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Raul Gonzalez sees a nugget of history in every coin.

“There’s so much artistry,” Gonzalez said as he carefully picked up one of his favorites. “A lot of people don’t realize the symbolism in them.”

Since the early 1960s when his aunt gave him and his brother their first penny folder, the retired band director has saved, traded and sold pieces to add to a mounting collection ...

Full Article: Coin collectors gather to purchase, sell, learn - TheMonitor.com

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NGC has authenticated, graded and encapsulated ten 1933 Saint-Gaudens $20 gold pieces that were handed over to U.S. Treasury officials in 2005 for authentication. The coins are the subject of an ongoing lawsuit concerning their ownership. All ten coins have been encapsulated in NGC’s re-closeable museum holder with a unique serial number and certificate of grade ...

Full Article: NGC Certifies Ten 1933 Double Eagles - Numismatic Guaranty Corporation

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The numismatic staff here at Krause Publications produces an e-newsletter on Friday of every week. It includes a question that I pose to recipients. The question is a weekly poll question that also appears in Numismatic News, the sister publication to World Coin News that deals with U.S. coinage.

Naturally, the subject matter of the weekly question is American coinage and related topics. That is the plan and for the most part that is what has happened since we began the e-newsletter ...

Full Article: Hungary Opts for Coin; What Will U.S. Do? - NumisMaster

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Jay Johnson dies of heart attack

by Numismatic News on October 23, 2009

in Numismatic News, Uncategorized

Former Mint Director Jay W. Johnson died of a heart attack Oct. 17 at his home in suburban Washington, D.C., at the age of 66.

He served as head of the nation’s coinage factories for just a brief time in 2000-2001, but it was during this period when the working mints were running three shifts a day to keep up with soaring national coin demand due in part to a strong economy and to the overwhelming popularity ...

Full Article: Jay Johnson dies of heart attack - Numismatic News

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I find the proposed legislation, HR 3549, to strike commemorative coins to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the World Trade Center attack to be highly objectionable.

But if Congress is going to move forward with such a coin program anyway, I would suggest they make it a series much like the 50 states quarters program. We could call it the “Humiliation of America” coin series, beginning with a coin struck to celebrate the burning of the U.S. Capital and White House by the British in the War of 1812 ...

Full Article: Viewpoint: Time to Rebuild on World Trade Center Site - NumisMaster

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Humankind is unique in that, to my knowledge, we're the only creatures to display sentimentality. Most living things exhibit love for something, such as their offspring or even an object much like a dog may favor a bone. But those are a matter of either determined survival of species or simple comfort. OK, maybe this is getting too deep. Let me explain ... I appreciate that but admit to being a contrarian. Example: Many years ago, I purchased a U.S. penny from 1787. Had it been in pristine condition, it would have cost about $1,000. The one I purchased was ...

Full Article: Stamps & Coins: Sentiment sometimes trumps condition - The Sacramento Bee

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Where Have All the Nice Coins Gone?

by The Web on October 11, 2009

in Uncategorized

This has been one of the “driest” times in the coin market that I can recall in terms of availability. While I have bought and sold some pretty remarkable coins so far in 2009, it has been a source of wonderment to me how few choice, interesting pieces have been available this year. And I don’t see this changing anytime soon. Why is this?

I’m not certain that there is a “right” answer to this question. Being a serious ruminator, I have thought a bit about this and have some suggestions as to why we are currently experiencing the Great Coin Famine of 2009 ...

Full Article: Where Have All the Nice Coins Gone? - RareGoldCoins.com

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From about 250 B.C. to 130 B.C., Roman census figures fluctuated between about 150,000 and 400,000 citizens. But subsequent censuses, from about 30 B.C. and later, had totals of 4 million to nearly 6 million. So did the later surveys overcount, or the earlier ones undercount?

That’s been a longstanding question among certain historians. Now two researchers have tried to resolve it, using an unusual batch of data: numbers of recovered coin hoards ...

Full Article: Counting Coins to Count Rome's Population - NYTimes.com

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Two months after successful launch of Wirtland’s gold coin, Wirtland now introduces its first silver coin, the "Silver Crane". The new "Silver Crane" weighs 1 troy ounce (31.1 grams) and consists of .999 pure silver, its diameter is 39 mm.

The coin’s denomination is 2 International

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New plaquette based on Victor D. Brenner artwork

September 22, 2009

A new medallic plaquette to honor the 200th anniversary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln has been created by Signature Art Medals of Groton, Mass.
It is based on the 1907 Lincoln plaque done by Lincoln cent designer Victor David Brenner.  Measuring 120 by 90 mm (4.75 by 3.5 inches), the plaquette is half the size [...]

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Where the wealthy are investing their money

September 21, 2009

Wine, rare coins and Guiness memorabilila: alternative investments, for the cautious or less financial solvent, are booming
Wealthy investors are once again turning to commercial property and, with economic anxiety easing, are also seeking more esoteric ways to generate returns, such as fine wine and rare coins.
Commercial property prices have plummeted 44% since their 2007 peak, [...]

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My Expectations For The Coming Long Beach Show

September 7, 2009

I first thought about writing this last week and when the question of “what are my expectations for the September Long Beach show?” popped into my mind, the immediate answer was short and sweet: “Expectations? I have no expectations.”
But that was before gold made its inexorable sprint towards $1,000. Suddenly, the no-go coin show might [...]

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Real economic change — in your pocket

September 2, 2009

As times get tough, people look for change. Not just new presidents and prime ministers, but change they can count on — or, at least, count. And they’re willing to turn over couch cushions to find it.
As the financial crisis thrust billion-dollar figures onto the front pages, it also has cast a spotlight on how [...]

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Collecting coins is a thrill for members of local club

August 29, 2009

“For me, it’s fun to get an old coin, an 1800 coin, and imagine who held it,” said local coin aficionado and collector Eric Betts. “There’s no telling who. If a coin could tell a story, it would be phenomenal.”
Spreading coins of all kinds across his kitchen table, from statehood quarters to rare Lincoln cents [...]

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Coin found in firefighter charity drive

August 26, 2009

A few weeks ago Orlando firefighter Brad Lehnen and the crew at station 10 hit the streets like they do every year, collecting money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association, dollar after dollar filling the boot.
But what Lehnen didn’t realize is there was a little surprise inside when he dumped out his boot. “I started counting [...]

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