DALLAS, TX — A 1943-S Cent Struck on a Bronze Planchet, VF35 PCGS, an amazing 20th Century Branch Mint error rarity, proved itself once again as one of the most sought after error coins in U.S. numismatics when it soared to an impressive $207,500 tally as part of Heritage Auctions Feb. 4-7 Long Beach, CA Signature® U.S. Coin Auction.

All told the Heritage Long Beach event realized $8.76 million as almost 4,000 bidders competed for the rarities in this focused offering. All prices include 15% Buyer’s Premium.

"By certain standards this was indeed a small auction, but we’re thrilled with the prices," said Greg Rohan, President of Heritage Auction Galleries. "The market is definitely on the rise. We saw 91.2% of lots sold by value, and 93.7% sold by number of lots. Those are good numbers."

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Some of the world’s most famous and valuable coins and paper money, including a multimillion dollar nickel, rare $20 gold pieces and $100,000 bills, will be on display at the 2010 ANA National Money Show™, March 25 – 27 at the Fort Worth Convention Center.

The event offers great exhibits, a wide range of educational programs and activities for every age and collecting interest, and more than 500 numismatic dealers with some of the best inventory available in the Southwest.

The ANA Museum Showcase will make its National Money Show debut and features the Smithsonian Institution’s exhibit, "Good as Gold: America’s Double Eagles," which tells the story of the $20 gold coin. It includes the unique, first-such-coin struck in 1849 — valued today at $15 million, according to some experts — and an example of another of the world’s most valuable coins, a 1933-dated double eagle. Read the rest of this entry »

The 48th Hong Kong Coin Auction is taking place a little earlier than usual this year, in-line with the Hong Kong International Coin Convention and Antique Watch Fair.

As usual the sale will be held at the Holiday Inn Golden Mile, Kowloon, Hong Kong, at 10:00 AM on the 25th February, and will feature two sessions (868 lots in total) of predominantly Asian coins and banknotes.

The auction opens with lot 1, a Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) 1-Kuan banknote. The Baldwin’s — Ma Tak Wo auction group sold a similar piece in their last sale for a record breaking US$19,000 and, although this note isn’t in as good condition, they are hopeful that this piece will attract as much attention. Read the rest of this entry »

Many collectors and sellers are anxiously looking forward to the 2010 Lincoln Shield Cent launch ceremony in Springfield, Illinois this Thursday, February 11, 2010. There are, however, a few individuals who have taken the initiative in the secondary markets to capitalize on the coins’ desirability ahead of their release.

Auctions started appearing on eBay for the new cents as early as the middle of last month. The first sellers were promising rolls of the 2010s, obtained at exchange ceremonies either at the release ceremony in Springfield or in Washington, D.C. Going prices were an astonishing $25 dollars for one roll from D.C., or $35 if the roll was obtained at the Springfield ceremony.

Sellers guaranteed that the 50-coin rolls procured at the chosen site would be stamped with a commemorative Lincoln postage stamp as well as canceled in that city by the local post office on the day of release. Read the rest of this entry »

NEWPORT BEACH — Enter an enthralling area of numismatics with this groundbreaking book, World Paper Money Errors.

A first of its kind, this full color reference guide offers market prices for foreign printing errors, rather than limiting the numismatic community to domestic currency.

This book offers an eye-appealing price guide to the market for the growing interest in collecting international currency.

Delving into the new and upcoming hobby of collecting foreign currency errors, this book features over 200 examples of unique notes.

World Paper Money Errors is an all-inclusive guide to learning about errors that occur during the printing process which create unusual and intriguing errors. Read the rest of this entry »

OTTAWA, ONTARIO — The countdown is on as the Royal Canadian Mint prepares to launch a unique and interactive pavilion for visitors during the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

An impressive exhibit showcasing award-winning numismatic and circulation coins, world-class craftsmanship through the making of the Olympic and Paralympic medals, and the world-famous million-dollar gold coin is set to open February 12, 2010.

"Today marks one week until Vancouver hosts the biggest sporting event in the world," said Ian E. Bennett, President and CEO of the Royal Canadian Mint. "As a proud supporter of the 2010 Winter Games, the Mint is excited to welcome visitors to our pavilion where they will find unique attractions, interactive technology and the opportunity to get behind the scenes at the Mint. We promise an unforgettable experience for visitors of all ages."

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IRVINE, Calif. — Bowers and Merena Auctions, America’s leading rare coin and currency auction house, is preparing another phenomenal sale as the Official Auctioneer of the March 2010 Whitman Coin & Collectibles Baltimore Expo.

A particularly diverse and important selection of United States currency is on hand for the auction–so many notes, in fact, that the firm will be preparing a separate, stand-alone catalog comprised only of United States paper money. The notes will be auctioned March 2-6, 2010, as part of the Bowers and Merena Official Baltimore Auction offering rare United States and International coins, currency and banknotes. Ponterio & Associates, division of Bowers and Merena, will present the world and ancients auction of coins and currency. Read the rest of this entry »

Official Baltimore Auction Set for March 2-6, 2010, Promises to be Spectacular 

IRVINE, Calif. – Ponterio & Associates, Inc., the world and ancients auction division of Bowers and Merena Auctions, is sure to dazzle bidders once again when it brings to auction a diverse and important selection of International Banknotes as part of the Official Auction of the March 2010 Whitman Coin & Collectibles Baltimore Expo.

The sale, which will feature a wide variety of coins and banknotes, will be conducted March 2-6, 2010, alongside Bowers and Merena’s Official Baltimore Auction offering rare United States coins and currency. Read the rest of this entry »

The US Mint on Thursday announced the ceremonial release date for the newly redesigned 2010 Lincoln Shield Cent.

The official launch will occur on Thursday, February 11, 2010 at 9:30 AM Central Time at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield, Illinois.

The city is a popular destination for those wishing to follow in the footsteps of Lincoln, as it is there where he spent most of his adult life prior to becoming the 16th President of the United States.

Along with a plethora of other Lincoln related sites, to include the museum and the historic site where he lived, Springfield is home to Lincoln’s Tomb.

The new Lincoln "Preservation of the Union" penny is emblematic of President Lincoln’s "preservation of the United States of America as a single and united country." The reverse features a union shield with a scroll draped across it bearing the inscription E PLURIBUS UNUM. The 13 vertical stripes of the shield represent the states joined in one compact union to support the Federal government, represented by the horizontal bar above. Read the rest of this entry »

The numismatic landscape for US Mint 2009-dated coins has remained on the sleepy side of sales since mid-December. The attention-grabbing action surrounds the new 2010 products.

2010-dated Gold and Silver Eagles made waves in January. The eagles swaggered last month toting prolific numbers. But then sales appeared to dive into nothingness as not a single sale was added to Mint registers for nearly a week.

The silence was shattered on Wednesday afternoon. Silver Eagles jumped up 500,000. Gold Eagles picked up 14,500. The additions are hardly spectacular, but they are decent … and far from ugly zeros. Read the rest of this entry »