US Mint will issue 3 iconic coin designs

The United States Mint announced today that it will strike and issue coins to commemorate the 100th anniversary of three iconic coin designs first issued in 1916: the "Winged Liberty" dime, "Standing Liberty" quarter, and "Walking Liberty" half-dollar. All three coins will be manufactured from .9999 fine, 24-karat gold.

To approximate the 1916 coin dimensions, the "Winged Liberty" dime will contain one-tenth troy ounce of 24-karat gold, the Standing Liberty quarter will contain one-quarter troy ounce of 24-karat gold, and the Walking Liberty half-dollar will contain one-half troy ounce of 24-karat gold.

The "Winged Liberty" dime, designed by Adolph A. Weinman, features a portrait of Liberty facing left and wearing a winged cap on its obverse (heads side). The design became known as the Mercury dime because of its resemblance to the Roman god, Mercury. The coin's reverse (tails side) includes a Roman fasces and an olive branch, representing America's military readiness and, simultaneously, its desire for peace. Additional inscriptions to the originals will include "AU" (the symbol for gold), "24K," and "1/10 OZ."

The Standing Liberty quarter, designed by Herman A. MacNeil, depicts Liberty on its obverse. She is holding a shield and an olive branch as she steps through an opening in a wall bearing 13 stars. The reverse shows an eagle in flight flanked by 13 stars. Additional inscriptions to the originals will include "AU,' "24K," and "1/4 OZ."

The Walking Liberty half-dollar, also designed by Weinman, portrays Liberty on its obverse as she strides toward the sunrise, carrying branches of laurel and oak in her arms to symbolize both civil and military glory. Liberty wears a Phrygian cap on her head and an armored plate on her chest over her gown, with the American flag behind her. The reverse features an eagle rising from its mountaintop perch. Additional inscriptions to the originals will include "AU," "24K," and "1/2 OZ."

Details about mintage levels, on-sale dates, and pricing will be announced next year.

Source: US Mint

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Seized gold coins again under court review

US federal appeals court is again weighing the fate of 10 rare 1933 double eagle gold coins possibly worth $80 million or more that the government says were illegally taken from a Philadelphia mint and wound up in a jeweler's hands.

A lawyer for jeweler Israel Switt's heirs told the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday that authorities gave up any right to the coins when they failed to respond to the family's seized-property claim within 90 days.

The Treasury Department insists the $20 Double Eagles were stolen from the U.S. Mint in Philadelphia before the 1933 series was melted down when the country went off the gold standard.

They argued the heirs, Joan Langbord and her sons, cannot lawfully own the coins, which she said she found in a family bank deposit box in 2003. The government regained possession of the coins when the family brought them to the Secret Service to be authenticated.

So far in the decade-long battle, both sides have been declared winners.

In 2009, a judge ruled that the government improperly seized the coins and denied the family due process when officials at the U.S. Mint in Philadelphia decided to keep them after the family asked that they be authenticated. Two years later, a jury found the seizure had been legal because the coins hadn't been circulated and must therefore have been stolen.

A three-judge appellate court flipped the result again in April, ruling 2-1 in favor of Switt's family. Read; Family win back 1933 double eagle.

Federal prosecutors then asked for another shot before the full appeals court, leading to Wednesday's hearing. No timetable for a ruling was given.

The coins are being held at Fort Knox, Kentucky, for safekeeping.

The Mint struck nearly a half-million of the Double Eagles in Philadelphia in 1933 but never released them. They were melted into gold bars after President Franklin D. Roosevelt abandoned the gold standard.

Sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens designed the Double Eagle with a flying eagle on one side and a figure representing liberty on the other.

One Double Eagle, once owned by King Farouk of Egypt, sold in 2002 for $7.6 million, then a record for a coin. Its later owner, a London coin dealer once jailed by the U.S. over it, split the proceeds with the U.S. Langbord lawyer Barry Berke brokered that deal.

The Langbords offered the government a similar split but were rebuffed.

Source: Associated Press

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Whitman releases guide book of Barber Silver Coins

Whitman Publishing will be releasing a Guide Book of Barber Silver Coins, 1st Edition by Q. David Bowers. You can start your pre-order for the 384 pages book today for US$29.95, the book shipping will start on September 22.

Volume #20 in Whitman’s best-selling Bowers Series covers three classic U.S. coin denominations: the dimes, quarters, and half dollars designed by Charles E. Barber, chief engraver of the U.S. Mint. These classic silver coins were first made in 1892, and their production lasted to the eve of America’s entry into World War I.

In this colorfully illustrated book, the workhorses of late-19th and early-20th-century American commerce are given the famous Q. David Bowers treatment: insightful study, rich historical background, and detailed data analysis. Bowers—the “Dean of American Numismatics” and the most published numismatic author of all time—lays out everything you need to know to be a smart collector: how to evaluate quality, determine value, understand the market, and make good purchases. You’ll learn the backstage goings-on that led to the coins’ creation, why they barely made a splash when first issued, and why they weren’t mourned when they passed into history. In recent years the scene has changed—Barber’s silver coinage is among the more popular of U.S. series, with many enthusiastic collectors and students.

Bowers provides a wealth of information on each issue: mintages, existing populations, grading standards, values, auction records, keys to collecting, and more. Historical background sets the coins in the broader context of American life from the 1890s through the mid-teens. Hundreds of full-color images, thoughtful study, and Bowers’s engaging narrative make this book a treat for anyone interested in our nation’s Gilded Age and Progressive Era.

