Legend Numismatics

Mark Ferguson

Mark Ferguson was a coin grader for PCGS, a market analyst for Coin Values, and has been a coin dealer for more than 40 years. He has written for Coin Dealer Newsletter, Coin World, Numismatic News, Coin Values, and The Numismatist.
46 POSTS

Recent Articles by this Author

This 1796 No Stars “BD-1” Quarter Eagle is an extremely rare and valuable variety, with the example owned by Harry W. Bass, Jr. grading PCGS AU55 in a September 2022 auction for $312,000. Courtesy of PCGS TrueView.

Do You Have a Valuable Die Variety in Your Collection or Inventory?

By Mark Ferguson for PCGS ......   Seriously... If you have a substantial collection--or inventory, if you’re a dealer--chances may be high that you own a...
Out of the Woodwork: Important Coins Come out of Hiding

Out of the Woodwork: Important Coins Come out of Hiding

By Mark Ferguson for PCGS ...... Many famous and important rare coins can be traced back to their origins through their provenance with a reasonable...
Condition Rarity 1919 Walking Liberty Half Dollar Offered by GreatCollections

Patience and Strategy Are Needed to Build a First-Rate Coin Collection

By Mark Ferguson for PCGS ...... Building a collection that you’ll be proud to show off takes work – and time. Whether you collect mid-grade...
The Washington Quarter Made Coin Collecting a Household Pursuit

The Washington Quarter Made Coin Collecting a Household Pursuit

By Mark Ferguson for PCGS ...... Most Americans living today have known only the Washington Quarter as our 25-cent coin. You’d have to be in...
Searching for a “Sleeper”: Collecting Classic US Coins

Searching for a “Sleeper”: Collecting Classic US Coins

By Mark Ferguson for PCGS ...... Undervalued coins are often referred to as “sleepers”. People who search for sleepers in numismatics are looking for coins or...
It Took a Team of Sculptors to Produce the “Saint-Gaudens” Double Eagle

It Took a Team of Sculptors to Produce the “Saint-Gaudens” Double Eagle

By Mark Ferguson for PCGS ...... Popularly regarded as America’s most beautiful coin and affectionately known in numismatics as the “Saint”, the Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle...

Coin Profiles – Unique and Unusual Numismatic Items – Electrotype 1804 Dollar Certified by...

Reposted Article by Mark Ferguson for CoinWeek ..... A new type of the 1804 Dollar, which is often referred to as "The King of American...

Auctions Remain Strong for CAC Coins Amid Pandemic

By Mark Ferguson - Publisher, CAC Market Values ...... As we cope with an uncertain future regarding the health, social and economic crisis the world...

Demand for CAC Coins Continues to Grow – Supporting Values

By Mark Ferguson for CoinWeek on the Rare Coin Market - MFrarecoins.com ...... If you collect CAC coins, you’re in good company and your ranks...

Collecting Early American Coins for Profit

By Mark Ferguson – www.MFrarecoins.com ......   While dealing in coins for more than 40 years, I’ve observed that the most experienced and sophisticated collectors and...

Primary Differences Between Investing in Bullion Coins and Collector Coins

Bullion Coins and Collector Coins By Mark Ferguson for CoinWeek – MFRareCoins.com Before going over Bullion Coins and Collector Coins, let’s begin by looking at...

Origins of the 1921 “Zerbe Proof” Morgan Silver Dollars are Uncertain

By Mark Ferguson for CoinWeek – MFRareCoins.com I’ve been selling a collection for an old friend and collector who purchased a 1921 Morgan silver dollar...
What to Buy to Begin Investing in the Rare Coin Market

What to Buy to Begin Investing in the Rare Coin Market

By Mark Ferguson for CoinWeek on the Rare Coin Market - MFrarecoins.com ...... Last week I wrote about "Basic Tools for Buying Rare Coins in...

Coin Collecting Strategy – Building a Type Set as a Rare Coin Investment

By Mark Ferguson for CoinWeek – MFrarecoins.com .......   In general, segments of the coin market appreciate together, rather than by specific coin issues that pull...

What Gives a Rare Coin Its Significance?

By Mark Ferguson for CoinWeek – MFrarecoins.com ..... “They’re just pieces of metal,” Elvira Clain-Stefanelli, the late curator of the National Numismatic Collection at the...

Where Do Coin Price Guides Get Their Prices?

By Mark Ferguson for CoinWeek – MFRareCoins.com.... First of all, I want to point out that coin price guides are just that... GUIDES! For convenience, they...

Some Appreciate Rare Coin Pedigrees, Some Destroy Pedigrees

By Mark Ferguson for CoinWeek.com – MFrarecoins.com ...... A pedigree, in numismatic terms, is the line of ownership of a coin or piece of paper...

Do Coin Auction Prices Represent “Retail” or “Wholesale” Values?

By Mark Ferguson – MFRareCoins.com for CoinWeek The prices that coins have sold for at auction contain very valuable market information. This information is used...

CAC Begins Eighth Year of Brand Recognition and Market Influence

By Mark Ferguson for CoinWeek – www.MFrarecoins.com November 1st marks the beginning of Certified Acceptance Corporation’s eighth year endorsing PCGS and NGC graded and encapsulated...

Important New Norse-American Copper Die Trial Recently Discovered

By Mark Ferguson for CoinWeek – www.MFrarecoins.com A new example of a very rare copper die trial of the Norse-American commemorative struck at the U.S....

Park Avenue Numismatics Gold and Silver Bullion

AU Capital Management US gold Coins

Blanchard and Company Gold and Precious Metals

Great Collections Ancient and World Coins

Dillon Gage Precious Metals Depository