Unique 1873-S No-Arrows Half Dollar Listed on eBay
View the listing here.

With an minimum opening bid of $500,000, Paul Bosco, a New York dealer with tables at the 2008 ANA Convention, offered the "1873S No Arrows Discovery Coin," item number 300245146593 with a closing date of August 4, 2008.
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PCGS Removes Fake Coins, Dies From Market
August 18, 2008

As part of its consumer protection measures, Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) has purchased a half dozen coinage dies used to produce counterfeit Chinese coins. The dies will be displayed by PCGS at the Long Beach, California Coin, Stamp and Collectibles Expo, September 18 – 20, 2008, along with numerous counterfeit Chinese coins. The dies and coins were purchased through an on-line auction from a seller based in China.

"The dies are reasonably well-made but the counterfeit coins would be detected quickly as fakes by specialists in Chinese coinage. However, we wanted to remove these dies and coins from the market to protect unsuspecting or unwary collectors," said Ron Guth, President of PCGS, a division of Collectors Universe, Inc. (NASDAQ: CLCT). "Unfortunately, we suspect there are many more counterfeit coin dies out there."


"The seller offered a coin album with 80 fake coins that are confusingly referred to as 'Chinese Ackey.' An ackey is a silver coin minted in England in the late 18th and early 19th centuries and intended for use in parts of Africa, thus the use of the term here indicates a different application, possibly indicative of the coins' illegitimate status."

Guth said it appears the counterfeit dies are being used to strike coins until they wear out, after which the sale of the dies nets the counterfeiter even more money.


On a recent trip to Hong Kong, Guth saw numerous 80-coin "Appreciation on Chinese Ackey" sets available for sale in several locations including souvenir shops and street fairs. The sets ranged in priced from US$50 to US$250, subject to negotiation. Individual counterfeit coins and other, pre-packaged sets of fake coins were available in quantity at the shops and fairs.

"In general, the quality of the counterfeits offered to the general public was poor, unlike the higher-quality, individual coins we sometimes see in grading submissions coming out of Asia," said Guth.

The counterfeit dies and coins will be displayed during the September Long Beach Expo at the PCGS booth, # 807. PCGS will also have an educational exhibit of selected items from the company's extensive Grading Set. That display will be in Room 101-B.

For additional information, contact PCGS at (800) 447-8848. By e-mail at CustomerService@collectors.com. Online: www.PCGS.com.
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2008 United States Mint Silver Proof Set™ Available August 26
Annual set includes 14 coins, seven of them struck in 90 percent silver

WASHINGTON - The United States Mint announced today that sales for the 2008 United States Mint Silver Proof Set will begin at noon (ET) on Tuesday, August 26, 2008. There is no household limit for this annual set.

This year's set, priced at $44.95, includes proof versions of the final five commemorative quarter-dollar coins to be issued in the United States Mint's 50 State Quarters® Program, the Kennedy half-dollar, and the Roosevelt dime, all struck in 90 percent silver. The set also includes proof versions of the Golden Dollar featuring Sacagawea, the Jefferson 5-cent coin (nickel), the Lincoln one-cent coin and four Presidential $1 Coins.

Each coin that the United States Mint Silver Proof Set comprises has a finely sculpted and frosted foreground against a mirror-like background, giving it a distinctive cameo appearance. Each coin bears the "S" mint mark of the United States Mint at San Francisco. The coins are sealed in three presentation cases and packaged in one box along with a Certificate of Authenticity.

Customers can make the 2008 United States Mint Silver Proof Set a part of their collections by ordering via the online catalog at http://www.usmint.gov. The United States Mint will also accept orders at the toll-free number, 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468). Hearing- and speech-impaired customers with TTY equipment may order at 1-888-321-MINT (6468). All domestic orders will be assessed $4.95 for shipping and handling.

Contact: Press inquiries: Michael White (202) 354-7222
Customer Service information: (800) USA MINT (872-6468)
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Newly Discovered 1831 Quarter Eagle Struck on a Dime Planchet

In the earliest years of the Mint, dime and quarter eagle reverse dies were used on each denomination--apparently a conscious decision. The planchet sizes were close, 19 mm for the dimes and 20 mm for the quarter eagles.

The diameter of each denomination was later reduced when new machinery was introduced. The dime's diameter was reduced to 18.5 mm beginning in 1809, and the quarter eagle to 18.2 mm in 1829.

It is not a stretch to imagine the Mint striking a batch of dimes with a few unstruck planchets remaining in the hopper, then striking a run of quarter eagles, a couple of which were struck on leftover dime planchets. Only 0.3 mm separated the size of the two planchets, an imperceptible difference to the casual inspector.

What happened next is fairly obvious: nothing. This piece entered the channels of commerce and circulated as a dime for many years. Only recently and after 54 points of wear did someone notice that the design was inconsistent with that of an 1831 dime. This piece was found in a bag of silver in North Texas, in May of this year.

It is always interesting to scan the "Found in Rolls" column in Coin World. Foreign coins, tokens, silver coins are constantly found in rolls. But an 1831 quarter eagle struck on a dime planchet in a bag of silver?

This is the second example of this off-metal striking that is known. The other piece is high-grade and has a distinguished pedigree including Brand, Opezzo, Farouk, Judd, and Sloss. It has been off the market since 1974, when it was traded privately, then it was withdrawn from the 1979 ANA Sale. Over the years that piece has been listed and delisted as a possible pattern.
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Jack Lee - One of the Great Collector-Dealers of Our Time
ANA Executive Director Larry Shepard sent CoinLink the following email on Sunday afternoon:

"I am sad to pass on the news that Jack Lee died this morning. Jack was not only a numismatic icon, but also one of the finest and most respected individuals ever associated with this hobby. I, for one, will truly miss him."

Jack Lee was an iconic figure to many , and a fixture on the bourse floor for a generation of collectors and dealers. His renowned eye and judgment for selecting beautiful coins coupled with his friendly demeanor made any encounter with the man both enjoyable and educational.

Jack Lee's first great collection contained Morgan dollars (business strikes and proofs), Peace dollars, and Walkers and was assembled in the 1980's and early 90's. It was considered one of the all time best collections at the time, and the standard by which all subsequent collections were judged. Jack sold the collection in the 1990's

However always the collector, Jack started immediately started building another set, even re-buying and selling many of his "Lee I" coins - sometimes over and over again! His second collection was sold five years later, and Jack Lee II pedigreed coins are still avidly sought after as are the Jack Lee I.