You can start ordering your book at Whitman Publishing website; Guide Book of Barber Silver Coins, 1st Edition.

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Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge Quarter Launch

Officials from the United States Mint and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will launch the Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge quarter Friday, Sept. 18, 2015, at 10 a.m. Eastern Time (ET). The ceremony will be held at the Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center in Smyrna, Del.

Invited guests include U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons, Congressman John Carney, Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dan Ashe, former U.S. Congressman Michael Castle, sponsor of the legislation that created the America the Beautiful Quarters® Program, and United States Mint at Philadelphia Plant Manager Marc Landry.

The public will have the opportunity to exchange their cash for $10 rolls of newly minted Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge quarters after the ceremony.

The event will be broadcast live at:
http://www.fws.gov/northeast/refuges/index.html.

A live stream of the quarter launch will be available at:
http://original.livestream.com/bombayhookquarter.

The evening before the launch ceremony—Thursday, Sept. 17, 6–7 p.m. (ET)—the United States Mint will host a coin forum at the Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center, 2591 Whitehall Neck Road, Smyrna, DE 19977. The coin forum is an opportunity for the public to express their views about future coinage, and to learn about upcoming United States Mint coin programs and initiatives.

The Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge quarter is the 29th release in the United States Mint America the Beautiful Quarters® Program, a 12–year initiative to honor 56 national parks and other national sites authorized by Public Law 110–456. Each year, the public will see five new national sites depicted on the reverse (tails side) of the America the Beautiful Quarters. The United States Mint is issuing these quarters in the order in which the national sites were officially established.

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British Error Coins offered by Spink

Bill Snyder Collection of British Error Coins will be offered by Spink as part of Spink's Collector Series auction, September 24-25, 2015, in New York. The collection ranging from Charles II to Elizabeth II, the collection of over 100 lots features a number of important and dramatic errors, highlighted by a stupendous 1872 Gothic Florin diecap.

With the florin's obverse inset in a raised cap of over 6mm, it presents as a stunning "die-dish" error. Toned a pearly white and uncirculated, the exceedingly rare and possibly unique Gothic diecap (lot 263) is estimated at $9,000 to $12,000.

Other highlights include a lovely James II (1686) Halfcrown struck 20% off center (lot 172) and a George IV 1826 Shilling Obverse Brockage double struck with the second strike 50% off center (lot 245).

Rich in brockages - both obverse and reverse - double strikes and multiple strikes, the collection features errors on Farthing to Crown denominations, Maundy issues, and even an off-metal 1692 Guinea die triple struck on a Halfpenny planchet.

"Generally, the Royal Mint was rather good at catching errors," said Spink USA Senior Numismatist Gregory J. Cole, "thus this collection represents a sizeable offering of solid collector error coins."

The Spink's Collector Series auction features World and U.S. coins, paper money, exonumia, autographs, historical documents and stocks and bonds. Included in the Collector's Series' Sale is an important 1876 Mauritius "Life-saving" Medal in Gold for the rescue of the survivors from the ship 'Strathmore' wrecked on the Crozet Islands, a fractional currency presentation book of Spencer M. Clark, a specialized Chinese banknote section, and a fine collection of Palestine and Judaica stocks & bonds.

For further information, please visit Spink website (www.spink.com).

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Auction of D. Brent Pogue coin collection could fetch $20 million

A New York auction of D. Brent Pogue coin collection from 1792 to the 1830s could bring as much as $20 million. The 105-coin sale on Sept. 30 is the second of five auctions by Stack's Bowers and Sotheby's of federal coinage from the D. Brent Pogue Collection.

Among the stars of the sale is a 1794 Flowing Hair Silver Dollar, known as the Lord Saint Oswald specimen, estimated between $3 million and $5 million. The coin was acquired in Philadelphia after its mintage by British author and House of Lords member William Strickland. It remained in the possession of his descendants until a 1964 auction. Among its previous owners was former Louisiana Congressman Jimmy Hayes.

Other highlights in the sale include a 1795 Capped Bust Right Eagle, also known as the Garrett Eagle, worth $10 when it was minted. It is considered the single finest surviving U.S. gold coin struck in the 18th century.

"It's undoubtedly the most valuable $10 gold piece in existence and may also set a new record for any pre-Gold Rush United States gold coin," said Stack's expert numismatist John Kraljevich.

Its pre-sale estimate is $750,000 to $1.2 million. The current record is $2.35 million for a quarter eagle worth $2.50 when it was struck in 1808. It sold at the first Pogue collection auction in May.

The 1795 coin was once owned by T. Harrison Garrett, a Baltimore banker, and later his sons, who donated it to Johns Hopkins University in 1942. It was later sold at auction.

Pogue, a Dallas property developer, spent decades amassing 650 early American coins. Valued at $200 million, it is believed to be the most valuable rare coin collection in the world.

In May, the two auction houses sold 128 coins from his collection for $25.3 million. Top coin for the auction is a 1808 quarter eagle sold for $2.25 million.

The remaining Pogue coin auctions are scheduled for 2016, on Feb. 18, May 19 and Sep. 22.

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New "Bugs Bunny" variety will be auctioned

New "Bugs Bunny" variety will be auctioned by GreatCollections on Sunday, August 16th, 2015. The exciting new Franklin Half Dollar variety on a Proof issue was previously unrecorded until recently.

