Unique Items: 1807 Draped Bust Half Dollar, SP65

1807 50C Specimen 65 PCGS. O-109, unique as a specimen strike.

The superb, talented engraver Joseph Wright, designer of the Liberty Cap cent and half cent, was the first full-time engraver hired at the Philadelphia Mint. Tragically, he died in September 1793 during one of the annual yellow fever epidemics that killed so many early Philadelphia residents.

Robert Scot was hired only two months later as chief engraver, a post he held until his death in 1823. Scot was born in 1744 and was already 50 years old when he began working for the Mint. Although Scot was later criticized for his modest talent and slow work style, among his improvements at the Mint were the use of device punches; for example, the whole head of Liberty, so that only the date, stars, and letters required addition to the working dies.

By 1807 Scot, then 63, faced serious competition from a younger rival, John Reich, who was much more talented judging from each man’s artistic accomplishments. Breen writes in his Complete Encyclopedia:

“John Reich sold himself into indentured service to escape to the USA from the Napoleonic Wars. As early as 1801 his name came to official attention as one of the finest engravers in the country. Opposition from Robert Scot prevented the Mint from hiring him except for occasional odd temporary assignments. But in 1807, Scot’s health (for which read failing eyesight) was a source of serious concern to officialdom; accordingly, the Mint hired Reich as assistant engraver at a pittance of $600 per year. (more…)

Unique Items – 1889 $3 Indian Head Three Dollars In Copper

Judd-1756a, Pollock-1970, Unique, PR64 Brown NGC.

The regular issue obverse and reverse design for the three dollar gold piece. Struck in copper with a reeded edge. The first notice of this pattern appeared in Numismatic News, November 26, 1985. This is an attractive Choice proof with rich chocolate-brown and olive color, graced by pale blue toning. Both sides have reflective and partially mirrored fields.

This pattern is believed to be unique and first appeared for sale in the 1987 ANA auction. It is also the only pattern issue produced in 1889, to the best of our knowledge. It is clearly an intentional pattern and not a mint error.

The weight is 76.5 grains (per the 1987 ANA catalog), almost twice the weight of a contemporary cent planchet of that time period. The cataloger of its 1987 appearance wrote: “The proof finish of the coin, and the fact that it was carefully struck on a medal press, with properly adjusted dies so as to produce a high wire edge, precludes the possibility of its being struck in error on a bronze planchet intended for a foreign coin or for some other circulating piece.”

It is also too well made to be a die trial or test piece, thus its intent is not specifically known, but may have been made in response to a special request by a favored collector-customer of the U.S. Mint.

Ex: Bowers and Merena (8/1987), lot 1505; Superior (10/1990). From The Jones Beach Collection. (#62199)

This item sold at Heritage’s 2007 January Orlando, FL (FUN) Signature Coin Auction #422 as Lot 1627 and realized $29,900

Is Collecting by Date a Thing of the Past?

By Doug Winter – www.RareGoldCoins.com

Is the age of collecting by date or variety over? Have coins become so expensive and collecting so complex that it is inevitable that new collectors will focus solely on type coins? As a dealer who sells rare gold coins to both highly specialized date collectors and to sophisticated type collectors I think numismatics is definitely going through a change but that collecting by date remains (and will continue to be) very popular with a certain type of individual.

To collect a series or a mint by date requires a type of mindset. I think of date collectors as being more patient than type collectors and probably a bit more research-oriented. To a generalized, type-oriented collector, there is no difference between an 1848-D and an 1858-D half eagle. To the date collector, there is a significant amount of difference between these two coins; be it strike, appearance, coloration, etc.

I don’t think there is a “right” or a “wrong” way to collect. I admire the highly specialized date collector who takes years to assemble a set of Charlotte half eagles or Liberty Head eagles. During the process, he is probably learning more about the specific series that he is collecting than most dealers. He “gets” the difference between the 1848-D half eagle and the 1858-D half eagle and does not have to have it explained to him.

But I can absolutely see the reason to collect by type as well. Not everyone has the patience to assemble a long set of coins and most series have one or two (or more) stoppers that make completing a set impossible. And there is clearly something cool about the fact that a type collector buys something different every time he makes a purchase. Anyone can tell the difference between an 1838 Classic Head half eagle and a 1910 Indian Head half eagle; most people see an 1848-D and 1858-D half eagle and they see essentially the same coin(s). (more…)

Down to Eagle Platinum Proof Four-Coin Set

The American Eagle Platinum Proof Four-Coin Set is the last remaining 2008-dated platinum collector product available from the U.S. Mint.

The single proof one-tenth ounce coin sold out Wednesday, with all previous options — in both proof and uncirculated — already depleted. The last reported mint sales figures for the single coin was 2,694.

The four-coin proof set includes one ounce, one-half ounce, one-quarter ounce, and one-tenth ounce coins struck in platinum for the price of $2,179.95. The Mint’s website has a delayed shipping notice of December 25 for the set, likely indicating its inventory level is already very low.