Finally Jack put together a third collection which culminated in the Jack Lee III sale by Heritage at the Palm Beach Signature sale in November 2005 . A truly amazing legacy.

Jim Halperin, CEO of Heritage commented, "Regardless of whether a coin is pedigreed to Lee I, II, III - or any combination there are few pedigrees in American numismatics that mean as much to the collecting community as "Ex: Jack Lee." Those words convey volumes about the quality of the coin, its eye-appeal, and its status as one of the premier examples of the issue. That in itself is a tremendous tribute to this friendly, unassuming collector/dealer."
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U.S. mint suspends gold coin sales
Submitted by cpowell on Fri, 2008-08-15 04:27. Section: Daily Dispatches

Dear Friend of GATA and Gold:

The U.S. Mint has suspended sales of American eagle gold coins and is refusing orders from dealers, two coin and bullion dealers confirmed Thursday.

The mint's suspension of gold coin sales follows its tight rationing of sales of silver eagle coins, begun in May, when sales to the public were terminated and sales to the mint's 13 authorized dealers were tightly limited.

Word of the mint's suspension of gold coin sales came from the American Precious Metals Exchange in Edmond, Oklahoma, and from Centennial Precious Metals in Denver, Colorado.

The suspension is overwhelming evidence that the futures contract price of gold on the commodities exchanges is substantially below the physical market price and that, indeed, the commodities exchanges are being used as GATA long has maintained -- as part of a massive scheme of manipulation of the precious metals, currency, and bond markets.

Michael Kosares, proprietor of Centennial Precious Metals, explained Thursday:

"The U.S. Mint buys direct from the refiners, and this suspension of gold eagle sales may be an indication that the supply line is already backing up, or that the mint expects that it will back up for the rest of the year. I wonder who would give up physical metal at these prices and under these circumstances except distressed sellers. The central banks are in a hunker-down mode as far as I can determine, and it's the mines that supply the refiners. So if the mint, which buys from the refiners, is having a difficult time locating metal, what does that tell you? I keep saying that we may get a surprising rubber-band effect later in the year when the pre-holiday/festival season kicks off in September/October. It may happen sooner. One of our indicators of approaching a bottom in gold is how many calls Centennial Precious Metals gets from our U.S.-based Indian clientele. Here's a quote from my office's report to me at the end of the day today: 'Today was a good day. ... There must have been an Indian convention where someone was handing out USAGold business cards.' That may give you a clue as to thinking in India proper and probably the rest of the Asian rim."

That is, through their agents the bullion banks the Western central banks, desperate to prop up a corrupt and tottering financial system, have put gold so much on sale that even the U.S. Mint can't find any now. The price reported from the commodities markets is a fiction -- a scary one, perhaps, but a fiction no less.

You can strike a blow at the market riggers who are defrauding the world -- just buy a little real metal. The dealers listed at the bottom right of this dispatch will be glad to help you do it.

CHRIS POWELL, Secretary/Treasurer
Gold Anti-Trust Action Committee Inc.
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Recently Certified "New Discovery" 1851 Augustus Humbert $50 Gold graded NGC MS65*
The Highest Graded Mint State Humbert Gold Coin of Any Denomination or Variety to be Auctioned By Bowers and Merena in September

[IRVINE, California] - Bowers and Merena Auctions will auction an extremely rare and exceptional 1851 Augustus Humbert $50 Gold Piece at their Beverly Hills Rarities Sale on Saturday, September 13, 2008, at The Tower Beverly Hills, prior to the Long Beach Coin, Stamp & Collectible Expo. Lot viewing for the entire auction is scheduled for Thursday through Saturday, September 11-13.

The coin, cataloged as August Humbert. $50 Gold. Reeded Edge. K-5. Rarity-5. 880 THOUS. MS-65 (NGC), boasts a NGC Population of just 1, 0 finer.

"This coin is a new discovery that has never been available for sale to our knowledge," said Steve Deeds, president of Bowers and Merena. "The rarity, the quality, the history – it all adds up to make this one spectacular coin of the caliber that even the most experienced numismatists only see a few times in a lifetime. This coin is one of the high points of the year at Bowers and Merena and we know it is going to a cause a big buzz for our September Beverly Hills Rarities Sale."

Fewer than 100 August Humbert Fifty-Dollar gold coins of all varieties have been certified as Mint State. Most of those coins, while strictly Mint State in that their surfaces are free of wear, are confined to lower grades through MS-63. Distracting abrasions (some severe) bear much of the blame for this grade distribution, but subdued, lackluster surfaces are also seen quite frequently. Given the rustic conditions under which it was created, the strained economic conditions of Gold Rush California, and the various standards of numismatic conservation that have existed over the years, this Gem 1851 880 THOUS Humbert Fifty offered by Bowers and Merena should not exist.

"This was the most memorable coin I have graded all year, a true pleasure to see such an original coin with original luster," said Mark Salzberg, NGC chairman. "It is definitely destined to be a centerpiece coin for the finest collection."

This coin will be offered for auction in Bowers and Merena's Beverly Hills Rarities Sale on September 13 alongside more than 900 other coin lots. The complete auction and lot viewing schedule as well as the catalog in its entirety will be available on the Bowers and Merena website at www.bowersandmerena.com, and interested bidders are also invited to request a printed catalog by calling 800-458-4646.

This is a guest article from Bowers and Merena Auctions. The thoughts and opinions in the piece are those of their author and are not necessarily the thoughts of the Certified Collectibles Group.
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NGC Certifies Previously Unaccounted 1943-S Bronze Cent

A previously unrecorded 1943-S Lincoln cent, erroneously struck on a bronze planchet and found in circulation by a teenaged collector more than half a century ago, was recently certified as AU 53 by Numismatic Guaranty Corporation. It had been acquired from the collector's heirs by Rare Coin Wholesalers of Dana Point, California.

"The coin was found in 1944 by Kenneth S. Wing Jr. of Long Beach, California, who was assembling a set of Lincoln cents at the time," said Steven L. Contursi, President of Rare Coin Wholesalers. Wing became a prominent southern California architect who codesigned the Long Beach Arena in the late 1950s. He passed away in 1996.