The "Bugs Bunny" variety is known to many on the 1955 Franklin Half Dollar business strike and it is also known on other business strike dates and mint marks. However, it was previously unknown on a Proof issue. It has been graded PCGS Proof-65 as FS-403 Bugs Bunny, with CAC approval and is being sold without reserve. Bidding will start at $1.

"I am expecting a lot of interest in this coin; it is destined to be in one of the finest sets of Franklins. This is exactly why so many of us enjoy numismatics – being able to find a new variety of an issue released over 60 years ago," said Ian Russell, President/founder of GreatCollections.

Cherrypickers' co-author Bill Fivaz wrote: "The clashmarks at the mouth of the eagle’s wing on the reverse are every bit as strong as on the 1955 business strike and because the discovery coin is an early strike from the clashed dies (it's somewhat frosted on both obverse and reverse) it is naked eye obvious."

The coin is listed in the 6th Edition, Volume 2 of the Cherrypickers' Guide by Bill Fivaz and J.T. Stanton and it has appeared in CoinWorld and Numismatic News articles when the coin was first discovered earlier this year.

GreatCollections has high quality images posted at www.greatcollections.com and the coin is available to view by appointment at their Irvine, California headquarters. GreatCollections will also take the coin to the World's Fair of Money in Rosemont, Illinois to display at tables 809 and 811 from August 11 through August 15, 2015.

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1929 Indian $5 gold coin sold $40,950

A 1929 Indian $5 gold coin soared above expectations and fetched $40,950 (inc. premium), racing past its high estimate of $25,000 at the Bonhams' Coins and Medals sale on June 1. The final year of issue in the Indian five dollar gold series, the 1929 ranks as the scarcest date with a population that's likely no greater than 600 pieces.

The winning bid was placed in the room after a prolonged bidding war. The West Coast auction in which it sold was a well-attended success, selling 94 percent of the 593 lot sale.

The coin is the final year of issue in the Indian $5 gold series. Due to the fact that these coins were struck just a few years before gold was demonetized in 1933, virtually no examples are known in grades lower than AU. In addition, the 1929 ranks as the scarcest date for the series, making this an exceptionally rare collector's item.

The 1929 is also notable as it is the only issue of the design type produced subsequent to 1916.

Additional high points of the auction include:

• A Russian gold medal dated 24 May 1719 depicting Peter I The Great, which realized $29,250. The highly detailed medal commemorates the capture of three Swedish warships during the Great Northern War between Russia and Sweden.
• A gorgeous and virtually untouched MCMVII high relief (1907) $20 that achieved $15,210. The coin was most likely struck at the express request of President Theodore Roosevelt during his redesign of the United States coinage.
• A rare and desirable George II of England Gold 5 Guineas dated 1738. This collectable sold for $11,700, well over its high estimate of $6,000.
• An especially well preserved 1927 $1 graded MS65 by PCGS that fetched $11,115, racing past its high estimate of $2,250. Prime examples are rarely seen of the 1927 Peace Dollar. The design elements on this silver coin are sharply impressed and the surfaces are free of detracting abrasions.
• A private collection of Washington Quarters from the 1930s through 1964 anchored much of the auction, and every single one of these 200 plus lots were sold amidst active bidding.

The Director of the Rare Coins and Banknotes Department at Bonhams, Paul Song commented, "Virtually all of the coins in this auction were from estates or small private collections. The freshness of the material to the marketplace was reflected in the overall sell through rate and the prices."

Bonhams next Coins and Medals sale will be held in Los Angeles in September.

For more information on this sale please visit www.bonhams.com/auctions/22460/.

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Nipper Family Birch Cent will be Auctioned

A Nipper Family Collection 1792 Birch Cent, Judd-4, one of only seven known of this variety, graded VG 10 by NGC will be sold next month by Mallette & Associates in Cincinnati, OH. Proceeds of the sale will benefit the Greenacres Foundation.

This coin was last offered at public auction by Bowers & Ruddy in February 1979.

Named for the presumed engraver whose signature appears on the coin’s obverse, the 1792 Birch Cent is an important pattern coin struck during the foundational period of the US Mint. It is the first copper cent to show a depiction emblematic of Liberty as prescribed by the Mint Act of 1792. Further, this variety, catalogued as Judd-4 in United States Pattern Coins by J. Hewitt Judd, is the first cent coin struck at a weight of 208 grains, mandated by the Act of January 14, 1793. All Chain, Wreath and Liberty Cap Cents, with Lettered Edge, struck from 1793 to 1795 were coined to this standard.

This is the fourth Birch Cent that NGC has certified in the past five years. Approximately 15 Birch Cents of all varieties are known. Birch Cents made national headlines in January of this year when the finest known example of Judd-4, graded NGC MS 65 RB, sold for $2.585 million at auction, the highest price ever paid for a US cent at public sale.

The recently certified Birch Cent was the centerpiece of the Nippert Family’s commingled, multi-generational holdings, which begins with James Gamble (1803-1891), co-founder of Procter & Gamble. Louis Nippert (1903-1992), Gamble’s great-grandson, his wife Louise Dieterle Nippert (1911-2012), and her father, George Dieterle (1883-1968), all contributed items which form the collection now being dispersed.

Although perhaps best known as one-time owner of the Cincinnati Reds, Louis Nippert along with his wife Louise were Cincinnati’s greatest philanthropists, donating hundreds of millions of dollars to local institutions, usually anonymously. Proceeds from the sale of their estate will benefit the Greenacres Foundation, a working farm and education center they established.

