Collectors are eagerly awaiting the first sale of rare and exceptional Coins and Banknotes to be presented by Bonhams New York. Taking place on December 3rd, the sale consists of over 400 lots ranging from 1692 to the early 21st Century. 

Amongst the most coveted lots will be an exceptionally rare 1796 $10 AU50 NGC (pictured, above). Bright green-gold with warm honey and orange highlights, the coin’s intense mint bloom glows broadly in the fields and within the protected design areas. The obverse is of the Turban Head type with stars to both sides. The reverse motif, also used on the contemporary half eagle, depicts the national bird solidly perched on a branch of palm, holding aloft a victory wreath without any olives or berries.

The die work is excellent being BD-1, Breen-6832, Bass-3174, Taraszka-6, R.4, the only known die pairing for the year. From the earliest years of the regularly issued coinage of the United States which started in 1796, this highly important and elusive issue is estimated at $65,000-75,000. Read the rest of this entry »

The Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) on Monday sent customers an e-mail notice announcing that the new 2010 Intaglio Print Subscription Program will be available Nov. 17, 2009, at 9:00 AM ET for $51.00.

"This year’s Intaglio Print Program has been dedicated to the age-old art of intaglio printing by featuring an exquisite compilation of unique engraved postage stamps, allegorical figures, and vignettes relative to the geographic location where each numismatic event is being held," the BEP states on its website.

The three numismatic events include: Read the rest of this entry »

The American Numismatic Association Bebee Collection of paper money, one of the finest collections of United States paper money ever assembled, is available to view in an exciting new online image gallery. The collection, consisting of more than 800 notes, was donated to the ANA by Aubrey and Adeline Bebee in 1988.

To view the Bebee Collection online gallery, go to www.money.org (select "Visit the Money Museum," then select "The ANA Bebee Collection of U.S. Paper Money/View the Collection") or go to www.ana-museum.org. Additional educational information, including introductions explaining the cross-referenced components of the notes, will be added in the coming months.

The gallery is the work of longtime ANA members John Nebel and Susie Nulty. The collection was scanned seven years ago using the highest quality scanner, enabling minute details to be shown. The original files have been reduced to a practical size for web viewing, but small details are shown in high resolution through pop-up windows. Read the rest of this entry »

The Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP), the government agency responsible for printing US currency, has released the newest addition to the Presidential Portrait Collection, the President Barack Obama Engraved Portrait.

The collection features portraits of each US President captured with the "artistry and craftsmanship of skilled Bureau of Engraving and Printing employees."

There are two hand engraved pints available, a large 9" x 12" Obama portrait for $5.50 and a smaller 6" x 8" for portrait $5.00. Read the rest of this entry »

Bowers and Merena’s Official Auction of the Whitman Coin & Collectibles Baltimore Expo Features The Dr. Alfred R. Globus Collection Including Gem Example High Condition Census 1830 BD-1 Half Eagle

IRVINE, Calif. – Bowers and Merena Auctions, America’s leading rare coin and currency auction house, will bring more than 6,000 lots of fine coins and currency to Baltimore, Md., for the Official Auction of the Whitman Coin & Collectibles Baltimore Expo scheduled for November 10-14, 2009.

There are nearly 2,600 U.S. lots and close to 3,500 World lots. The auction will take place at the Baltimore Convention Center and begins with lot viewing Tuesday, November 10, through Saturday, November 14, coinciding with the seven-session auction on Thursday, November 12, through Saturday, November 14. Read the rest of this entry »

IRVINE, Calif. — Ponterio & Associates, a division of Bowers and Merena Auctions, will bring 1,250 lots of world paper money to Baltimore, Md., as part Bowers and Merena’s Official Auction of the Whitman Coin and Collectibles Baltimore Expo scheduled for November 10-14, 2009.

The auction will take place at the Baltimore Convention Center and includes an impressive world catalog presented in four sessions.

Currency highlights include more notes from the popular "East Bay Collection" set to cross the auction block. One of the notable countries with an impressive variety is Iran, which will be illustrated by many Imperial Bank of Persia issues, always sure to garner considerable attention. One of the highlights of the Iranian notes is a 20 Tomans 1925 Pick-15 in a strikingly original Very Fine grade. Read the rest of this entry »

The US government printed less money for the third consecutive month, according to the agency responsible for manufacturing US currency.

Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) figures released Wednesday shows that the government produced fewer total notes in August than in July.

The BEP again exclusively printed $1s, $20s and $100s. Added together, 435,200,000 banknotes were manufactured during the month. The total dollar value of those notes, however, was slightly higher with additional $20s making up the difference. August came in at $16,345,600,000 versus the $16.3 billion in July.

Spread across the 31 days in August, the BEP averaged 14 million notes per day with a total daily value of about $527.3 million. Read the rest of this entry »

DALLAS, TX — The last numismatic blast of the summer of 2009 went off with an $18.4 million flourish in Heritage Auctions’ combined Long Beach U.S. Coin, Currency and World Coin events, Sept. 10-13.

The successful trio of auctions further heartened erudite collectors as the world reflects on a year ago as financial markets buckled. U.S. Coins saw solid results with a total of more than $9.4 million, while U.S. Currency’s strong showing amounted to more than $5.7 total, and World Coins continued its robust climb with more than $3.2 million in prices realized.

"We’re very satisfied with the results across the board," said Greg Rohan, President of Heritage. "As always, quality sells, and the top lots in each category certainly bore that out.

Bidding was spirited, more than 9,200 bidders participated and the overall results show us that the state of the numismatic market is quite sound; perhaps on its way to a full recovery, and beyond."

The first among equals at Long Beach was a stunning Read the rest of this entry »

The final $5 Lincoln Freedom Collection installment featuring crisp notes representative of Federal Reserve Districts of Richmond, Atlanta, Chicago and Minneapolis will launch Tuesday, Sept. 1, at 9:00 AM ET, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) has announced.

The price for each is banknote is $29.95. The entire 12-note Series 2006 $5 collection is also available through the BEP’s Lincoln Freedom Subscription Program for $299.40. Read the rest of this entry »

The US government cut back currency production in July, newly released Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) figures reveal.

Fewer notes — in denomination and amount — were printed in July versus June. The BEP focused on $1s, $20s and $100s. Added together, 438,528,000 banknotes were produced with a value of $16,303,360,000. In contrast, the BEP printed 558 Million notes worth $17.1 billion in June.

Spread across the 31 days in July, the BEP averaged 14.1 million notes per day with a total daily value of about $525.9 million. Read the rest of this entry »