"My father was an avid penny collector. His parents would get him rolls of pennies from the bank every few weeks, and he'd search through them. He found the 1943 (bronze) penny in Long Beach in 1944 when he was 14 years old, but I'm not sure if it was from pocket change or from a roll (of circulating cents) from the bank. He took it to a local dealer who offered him $500 for it, but my father said it wasn't for sale."

"The 1943 bronze Lincoln cent really transcends a wrong planchet error. Today, it's widely considered to be a classic 20th-century rarity, more kin to a transitional type, and now is collected as part of the regular series by devoted Lincoln cent enthusiasts, "commented Dave Camire, President of Numismatic Conservation Services(NCS) and a mint error consultant to NGC. "This piece is particularly important because it's from San Francisco, a scarcer mint for the issue compared to better-known Philadelphia Mint specimens. This coin is also a recent discovery to the numismatic community," Camire stated.

Common zinc-coated steel cents will stick to a magnet but the handful of known 1943-dated Lincoln cents mistakenly struck in bronze (in this case, an alloy of 95 percent copper and 5 percent tin and zinc) will not. The zinc-coated steel metallic composition was used in 1943 to conserve copper needed for U.S. efforts in World War II.

Accompanying the coin was an interesting file of correspondence dating back to 1946, as he tried to verify the coin's authenticity. In a letter to Wing dated August 20, 1946, Acting Director of the Mint Leland Howard wrote: "In reference to your letter of August 11, there were no copper cents struck during the calendar year 1943 at any of the coinage Mints. Only the zinc coated steel cent was struck during that year." Today, though, the hobby is aware of more than a dozen 1943 bronze cents with at least one example known from each of the Mints producing Lincoln cents that year: Philadelphia, Denver and San Francisco.

Wing also wrote to Encino, California, dealer Kosoff on October 3, 1958: "In 1948, on a trip to San Francisco, it (the coin) was shown to the Director of the mint and his ‘private' opinion was that of authenticity. In 1957, my father was in Washington, DC, (sic) he attempted to have the Treasury Department examine it, however, they refused and referred him to the Smithsonian Institution."

In his response dated October 8, 1958, Kosoff replied: "It would be of prime importance to determine, beyond any doubt, that your 1943-S cent is a genuine one. This would require a number of tests and the outlay of considerable cash."

Additional correspondence regarding the coin's journey to Washington with Wing's father is a June 18, 1957, letter from V. Clain-Stefanelli, Curator of the Division of Numismatics at the Smithsonian, in which he wrote: "The authenticity of this piece is in my opinion beyond doubt. In fact, as you certainly recall, Mr. Mendel L. Peterson, Acting Head Curator of the Department of History, fully concurred in this opinion."

Contursi said his recently-acquired 1943 bronze Lincoln cent is quite special for him. "It's delightful and amazing there are still examples of great numismatic rarities to be ‘discovered' and reported to the hobby. This is the first 1943 ‘copper penny' I've ever owned!"

This article includes significant contributions from a news release from Rare Coin Wholesalers, www.rcw1.com.
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Controversial 1853 United States Assay Office $20 Coins Declared Transfer Die Forgeries
Experts at SPPN meeting settle four decades of uncertainty

A panel of leading numismatists determined the questionable 1853 United States Assay Office of Gold $20 proof, prooflike, and similar coins to be forgeries produced from transfer dies. The panel's discussion was the main program at the annual meeting of the Society of Private and Pioneer Numismatists (SPPN) held in Baltimore, Maryland Saturday, August 2nd, 2008 as part of the American Numismatic Association's World Fair of Money.

The Transfer Die Forgeries first appeared during the late 1950's, "discovered" by Paul Franklin through a bank teller in Arizona. Franklin and John J. Ford Jr. sold hundreds of these pieces throughout the 1960's as genuine pieces struck in San Francisco by the U.S. Assay Office in 1853. An arbitration hearing of the Professional Numismatists Guild in the late 1960's ruled that the pieces were not proof, but could not come to an agreement on the authenticity or vintage. For the next forty years the authenticity of the Franklin Hoard pieces lay in question.

In 2006 Donald Kagin, Ph.D. and David J. McCarthy of Kagin's, Inc. of Tiburon, Calif. were processing images of one of Kagin's client's collection for the upcoming 2nd edition of Private Gold Coins and Patterns of the United States. McCarthy noticed that the client's unquestionably authentic 1853 Assay Office $20 bore bag marks in the same location as repeating depressions on the questionable Franklin Hoard coins. The marks of the original coin appear on all of the Franklin pieces, despite the best efforts of the forgers to evidently hide them with die polish. The panel agreed that the discovery of this authentic coin and the matching of the marks was the "smoking gun" in the case, condemning all of the Franklin pieces as the products of a one-to-one transfer die made from this authentic host coin.

At the conclusion of the discussion moderator Kagin asked the panel to accurately and succinctly title the coins in question. The experts unanimously agreed these pieces are best described as Transfer Die Forgeries. The panel also agreed efforts need to be taken to educate the numismatic community about these false coins.

The approach and decision of the panel is historic, creating a model for future forums to discuss other numismatic controversies. The SPPN would like to seek answers to other mysteries and controversies in the field of pioneer numismatics and is soliciting future topics for discussion.

The Society of Private and Pioneer Numismatists has been a non-profit organization since 1992. Membership is $35 per year and includes a subscription to the Brasher Bulletin, a thrice annual publication featuring articles by leading Private & Pioneer coinage experts and historians. S.P.P.N. is operated from the offices of Kagin's, Inc. in Tiburon, CA. For further information, please contact Kagin's, Inc. at 888.8KAGINS or 415.435.2601.
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Young Collectors Set To Inspire New Generation Of Coin Collectors

In a market-leading initiative designed to help create a new generation of coin collectors, The Perth Mint has announced Young Collectors, the first Australian legal tender coin program exclusively designed, packaged and priced for 8 to 12 year-old children.

With the number of mature-aged collectors in decline around the world, Perth Mint Sales and Marketing Director Ron Currie said that the industry was in agreement that new initiatives were needed to boost participation in one of the world's oldest hobbies.

"Young Collectors is set to tackle the challenge with a program of annual releases portraying themes appealing to children," he said. "It starts in 2008 with the release of 12 Australian Animal $1 coins on brightly illustrated information cards."