“We’re honored to have been selected to certify this classic rarity for Mallette & Associates on behalf of the Greenacres Foundation,” says Scott Schechter, NGC grader and vice president. “Every time a Birch Cent comes into the grading room, the early history of the US Mint comes alive. Despite the relatively heavy circulation this example has seen, it has fantastic metal quality and wonderful visual appeal.”

The Birch Cent, along with over 400 lots of coins and currency, is scheduled to be sold on Saturday, July 25, 2015 by Mallette & Associates at the Greenacres Foundation Arts Center in Cincinnati, OH. NGC has certified more than 200 of the coins being offered. A gallery of highlights from the collection will be posted on NGC’s website in the coming weeks. Mallette & Associates can be contacted directly for information about the sale by phone at 513-984-0400. A catalogue and photographs will be available on their website, www.malletteandassociates.com.

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1880 Coiled Hair stella sold for $1.1 million

A gem 1880 Coiled Hair stella sold for $1.1 million in Heritage Auctions’ $17+ million Long Beach Expo. Part Two of the New Orleans collection, consisted of a mere four coins, but three of them would wind up at the very top of the highlights list for this auction.

The 1880 Coiled Hair stella, or four dollar gold piece, is the rarest of the four Stella varieties. This collection featured the Neil-Trompeter example, certified PR65 by PCGS, and when the bidding was over the coin had sold for $1,116,250. A second rare stella, the 1880 Flowing Hair graded Proof-65 by NGC (4229), sold for $417,125.

The New Orleans collection concluded with two rare ten dollar gold eagles. The 1933, a melt rarity from the final year of US circulating gold coin production, was represented by a piece graded MS65 by PCGS (4322), which sold for $587,500. Finally, the BD-1 1798/7 9x4 stars eagle, representing the more available of the two 1798 varieties (both overdates), was exemplified by an NGC-graded MS62 coin (4276). Only one such coin has ever been certified in a higher grade by either of the two major grading services, and it grades only MS63. The New Orleans Collection example sold for $199,750 in the Long Beach auction.

This auction featured a number of outstanding coins outside of the New Orleans collection. A 1792 Half Disme graded MS64 by PCGS is notable for being the first federal issue struck after the passage of the Mint Act in 1792. These avidly-collected coins bring high prices in all grades, and this coin did not disappoint, selling for $329,000. A proof 1859 double eagle, graded PR63 Cameo by NGC, defines the concept "fresh to market", having last been offered in 1962. Only nine examples are available in all grades, and this piece realized $223,250.

Additional highlights include, but are not limited to:

• 1793 1C Wreath, Vine and Bars Edge, S-9, MS65 Brown PCGS Secure: Realized: $176,250.
• 1822 25C B-1, MS67 PCGS: Realized: $164,500.
• Kellogg & Humbert 48.03-Ounce Gold Ingot. CAGB-703: Realized: $164,500.
• 1879 $4 Flowing Hair, Judd-1635, PR64 Cameo NGC: Realized: $152,750.
• 1828 25C B-4, MS67 NGC: Realized: $108,687.

You can visit HA.com/coins to review consignment deadlines and auction dates for Heritage Auctions' next Signature offering of U.S. coins.

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1863 gold three dollar in upcoming Orlando Auction

Heritage Auctions upcoming July 9 - 13 Summer FUN US Coins Signature Auction in Orlando will be featuring a Semiprooflike 1863 gold three dollar, graded MS67 by NGC. At this level, this coin is a member of the Condition Census Superb Gems that Bowers and Winter refer to as "showpieces" in the opening comments of their narrative on this issue in The United States $3 Gold Pieces.

As few as 30 to 40 examples of this date are believed to survive in Mint State, with a significant portion of these residing in MS62 and lower grades. Examples are rare in MS63 through MS66, and anything finer is the centerpiece of a marquee event when offered at auction. NGC records just three submissions of this date in MS67 (one in MS67 Star), with two MS68 coins finer (one in MS68 Star); PCGS contributes a single MS67 coin and an MS68 piece finer (5/15). Given the inflation of the certified population data for this issue in lower grades, it is conceivable that even these paltry Superb Gem figures include one or more resubmissions.

The 1863 gold three dollar piece had a scant mintage of 5,000 coins, mirroring the low production totals of most gold denominations for this period. In the East, gold coins generally did not circulate during this period due to economic uncertainties centered on the most pivotal periods of the Civil War. Most examples of the 1863 gold three dollar issue that were absorbed by private hands were either melted for their bullion or tightly hoarded. Remarkably few examples were set aside with care, and today, most known survivors grade in the upper XF to AU range, showing evidence of careless handling.

Heritage Permanent Auction Archives show only 24 previous appearances of this issue in any Mint State grade over the past two decades, and only two of these offerings were for an MS67-quality coin. The most recent of these was a die-clashed MS67 PCGS CAC example offered as lot 5386 in Heritage 2014 FUN Signature sale where it garnered $211,500. The present NGC coin is, in some respects, superior to that example - the surface quality is comparable, but this piece is noticeably sharper on the wreath bow and its semiprooflike fields are joyously devoid of clash marks. The latter characteristic is of major importance for this issue, as Bowers and Winter state: "All examples seen by the authors have clash marks on both sides." As if it weren't obvious by the sheer quality of the die impression and the boldness of the motifs, this coin is nothing other than a beautiful early strike, one of the finest known from an aesthetic perspective. Seemingly flawless surfaces display warm wheat-gold luster.

