Coin Collectors Blog

How Are Coins Priced (Part II)

2012-01-23T08:00:00.001-05:00

Understanding how coins or any numismatic item is priced cannot be complete without the final transaction between the current owner of a coin to a new owner. The current owner could be a dealer, auction house, or another collector that is looking to sell a coin. Each seller has different motivations for selling and different factors goes into the final price that you might pay when buying that

eBay to Ban All Replica Coins

2012-01-21T17:34:00.001-05:00

This past week, the online auction company eBay announced that effective Febrary 20 listings for replica coins will no longer be allowed on the site. “eBay defines replica coins as a copy or reproduction of an actual coin, including U.S., foreign and other historic coins.” The announcement said that eBay is working with the Professional Numismatists Guild “to help ensure the coin experience on

Fun But Not That Challenging

2012-01-18T17:30:00.005-05:00

While working on the second part to “How Are Coins Priced,” I wanted to let my readers know that not only am I still here, but still collecting. How can I stop? There are so many interesting things out there that even as I try to decide how to cut back, I am having a difficult time determining what to sell and keep!But I found two keepers: challenge coins.Officially, I am not a collector of

How Are Coins Priced (Part I)

2012-01-11T12:00:00.001-05:00

Amongst the questions that are asked of me is what makes one coin worth more than another and why does one dealer charge more than others. The numismatic community was reminded that coin prices can vary based on a lot of conditions when a 1793 Chain Cent was auctioned for $1.38 Million at this year’s F.U.N. show in Orlando, Florida. In this article, I will discuss price and value of coins.There

Did You Know The ANA Board Had a Meeting?

2012-01-09T15:00:00.001-05:00

On Friday, January 6, 2012, the American Numismatic Association Board of Governors held an open meeting at the annual Florida United Numismatists Show in Orlando, Florida. Although it was reported that it was a "dull" meeting, I was disappointed to find out about the meeting on Monday from the press. No other communication options were offered.This is not making the organization open to its

Using A Commem to Fix National Monuments

2012-01-05T07:30:00.000-05:00

Commemorative coin programs are known to be able raise a lot of money for many organizations. This past year, congress authorized commemorative coins to support the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation and the construction of the National Museum of the United States Army at Fort Belvoir. These and other organizations have greatly benefitted from collectors and other interested people buying

Help the Ancient Coin Hobby TODAY

2012-01-02T06:00:00.005-05:00

Start your new year off right and help the ancient coin collectors in the United States!On December 17, I posted “First They Came For The Ancient Coins...” about the State Department accepting public comment on the extension of the Memoranda of Understanding with Cyprus by the State Department’s Cultural Property Advisory Committee (CPAC). The deadline for submitting comments is on January 3,

2012

2012-01-01T00:00:00.001-05:00

Happy New Year!As we begin a new year, we should look forward to better times for our hobby, our nation, and our world. I wish you and yours a Happy and Healthy 2012 and hope that you find the key coin of your dreams!

Why Do You Collect

2011-12-30T14:30:00.003-05:00

Why do you collect? Around here we collect coins, currency, exonumia, and other forms of numismatics. In addition to coins, I collect post cards with subjects that are meaningful to me—such as the little village on Long Island where I first grew up. I also collect lapel pins that I have either picked up over the years or have some other meaning to me. For me, my collection has a meaning to me,

Steeling Coins

2011-12-23T07:30:00.001-05:00

Let’s start with a trivia question:What is the only coin (not pattern) struck by the U.S. Mint that contained no copper?(cue “Jeopardy!” music)Give up?If you said the 1943 Lincoln Steel Cents, you are correct. Every other coin struck by the U.S. Mint has contained some amount of copper in the alloy. Even the 1942-1945 war-time alloy used for the Jefferson Nickel was changed from a copper-nickel

Being Charitable By Overpaying for Collectibles

2011-12-22T07:30:00.000-05:00

Every year, usually in December, my coin club holds its annual Donated Auction. It is an auction that lasts the entire meeting of various numismatic items where the proceeds go to the local chapter of the Boys and Girls Club. It is a tradition that has existed for the 52 years of the club’s existence and I am happy that it continues.As opposed to our regular monthly auction, there are more lots

2012 Coin of the Year Category Winners

2011-12-21T07:30:00.000-05:00

On Monday, Krause Publications announce the winners of the 2012 Coin of the Year Awards. From these winners, judges will select an overall Coin of the Year winner which will be announced February 4, 2012, at the World Money Fair in Berlin, Germany. Voting for the People’s Choice Award will begin in early January with the winner also announced at the World Money Fair.Krause reports that 95 coins

First They Came For The Ancient Coins...