Mr Currie said that the program would also appeal to adult collectors wishing to share their passion for coins. "We're hopeful that they will see Young Collectors as the ideal way of igniting young people's interest in the hobby. Consequently, we'll be promoting the program as a great gift idea, particularly for people looking for traditional toys with educational value and enduring appeal."

Featuring the Wedge Tailed Eagle, Grey Kangaroo, Australian Sea Lion, Palm Cockatoo, Echidna, Platypus, Ghost Bat, Common Wombat, Green Turtle, Splendid Wren, Frilled Neck Lizard and Whale Shark, Young Collectors portrays many popular Australian animals. Each coin's accompanying presentation card offers fascinating animal facts validated by expert staff from two leading Australian Museums.
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$5 Million+ Jupiter Collection to be Featured at Long Beach

Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries' upcoming Long Beach Currency Signature Auction, to be held September 17-19, 2008, will be anchored by the impressive Jupiter Collection.

"The collection contains a total of fifty-nine Large Size Type Notes and 11 Small Size High Denomination Notes, as well as a partial pack of twenty-five Large Size Federal Reserve Notes," said Dustin Johnston, Consignment Director for Dallas-based Heritage. "It was assembled by a collector with astute attention to quality and rarity. No note was added to the collection unless it was fully Gem in quality, one of the finest available for the type, or exceedingly rare."

"In a market red hot for ultra rarities, The Jupiter Collection is chock full of them," Johnston said. "The Fr. 1219b Series 1907 $1,000 Gold Certificate with the Napier-McClung Signature combination is unique and is graded PMG Very Fine 25. Another unique gold certificate, the 1192a 1882 $50 Gold Certificate PMG Very Fine 25 will also be offered. Though one of two known Fr. 1175 s, the PMG graded Choice Fine 15 1882 Gold Certificate outshines the other known note, not for grade, but for boasting the Serial Number A1. Another Serial Number 1 example, in the Jupiter Collection, the Fr. 871a 1914 $5 Federal Reserve Note, will stir collector interest as it is the only Serial Number One Large Size Federal Reserve Note known."

Johnston continued, "Many of the notes in the collection that are usually considered ‘common' are actually condition rarities. The focus on condition rarity for more commonly available notes is well illustrated by the Fr. 334 $50 1891 Silver Certificate. The note resides in a PMG Superb Gem Unc. 67 EPQ holder and remains the only Superb graded $50 Silver Certificate by either PMG or PCGS. In total thirty pieces sit atop the combined population reports at PMG and PCGS, and nearly a third of them have no equal yet graded by either service."
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Eight-Year-Old Collector Wins 1808 Half Dollar In Coin Giveaway Competition

Reno, NV…..Out of hundreds of submissions in a coin giveaway contest aimed at youth in northern Nevada, 8-year-old Garrett Allen's entry was drawn from a drum at Southgate Coins by Pati Falk, senior director for elementary education for the Washoe County School District. This drawing climaxed Southgate Coins' four-month-long competition—launched during National Coin Week in April—designed to introduce kids to coin collecting, and help kids to link old coins to history.

All entrants aged 12 and under, answered six questions pertaining to the year 1808. These questions, with answers, are as follows:

1. Who was the president of the United States in 1808? (Thomas Jefferson)

2. Who won the presidential election in 1808? (James Madison)

3. How many states were in the Union in 1808? (17)

4. Which well-known leader of the Confederate States of America was born in 1808?
(Jefferson Davis)

5. Who was the emperor of France in 1808? (Napoleon Bonaparte)

6. Which famous German-born Austrian-school-of-music composer premiered his Fifth Symphony in 1808? (Ludwig Von Beethoven)

After drawing Garrett Allen's entry, Pati Falk, an educator for 25 years, verified to attendees including members of Reno's Chamber of Commerce, and local TV and newspaper reporters, that he had answered correctly all six questions. Proclamations were then read commemorating the event, including one from Reno's Mayor Robert Cashell. Southgate Coins' owner Rusty Goe called Garrett Allen on speakerphone to inform him that he'd won the contest, but Garrett was still in school (third grade), so Goe left a message with his 13-year-old brother.

Later that afternoon, Garrett arrived with his mother Fay, at Southgate Coins to claim his prize, an 1808 Capped Bust half dollar, graded Fine-12 by ANACS, valued at approximately $150. Garrett Allen, who was born in 1999, told Goe that he had nearly completed a "P & D" set of statehood quarters, and that he was interested in many other types of coins, including old Lincoln cents.

The young boy, who attends Silver Lake Elementary School in Reno, told Goe that he's interested in history and that he has studied the Civil War a little. Goe asked Garrett where he found the answers to the questions about 1808. The 8-year-old replied that he looked some of them up on the Internet and that he referred to a book he owns about U.S. presidents. Garrett added that his 13-year-old brother Cole, "who's really into music," helped him with the Beethoven answer.

When asked if he might take the 1808 half dollar to school and share it with his classmates, Garrett answered, "Probably not," because he was concerned about losing it, or possibly someone stealing it from him. Garrett wasn't sure just how long he would keep his newly acquired half dollar, however, it was suggested to him that if he kept it until he was at least 58 (in 2058); it would be 250 years old.

Rusty Goe
Southgate Coins
Reno, NV
Phone : (775) 322-4455
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International Note Specimens Command Big Prices at Spink's

Spink's June London auction saw 1,412 lots of world paper on the block. They included many rarities and specimens. Bidders proved to be targeted, bent on obtaining specific note types. Prices well above estimates were realized among the numerous Indian, Russian, Saudi Arabian, and South African offerings. In other categories, knock-down prices at or slightly below estimates were commonplace. Seven of the top 12 prices-realized were paid for specimens.
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ANA Board of Governors Votes to Hold 2011 World's Fair of Money in Chicago

Previous vote to hold convention in Indianapolis is changed. The American Numismatic Association Board of Governors has voted to hold its 2011 World's Fair of Money® in Chicago. The vote was taken during the Board's open session on Aug. 1during the 2008 World's Fair of Money in Baltimore. The decision changed a previous vote by the current Board to hold the convention in Indianapolis.

The previous decision to hold the 2011 convention in Indianapolis was made during the Board's meeting at the 2008 National Money Show™ in March. Due to a high level of feedback about the selected site, the ANA sent an online survey to its members on July 3concerning sites for future ANA conventions. The survey indicated that from a list of 24 cities,Chicago was the second most popular site for an ANA convention, trailing only Baltimore.Governor Clifford Mishler made the motion to change the site of the 2011 convention to Chicago; the vote was 7 in favor, 1 opposed, and 1 absent.