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Read the rest of Down to Eagle Platinum Proof Four-Coin Set (70 words)

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Perth Mint to Resume Taking Bullion Coin Orders

The Perth Mint has announced that it will resume taking orders for a popular range of gold and silver bullion coins from 12 January 2009.

The announcement follows an earlier Perth Mint communication advising clients that as a result of unprecedented worldwide demand, it had been forced to close its new order book for gold and silver bullion coins, except its 1oz Kangaroo gold bullion coin.  Orders for popular numismatic products and Depository/Certificate products were, and continue to be, unaffected.

Due to its reputation and extensive connections in the bullion market, the Western Australian State-owned Mint continues to have no problem sourcing wholesale gold and silver.  The decision to temporarily suspend taking new orders for gold and silver bullion coins was purely a result of the 100 per cent utilisation of its production capacity.

As of 12 January, the Mint will be resuming orders for a streamlined range of 1oz and 1kg Australian Koala, Australian Kookaburra and Australian Lunar silver bullion coins, as well as 1oz Lunar gold bullion coins.

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Read the rest of Perth Mint to Resume Taking Bullion Coin Orders (229 words)

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Holiday Coins from World Mints

Finding unique and memorable holiday gifts for collectors has been made easier by world mints and their spectacular coins. Most collectors would be thrilled to unwrap and behold any number of modern coins. There is usually very little difficulty in discovering what coins interest many collectors.

For youngsters are those who could be inclined to collect, however, finding the right coin as a gift is often times more difficult. For them, coins struck just for the holidays may be the unique gift to consider. Here are several holiday-themed coins from some major mints:

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Gold Jumps, Silver Above $10

A weakened U.S. dollar and rising oil prices helped propel precious metal prices higher Wednesday. New York silver, gold and platinum futures gained 3.6 percent, 4.5 percent and 3.4 percent, respectively.

January crude-oil rallied $1.45, or 3.4 percent, to $43.52 a barrel. Reports speculate Saudi Arabia may cut production in January. And in unleaded gasoline news, AAA says the average price declined 1.5 cents to $1.683 a gallon.

March silver gained 35 cents to close to $10.20 an ounce.

January platinum rose $27.50 to end at $840 an ounce.

Gold for February jumped $34.60 to settle at $808.80 an ounce.

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Read the rest of Gold Jumps, Silver Above $10 (167 words)

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Gold Climbs as Silver and Platinum Fall

Gold made modest gains Tuesday despite a drop in oil prices, which the yellow metal tends to follow. New York gold futures climbed 0.6 percent while silver and platinum headed south, falling 1.2 percent and 3.7 percent respectively.

January crude-oil declined $1.48, or 3.4 percent, to $42.07 a barrel following a rise of $2.73 on Monday. The average price for unleaded gasoline dropped 1.7 cents for the second consecutive day to $1.698 a gallon, according to AAA.

March silver lost 12 cents to close to $9.85 an ounce.

January platinum fell $30.80 to end at $812.50 an ounce.

Gold for February gained $4.90 to close to $774.20 an ounce.

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Read the rest of Gold Climbs as Silver and Platinum Fall (185 words)

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Six Gold and Platinum U.S. Mint Coins have Sold Out within Four Days

The pace at which gold and platinum collector coins have disappeared from U.S. Mint store shelves is blistering. The final two uncirculated gold Buffalo coins sold out over the weekend, the last proof Buffalo went Monday afternoon, and the proof American Eagle platinum one ounce, one-half ounce and one-quarter ounce options sold out this morning.

Further, the Eagle platinum proof one-tenth ounce and four-coin set may be joining the "sold out" ranks since their shipping dates have been delayed. In past weeks, that has been a strong indicator of a quickly depleting inventory. It appears the proof and uncirculated American Eagle gold coins will soon be the sole remaining collector options available.

With all these latest sell outs, it is worth remembering the collector gold and platinum coins the U.S. Mint announced it will no longer produce in 2009:

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Read the rest of Six Gold and Platinum U.S. Mint Coins have Sold Out within Four Days (135 words)

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NGC Adds Security Images to Combat Counterfeiting

Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC) has enhanced its grading services with new security by photographing each coin it certifies, the company announced Monday. These images are stored in an online digital database that can be used to identify counterfeit coins and holders.

 

"This is an aggressive anti-counterfeiting measure. With a secure image repository, it is possible for us to provide real-time assurance that a coin is an authentic NGC-certified product, immediately and at any time of day or night," said Steve Eichenbaum, CEO, Numismatic Guarantee Corporation.

"In addition to providing the best possible holder for the long-term storage of coins, we are taking a serious step towards protecting the hobby."

 

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Read the rest of NGC Adds Security Images to Combat Counterfeiting (217 words)

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