2011-12-17T06:00:00.001-05:00

I am sharing the following from Wayne G. Sayles, Executive Director of the Ancient Coin Collectors Guild (ACCG). Please read my comment following Wayne’s letter.The following is an extremely important message from Peter K. Tompa, ACCG Board Member and Chairman of the Legislative Affairs Committee: Fresh on the heels of its deliberation over import restrictions on coins from Bulgaria, the US State

Last Call for 2011 Commemoratives

2011-12-16T06:00:00.000-05:00

If you have not purchased your 2011 commemorative coins, you have until 5:00 P.M. Eastern Time to place your order before the U.S. Mint takes the coins off sale. For 2011, the two commemorative programs are for the Medal of Honor and the U.S. Army. Both programs feature a proof and uncirculated $5 gold coins, silver dollars, and clad half-dollars.Surcharges for both programs are $35 for each gold

Treasury Orders Reduction of Dollar Coins

2011-12-14T08:30:00.001-05:00

With the furor over the large number of dollar coins sitting in the Federal Reserve vaults, estimated to be over $1.4 million by a Federal Reserve report, Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner exercised his his authority to “mint and issue such number of $1 coins of each design selected under this subsection in uncirculated and proof qualities as the Secretary determines to be appropriate,” (31 U.S.C.

Learning More about Vicky Cents of Canada

2011-12-12T08:00:00.000-05:00

“Every 1859 cent has something to offer if you look hard enough,” is the quote on the front page of a new website by noted numismatic researcher Dr. James A. Haxby. The website, www.vickycents.com, attempts to document every die variety and die combination used in minting the 1859 Canadian Large Cent.If you haven’t figured it out, “Vicky Cents” are the cents produced under the reign of Queen

ANA Announces Executive Director Search

2011-12-11T09:30:00.000-05:00

On Pearl Harbor Day, the American Numismatic Association dropped its announcement that the Board of Governors have begun their search for the organization’s next executive director. According to the press release, “the executive director must have extensive knowledge of nonprofit management skills with the ability to initiate, implement and successfully complete programs and objectives.”When

How to Detect Counterfeit Coins Basics

2011-12-10T16:15:00.000-05:00

With the proliferation of fake Chinese coins a problem in numismatics industry, it is a good idea to understand how to tell these fakes from the real coin. The following video from silveragecoins.com shows some of the basics that anyone can use to examine coins to determine if they are real or not:I like the computer-generated voiceover!If you are uncomfortable trying to detect whether a coin is

Treasurer Rios to Autograph FRN

2011-12-09T10:47:00.003-05:00

Treasurer of the United States, Rosie Rios, will sign currency notes/sheets at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing Washington printing facility between 10:00 A.M. and 12 Noon on Friday, December 16, 2011. This event is free and open to the public. Reservations are not required. Visitors participating in this even may exchange older $1 Federal Reserve Notes for $1 Series 2009 notes with the

Are We Selling Cars or Coins?

2011-12-01T19:30:00.001-05:00

A few weeks ago I started to receive email advertisements from several coin companies offering to sell 2012 coins. One note was found in my Junk folder from the end of October. I began to wonder if we are selling coins are cars?Those of us living in the United States cannot engage in any media without seeing one advertisement for next year’s newly redesigned, sleeker, faster, shiny, new

ANA Board of Governors Meet

2011-11-30T08:00:00.000-05:00

The American Numismatic Association Board of Governors held a teleconference last night. During the telecom, updates were provided on the ANA Twitter account @ANACoins. Here are the highlights with some commentary:The Chicago Coin Club has been voted as the host for the 2013 World’s Fair of Money.This is an anticlimactic type of announcement. With so many World’s Fair of Money shows scheduled for

Stacking on a Dime

2011-11-28T10:00:00.000-05:00

Today begins a relatively new tradition called “Cyber Monday.” Cyber Monday was first used by the National Retail Federation in 2005 to describe the Monday after Thanksgiving when people return to work and use their employer’s faster Internet connections to shop for bargains. Since I am not selling anything I had to find something that could substitute and be a little fun. I found a

Whitman Expo Trip Notes

2011-11-25T08:00:00.000-05:00

For the first time since the 2008 World’s Fair of Money, I went to a coin show. Attending the Whitman Baltimore Expo was timed so that I could be there before the Annual Meeting of the Maryland State Numismatic Association (MSNA), but so not to spend a lot of time on my bad leg. When I arrived after 1:30 PM, there was still nice activity on the bourse floor. Although some dealers had left the

O Baltimore!

2011-11-19T06:00:00.000-05:00

Today is the Annual Meeting of the Maryland State Numismatic Association (MSNA). The meeting is being held at the Baltimore Convention Center during the Whitman Baltimore Expo. I am looking forward to this meeting because I was nominated as Vice President of MSNA. The MSNA was founded in 1972 that could function as a central organization for Maryland. From humble beginnings out of John Henry’s

How Can We Expand Our Hobby

2011-11-17T23:00:00.000-05:00

Are you a member of a club?Are you a member of a club within your collecting interest whether that is collecting coins, banknotes, tokens, medals, scripophily, or ephemera?If not, why?I am a member of a few organizations, but my most satisfying experiences has been with my local coin club. Aside from the camaraderie of meeting with fellow collectors, I can be a participant in a way that I may not