"After hearing the concerns of our membership, the Board felt that additional input and discussion was needed to make a decision that best served our Association," said ANA President Barry Stuppler. "Although Indianapolis is a fine location, the selection of Chicago is more in line with the wishes of our membership, and provides a larger metropolitan area and better travel options."

The dates for the 2011 World's Fair of Money have not been announced. Site locations within the Chicago area are currently being considered. The ANA is also considering another time to hold a convention in Indianapolis.

The American Numismatic Association is a nonprofit educational organization dedicated to encouraging people to study and collect money and related items. The ANA helps its32,000 members and the public discover and explore the world of money through its vast array of education and outreach programs, as well as its museum, library, publications,conventions and seminars. For more information, call 719-632-2646 or visit www.money.org.
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Juan Carlos is replaced by Homer Simpson on front of euro coin

Homer Simpson, the world's favourite couch potato, has achieved immortality not only on the silver screen but on a nickel coin where his head has replaced that of the Spanish monarch.

A sweetshop owner totting up the day's takings in northern Spain was astonished to find a Euro coin on which the head of King Juan Carlos had been transformed into the unmistakable visage of the cartoon slob from Springfield.
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United States Mint Director Displays 8-8-08 Double Prosperity Set

Journalists Get Special Glimpse Inside United States Mint at San Francisco

SAN FRANCISCO - As the world prepares for the opening of the Games of the XXIX Olympiad in Beijing, China, on August 8, 2008, United States Mint Director Ed Moy invited reporters to the United States Mint at San Francisco, where he introduced the 8-8-08 Double Prosperity Set. This set of two gold coins is the second installment of the United States Mint Celebration Series, meant to provide special numismatic products for gift-giving occasions. The new set features one 24-karat American Buffalo One-Half Ounce Gold Uncirculated Coin and one 22-karat American Eagle One-Half Ounce Gold Uncirculated Coin.

Director Moy discussed the significance of this new set of gold coins, saying, "The
8-8-08 Double Prosperity Set presents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for coin collectors and the general public. The date 8-8-08 (August 8, 2008) occurs only once every 100 years. To mark this occasion, this is also the first time the United States Mint has paired two gold coins in custom-designed packaging, making this set a unique product for the Asian-American community."

Following the presentation, Director Moy and Larry Eckerman, Plant Manager, United States Mint at San Francisco, led reporters and camera crews on a special tour of the United States Mint at San Francisco.

The American Buffalo One-Half Ounce Gold Uncirculated Coin contained in this set is one of the newly-released fractional weight options in the expanded American Buffalo Coin Program. The coin bears the classic portrait of a Native American in profile on the obverse and the magnificent American Buffalo, or bison, on the reverse. Noted American sculptor James Earle Fraser, a student of Augustus Saint-Gaudens, originally designed both images for the redesigned five-cent coin (nickel) released in 1913.

The American Eagle One-Half Ounce Gold Uncirculated Coin displays Augustus Saint-Gaudens' enduring full-length figure of Liberty with flowing hair, holding a torch in her right hand and an olive branch in her left. The coin's reverse, by Miley Busiek, bears the endearing image of a male eagle clutching an olive branch while soaring above a nest containing a female eagle and her hatchlings.

Both coins in the 8-8-08 Double Prosperity Set are legal tender with a nominal face value designation of $25. But their gold metal content and artistry make them worth far more. Inscriptions on the coins include the "W" mint mark for the United States Mint at West Point, the date, the fineness and the weight. The coins are packaged in an attractive hardwood box with a Certificate of Authenticity signed by Director Moy.

Customers may order the 8-8-08 Double Prosperity Set at the United States Mint's secure Web site at www.usmint.gov. Orders may also be placed at the toll-free number, 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468). Please add $4.95 shipping and handling fee to all domestic orders. There is no set product limit for the 8-8-08 Double Prosperity Set.

Click here to see an image of the 8-8-08 Double Prosperity Set.

Contact: Press inquiries: Carla Coolman (202) 354-7222
Customer Service information: (800) USA MINT (872-6468)
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Bags and Rolls of Andrew Jackson Presidential $1 Coins Available August 14

"Old Hickory" is the Seventh President Honored in the Multi-Year Program

WASHINGTON - On August 14, 2008, the United States Mint will release a Presidential $1 Coin honoring Andrew Jackson, our Nation's seventh commander-in-chief. It is the seventh coin issued in the United States Mint's Presidential $1 Coin Program.

The bags and rolls of Andrew Jackson Presidential $1 Coins, struck at the United States Mint facilities at Denver and Philadelphia, were produced for use in everyday financial transactions. The coins are available in 250-coin bags offered at $319.95 and in 25-coin rolls offered at $35.95.

The obverse of this latest coin in the Presidential $1 Coin Program features United States Mint Sculptor-Engraver Don Everhart's rendition of "Old Hickory"- a nickname Andrew Jackson acquired during his service in the War of 1812. The reverse design, also by Everhart, is a dramatic interpretation of the Statue of Liberty, which is portrayed on all the Presidential $1 Coins.

Incused on the coin's edge are the inscriptions "2008," "E Pluribus Unum," "In God We Trust" and the mint of origin. Packaging for the bags and rolls display the mint of origin, the monetary value of the contents ($25.00-rolls, $250.00-bags), and the official United States Mint logo.

To order the Andrew Jackson Presidential $1 Coin Bags and Rolls, visit the United States Mint's secure Web site at www.usmint.gov or call 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468). Hearing- and speech-impaired customers may order by calling 1-888-321-MINT (6468). Please add $4.95 shipping and handling fee to all domestic orders.

Customers may enroll in the United States Mint's Online Subscription Program to receive future bags and rolls of Presidential $1 Coins and other designated products when they are released. Visit www.usmint.gov for details about this convenient ordering method.

Contact: Press inquiries: Michael White (202) 354-7222
Customer Service information: (800) USA MINT (872-6468)

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Australian Coin forger's Charlotte Medal fetches a pretty penny
By Miki Perkins for THE AGE

THE crowd of medal collectors breathed a collective sigh and craned in their seats as Australia's first piece of colonial art sold for $750,000 at auction to a beaming mystery buyer seated in the third row.

