Dec 27, 2007 | coin design, coins, commemorative, legislative, RCM, Royal Mint, state quarters, US Mint
Around the end of November or the beginning of December, the numismatic year begins to wind down and we start to look ahead to the new year. As 2007 has entered its final week, December was a buys and interesting month with the voting for the People’s Choice Award for Coin of the Year, to the release of the 10th Anniversary Platinum Eagles, the release of a plethora of Presidential $1 Coin products by the US Mint, and congress doing good and bad with our money. But with a week to go in 2007, everyone is getting ready for 2008.
Looking ahead, this is the last year of the 50 States Quarters for the states—the District of Columbia and the territories will have quarters issued in 2009. Designs have been announced with Arizona and Alaska having the potential to be very good looking coins.
Designs for the four Presidential $1 Coins have been announced. For 2008, the new dollar coins will feature James Monroe, John Quincy Adams, Andrew Jackson and Martin Van Buren. It is apparent that the Mint engravers are using official portraits and other art to base the coin designs. This makes makes the portraits very pleasing and worthy of being on coinage. Along with the Presidential coins, the First Spouse gold coins will include Elizabeth Monroe, Louisa Adams, Andrew Jackson’s Liberty, and Martin Van Buren’s Liberty. Both Jackson and Van Buren were widowed when they served as president.
Speaking of dollar coins, 2008 begins the Native American $1 Coin program. From 2008 through 2016, the reverse of the Sacagawea “Golden” Dollar will be changed yearly commemorate an aspect of history of the native American people. It will be interesting to see how the Mint will handle the design of this coin with the built-in bureaucracy prescribed by law.
The first commemorative for 2008 will be the American Bald Eagle Recovery and National Emblem Commemorative Coin to honor of the recovery of the Bald Eagle species, the 35th anniversary of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, and the Bald Eagle’s importance as a national symbol. I cannot help from thinking that Benjamin Franklin wanted the turkey as the national symbol!
The Bureau of Engraving and Printing will release a redesigned $5 Federal Reserve Note with updated security features and a new purple color and a larger “5” on the reverse for the visually impaired. Sometime during 2008, BEP will introduce a redesigned $100 FRN with new security features and color. Because the BEP is not required to have its designs vetted by the Commission of Fine Arts, the new design will remain a secret until the BEP is ready to make their announcement.
Outside of the United States, the Royal Canadian Mint has started to introduce new non-circulating legal tender (NCLT) coins with new designs. The RCM is stressing new colors, designs, and the embedding of gemstones in their coins. Also, the 2010 Winter Olympics continues to be a significant theme of RCM coins.
Across the pond in the United Kingdom, the Royal Mint is advertising their new designs. New designs for legal tender coins are available from the Royal Mint whose sets include three commemorative coins honoring the 60th birthday of Prince Charles, the 450th anniversary of the accession of Queen Elizabeth I, and commemorating the 100th anniversary of the 4th Olympiad held in London.
Even The Perth Mint has issued its 2008 Silver Koala. This $1 NCLT silver coin is the second in the series of the Koala series introduced in 2007. The Perth Mint has also tried new coinage methods that includes moving parts and holograms.
It is going to be a very busy year and exciting year in numismatics.
Dec 15, 2007 | coins, dollar, US Mint
Step right up and get your Presidential Dollars, here! If you act now, the US Mint will sell you dollars any way you can slice, dice, and package them.
Bags and rolls are so 2007. No, your Mint can do better… aside from a new US Mint branded album that can only hold two years worth of dollars so you can pay them every couple of years until the program runs out, the Mint has created all new collectibles just for you!
But the Mint does not stop there. Oh no… now you can get a new Dollar Set with uncirculated coins and an uncirculated American Silver Eagle. Isn’t this exciting, boys and girls?
But wait, there’s more! The Mint cannot let all those unused coins sit around. So it’s inventory reduction time and you can benefit from their situation. Rather than go to the bank and buy boring rolls, get your dollars on specially printed souvenir cards. That’s right… your US Mint has come up with a new set of collectibles offering souvenir set with only Philadelphia coins, or a set with only Denver coins, or a complete P&D set. What a bargain!!
I know what you are saying… you like those shiny proof coins. Nothing beats a beautiful shiny coin, right? Well, the US Mint has you covered. in addition to the standard proof set which is so last week, the Mint will sell you individual cards with proof coins from each of the first four presidents: Washington, Adams, Jefferson, and Madison.
But you ask, what about the ladies… we cannot leave out the ladies, right? OF COURSE NOT!!
Take an uncirculated coin of George and add a Martha bronze medal, and viola… an instant collectible! If George and Martha are not on your Christmas list, you can also buy the Adams family, Tommy Jefferson and the medal not of his wife (or Sally Hemmings), and you can say hello to Dolly and James Madison!
