Whatever the case, though,…

The National Coin & Bullion Association (NCBA) is proud to reemphasize its commitment to fostering the next generation of numismatists by contributing $5,000 to the Professional Numismatists Guild’s (PNG) NexGen Mentorship Program. This decision, supported unanimously by the NCBA board of directors, underscores our dedication to the future of the numismatic community. The NexGen Mentorship Program is a vital initiative connecting emerging numismatists with seasoned mentors, thereby fostering skills, relationships, and professional growth within the industry. With this financial support, NCBA sees a meaningful opportunity to collaborate with PNG as we launch the DiscoverNCBA promotion in January 2025 during the Florida United Numismatists Convention. DiscoverNCBA aims to empower young coin dealers by providing access to essential resources, industry connections, and educational tools tailored to their success. “NCBA’s contribution strengthens NexGen’s…

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