With only a few dozen Superb Gem three dollar gold pieces known for the entire series, the importance of this 1863 representative cannot be overstated.

Source: Heritage Auction

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King of the Washington Quarters in Long Beach Expo

The "King of the Washington Quarters", a 1932-D Washington Quarter graded MS66 by PCGS is one of the numerous highlights of Heritage Auction June 4 - 7 Long Beach Expo US Coins Signature Auction. The 1932-D Washington Quarter is the most challenging coin to find in high mint state condition for the entire Washington Quarter series.

The offering of this coin is far and away one of the most important events that Washington quarter collectors will experience. The 1932-D is widely known as the scarcer of the two first-year keys, particularly in high grades, but this landmark coin ranks with just two others as the finest known.

Its only rivals are another MS66 coin at PCGS and a single numerically equal example reported by NGC. The NGC coin has never been seen at auction, although it is possible the coin is in the current highest-ranking NGC Registry Set; confirmation is not currently possible, however, and it is equally possible that the coin has been crossed and is no longer in the NGC MS66 holder.

The other PCGS coin has only appeared at auction twice, and the collecting fervor it has generated each time has been worth keeping for the record books. Its first offering was in our August 2001 ANA Signature Auction where it realized an incredible $89,125. Later, it appeared in Bowers and Merena's April 2008 Chicago Rarities Sale and garnered a staggering bid of $143,750, a record price for any Washington quarter.

This magnificent, recently certified counterpart to the aforementioned example is here making its debut appearance. The Registry Set boost that this coin would provide is unequaled, especially in light of the fact that none of the current highest-ranking Registry Sets contain a 1932-D finer than MS65, and most house examples of significantly lower grades. The other PCGS MS66 coin went to a tightly held, private collection, and does not appear in the PCGS Set Registry.

This piece exhibits delicate, largely flawless satin surfaces with original luster residing beneath a thin veil of pale pastel toning. Only a microscopic tick hidden in Washington's hair is at all worthy of mention, even if only for the sake of accuracy. The design elements are boldly rendered and the overall eye appeal is excellent. The 1932-D is the biggest key date in the entire Washington quarter series, and this magnificent coin is well-deserving of the title: "King of the Washington Quarters."

Source: Heritage Auction

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1808 quarter eagle sold for $2.25 million

A 1808 quarter eagle sold for $2.25 million in the sale of the D. Brent Pogue Collection, presented by auctioneers Stacks Bowers Galleries and Sotheby’s in New York City on May 20, 2015. The 207-year-old coin have a face value of $2.50 and were minted only made in small quantities.

A new world record for any coin of the quarter eagle denomination. It also became the most valuable 19th-century U.S. gold coin ever sold at auction. One side of the coin depicts Lady Liberty and an eagle is on the other side.

Collectors spent $25.3 million to purchase just 128 coins in the Tuesday night auction.

a Mint State example of the first United States quarter dollar, struck in Philadelphia in 1796, and the finest known example of the very rare 1797 half dollar. Each sold for a total price, including buyer’s fee, of $1,572,500 million, matching a world record for the most valuable quarter dollar ever sold and setting a brand new world record for the most valuable half dollar ever sold.

“World-class quality set new world records tonight,” said Brian Kendrella, president of Stack’s Bowers Galleries. “While collector interest is high in all coins across the board, we saw tonight that collectors were willing to compete strongly to own the very best condition coins in existence. The D. Brent Pogue Collection was built with the very highest quality as the goal, so it’s no surprise that the modern generation of collectors was willing to set new world record prices to acquire them.”

Just 13 gold coins were included in the sale, all quarter eagles struck in the early years of the denomination from 1796 through 1808. These 13 coins brought a total of $6,797,375, an average of more than a half million dollars each. While the 1808 is considered one of the rarest of all U.S. gold coins, other coins also saw active bidding, including a pristine 1798 quarter eagle that brought $763,750, more than twice the highest pre-sale estimate.

The sale began with the D. Brent Pogue collection of half dimes, including a “half disme” of 1792, the first official coin of the United States. Worth just $1.65 when they were minted from 1792 to 1837, this handful of tiny silver coins brought over $3.26 million. The high grade 1792 half disme, struck at the personal request of Thomas Jefferson before the United States Mint was even built, was the most valuable five-cent coin in the sale, selling at $440,625.

The total price realized exceeded the highest pre-sale estimates. Six more offerings of coins from the D. Brent Pogue Collection will be brought to auction by Stacks Bowers Galleries and Sotheby’s in 2015, 2016, and 2017.

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1793 Wreath Cent Vine & Bars Edge in Long Beach Auction

A beautiful Gem Uncirculated 1793 Wreath Cent with Vine and Bars Edge will be offered by Heritage Auction in their June 4 – 7 Long Beach Expo US Coins Signature Auction. This coin is unpictured in the Noyes reference, although it is listed in its proper place in the Census at number 4 for the Sheldon-9 variety, awaiting photography. Few 1793 large cents of any variety can exceed the eye appeal and lustrous surfaces of this lovely Gem cent.

More than 55 years ago it appeared in the Stack's Philip G. Strauss Collection sale, where it received a lengthy description for those days:

"UNCIRCULATED. Lustrous chestnut brown, well struck and centered, full border beading on each side. Reverse die break from rim through CA and right stem to right ribbon end. Beautiful, well-nigh flawless surfaces, with adhesives of mint color on the reverse. Here is a cent to dream on. The three qualities – sharpness, surface, color – that, when present, confer premium value over and above book value upon an early large cent in this condition are here blended in perfect aesthetic harmony."