Minutes later, it was revealed that the National Maritime Museum had bought the Charlotte Medal — a silver disc engraved by the convict and expert forger Thomas Barrett when the First Fleet arrived at Botany Bay. Even the most hardened medal collectors paused in their bidding to clap.

Very little material survives from the ships of the First Fleet, so the Sydney museum sent its assistant director of collection and exhibitions, Michael Crayford, to Melbourne to secure a seminal piece of Australian history.

"It is also one of the best artworks for that period (so) we're absolutely thrilled to have it and it will be on display to the public within weeks," Mr Crayford said.

The silver disc was sold by John Chapman, a retired dentist, who bought it at auction in 1981 for $15,000.

The rest of his extensive collection of Australian medals, coins and banknotes, valued at $1.6 million before auction, also went under the hammer at the Noble Numismatics auction yesterday.
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United States Mint Sculptor-Engraver Receives ANA Award for Excellence in Medallic Sculpture

WASHINGTON - The United States Mint announced today that Sculptor-Engraver Jim Licaretz has been named the recipient of the 2008 Numismatic Art Award for Excellence in Medallic Sculpture (NAAEMS). The award, conferred by the American Numismatic Association (ANA), will be presented to Mr. Licaretz on August 2, 2008, at the ANA World's Fair of Money® in Baltimore.

"We are pleased the panel of judges recognized Jim's body of work," said United States Mint Director Ed Moy. "Jim's artistry is helping the United States Mint achieve a new level of design excellence."

Mr. Licaretz's works are included in numerous private collections, as well as the British Museum; the Royal Coin Cabinet; the National Museum of Economy, Stockholm, Sweden; the American Numismatic Society; and the Smithsonian Institution. His recent works for the United States Mint include the reverse design of the 2008 Bald Eagle Proof Silver Dollar Coin and the obverse design of the Andrew Jackson Presidential $1 Coin.

"To be honored with the American Numismatic Association's award is quite a welcome surprise," said Mr. Licaretz. "There is a great responsibility in giving form to one's experience of life. Medallic sculpture is a unique way of recording and sharing these experiences."

Mr. Licaretz was employed as a United States Mint Sculptor-Engraver from 1986 to 1989, and returned to the agency as a Medallic Sculptor in 2006. He also was a sculptor at Franklin Porcelain and the Franklin Mint in Pennsylvania, a master sculptor at Mattel, Inc. in California, and manager of the Sculpting Department at Artistic Solutions in California. In addition, he served as a faculty member at the Fleisher Art Memorial, Philadelphia; Otis School of Art and Design, Los Angeles; and the Academy of Art College, San Francisco
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Liquidation of Noe Rare Coin Fund grosses over $60 Million

According to reports the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation will net as much as $54.9 Million, after expenses, from the divestment of assets sold off from the infamous rare-coin fund managed by Tom Noe.

The Toledo Blade reported that "after more than three years of liquidation, the agency is set to recoup more than the $50 million the state agency fronted former Toledo-area rare-coin dealer Tom Noe to manage the venture beginning in 1998. But the surplus deviates vastly from the $14 million or more in profit the bureau could have earned if it invested the money conservatively in money markets, government bills, or index funds, according to projections by the BWC's investment department."

The report was unclear if the total recovery figure, or the estimates of potential profit, included dispersements previously made by Noe during the time the fund was still under his control.

Bill Brandt, whose Chicago-based firm Development Specialists Inc was hired by the state to lead the state's liquidation efforts, said the fact that the coin fund will return its principal doesn't let Noe off the hook.




He added, "Getting the principal back is a watershed event because it normally does not happen. We've got to consider ourselves measurably lucky that we did that."


Starting in June, 2005, Brandt began selling off collections of coins and other rare collectibles, and negotiating settlements to lawsuits.

The bureau recently sold stock in Numismatic Guaranty Corporation, a Florida-based coin grading company, for $7.6 million.

Actually the fund has now returned more than just the original $50 million principal. In fact according to the bureau estimates the gross recovery amount was over 60 Million with projecting net proceeds of $53.5 million to $54.9 million from the coin funds after deducting at least $6.2 million in expenses. The expenses so far consist of $1.2 millions in settlements and $4.6 million in professional services, including $2.4 million for Development Specialists Inc.
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Superb 1861-P Paquet Reverse Double Eagle at ANA Convention

One of the two known 1861-P "Paquet Reverse" Double Eagles will be displayed during the American Numismatic Association World's Fair of Money® convention in Baltimore, July 30 -- August 3, 2008. The famous coin's previous owners include Baltimore banker Waldo Newcomer; former U.S. Treasury Secretary William Woodin; Egyptian King Farouk and Ambassador and Mrs. R. Henry Norweb.

The $20 denomination gold coin, graded NGC MS-67, is owned by Brian Hendelson, President of Classic Coin Co. of Bridgewater, New Jersey. It will be the centerpiece of a 150-coin date and mintmark display of Types I, II and III Liberty Head Double Eagles from 1850 to 1907 presented by Monaco Rare Coins of Newport Beach, California at booth 644 in the Baltimore Convention Center.

"With the Smithsonian displaying its 1860 specimen at the ANA convention, it's the perfect time and place to exhibit the finest known 1861 Philadelphia Mint Paquet $20 gold piece. It will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for many collectors to conveniently see both spectacular coins in one location in its former ‘home town,' Baltimore," said Hendelson.

The "Paquet Reverse" is a short-lived tail's side design with slightly taller, slender lettering, and is named after United States Mint engraver, Anthony Paquet.

For additional information, contact Classic Coin Co., at (908)725-5600 or online at www.ClassicCoinCo.com.
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Kagin's Marks Platinum Year with Free Platinum Coin

(Tiburon, California) -- Well-known numismatic firm, Kagin's, Inc. (www.Kagins.com) of Tiburon, California, founded in 1933 by Arthur M. "Art" Kagin, will celebrate the company's 75th anniversary during the upcoming American Numismatic Association World's Fair of Money convention in Baltimore. A lucky visitor to the Kagin's booth (#531) will be awarded a free half-ounce American Eagle platinum coin valued at over $1,300 in a random drawing, and all visitors can enjoy a slice from a huge anniversary cake while it lasts.

