News of an error in UK’s Royal Mint 20 pence coin (20p) blasted through the media this week, creating an intensified fervor in collectors trying to find and buy the coins.

Prices for the coin, which have a face value of about 33 cents US, have shot up with auction bidding reaching as high as several hundred dollars. (See current eBay auctions.)

According to reports, the Mint issued tens of thousands "year-less" 20p coins toward the end of 2008. Read the rest of this entry »

1795 half eagle, 1856-O double eagle and 1880 Coiled Hair stella among the offerings from Heritage, July 31-Aug. 2, in Beverly Hills

DALLAS, TX – Legends of TV and film will surrender the Hollywood spotlight for a night when a different kind of American star takes to the podium at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza in Beverly Hills: A historic 1854-S quarter eagle, graded VF35 NGC, will lead the Platinum Night offerings of Heritage Auction Galleries’ August 2009 Los Angeles U.S. Coin Auction, July 31-Aug. 2.

"This coin is truly a legendary rarity," said Greg Rohan, President of Heritage, "and one of just a dozen known survivors from the first quarter eagle issue produced by the San Francisco Mint. In Heritage’s in-house condition census of the surviving 12, this example is rated fifth overall."

Just 246 examples of the 1854-S quarter eagle were struck since the San Francisco Mint focused on making larger denominations such as the eagle and double eagle, and the relative "small change" denomination of the gold dollar, leaving the quarter eagle and half eagle relatively neglected. Read the rest of this entry »

(Irvine, California) — More than 500 U.S. and world bank notes will be offered in the Official Auction of the American Numismatic Association World’s Fair of Money® conducted by Bowers and Merena Auctions at the Los Angeles Convention Center and online, August 2 – 8, 2009. 

One of the many highlights is an 1870 $100 Gold National Bank Note, San Francisco Charter #1741, The First National Gold Bank (Fr. 1162), graded PMG Fine 12 Net (restorations).

"This classic rarity is one of only eight notes of this type in private hands, and one of three of this Friedberg number.  Those others are in strong hands and not likely to become available in the foreseeable future. 

In fact, only three examples have been offered for public sale in the last decade and the latest example, nearly identical to this one, sold for $258,700 in 2007," said Steve Deeds, President of Bowers and Merena (www.BowersandMerena.com).

"With collectors holding tightly to the others, we’re not sure when there will be another opportunity to acquire such a rare and elusive note."

Read the rest of this entry »

Collector action was mostly lackadaisical when it came to purchasing coins last week, the latest US Mint sales figures reveal. Despite that, a few milestones were achieved as we so often like to point out in our weekly heading.

2009 Proof Sets again retreated from their launch week highs, which is naturally normal. They did reel in a new total of 577,425 sold. At $29.95 for each set, the Mint has grossed more than $17.2 million in 21 days.

2009 Lincoln Rail Splitter pennies also pulled away from their peaks and are now caught in the valleys. But the bicentennial coins continue to amass dizzying numbers. In just over a month’s time, collectors have purchased 267,530 of the two-roll sets. For the curious minded, that’s more than 26.7 million pennies. With collector’s spending 8.95 cents for every one, that’s nearly $2.4 million for the Mint. Read the rest of this entry »

The remaining two redesigned 2009 Lincoln Cents will be available Wednesday through the US Mint Online Subscription Program, the Mint announced in a press statement.

A subscription provides the same $8.95 two-roll set pricing and five-set limit per coin design as that of first two cent offerings. However, subscribing to receive the third Lincoln Professional Life cent and fourth Lincoln Presidency cent can eliminate the initial launch hassles and long wait ordering times — as many collectors experienced first hand with the Lincoln Formative Years penny release on May 14.

A subscription can also guarantees delivery without fears of experiencing a sellout, as happened to many collectors with the first Lincoln Birthplace cent. Read the rest of this entry »

CALGARY, ALBERTA – Although snow isn’t readily available in most parts of Canada at this time of year, the Royal Canadian Mint is inviting Canadians to celebrate an exciting winter sport with the latest circulation coin in its Vancouver 2010 collection — the 25-cent coin featuring bobsleigh.

To celebrate the launch of the coin, a special coin exchange will be held today in Calgary at the RBC Branch on Stephen Avenue Mall with special guest, Canadian bobsleigh athlete and RBC Olympian, Shelley-Ann Brown.

"Today marks only 234 days until Vancouver hosts the biggest sporting event in the world," said Ian E. Bennett, President and CEO of the Royal Canadian Mint. "Through our innovative circulation coin program, the Mint is providing Canadians from coast to coast to coast with a unique way to collect a piece of the Games, which will serve as a lasting reminder of this extraordinary moment in our country’s history." Read the rest of this entry »

The People’s Bank of China (PBOC) announced Monday that it would launch gold and silver Panda themed coins on June 30 to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the issuance of its first precious metal commemoratives.

Each new coin’s reverse bears the same Panda design as depicted on the 2009 Gold Panda and 2009 Silver Panda bullion coins. The new commemoratives, however, feature a ring surrounding the pandas with the inscription "30TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ISSUANCE OF THE CHINESE MODERN PRECIOUS METAL COMMEMORATIVE COINS." Read the rest of this entry »

The US Mint during the last two days has been updating the release schedule for 2009 collector products.

The last major update occurred in the beginning of June when the Mint rescheduled the launch of the Letitia Tyler First Spouse Gold Coins to July 1. The latest schedule has shifted the coins and related product releases to the 2nd.

Most of July issues appears to be firmed with the addition of the much anticipated US Mint Silver Proof Set, the American Samoa quarters and the Guam First Day Coin Cover. The John Tyler $1 Cover Cover was also added. Read the rest of this entry »

US Mint sales generally declined last week, but several products ranked surprisingly strong.

In summary: 2009 Proof Sets sales retreated from their launch week highs but action was robust in week two, Braille Silver Dollars recovered from their prior negative showing, Guam quarter demand more than halved, and Lincoln Rail Splitter pennies are set to pass 26 million.

In finishing a second week of availability, 81,947 more of the 18-coin 2009 US Mint Proof Sets were purchased by collectors. The new total is 519,125, which represents a 18.7 percent increase in week-over-week sales.

Uncirculated Braille Silver Dollars climbed into positive territory following their recent reversal. The Mint reports a pick up of 499. In contrast, 1,399 of the proof options were sold. Together, the series has reached 151,599. Read the rest of this entry »

The US Mint on Monday ended the allocation process which limited the number of gold and silver American Eagle bullion coins authorized dealers could order. Ironically, as of Monday also, week-over-week sales soared 8.1 percent for the silver eagles and 9.1 for the gold eagles.

Even with the latest surge, the Mint is apparently confident that enough silver and gold blanks are on hand that rationing is no longer needed — at least in the near term.

And with that, a buzz of excitement immediately begins with collectors now wondering whether the Mint has sufficient inventory to begin producing the previously suspended 2009 collector proof and uncirculated versions. Of that, no word has yet been given. Read the rest of this entry »