POLL: Are you joining the Great America Coin Hunt?
Since Sunday was a holiday, today is really the first full day of National Coin Week and the Great American Coin Hunt. As you go to work and buy your morning coffee, breakfast, lunch, or anything else during the day, check the change you receive. There could be a surprise.
Don’t forget about the ANA Trivia Contest!
For those who come into my shop this week, I will be adding some older coins to the cash register and have a few giveaways for the young numismatists who visit.
I will do what I can in support of the hobby, but what about you.
Since I have not posted a poll in a while, I thought this would be a good way to start the week.
Are you joining the Great American Coin Hunt?
Total Voters: 19
Loading ...The Year Was 1794
George Washington was President of the United States. The United States Senate held its first public session in 1794. Eli Whitney patented the cotton gin. The Whiskey Rebellion occurred when farmers in the Monongahela Valley of Pennsylvania rebelled against federal liquor taxes and the army was called in to put down the uprising. Fort Wayne was founded.
Matthew Perry, an American commodore who was instrumental in opening relations with Japan, was born on April 10. Cornelius Vanderbilt, entrepreneur and first railroad tycoon, was born on May 27. Abraham Clark and John Witherspoon, both signers of the Declaration of Independence died that year.
Alexander Hamilton was the Secretary of the Treasury but the US Mint was under the Secretary of State Edmund Randolph. David Rittenhouse was the first Director of the US Mint. Robert Scot was the first Chief Engraver of the Mint. In 1794, only half-cents and large cents were minted because the money for surety bonds could not be raised in order to allow for the minting of silver coins. Even though there were half dismes struck with the 1794 date they were actually minted in 1795.
Two hundred and thirteen years have passed since 1794. We have seen wars and peace; prosperity and poverty; great philanthropists and robber barons. We have transformed our economy from agrarian through the industrial revolution that saw great factories built only to be replaced by a largely service-based economy. We had presidents whose grand monument in South Dakota is dwarfed only by their achievements, presidents who left in violence, to presidents who left in shame.
What has this country seen in 213 years? Imagine holding in your hand a coin that reads “ONE CENT” that has been worn over time and has a barely readable date of 1794. The edge lettering is worn away. This coin once helped feed someone, maybe a family. This coin may have helped a family with housing. It may have seen the pockets or great men or the purses of great women. It could have provided a worker with libations in a dockside pub or a moment of release for someone down on their luck. It was part of the birth of a nation and stay around as it matured.
In 1794, Robert Scot added the Liberty Cap, a Phrygian cap on a Liberty Pole, behind the effigy of “Liberty” to symbolize the country’s freedom. It was reported that 918,521 of these pure copper coins were minted. Like the country that minted it, this coin has survived.
When someone asks why I collect coins, I show them this old and worn 1794 Liberty Cap Large Cent and ask if they can imagine what this coin may have seen. It is an awesome thought!
One Last Charlotte Find
After the ANA National Money Show in Charlotte I wrote about meeting Ken Bressett, the editor of the Red Book. Bressett was at the Whitman Publishing booth autographing copies of the newly released 2008 Red Book. Rather than purchase my copy from a dealer, I could not pass up the opportunity to have one autographed by Ken Bressett.
Bressett is a small, slight gentleman who is very gracious and pleasant. When I arrived at the table where Bressett was having a conversation with what seemed like an acquaintance, Bressett excused himself to speak with me. Unfortunately, I stammered like a star-struck teenager not knowing what to say to this icon of the industry. While being at a loss for words is not a usual occurrence, Bressett eased into small talk about the show.
For many years, the Red Book was the price guide for collectors. It was the first numismatic book I owned in the early 1970s. While that book is no longer part of my collection after being lost in one of my many moves, this autographed copy of the Red Book is now on my desk and will remain one of my treasured possessions.
Eliasberg 1913 Nickel Sells for $5 Million
An unnamed California-based collector purchased the Eliasberg 1913 Liberty Head Nickel for $5 million. The finest known of the existing 1913 Liberty Head Nickel was graded PR66 by the Professional Coin Grading Service was owned by Legend Numismatics of Lincroft, New Jersey and Bruce Moreland, a Washington state business executive. They paid $4.15 million in May 2005 for this coin.
The pedigree of this coin is attributed to Louis E. Eliasberg Sr., a Baltimore banker whose renowned collection included “one of everything.” His collection was sold following his death in 1976.
Of the five examples known to exist, one is owned by the Smithsonian Institute and the other by the American Numismatic Association.
Slab image from Legend Numismatics.
Uncirculated 2007-W Gold Eagles
Building on the success of last year’s program, the US Mint announced that the uncirculated 2007-W American Eagle Gold coins will go on sale April 27, 2007. These uncirculated coins minted in West Point for collectors will be struck on specially burnished planchets to give them a satin-like finish. Each coin will be encapsulated in a plastic capsule and come with a Certificate of Authenticity from the US Mint.
These coins can be ordered from the Mint via the phone (800-USA-MINT) or from their online catalog in one-ounce ($749.95), half-ounce ($379.95), quarter-ounce ($195.95), and tenth-ounce ($89.95) varieties. Also available is the American Eagle Gold Uncirculated Four-Coin Set for $1,379.95. The prices represent more than a 4-percent increase over last year to account for the rising cost of gold. The Mint charges $4.95 for standard shipping.
Alaska Chooses #49
Alaska Governor Sarah Palin unveiled the design for the quarter that would represent Alaska as part of the 50 State Quarters® program. The design will feature a bear wading in a stream with a salmon in its mouth and the caption “The Great Land.” An addition design element is the star that will appear to the right of the state name acknowledging Alaska’s place as our northern most state.
Governor Palin will forward the design to the US Mint for inclusion in the program. Once called Seward’s Folley for Secretary of State William H. Seward Jr., who promoted the purchase in 1867. Alaska was seen as a frozen waste and too far from the mainland of the United States. Later, the abundance of natural resources, including petroleum, redeemed Seward from eternal scorn. Alaska entered the union in 1959 as the 49th state. Its quarter is scheduled to be issued during the summer of 2008.
Coin image from the Alaska Commemorative Coin Commission.
Support the Coin Collectors Blog
Buy me a coffee
Thank you for your support!
Let Me Know What You Think
Are you going to the World's Fair of Money
Total Voters: 17
Loading ...