Last Minute Amendment Could Have Shut Down Precious Metals Coin Dealers

ICTA recently helped defeat an 11th hour proposal that would have put precious metals dealers under the jurisdiction of the CFTC which may also have led to federal licensing and further regulation of the industry.

In late April, during Senate consideration of the 2008 farm bill (HR 2419), a section was added to reauthorize the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and amend the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA).

The House Agriculture Committee marked up similar legislation, so the two CFTC bills were both being considered by the joint Senate/House Conference Committee that would recommend the final bill.

A last minute amendment was introduced at the Conference Committee by Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) that would have expanded the CFTC’s jurisdiction beyond the futures markets to include the cash markets.

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The American Numismatic Association’s School of Numismatics offers the opportunity to improve coin grading skills with their ‘Fundamentals of Grading U.S. Coins’ course by instructor Lane J. Brunner, Ph.D.

The American Numismatic Association’s School of Numismatics will offer its Fundamentals of Grading United States Coins, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 8-9 during Coinfest in Stamford, Conn.

Students will learn and understand how U.S. coins should be graded according to the latest ANA and market standards during this highly enriched two-day seminar. Participants will gain confidence in evaluating surface marks, strike, luster and eye appeal through interactive discussions, group activities and individual study of hundreds of coins from the ANA grading set.

"A well-rounded education is the foundation of any successful collector," said ANA Executive Director Larry Shepherd. "Courses like Fundamentals of Grading United States Coins can teach hobbyists skills and information that will save them thousands on the bourse floor."

Summer Seminar instructor Lane J. Brunner, Ph.D., will teach the course.

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IRVINE, Calif. – Teletrade, America’s largest fully automated Internet auction company for certified coins and currency, will auction “The Green Holder Collection” on Sunday, June 1, 2008, in online Auction #2536. The auction will be live at www.teletrade.com from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. eastern time and will include more than 1,500 certified coin lots.

The complete catalog will be viewable on the Teletrade website beginning Friday, May 23. Highlights from “The Green Holder Collection” will be on display at the Long Beach Expo May 29-31 at table 427.

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Numismatist Daniel Frank Sedwick featuring Treasure Auction #3 with over 1100 lots, including a rare astrolabe, gold cobs, silver coins, Chinese porcelains and other artifacts.

Winter Park, FL - Numismatist Daniel Frank Sedwick is releasing a Treasure Auction, among the items on the numismatic market today are gold cobs, particularly from the Spanish 1715 Fleet off the east coast of Florida, and this sale features dozens of them, all carefully selected for quality and eye-appeal.

There will be also some small gold ingots and nuggets from the Espadarte wreck of 1558 off Mozambique," commented Daniel Sedwick,

"We offered the first part of this unique collection of gold pieces in our Treasure Auction #1 a year ago, and they were well received. This time we are certain of the shipwreck name, which should boost their interest even further."

Another early important shipwreck find in this auction is the Michael Goldston collection of silver “tumbaga” ingots from a still-unidentified wreck of ca. 1528 off the Bahamas.

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Dallas, TX. A pair of 1794 silver dollars and three Continental dollars are among the rarities included in the catalog for the Official Auction of the May 2008 Long Beach Coin Expo. The auction, being held in California May 28-30, is now posted by Heritage Auction Galleries on their HA.com website.

Signature catalogs for the auctions of both U.S. and World Coins & Ancients have been posted.

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Unveiling and issue of a coin commemorating the 400th anniversary of Quebec City

QUEBEC CITY - The Royal Canadian Mint is pleased to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the founding of Quebec City by issuing a commemorative two-dollar coin.

"I invite all Canadians to look for this commemorative coin in their change," said Ian E. Bennett, the Mint’s President and CEO.

"Six million of these coins will be put into circulation to be exchanged daily not only by Quebecers, but by Canadians throughout the country.

This coin is a striking way to pay tribute to Quebec City’s heritage, and to its significance in Canadian history.

The Royal Canadian Mint is pleased to join Quebec City’s citizens and admirers in celebrating the 400th anniversary of this famous city."

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IRVINE, Calif. – Bowers and Merena Auctions, America’s leading rare coin auction house, returns as Official Auctioneer of the Baltimore Coin and Currency Convention, with the next auction scheduled for June 4-7, 2008, at the Baltimore Convention Center.  

This is the second of three official Baltimore auctions by Bowers and Merena in 2008, continuing their longstanding and ongoing association with the convention.

The auction boasts more than 3,000 coin and currency lots and an impressive list of highlights.

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(Mandeville, Louisiana) – Nationally-known rare coin dealer Paul Hollis, 36, of Mandeville, Louisiana will formally announce his candidacy for the Republican Party’s nomination for the United States Senate on May 12.  A number of prominent numismatists are on his campaign committee, such as John Albanese, Jeff Garrett, Paul Montgomery and Douglas Winter. 

Hollis began collecting coins at the age of six after receiving a Peace dollar from his grandmother.  In recent years, millions of viewers watched him on air when he hosted “The Coin Vault” television program on the Shop at Home network, and he also is known by many collectors and dealers from his earlier work as chief numismatist at Blanchard and Company in New Orleans. 

A political science graduate of Louisiana State University, he is the owner of Paul Hollis Rare Coins in Mandeville, Louisiana.  In addition to rare U.S. numismatic items, he specializes in ancient coins that circulated during the lifetime of Jesus Christ. 

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The Royal Australian Mint has released a special one dollar coin featuring a detector dog on duty to mark the centenary of Australian Quarantine.

The Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) is responsible for protecting Australia’s borders from exotic pets and diseases. AQIS also provides import and export inspection to support access to overseas markets.

The special uncirculated coin acknowledges the work and commitment of AQIS in protecting Australia’s unique environment and our multi-million dollar agricultural and tourism industries. The success of these quarantine practices has resulted in Australia remaining free from many of the world’s worst agriculture pests and diseases.

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City of Quebec, Quebec - As it marks a century of gold craftsmanship in 2008, the Royal Canadian Mint (RCM) is pleased to unveil a wealth of gold creations and artifacts as a proud participant in the Gold in the Americas exhibit of the City of Quebec’s Musée de la civilisation.

The RCM is sponsoring this spectacular exhibition, which runs from April 30, 2008 to January 11, 2009. Its chief contribution and the “pièce de résistance” of the exhibit is the Mint’s dazzling 100-kg, 99.999% pure gold bullion coin with a $1 million face value.

This masterpiece was recently recognized by Guinness World Records as the world’s largest gold coin.

"The Royal Canadian Mint is proud to showcase the skill and artistry which have made it one of the world’s premier refiners and producers of gold bullion products and collector coins,” said Ian E. Bennett, RCM President and CEO.

“By sponsoring this exhibit, the Mint, which is celebrating its own centennial in 2008, wishes to bequeath an unforgettable memory to the City of Quebec as it marks its 400th anniversary.”

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