Innholdsfortegnelse for July 29, 2025 i Numismatic News

Think about what it is about coins and currency that captured your interest in the hobby of numismatics. While some of you may have started simply from the prospect of financial preservation or gain, that did not necessarily turn you into someone who studies money. The reasons why coins were created, and where and when that occurred, tell stories that can captivate your interest. The earliest coins from the kingdom of Lydia certainly weren’t works of art by today’s technological standards, but the details of how they were handcrafted tell the story of the technology of that era. There is a story of why today’s dirham monetary unit in Morocco traces its name back to the ancient Greek drachm over 2,500 years ago and 1,500 miles away. Do you know…

Here are some answers sent from our e-newsletter readers. Read more responses at www.numismaticnews.net. How do you define eye appeal in a coin, and what aspects matter most when evaluating it? A coin has the most eye appeal to me when it is fully struck and its surfaces are as close as possible to what it was like when it was first minted with the least amount of blemishes of any kind or toning. Louis Iudiciani Cumberland, R.I. I look for sharpness in the features of the coin…Gently worn is okay. KE Germantown, Ohio The date, followed by the mint mark. I like to think about who might have handled it, and what was going on in the world at the time. Name and Address Withheld I just usually look…

Gold coins always attract collectors. Though Yancey Rayburn’s March 1966 Coins magazine article, “When the Ottawa Mint Served All the British Empire,” suggests some of the Canadian sovereigns were slow to attract attention. “Collectors often overlook the gold sovereigns struck by the Ottawa mint between 1908 and 1919, in favor of the more popular or distinctly Canadian issues,” Rayburn wrote. “These seemingly ‘English’ coins had a definite place in the Canadian and imperial financial system of the time. They also show something of the old spirit and philosophy of the British Empire in its heyday, before the Commonwealth. “The only identifying feature that links these coins with their country of origin is the letter C, which is small and practically hidden on the reverse, above the date. Actually, the sovereigns…

If you read my previous column, did you categorize yourself? Did you identify with any of the CoinTalk collectors I discussed? Are you a collector who acquires and holds, or do you sometimes sell some of your treasures to finance more collecting? In this column, I’m going to let some more CoinTalk collectors identify themselves. The first respondent called himself a “happenstance collector,” but he’s much more than that, as you’ll see. “Started as a kid with albums of dimes, pennies, and nickels. Always intrigued with ‘foreign’ coinage and collected from countries I didn’t have. Have roll searched and dug into bins at coin shows and even sold some on bid-boards. I scan Craigslist and recently stopped a VERY nice lady from selling 90 percent silver for four times face.…

My favorite coin in this column is an 1893 Isabella quarter, graded MS63 by PCGS. My notes for the coin indicate that I consider it “Blast White,” that is, lacking any toning. The coin also has a good strike. As a quarter, the Isabella coin is an oddity among the early commemoratives, the vast majority of which were minted as half dollars. Like the 1892 and 1893 Columbian half dollars, the Isabella quarter was a numismatic souvenir of the World’s Columbian Exposition. Held in Chicago, the Exposition celebrated the 400th anniversary of the discovery of America by Christopher Columbus. With hefty mintages for classic commemoratives, the Columbian half dollars, dated 1892 and 1893, are common in almost any grade. The Isabella quarter is much less common. The authorizing legislation for…

The weekly Show Directory lists all coin and paper money events scheduled within one month of the issue cover date. Show dates and times sometimes change at the last minute. Please contact the show promoter BEFORE traveling long distances. SHOW PROMOTERS: Run your show announcement FREE! Just email the information indicated in the form below to numismatics@aimmedia.com. All timely listings are also included in both Bank Note Reporter and World Coin News at NO CHARGE. *Dependent upon date of submission relevant to deadline and space availability. Want to make your show really STAND OUT? Whether you need dealers on the floor or collectors at the gate, Numismatic News offers the best, most qualified coin and paper money collector and dealer audience around – AND we have the means to reach…

■ Why were sample slabs given out for free at coin shows? Sample slabs were given out as good publicity for the companies using them. The companies using them likely sought feedback as well. Sample slabs currently in use continue to be given out at some major coin shows today for the same reasons ■ Do the third-party certification services grade physical Cryptocurrency? Professional Coin Grading Service guarantees the condition, but not the value associated with each token. If a token has a private key present, but that key is obscured, it will be noted on the third-party insert. NGC “does not grade or certify cryptocurrencies, but rather focuses on grading and authenticating coins, tokens, and medals,” according to its website. ■ You refer to Cryptocurrency as being tokens. Is…

Probably nothing is a better recipe for a coin being considered far beyond the mainstream than minting them, but never expecting anyone to use them. We’re not talking commemoratives here; those are usually purchased by the collecting community because they have some special value. We’re not even talking the classic Morgan dollars, many of which were minted and then simply kept in storage for decades. No, we are talking about the very modern, very real American Innovation Dollar series, which now has several years of history under its belt. Plenty of folks might remember that first issue, but have let the rest of the series fade into our collective memory, even as it unfolds. Number one As with many coins and coin series, the American Innovation Dollars came roaring out…