"This is our platinum anniversary, so it's appropriate we give away a platinum coin to celebrate," said Donald H. Kagin, Ph.D., son of the founder and a well-known numismatic researcher and dealer of pioneer gold and U. S. paper currency. Kagin, the first to receive both a Bachelor of Arts and Doctorate degree in numismatics has managed the company since 1988.

"At 75 years, I believe we are the second oldest family-owned rare coin dealership in the United States. The tradition continues with my sister, Judy, who can be seen at major currency shows, and my nephew, Jeremiah, who is taking an active role with the company," said Kagin.

"Throughout the years, numismatics has not been just a business to us, but rather a passion and a way of life. We don't just build collections, we build relationships."
Company founder Art Kagin, widely known as the "Dean of American Numismatics," passed away in 2005. He started collecting as a youth while selling newspapers and magazines when a woman gave him an 1883 "No Cents" Liberty Head nickel.

At the age of 13 he began working part-time selling coins, stamps and paper money in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Later he worked for over 30 years with his brother, Paul, buying and selling coins nationally through auctions from Des Moines, Iowa. At one point they had five offices in the Midwest including one in Omaha managed by another brother, Julius.

"Dad cataloged more auctions than anyone else, almost 350," said Kagin.

As a national goodwill ambassador for the hobby for decades, Art Kagin frequently emphasized, "Numismatics is like a marriage. It has to be shared to be enjoyed."
He organized and developed the first numismatic college courses in the nation at Roosevelt University in Chicago, and he and Don started the Foundation for Numismatic Education that continues to fund numismatic research projects. The family's philosophy of promoting numismatic education continues with Don teaching and lecturing at schools, service organizations and ANA Summer Seminar programs. His innovative, one-man shows, "The Oldest Living Pioneer" and "Colonial Man," have educated, entertained and delighted thousands of collectors and non-collectors around the country.

Both Art and Don served on the ANA Board of Governors and as Chairman of the Education Committee. Under Don's management, Kagin's moved its headquarters in the 1980's to Tiburon, California, just North of San Francisco. In 2006, the company acquired Holabird Americana of Reno, Nevada, managed by well-known geologist and Western Americana expert and researcher, Fred Holabird.

Kagin's also utilizes the expertise of highly-regarded numismatic researchers David McCarthy, Cherie Schoeps and Meredith Hilton. The company specializes in pioneer gold, patterns, U.S. colonials, American paper currency, California fractional gold, errors, early type coins, classic rarities and Western Americana. The company has taken a lead role in raising over $4.75 million for the renovation of the Old San Francisco Mint Museum.

For additional information, contact Kagin's, Inc., 98 Main St., Suite 201, Tiburon, California 94920. Phone: (415) 435-2601. Online: www.Kagins.com
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Contursi to display Kellogg $20 at Baltimore ANA

A 154-year-old $20 gold piece known as the Kellogg Twenty will return to Baltimore next month for the first time in nearly 30 years.

This one-of-a-kind California Gold Rush coin was once owned by Baltimore resident and diplomat John Work Garrett, and is considered by most collectors to be one of the finest American coins from the mid-19th century.

John W. Garrett (1872 – 1942) was the grandson of Baltimore and Ohio Railroad executive and one-time president, John Work Garrett (1820 – 1884), and the eldest son of T. Harrison Garrett (1849 – 1888), who began collecting coins as a student at Princeton. The coin collection grew extensively under T. Harrison's sons, John and Robert (1875 – 1961).

Garrett donated the coin, along with his home, Evergreen House, to the Johns Hopkins University on his death in 1942. Hopkins sold the coin at the Bowers and Ruddy auction in 1980 for $230,000.

Subsequently the coin changed hands several times. Contursi has owned it twice; from 2002 to 2005, and since 2006, it is now valued at $3 million. The coin is graded Specimen-69 by Professional Coin Grading Service




The coin was manufactured on February 9, 1854 by John Glover Kellogg, a former employee of the San Francisco U.S. Assay Office. He gave it to his friend and future business partner, New York City watchmaker, August Humbert, the former U.S. Assayer in San Francisco.

During most of the 20th century, the historic coin was part of the legendary Garrett Collection at Johns Hopkins University and kept in a vault in Baltimore, Maryland.
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American Bank Note Co. Printing Plates for "Obsoletes" in Stack's Upcoming July Baltimore Auction

Historic printing press plates used in the process of producing multi-subject 19th century "obsolete" paper money for ten different banks will be offered in a public auction conducted on July 27 and 28, 2008 in Baltimore, Maryland by Stack's (www.Stacks.com) of New York City and Wolfeboro, New Hampshire. The unique, intricately engraved plates are from the legendary archives of the American Bank Note Company.

The number of subjects per plate range from two to eight, and the denominations range from five cents to $100. They are consigned to the auction by Archival Collectibles of Far Hills, New Jersey, which acquired the huge American Bank Note Company archives in 2005.

"We recently discovered these particular multi-subject, obsolete bank note plates among the thousands of one-of-kind, engravings in the archives. One plate was still in its original wax-sealed wrappers, apparently unseen for 149 years," said Steve Blum, president of Archival Collectibles.




The plates and the denominations of the notes in the upcoming Stack's auction are:

The Uncas Bank in Norwich, Connecticut, $3 and $10;

The Commercial Bank of Kentucky in Paducah, Kentucky, $5, $5, $10 and $20;
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Artists & Authors Alley to Debut at Baltimore World's Fair of Money

The American Numismatic Association will debut a new feature, Artists & Authors Alley, at the 2008 World's Fair of Money® in Baltimore. Located in aisle 900 of the convention's bourse floor, Artists & Authors Alley gives artists and writers a chance to display their craft and discuss their work with visitors. The area will feature premier numismatic engravers, scholars and publishers.

Located within Artists & Authors Alley, Collector's Corner will feature book and artwork signings, demonstrations, and informal discussions with some of the top experts in numismatics.



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Indiana Bank Returns Rare $1,000 Bills to Customer

An elderly woman walked into the American Saving Bank in Munster, Indiana recently to make a deposit, a $2000 deposit that consisted of two 1934 $1000 Federal Reserve Notes.

Reports said that the woman, who was not identified for security purposes, arrived at the bank Wednesday morning and stepped to a teller window to make a $2,000 deposit. When bank workers saw the two bills, they weren't sure what to make of them.

Bank teller who handled the deposit, Mary Ann Vlasich, thought to herself, "She's going to need more bills because there is not nearly enough here for $2,000#8243;, who believed the bills were hundreds.

