Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, Jr., has selected Roger W. Burdette to serve a four-year term on the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC). Burdette fills the committee position requiring "special qualifications in numismatics."

According to a United States Mint statement, Burdette is:

A life-long numismatist who has written numerous articles and a series of three critically acclaimed books titled Renaissance of American Coinage. Mr. Burdette holds a Bachelors of Science degree and a Masters of Science degree, both in Education, from the University of Maryland.

The CCAC is tasked to review and advise the Treasury Secretary on themes and design proposals for circulating coinage, commemorative coins, bullion coinage, Congressional Gold Medals and other medals.

Read the rest of this entry »

(Baltimore, Maryland) – The Professional Numismatists Guild (PNG) presented a Lifetime Achievement Award to well-known researcher, author and rare coin dealer John "J.D." Dannreuther of Memphis, Tennessee. 

The surprise presentation of the award was made during the organization’s annual PNG Day banquet conducted this year in Baltimore, Maryland.

Dannreuther joined the PNG in 1978.

"John Dannreuther is getting the Lifetime Achievement Award for over 30 years of dedication and devoted service to numismatics. 

John is one of the founders of the Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) and one of the nation’s top numismatic scholars. 

Although John certainly has ‘paid his dues,’ he continues to serve our profession and hobby as a teacher, dealer, researcher and writer," said PNG Board Member and Immediate Past President Jeff Garrett of Lexington, Kentucky who presented the award.

The Abe Kosoff Award, named after PNG’s Founding President and presented to a PNG member who has made a significant contribution to the Guild or the numismatic fraternity the past year, was given to Mark Salzberg, Chief Executive Officer of Numismatic Guaranty Corp. 

Read the rest of this entry »

The United States Mint will reveal the 2009 Ultra High Relief Double Eagle Gold Coin at the ANA World’s Fair of Money® this week, but excited collectors don’t need to wait to see what the gold piece looks like. The U.S. Mint has provided high resolution images of the coin’s obverse, reverse and edge.

While highlighting the beauty of the 1907 Augustus Saint-Gaudens’ $20 Double Eagle liberty design, the coin photos makes the width of the gold piece immediately apparent. In piedfort like style, the $20 gold coin is about 50% thicker than other US Mint one-ounce gold coins.

Read the rest of this entry »

New York silver, gold and platinum dropped Tuesday as investors sold the metals in light of falling crude oil prices, a sharply rising US dollar that reached its highest level in a month, and rallying US stocks. Increased US consumer confidence also helped to push down precious metal support.

Oil dropped to $122.19 a barrel, losing $2.54. Newly released data showed demand turned south in May with Americans driving 10 billion fewer collective miles in the month.

Silver lost 9 cents to close at $17.38 an ounce.

Platinum fell sharply to $1,745.40 an ounce for a daily loss of $31.30.

Gold dropped $11.20 to close to $916.50 an ounce — to mark a one-month low. Its intraday low was $913.80.

Read the rest of this entry »

The latest congressional National Parks Quarter proposal calls for a massive three-inch, eight ounce silver collector coin.

An amazing size that would quite easily dwarf current US bullion coinage — as a comparison, the popular American Eagle silver coin is an already large 1.598 inches with a single ounce of silver.

The House of Representatives introduced the America’s Beautiful National Parks Quarter Dollar Coin Act, which proposes a minimum 11 year series of circulating quarter dollar coins to feature one national park or site in each state, the District of Columbia, and each U.S. Territory starting in 2010. It would also mandate silver coins for collectors.

The House-introduced legislation passed easily on July 9, 2008. That bill, however, had provisions only for a three-inch, five ounce silver collector coin. "Only" is perhaps the wrong word to use. A coin that size and issued by the US Mint would be history making.

Read the rest of this entry »

The American Numismatic Association World’s Fair of Money® convention is packed with exciting collector opportunities and coin exhibits.

Beginning Wednesday, July 30 and ending Sunday, August 3., this year’s convention in Baltimore, Maryland is sure to be one of the best.

Listing all the exceptional events occurring at the show is fruitless… There are simply too many. But here is a selection of several that highlight some of the fun and exciting experiences to enjoy:

Read the rest of this entry »