Later, the coin was part of the E. Yale Clarke and the Reed Hawn collections, where it received equally (if not so eloquent) glowing accolades. Noyes grades the coin MS62(60) Choice in his most recent Census listing, and our assigned EAC grade of MS62 closely corresponds with this.

In hand, the coin is every bit a Gem, as graded by PCGS, and even under a strong glass there are few imperfections to note. Most are Mint-caused and related to Die State, which closely matches Breen Die State IV. Faint die cracks on the portrait are seen on the neck, cheek, and temple. The reverse die crack at CA of AMERICA is bold and extends from the edge to the right ribbon.

Some inconsequential microgranularity is visible under magnification – beneath OF, within the upper wreath leaves, and sparingly around the 3 in the date, although die rust is a possibility for the minor roughness. The strike is amazingly sharp throughout in spite of swelling around the lower right wreath. Glimpses of mint red still appear beneath the glossy, light steel-brown surfaces.

The Breen reference suggests 22,000 pieces were struck from the die pair, making S-9 by far the most available 1793 large cent variety. The condition rarity of this coin makes the mintage merely a point of interest.

Visit Heritage Auction official website coins.ha.com for more information about June 4 – 7 Long Beach Expo US Coins Signature Auction.

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Constantine the Great Gold Medallion in Bonhams Auction

Bonhams has announced that they will be offering a large and impressive medallion that may have been issued by the Roman emperor Constantine the Great at the start of the 4th century in its June 1 auction of Rare Coins and Medals in Los Angeles. The medallion is estimated at $200,000-300,000.

Few 4th century gold medallions of this significant size — a diameter of 48.8 mm and weight of 41.88 g — have come to market in recent years. Gold medallions such as this were typically gifts given by the emperor to high-ranking individuals of the empire, both military and civilian. They were also presented to ambassadors and chieftains on important occasions in hopes to impress them.

The Director of the Rare Coins and Banknotes Department at Bonhams, Paul Song, states, "Having handled two of the most valuable collections of ancient coins ever offered at auction, this particular gold medallion of 9 solidi size was not in either collection, making this an extremely rare find. It is of the highest importance to the advanced collector. The fact that Constantine the Great, himself, would have almost certainly handled the coin in question further adds to the allure and desirability of this incredible item."

These medallions were true multiples of gold and silver coins and could legally be used as money. This particular piece of ancient currency illustrates a bust of Constantine wearing a rosette diadem. On the reverse, Constantine is seen with a nimbate or halo, which is often found on Byzantine coins. He is seated on his throne while holding his staff in his right hand and the cherished plant, acacia, in his left. His two sons, Constantine II and Constantius, stand on either side of Constantine in their military attire, each holding a spear and shield.

Constantine's reign has fascinated people for centuries. It is essentially regarded as an epoch of administrative and politic reforms, of religious and artistic pursuits. During this time, Christianity began to transition to the dominant religion of the Roman Empire, as he was the first emperor to profess Christianity. However, he is perhaps most famous for the great city which came to bear his name - Constantinople. Historians have placed this coin's creation after May 11, 330 A.D. (the consecration of Constantinople). Therefore, this remarkable coin may be one of the earliest productions of the Constantinople mint.

Bonhams is also delighted to be offering an extensive selection of world gold coins and United States coins from colonial to the 20th century. Amid the collection of US coins are a large selection of mint state Washington Quarters and Washington Quarter rolls from 1932 through 1964 from a private collection, and these vary in estimate from $200-300 to $1500-2000. A very rare colonial 1785 Vermont Copper Immune Columbia variety (est. $25,000-30,000) is also quite a discovery.

Among the highlights from the remainder of the sale are some other rarities. One such rarity is a large size Gold Medal of Peter the Great of Russia commemorating a naval battle, which has outstanding provenance and is estimated to bring very conservatively $20,000-30,000. In addition, an exceptionally rare 1865 Canada, Newfoundland Gold $2 specimen coin, which is one of perhaps a half dozen known is estimated at $35,000-40,000.

The preview for the sale will take place May 29-June 1 and the illustrated catalog for the auction will be available online for review and purchase in the weeks preceding the sale at www.bonhams.com. 

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1907 Ultra High Relief $20 double eagle in Stack’s Bowers Auction

Finest certified MCMVII (1907) Ultra High Relief Double Eagle gold coin will be offered by Stack’s Bowers Galleries and Sotheby’s Auction. Arguably the most beautiful coin design ever struck by the U.S. Mint. Graded and encapsulated by the Professional Coin Grading Service as Proof-69, this example last sold in the June 2012 Stack’s Bowers Baltimore sale for $2,760,000.

The historical importance of this classic type cannot be overstated, and whenever an example is offered in auction, it creates excitement among numismatists. The story of the creation of this rarity has often been told in books and auction catalogs. In short: The coin, minted in 1907, has the date expressed in Roman numerals as MCMVII. It is one of about 20 coins with Ultra High Relief or sculptured detail. The story goes back to President Theodore Roosevelt in 1905 when he employed Augustus Saint-Gaudens, America’s most famous sculptor, to redesign the coinage. The artist, working in his studio in Cornish, New Hampshire (now a National Historic Site), began with the $20 gold double eagle, the largest denomination gold coin.