ACT NOW! Offers this good do not last long. Just contact the US Mint and order yours today!!
While my tone is tongue-in-cheek, the product list is not! It was announced last week. I admit to being somewhat of a US Mint fan when it comes to souvenir products. Since the quarters “craze” began, I have been buying many of the Mint souvenirs. I have collections of the First Day Covers, Mint Sets, Proof Sets, the Stamps and Quarters portfolios, but I think this is going way too far! I may consider the card with the dollar and the First Spouse Medal, but that’s all. The number of Presidential Dollar products is really over the edge!!
Dec 14, 2007 | coins, Eagles, platinum, US Mint
If you are looking for a real nice present, you may want to consider buying the 2007 10th Anniversary Platinum American Eagle set. The set consists of two half-ounce platinum proof coins. One is a regular style proof where the elements are frosted and the fields are mirrored. The other coin is what the US Mint is calling an “Enhanced Reverse Proof” because it is not an exact reverse proof—only parts of the elements are reversed to enhance the design. Both coins carry the “W” mint mark.
The Mint will produce no more than 30,000 sets and will restrict the sale of one coin per household for the first seven days of sale with a projected shipping date of December 31, 2007. The set sells for $1,949.95 for one ounce of platinum in a special box. Platinum closed at $1,475 (per ounce) on the New York spot market.
Dec 12, 2007 | CCAC, CFA, US Mint
The US Mint has announced that they are seeking applicants for two openings to the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC). The CCAC advises the Secretary of the Treasury and the Director of the US Mint as to the design of numismatic products produced by the US Mint. CCAC’s recommendations are submitted to the US Commission of Fine Arts (CFA) for final decision.
“The CCAC is composed of 11 members: one specially qualified in numismatic collection curation; one specially qualified in the medallic arts or sculpture; one specially qualified in American history; one specially qualified in numismatics; three individuals representing the interests of the general public; and four individuals recommended by the Leadership of both the House of Representatives and Senate. CCAC members serve terms of four years and are Special Government Employees; therefore, they are subject to various applicable conflict of interest laws and ethics regulations.”
In this announcement, four year appointments are for the representative specially qualified in numismatics and one from the general public. Interested parties should send a cover letter, a resumé or curriculum vitae outlining relevant experience, and an indication of which position is being applied for to the US Mint by fax to 202-756-6525, or by mail to the United States Mint, 801 9th Street NW, Washington, DC 20220, Attn: Greg Weinman. Applications must be postmarked no later than January 31, 2008.
Nov 27, 2007 | coins, quarter, US Mint
The US Mint announced the final designs for the 2008 50 State Quarters Program. If the Senate does not pass District of Columbia and United States Territories Circulating Quarter Dollar Program Act (H.R. 392), 2008 will be the last year of this program. H.R. 392 has been referred to the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Contact the committee if you want to see this bill passed.
The following text and images are from the US Mint:
Oklahoma: “Scissortail Flycatcher,” features an image of the State bird, the Scissortail Flycatcher, in flight with its distinctive tail feathers spread. The bird is soaring over the State wildflower, the Indian Blanket, backed by a field of similar wildflowers. Engraver: Phebe Hemphill.
New Mexico: “Land of Enchantment,” features a Zia sun symbol over a topographical outline of the State with the inscription “Land of Enchantment.” Engraver: Don Everhart.
Arizona: “Grand Canyon State,” features an image of the Grand Canyon with a Saguaro cactus, Arizona’s state flower, in the foreground. A banner reading “Grand Canyon State&lrquo; separates the two images to signify that the Saguaro cactus does not grow in the Grand Canyon. Engraver: Joseph Menna.
Alaska: “The Great Land,” features a grizzly bear emerging from the waters clutching a salmon in its jaw. The coin’s design includes the North Star displayed above the inscription “The Great Land.” Engraver: Charles Vickers.
Hawaii: “King Kamehameha I,” features Hawaiian monarch King Kamehameha I stretching his hand toward the eight major Hawaiian Islands. The design includes the state motto “UA MAU KE EA O KA ‘AINA I KA PONO” (The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness). Engraver: Don Everhart.
Nov 27, 2007 | Baltimore, BEP, shows, US Mint
I hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving and took some time off to relax and give thanks for what they have. I also hope that you would consider helping someone else who does not have the means to help themselves. It could be something as small as a donation to a food bank to a donation of your time to a shelter. Whatever you do, giving can be more satisfying as receiving.
