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Douglas Winter Numismatics To Sell the Tri Star Collection of Proof Gold Dollars

by CoinWeek
Thumbnail image for Douglas Winter Numismatics To Sell the Tri Star Collection of Proof Gold Dollars

Douglas Winter Numismatics has been chosen to sell the Tri-Star Collection of Proof gold dollars. This collection, which was formed by one of the savviest collectors of gold coins in today’s numismatic market, includes a dozen very rare Type Three Proof gold dollars dated between 1856 and 1878.

In a conversation with the former owner of the coins, he stated the following: “My original goal was to assemble a complete set of Proof gold dollars in high grades.

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Questions and Truth

by CoinWeek

By Wayne Sayles – Ancient Coin Collecting

nietzscheFriedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900) argued that truth is a value judgement and questioned the premise that truth is always preferable to (or more valuable than) untruth. He also suggested that we should learn from the ancient Sphinx how to ask questions. Should a question always seek the truth as a response? One would normally think so, but what of the case where an untruth is valued more highly by someone than the truth? Is insinuation of an untruth in the form of a question a reflection of values and therefore acceptable? Nevermind, that’s a rhetorical question that has no truth or untruth in the answer.

In a news article headlined “Why are Ancient Coins From Cyprus Featured in a Suit Against the US Department of State?” archaeologist David Gill asks a misleading question. Of course, they are NOT featured in any such lawsuit (at least not yet). This question was posed by Gill in a press release filed through a commercial news service. It ran, as these releases always do, in scores of media outlets that reach a very wide spectrum of society.

Being a news…

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1870 $100 National Gold Note Highlights Currency in Official ANA Auction

by CoinWeek

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.

1870 $100 Gold National Bank Note, San Francisco Charter #1741

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.”

Three other 1870 National Gold Bank Charter #1741 notes are also being offered, $5 (Fr. 1136) PMG VF 30, $10 (Fr.…

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Desirable, Appealing Ancients and World Coins & Paper Money in Official ANA Auction

by CoinWeek

Japanese undated (1860 – 1862) Manen obanA wide selection of rare ancient and world coins will be offered in Bowers and Merena’s Official Auction of the American Numismatic Association World’s Fair of Money® at the Los Angeles Convention Center and online, August 2 – 8, 2009. Ponterio & Associates, Inc., a division of Bowers and Merena, will present the world sessions on Saturday, August 8.

One of the many highlights among the over 1,300 lots of desirable and appealing world coins is a Japanese undated (1860 – 1862) Manen oban (10 Ryo, 112.26 gms) with security edge (Fr. 7; JNDA-09-11; C24a2) in Extremely Fine condition.

“This is a beautiful specimen,” said Richard Ponterio, executive vice president of Bowers and Merena. “This Manen oban is the only type that was produced using machinery. Prior to this type obans were hand made. The use of obans halted shortly after the time of Commandore Perry forcing Japan to open its trade with the west in the mid 1800s.” (www.BowersandMerena.com).

Two other marquee coins in the ANA auction are a rare Year 3 (1911) “Long Whisker Dragon” Tientsin Mint China Pattern Dollar (L&M-28; Kann-223; KM-Pn-304), graded NGC AU-58, and a Macedonia Mende silver Tetradrachm (16.88 gms) ca. 425 B.C.

“This…

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Collateral Finance Corporation Renewed as “Official Numismatic Lender” of American Numismatic Association

by CoinWeek

Spectrum Group International, Inc. announced that the American Numismatic Association (ANA) has renewed Spectrum’s Collateral Finance Corporation (CFC) contract as the exclusive official numismatic lender of the ANA until 2011.

The ANA is a Congressionally-chartered, 32,000-member nonprofit association, and is the world’s largest organization dedicated to educating and encouraging people to study and collect money and related items.

CFC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of A-Mark Precious Metals, Inc., which conducts Spectrum Group International’s trading operations, provides loans to dealers, collectors and traders in the rare coin and bullion market. These loans, which are offered on monthly, six-month or one-year terms with an origination fee, are secured by the coin and bullion assets of the borrower, whether part of the investor’s collection or in the dealer’s inventory. CFC also provides loans against coins that are in the process of being independently certified for authenticity and grade by Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC) or Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS). CFC offers final loan amounts – ranging from $25,000 to over $5 million – of up to 70 percent of the collateral value of coin assets, and 90 percent of the collateral value of bullion assets, based on its in-house expert valuations of the collateral.…

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Five Rare Date Gold Coins With Broad Appeal

by CoinWeek

By Doug Winter – RareGoldCoins.com

As I’ve written before, I like coins with what I call “multiple levels of demand.” What this means is a coin that is sought by a number of different sorts of collectors. As an example, the typical Dahlonega half eagle is likely to appeal mostly to a Dahlonega specialist whereas a coin like an 1838-D half eagle might appeal to a broader range of collectors due to its status as a one-year type and a first-year of issue.

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There are not all that many gold coins that have such widespread appeal that they might be tempting to, say a Lincoln Cent specialist. But the coins that I am going to list below are pieces that in my experience have strong cross-collector appeal. I have sold a High Relief, as an example, to collectors who have never bought another St. Gaudens double eagle and probably never will. But I have never sold a rare date Saint (let’s say a 1929 in MS65) to a collector who specialized in Charlotte gold and wanted a rare date like the 1929 just “for grins.”

There are a number of rare gold coins with…

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Dime Struck Through Reeding

by CoinWeek

By Ken Potter, Numismatic News
Some collectors wait a very long time to find out what it is they have. This is the case this week where Alabama reader Richard V. sent in a 1973-D Roosevelt dime that he has been holding onto since the 1970s. This one is referred to as “Struck Through Reeding.” This can occur in several ways. One sequence of events that can lead up to this error type occurs when a press is striking coins with too much pressure. When this occurs some of the coins in the run will show what is called “finning.”
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With economy tanking, ‘liberty’ coins made of silver are paying off

by CoinWeek
BY Matt Lysiak – DAILY NEWS WRITER
Nicolas Leobald is fighting the federal government – one silver coin at a time. The 42-year-old East Village writer struck one of his mild-mannered political blows the other day at his favorite deli, where he bought some cold cuts and a roll, paying with a silver coin marked $10 and getting back three dollars in change. That simple transaction could mean jail time for Leobald and the butcher. The coin, called a Liberty Dollar, is not legal tender and passing it is a federal crime.
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Bowers and Merena Auction is Highlighted by Exceptional 1854 and 1855 Gold Dollars

by CoinWeek

Bowers and Merena Auctions, America’s leading rare coin and currency auction house, premieres its first of two official American Numismatic Association auctions for 2009 this March. The auction will take place at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland, and begins with lot viewing Wednesday, March 11, to Friday, March 13, followed by the two-session auction on Thursday, March 12, at 6 p.m. PST and Friday, March 13, at 6 p.m. PST.

gold_dollars_bm_portland_030009The top lot in Bowers and Merena’s Official Auction of the ANA National Money Show™ is lot 1455, the Pittman Specimen of the Proof 1854 Type II Gold Dollar graded Proof-64 Deep Cameo by PCGS, an extraordinary rarity in the U.S. gold coin series with just four specimens known to exist. Two of the proof 1854 Type II Gold Dollars known are impounded in museum collections, and as such, only two specimens are available for private ownership, including this example being offered in Portland.

“This is one of the most rare and important proof gold offerings of all time from Bowers and Merena Auctions,” said Steve Deeds, president. “The collector who purchases this lot will be joining a highly select group of numismatists. Only…

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