For the obverse he created a bold image of Miss Liberty in the figure of Victory, striding forward holding a torch and palm branch with the U.S. Capitol in the distance. For the reverse, an eagle in flight was sculpted. In early 1907 about 20 coins were struck at the Philadelphia Mint and given to the president and dignitaries. Due to striking difficulties, the relief was lowered to what is referred to as the High Relief, and 11,250 examples were struck for general circulation. The “ultra” high relief of the devices was inspired by the ancient Greek coins that President Roosevelt had admired in museums.

Today, several of the MCMVII Ultra High Relief coins are in museums, including one on display at the Smithsonian, and time and again surveys among numismatists have rated this as America's most beautiful coin design. It is ranked as number 7 of the Greatest 100 U.S. Coins in the popular coffee-table reference of the same title. Only rarely is one available at auction, and its appearance inspires great enthusiasm from coin collectors and those who appreciate fine art. The Ultra High Relief double eagle has always had a great allure, and has often broken records when sold at auction. In 1974, when we sold the Ulmer Collection, his example was the first coin to sell for $200,000 in auction.

“Stack’s Bowers Galleries has offered several Ultra High Relief double eagles over the years, and each time, they create much excitement and anticipation among collectors,” Lawrence R. Stack declared. “Among the famous examples are the Ulmer coin offered in 1974, the Eliasberg specimen in 1982, and most recently this example which we last offered in June 2012.”

“This is truly an American masterpiece, a work of sculpted art, as much as it is a classic numismatic rarity,” added Brian Kendrella, president of Stack’s Bowers. “We are pleased to be able to again offer this wonderful piece, not only to our list of clients, but to the clients of Sotheby’s.”

The coin will be available for lot viewing in the Stack’s Bowers Galleries New York City gallery April 29-May 15, 2015, and on exhibit at Sotheby’s May 16-19, 2015. For more information or to schedule a lot-viewing appointment, please call 800.458.4646 (West Coast) or 800.566.2580 (East Coast), or email info@stacksbowers.com.

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Looney Tunes Collector Coins will be issued 2015

All the favourite Looney Tunes characters such as Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Tweety and Sylvester will be reproduced as a gold and silver collector coins by The Royal Canadian Mint, in partnership with Warner Bros. Consumer Products. The Looney Tunes™ collector coins featuring the widely beloved Looney Tunes™ to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Bugs Bunny.

"Looney Tunes is one of the most popular cartoons ever to grace the small and big screens and the mere mention of adored characters, such as Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Tweety and Sylvester, brings generations of Canadians and fans around the world back to our youth," said Sandra Hanington, President and CEO of the Royal Canadian Mint. "These expertly crafted collector coins make a sentimental gift for any Looney Tunes fan, or a wonderful collectible for those with a passion for animation and its history."

"We’re excited to partner again with the Royal Canadian Mint, this time to bring our beloved Looney Tunes characters to this timeless collection of coins that shines with nostalgic charm," said Karen McTier, Warner Bros. Consumer Products.

Several Looney Tunes™ collector coins, featuring a variety of technology, special offers and unique packaging, will be issued by the Royal Canadian Mint throughout 2015. The following are available for purchase as of today:

• A subscription set featuring all eight $10 silver coins that will be issued throughout 2015. The set’s unique presentation case also includes an opening to store the "20 for $20" silver coin. Each coin features a fun, hidden surprise design element.
• A $20 "Merrie Melodies" silver coin featuring Bugs Bunny and the gang in a design that is reminiscent of the Looney Tunes’ end credits. The coin is cleverly packaged in a box that mimics the ACME crate.
• A $20 silver Looney Tunes™ four-coin set featuring popular characters Sylvester, Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and Tweety. This set, which is also available as a subscription, also includes a free Looney Tunes™ wrist watch.
• A stunning 14-karat gold Bugs Bunny and Friends coin, which brings together several famous characters from the Looney Tunes, including: Bugs Bunny, the Tasmanian Devil, Wile E. Coyote, Daffy Duck and Marvin the Martian. Look closely for a hidden surprise design element in this coin! As part of this special issue, this coin is accompanied by an exclusive Looney Tunes™ pocket watch.
• A $2,500 pure gold kilo coin and a $250 silver kilo coin depicting every major character in the Looney Tunes™ pantheon. The design of both coins features selective coloured enamel applied by hand to a coy Bugs Bunny who serves as the central focal point. He is surrounded by a cast of characters which recapture the zany spirit of fun with which Looney Tunes™ is synonymous.

A "$20 for $20" silver coin featuring expert engraving that brings to life Bugs Bunny will be available on May 12, 2015.

Each of the coins have limited mintages, so order yours today before "That's all, Folks!" These coins can be ordered from the Mint at 1-800-267-1871 in Canada, 1-800-268-6468 in the US, or online at www.mint.ca/looneytunes. The coins will also be available at the Royal Canadian Mint's boutiques in Ottawa, Winnipeg and Vancouver, as well as through the Mint’s global network of dealers and distributors, including participating Canada Post outlets.

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US Mint Releases Eisenhower $1 Coin Cover on May 5

US Mint will be releasing the 2015 Dwight D. Eisenhower $1 Coin Cover on May 5 at noon Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). The Eisenhower $1 Coin Cover is the 34th issue in the United States Mint American Presidency $1 Coin Cover Series.