Three-cent coins made out of copper-nickel have long been an embarrassing stepchild of American numismatics. They arose from the terrible conflict of the Civil War, but were genuinely popular with the public for only a limited amount of time. In many ways, the history of the three-cent coin goes back to the days of the California Gold Rush in the late 1840s. While everyone knows that large amounts of gold were mined in the West during the late 1840s and early 1850s, few are aware that there was too much of the precious metal. In conjunction with equally massive strikes of gold in Australia, the world monetary systems began to crumble under the shock of all that gold. Most of the economies of the world had a bimetallic coinage system,…

On Independence Day, the United States Mint (Mint) began a countdown to the 250th Anniversary of the United States. In 2026, the United States will mark 250 years of independence—and for one year only—our circulating coins will feature designs to celebrate this historic milestone. Each coin will tell a piece of America’s story—its people, its ideals, and its journey. This limited-year redesign honors the past while inspiring the future, capturing the spirit of a nation still in the making. Currently, the Mint is working closely with the Secretary of the Treasury to finalize these designs, which will be shared with the public later this year. In addition to releasing newly designed circulating coins in 2026, the Mint will also release a one-year-only Best of the Mint coin collection that reflects…

Whitman announced the upcoming release of Kids Love Coins!, a joyful and engaging introduction to the world of coin collecting for young readers. Written by acclaimed children’s author Charles Ghigna—widely known as Father Goose®—and Andi Martin, and brought to life by illustrator Jacqueline East, this beautifully crafted 32-page picture book is designed to spark curiosity and inspire a lifelong love of coins in children ages 3 and up. From Lincoln cents to Kennedy half dollars and beyond, Kids Love Coins! presents fascinating facts about U.S. coins—what they’re made of, who and what is featured on them, where they’re minted, and how they are used—all in rhyming verse paired with vivid, full-color illustrations. Children will also learn the parts of a coin, basic coin terminology, and the joys of starting their…

It was 75 years ago this summer that I first ventured forth into what was to become a lifetime passion - coin collecting! As a 10-year-old youngster, I was out experiencing the exploration of a new community occasioned by a seasonal business venture my father had undertaken to Kalkaska and seeking out new friends. Tucked away about 25 miles east of Traverse City, in the northern reaches of Michigan’s lower peninsula, there I shortly found myself engaged with a youngster of similar age, Robert Anderson, who, with his mother, sought to have me share their fascination with collecting postally cancelled stamps. Their entreaty didn’t take, but an upshot unfolded: an ad appearing in a hobby publication they subscribed to caught my eye. It was from the Tatham Stamp & Coin…

Bullion and intrinsically valued coins continue to be in the headlines. This includes all previous silver and gold coins struck for circulation, the more modern American Eagle coins, and modern commemoratives. Silver hasn’t grabbed the limelight as has gold, but its spot price has risen 27 percent so far this year. The spot price of gold has risen by 29 percent. It’s challenging to determine which way the future price of these coin types will go, but while gold is used primarily in collector and investor coins as well as commemoratives and jewelry, silver has what appears to be an increasing industrial demand. While collectors and investors clamor for more silver coins, the greater demand is coming from solar-panel makers. According to the June 20 Wall Street Journal, “But prices…

Stack’s Bowers Galleries, America’s oldest and most accomplished numismatic auctioneer, is pleased to report its June 2025 Showcase Auction realized $6,330,857, well exceeding presale estimates. Strong bidding was seen throughout the sessions, with gold coins attracting the highest bids. A lovely 1826/6 quarter eagle, graded MS-61 by PCGS and endorsed by both CAC and CMQ, realized $132,000, a record for the grade and the second highest auction price ever realized for the issue. “We saw strong participation across all areas from the moment the sale opened for online bidding,” said Brian Kendrella, President of Stack’s Bowers Galleries. “The demand for rare and collectible coins, medals, and tokens remains strong, and many record prices were achieved.” The first session showcased medals, tokens, and colonial and federal coins through the twenty cent…

There have been some glaring headlines recently. Among them are “Teachers collection of over 130 ancient Roman coins auctions for over $1 million,” “Huge coin collection found hidden in house’s walls sells for nearly $3.5 million,” “Rare $2 [Australia] coins worth up to $350 amid huge spike in demand: Found one!” and “The penny is going away. Should you smash your piggy bank looking for rare ones?” Such headlines have one thing in common—they all focus on being mercenary rather than being hobby-oriented. A major coin convention was once perhaps not so humorously referred to as being the annual festival of greed. Collectible coins, especially those of the United States, are increasingly being viewed as commodities. Many people who might get involved with purchasing coins don’t necessarily view coins as…

Nothing compares to the feel of a double eagle in your hand. A silver dollar is similar, but knowing you have a big coin made of gold makes you feel on top of the world. Of course, you can’t pass it around to your friends if you care about grade, but the feeling is still great. Top-grade gold coins are rarely discussed because few collect them. A few collect Indian Head quarter or half eagles, but that is about all most consider because of price. Gold also can be a problem for those of us who are driven crazy if we see holes in our collections, for there are many tough gold coins. Gold coins become even tougher if you are someone who has to have an MS-65 or better.…