My last entry was about my going to the Baltimore Coin and Currency Convention. I was to attend on Friday but circumstances prevented me from arriving in the morning. I was able to spend most of the afternoon walking around checking out the coins and visiting with people. This was Whitman’s third time running the show and it looks like they are really refining the way the show is being presented. A notable refinement was the placement of the Bowers and Merena table along the wall in Hall C was a very good idea. It allowed for more room to let potential bidders to view auction lots and interact with the Bowers and Merena staff.
Along that idea, Whitman placed their own booth in the same area between the Bowers tables and the exhibit from the Bureau of Engraving and Printing making it a good area to visit. BEP brought its “Billion Dollar Exhibit” with currency from past and present. BEP also had sheets of the new $5 Federal Reserve Notes to see the new designs. It was the first time the new notes were on display for the public. Although I am not a currency collector, I like how the BEP does their exhibit and makes their people available to ask questions. The US Mint should learn from the BEP how to put together an exhibit. After all, the Mint has one of the most extensive collections of US coins outside of the Smithsonian Institute. They should use shows like Baltimore to show off the collection.
As always, I enjoyed myself and purchased a few neat items. I will discuss my experiences in a few posts over the next week-or-so along with images of my purchases. What’s a good story without pictures, other than a fish story!
Nov 10, 2007 | dollar, US Mint
The US Mint has announced that the James Madison Dollar will be available to the public on Thursday, November 15. Madison, our fourth president, was called the “Father of the Constitution” as its primary author and chief advocate. Madison teamed with Alexander Hamilton and John Jay to author the Federalist Papers, a collection of essays in support of the new constitution.
The Madison Dollar is the last issue of the Presidential $1 Coin program for 2007. James Monroe will be the first president honored in 2008, followed by John Quincy Adams, Andrew Jackson, and Martin Van Buren. And remember, 2008 will mark the end of the 50 State Quarters program.
Nov 5, 2007 | fun, US Mint
My final coin find of the weekend is not a coin but a fantasy. As I was putting my collection in order and taking digital pictures of some coins, I found the image of my ultimate fantasy coin in my pictures folder. It is not a real picture—it is a Photoshop created image of my fantasy coin: the famous, and allegedly non-existent, 1964-D Peace Dollar.
In short, there was a call to strike additional dollars during the early 1960s when there were general coin shortages specifically from western states. In 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson authorized the US Mint to strike new Peace Dollars. Even though it was not publicized, the Mint created new dies and 30 trial strikes. It was later reported that 316,076 business strikes were made at the Denver branch mint became an open secret. Once congress found out, all but two of the trial strikes were destroyed. The trial strikes were allegedly destroyed in 1970.
Like the 1933 Double Eagles and 1913 Liberty Head Nickels, the 1964-D Peace Dollar is not supposed to exist. And like the 1933 Double Eagles, the Department of the Treasury has declared these coins to be illegal and promised to prosecute any who possess one. However, rumors of the existence of at least five of these coins persist.
I hope everyone had a good weekend and enjoyed reading about these coins as much as I enjoyed writing about them!
Nov 4, 2007 | Eagles, grading, US Mint
Although all that glitters may be gold, I like the look of silver. One of the most beautiful coin designs is the Walking Liberty motif by Adolph A. Weinman. From 1916 through 1947, this phenomenal design graced the US half-dollar before it was changed to honor Benjamin Franklin. When the American Eagle bullion program was started in 1986, the US Mint revived the Weinman design for the one dollar Silver Eagle and the Augustus Saint-Gaudens design for the Gold Eagles.
While the Saint-Gaudens design is wonderful, the Weinman Walking Liberty design is my favorite. So I have been collecting the Silver Eagles since their inception in 1986. When the Mint started to sell the collectible Silver Eagles with the satin finish, I decided to add these coins to my collection.
I purchased three satin Silver Eagle coins from the US Mint. One was removed from the holder and placed in an album. One was left in its package. The third was sent to NGC for grading. Last year, the coin I sent to NGC was returned graded MS-69. A nice coin but not quite perfect. But this year… that was a different story. I sent three coins to NGC and two of them came back graded MS-70 PERFECT!
PERFECTION! I have never owned a perfect coin until now. But this coin, and the one I sent to my father as a belated Father’s Day gift, were graded MS-70 PERFECT by NGC. Not only is it a beautiful coin, but it’s a PERFECTLY beautiful coin!
Stay tuned… there may be one more!
Oct 29, 2007 | CCAC, commemorative, US Mint
The US Mint announced that the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC) will hold a public meeting on November 13 at 9:00 AM (ET). CCAC Meetings are held at United States Mint Headquarters, 801 9th Street NW, Washington, DC. The agenda will include the presentation of new design candidates for the 2009 Abraham Lincoln $1 Silver Commemorative Coin.
Anyone interested in participating in the meeting should call 202-354-7502 for updated information on meeting time and location. Members of the news media are welcome. I wonder if bloggers count as news media?
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