This limited edition coin cover includes two circulating quality Eisenhower Presidential $1 Coins from the first day of production at the bureau's facilities--December 18, 2014 (Philadelphia facility), and December 15, 2014 (Denver facility).

The coins are mounted on a display card placed inside an envelope with a Red, White, and Blue Forever® stamp. The cover also features President Eisenhower's portrait and the postmark of May 5, 2015, Denison Station, TX, which marks the day the United States Mint issued the coin cover. Only 15,000 units will be produced.

Each coin has a common reverse design featuring a striking rendition of the Statue of Liberty. These coins feature large, dramatic artwork and edge-incused inscriptions of the year of minting, or issuance, “E PLURIBUS UNUM” and the mint mark. The inscription “IN GOD WE TRUST” appears on the face of the coins. The size, weight and metal composition of the Presidential $1 Coins are identical to that of the Native American $1 Coins.

Please visit US Mint website for information http://www.catalog.usmint.gov/

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$4 gold coin sold for $1.82 million

On 23rd April, a $4 1880 Coiled Hair stella gold coin sold for $1,821,250 in Heritage's Platinum Night session at the Central States Numismatic Society convention. The most important Stellas available to collectors and just 10 1880 Coiled Hair stellas are extant.

The 1880 Coiled Hair stella is the rarest of the four variants in the series. It was originally issued in three-coin sets along with a goloid dollar and metric dollar, both of which were also designed by George T. Morgan. As mentioned above, only 10 (or fewer) examples are thought to exist from an original mintage that likely totaled between 10 and 20 pieces.

The auction total results exceeding $34.3 million. Another rare stella, the 1879 Coiled Hair in Proof-65 PCGS, sold for $881,250.

Additional highlights included, but clearly were not limited to:

• 1859 Six-Piece Gold Proof Set. Realized: $851,875
• 1933 $10 MS65 PCGS. CAC Realized: $822,500
• 1794 50C O-109, R.8, VF25 NGC Realized: $705,000
• 1880 $4 Flowing Hair, Judd-1657 PR66 PCGS Realized: $517,000
• 1849-C G$1 Open Wreath MS63 Prooflike NGC Realized: $493,500
• 1797 50C O-101a MS64 PCGS Secure. CAC Realized: $493,500
• 1795 $1 Flowing Hair, Three Leaves, B-7, BB-18 MS65 NGC Realized: $423,000
• 1844 $10 PR63 Cameo NGC Realized: $423,000

Source: Heritage Auction

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Type Three Double Eagles 1877-1907 Book

A new new reference book "Type Three Double Eagles 1877 - 1907," written by Michael Fuljenz has been published by Subterfuge Publishing. The reference book about a popular and historic United States gold coins series provides useful information for gold coin collectors and investors, a date-by-date analysis of every coin in the series, historical vignettes and more than 100 full-color photographs.

The book was written by Michael Fuljenz, President of Universal Coin & Bullion Ltd. in Beaumont, Texas, who has won more than 50 awards from the Numismatic Literary Guild for his consumer protection and education newsletters and earlier books and articles.

Fuljenz predicts that last year's wide-spread publicity about the discovery of the buried treasure Saddle Ridge Hoard "should increase collector and investor interest in this (coin) series for a long time." The vast majority of the 1,427 gold coins unearthed in the $10 million Northern California hoard were U.S. Type Three Double Eagles.

Fuljenz provides useful collecting, investing, buying and selling tips as well as historical information and price history about this coin series. He includes information about counterfeits and consumer protection. Fuljenz assisted the influential Industry Council For Tangible Assets (ICTA) with lobbying in Washington, DC to win approval of the important 2014 Collectible Coin Protection Act.

One revealing chapter of the book is described by the author as "the definitive article on the national motto, In God We Trust." It provides proof the inspiration for the motto actually goes back to the War of 1812, pre-dating the 1860s U.S. Civil War era that many believe was the backdrop for the motto.

Another of the 17 interesting chapters is devoted to "Peter," an eagle that lived at the Philadelphia Mint in the mid 1800s and inspired coin designs as well as bedtime stories.

Other noteworthy features of the book include how President Theodore Roosevelt worked with acclaimed sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens on the early 20th century "pet crime" of replacing the design of the Liberty Head Double Eagle and other U.S. coins; Type Three Double Eagles in the National Numismatic Collection at the Smithsonian Institution; celebrity coin collectors; and law enforcement tips on how to protect your coins and other valuables from theft. Fuljenz serves on his local Board of the Crime Stoppers organization.

Type Three Double Eagles were struck at five mints: Carson City, Denver, New Orleans, Philadelphia and San Francisco. Unlike Type One Double Eagles, Type Three have the motto, In God We Trust, and unlike Type Two coins the Type Three have the denomination spelled out as TWENTY DOLLARS rather than TWENTY D.

Known as America's Gold Expert®, Fuljenz has won dozens of prestigious national and regional awards and honors from the Numismatic Literary Guild, the Press Club of Southeast Texas and other organizations for his consumer education and protection work in rare coins and precious metals.

A respected community leader in his hometown of Beaumont, Texas, Mike also has served with distinction as a consultant to the Federal Trade Commission, United States Mint and Royal Canadian Mint, is on the ICTA Board of Directors and is a member of the Professional Numismatists Guild.

Published by Subterfuge Publishing, the suggested price for Type Three Double Eagles 1877 - 1907 is $39.95 including shipping. Copies can be ordered online at www.UniversalCoin.com.

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