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. 1 during 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 3 concerning 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.

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Top Coin and Currency Honors from the Baltimore Rarities Sale Prior to ANA World’s Fair of Money Go to 1918/7-D Buffalo Nickel in PCGS MS-64 at $155,250, and 1928 $500 PMG Gem 65EPQ Uncirculated Gold Certificate at $97,750

IRVINE, Calif. – Bowers and Merena Auctions, America’s leading rare coin auction house, hosted their Baltimore Rarities Sale on July 26, 2008, at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront, just prior to the ANA World’s Fair of Money. The auction presented approximately 1,100 coin and 200 currency lots and realized a total of $4,427,243.

Earning top dollar was Lot 384, a 1918/7-D Buffalo Nickel, FS-016.5, graded MS-64 by PCGS that realized $155,250. A major condition rarity, this near-Gem is easily among the finest-known survivors of the variety, with a PCGS Population of 31 and a mere three finer in MS-65.  Lot 1093, a 1795 Capped Bust Right Half Eagle, Small Eagle, BD-8, HBCC-3041, Miller-10, Rarity-5+, graded MS-63 PL by NGC, realized $146,625.

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Dallas, TX. Heritage Auction Galleries has set the record for the most valuable ANA Auction ever! Significant and classic rarities from all series in American numismatics, most of them offered in the Platinum Night catalogs, smashed the previous record of $27.7 million set last year at the Milwaukee ANA event.

The auction was held in Baltimore July 30 - Aug. 3, in conjunction with the World’s Fair of Money summer convention of the American Numismatic Association. Total prices realized for the American coins are currently $41,022,713, and will rise further when the post auction buys are finalized.

“This was Heritage’s 38th Official ANA Auction, a record in itself!” enthused Heritage C.E.O. Steve Ivy.

“We were very pleased with our results in Milwaukee last year, and we think Baltimore has demonstrated the absolute strength of the market for important and high quality coins. Such high prices realized also mean a record-setting check will be provided to the ANA to support their educational and membership programs.

We also take great pride that our total was 50% higher than our previous ANA record, and double that accomplished by any other ANA auctioneer. Heritage delivered for the ANA.”

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The United States Mint will begin circulating the latest Presidential $1 coin featuring Andrew Jackson on August 14, 2008.

The Mint has announced that a ceremonial introduction of the dollar coin will occur at The Hermitage, the home Jackson built and lived in near Nashville, Tennessee.

Over 15 million people have visited The Hermitage since its opening as a museum in 1889. Visitors on Aug. 14 will experience a once in a lifetime event as the seventh coin in the Presidential $1 coin program is officially released.

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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:

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(Dana Point, California) — A previously unrecorded 1943-S Lincoln cent, erroneously struck on a bronze planchet and found in circulation by a teenaged collector over a half century ago, has been acquired by Rare Coin Wholesalers of Dana Point, California.

The discovery coin now is certified as AU-53 by Numismatic Guaranty Corporation.

"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 (www.RCW1.com).

Wing became a prominent Southern California architect who co-designed the Long Beach Arena in the late 1950s. He passed away in 1996.

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The United States Mint today announced the introduction of a new coin product named the 8-8-08 Double Prosperity Set. The set includes two, uncirculated one-half ounce gold coins — the 22-karat American Eagle and the 24-karat American Buffalo.

The two-coin set is priced at $1,298.95, and will go on sale at the Mint’s online website on August 1, 2008 at noon (ET).

The prosperity set is the second offering in the United States Mint Celebration Series, which is an experimental program to explore the viability of coins "that are packaged and positioned to celebrate special gift-giving occasions and celebratory events."

The Mint’s first product in the series was launched in February to celebrate the 2008 Lunar New Year with an American Buffalo 2008 Celebration Coin.

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The United States Mint peaked curiosity further for the ANA World’s Fair of Money® convention by announcing their unveiling of the 2009 Saint-Gaudens double eagle designed gold coin and adding a display of six real gold bars that were refined at West Point.

The Mint previously announced they would show the modern $20 gold coin, but the latest announcement adds that their exhibit will:

Show the development of this modern masterpiece-from its origin as gold bars-through test strikes-to the finished, one-ounce 24-karat (.9999 pure) 2009 United States Mint Ultra High Relief Gold Coin.

For sure, an extra element of interest is added to the much awaited revelation of the 2009 Ultra High Relief, which is a modern version of the 1907 Augustus Saint-Gaudens $20 Double Eagle often described as the most beautiful gold piece ever made.

Weighing in at 27.5 pounds each with 400 ounces of gold, the six gold bars for the exhibit are worth about $2.3 million dollars based on yesterday’s London gold closing of $959.75 an ounce.

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The United States Mint has announced that Director Moy will host a public forum at the Baltimore 2008 ANA World’s Fair of Money® on Friday, August 1.

The meet and greet event offers coin collectors the opportunity to ask questions, and receive answers directly from the head of the U.S. Mint. Directory Moy has held public coin forums for appreciative collectors several times this year. This latest one is sure to be a highlight of the convention for many.

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The world-record 100-kg, 99.999% pure gold maple leaf bullion coin will be displayed at the 2008 annual convention of the Canadian Numismatic Association

Media representatives and the general public are invited(*) to a one-day showing of the world’s largest, purest and highest denomination gold coin at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Ottawa on Saturday, July 19, 2008.

The Royal Canadian Mint will display its 100-kg, 99999 pure Gold Maple Leaf bullion coin with a $1 million face value at its booth located on the floor of the Canadian Numismatic Association’s 2008 Convention.

The Mint will also exchange coins with visitors to its booth, in return for a 2008 $2 circulation coin commemorating the 400th anniversary of Quebec City.

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