When she looked closer, Vlasich was shocked to see they were $1,000 bills — a denomination that no one at the bank had ever seen before, much less handled.

The deposit was accepted and the woman left the bank.

But soon afterward the transaction was brought to the attention of Michael Mellon, American Savings Bank's president and chief executive officer.

"I've seen $500s before, but thousands, especially in this good of a condition, are just really rare. Everyone wanted to take a look at them," Mellon said.

Realizing that the crisp 1934 bills were worth far more than their $1,000 face value, the bank called the woman and asked her to come down to the bank and pick up the banknotes. As Mellon recounts ….




When the woman came back to the bank she told Mellon the bills came from a relative a long time ago. Asked what possessed her to bring them into the bank Wednesday she replied " I have no idea"!
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2007 United States Mint Presidential $1 Coin Historical Signature Set™ – James Madison

A new collection of products featuring the 2007 Presidential $1 Coins honoring the Presidents of the United States is being introduced. The United States Mint Presidential $1 Coin Historical Signature Set features the proof version of the Presidential $1 Coin and a Presidential intaglio print from the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. The product is presented in a textured, leather-like folder which opens to reveal the intaglio print and the official Presidential signature. A Certificate of Authenticity accompanies each United States Mint Historical Signature Set.

The United States Mint Presidential $1 Coin Historical Signature Set – James Madison – is the fourth in this new collection. This product features a proof coin which is extraordinarily brilliant, with sharp relief and a mirror-like background. The frosted, sculpted foreground gives a special cameo effect. An image of President James Madison appears on the obverse of the coin and the reverse features a striking rendition of the Statue of Liberty. The Presidential $1 Coins also feature edge-incused inscriptions of the year, "E Pluribus Unum," "In God We Trust," and the mint mark. Each coin is mounted in a removable capsule.

Visible from the cover of the United States Mint Presidential $1 Coin Historical Signature Set is the Presidential intaglio print of James Madison printed by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. Opening the cover reveals the official James Madison Presidential signature, courtesy of the White House Historical Association.

If paying by credit card, please be sure your credit card information remains current to avoid any delays in processing your order. If your credit card has expired by the time of shipment, your order will be cancelled. To update credit card information after an order has been placed, you must call 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468).
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Dinar Coins Of The Ancient World
By David Slone

Great figures from coinage systems of the world in ancient times.

Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan (646AD - 705AD) was the fifth caliph of the Umayyads, which was the ruling dynasty that built a huge medieval Islamic empire stretching west across North Africa into Spain and as far east as Pakistan. Whilst the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England lacked a written language, Abd al-Malik created the world's first widespread uniform currency - the dinar.

Previous to his reign (685-705AD), the Arabs used silver Sassanian coins from the Persian empire and gold and copper Byzantine coins from the Byzantine or Roman empire, centered around it's capital city, Constantinople.

Abd al-Malik had agreed to a decade long truce with the then Byzantine emperor, Justinian ll, a truce which was then broken when the emperor refused to accept al-Malik's new Islamic coins in place of money bearing a picture of Christ or the cross.

Although the new gold dinars and silver dirhems were very similar in size and weight to the coins they replaced, their design for the day was completely revolutionary. Come 697AD the caliph had abandoned portraits of rulers or emblems of cities to adorn his coins in favor of simplistic inscriptions of verses from the Koran.
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An Interesting 1854-D Three Dollar Gold Piece
By Doug Winter on Wednesday, July 9, 2008

I recently purchased a very unusual 1854-D Three Dollar gold piece. If you are even a casual aficionado of Southern gold coins, you are probably aware that a) the 1854-D is a rare and popular issue and b) it has a very established set of diagnostics. However, as this coin (and a few others) proves, not all 1854-D Three Dollar gold pieces are cut from the same cloth.

If you look at page 145 of the second edition of my book "Gold Coins of the Dahlonega Mint" you will read the following diagnostic criteria about the 1854-D Three Dollar:

"(On the obverse) the denticles from 7:00 to 3:00 are so weak as to appear non-existent. The entire upper part of the rim has a very flat appearance. (On the reverse) the denticles are almost always very weak and they can usually be seen only from the 3:00 to 8:00 area with the rest of the border appearing very flat."

Now take a look at the picture below and focus your attention on the obverse and reverse borders. You will note that there are complete and full denticles on both sides. I have personally seen or owned as many as 75 examples of this issue and the coin illustrated here is just the third 1854-D that I know of with full denticles. The other two are in the Bill House and Harry Bass Core/ANA Museum collections.
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ANA resolves litigation with Nebel, former employees

The pending litigation between the American Numismatic Association and John Nebel and former employees Susie Nulty, Lawrence Lee, Ph. D. and Wayne Abraham has been resolved to the mutual satisfaction of the parties, Executive Director Larry Shepherd announced today.

The resolution followed several meetings between the ANA and John Nebel in which the ANA agreed to dismiss all claims against Nebel, Nulty, Lee and Abraham.

The litigation started in July, 2005 when Christopher Cipoletti and the ANA filed suit against Nebel, Nulty, Lee, Abraham and Nebel's corporation, Computer Systems Design Company. The case was scheduled for trial in September, 2007, but was rescheduled to August 14, 2008 after the ANA's former legal firm withdrew from the case in August 2007. Since that date the parties engaged in continued discussions in an effort to resolve their differences.

The ANA Board of Governors voted unanimously to dismiss all claims against Nebel, Nulty, Abraham and Lee and therefore put an end this litigation. As part of the settlement, the ANA made a payment to offset a portion of the defendants litigation costs.

The ANA and the Defendants prefer to engage in numismatics, not litigation. The ANA wishes to extend its sincere apology to the defendants for the hardship that this litigation has caused.

John Nebel also expressed relief that the litigation has been resolved. "I have been a dedicated ANA member for many years and this is best for all of us, including the ANA," he said. "The four of us named in this lawsuit are glad to finally put it behind us. We always believed the ANA was a good organization and hope it again can focus on its mission to meet the needs of numismatists around the world."

The American Numismatic Association is a nonprofit educational organization dedicated to encouraging people to study and collect money and related items. The ANA helps its 32,000 members and the public discover and explore the world of money through its vast array of education and outreach programs, as well as its museum, library, publications,conventions and seminars. For more information, call 719-632-2646 or visit www.money.org.
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