Category Archives: copper coins

1793 Wreath Cent : A Collector’s Guide

This 1793 Wreath Cent, Sheldon-3 Variety was sold by Stack's Bowers in 2016 for nearly one million dollars.
This 1793 Wreath Cent, Sheldon-3 Variety was sold by Stack’s Bowers in 2016 for nearly one million dollars.

by Charles Morgan and Hubert Walker for CoinWeek

What is the 1793 Wreath Cent and Why is it So Rare?

The 1793 Wreath cent is the second of three one cent coin designs issued by the United States Mint in 1793, the inaugural year of its newly purchased Philadelphia money factory.

The change in design to the Wreath cent came about after public complaints regarding the symbolism of the chain link reverse, which some equated to bondage. Mint Director David Rittenhouse responded to these criticisms by ordering the creation of a new design. Henry Voigt was charged with creating the dies and may have been the coin’s designer.

The obverse is adapted from that of the Chain cent, with subtle modifications. The new reverse design featured an ornamental wreath, which itself was adapted from the 1792 silver center cent patterns.

Wreath cent production commenced on April 4, 1793 and continued through April 19, when the Mint ran out of copper planchets. A similar situation presented itself earlier in the year when the Chain design was being used.

On June 27,  the U.S. Mint secured sufficient stock of copper to resume coinage and produced 20,000 Wreath cents through July 1. Another spurt of 176 coins was delivered on July 17.

The final cents with the Wreath reverse were struck on September 17, 1793, as mint workers struck coins with the last of the planchets they had on hand before shutting down the presses to evacuate the city, which was experiencing a yellow fever outbreak. Also factoring into the decision to close shop was the tragic loss of Chief Engraver Joseph Wright and his wife, both of whom had succumbed to the disease the week before.

Wright’s death likely forced the Mint to introduce its third cent design in late 1793.

Deliveries of 1793 Wreath Cents
April 9, 1793 12,000 delivered April 13, 1793 6,112 delivered
April 16, 1793 8,000 delivered April 17, 1793 7,000 delivered
April 18, 1793 6,000 delivered April 19, 1793 4,240 delivered
June 28, 1793 8,000 delivered July 6, 1793 11,825 delivered
July 17, 1793 176 delivered Total: 63,353 coins

 

How Many 1793 Wreath Cents Survive?

The 1793 Wreath Cent is scarce in all grades and typically sell in damaged or well-worn conditions. It is estimated that fewer than 5,000 coins of this design survive, with most high grade examples being stowed away as keepsakes by local citizens or British merchants and collectors, who were interested in the early coinage of the former British colony.

When the large cent was discontinued in 1857, interest in collecting America’s early copper coins exploded and it was at this time that many of the lower grade examples likely were pulled out of circulation and put into coin collections.

Many of the finest surviving examples trace their provenance back to important 19th century collections. This chain-of-custody, or pedigree, is significant as collectors use this information to identify and rank known examples.

A 1793 Wreath Cent Traveled to Outer Space

A 1793 Wreath Cent was tucked away in a medical kit on board the Gemini VII capsule. Image: NASA / CoinWeek
A 1793 Wreath Cent was tucked away in a medical kit on board the Gemini VII capsule. Image: NASA / CoinWeek

Trivia: Minnesota coin dealer William J. Ulrich, Sr. (who has a strange story of his own) and flight surgeon Howard A. Miners placed a 1793 Wreath cent in the in-flight medical kit on the Gemini VII spacecraft.

* * *

How Much is the 1793 Wreath Cent Worth?

The Wreath Cent is considered scarce to rare in all conditions. Low end examples, which are mostly worn are worth a minimum of $2,000. In circulated grades, problem free examples typically trade at auction for prices ranging from $5,000 to $50,000, depending on grade.

Uncirculated examples exist, but these are quite rare. The very finest examples would sell for a $1,000,000 or more dollars if sold at auction.

CoinWeek advises readers to only purchase 1793 Wreath Cents after they have been professionally authenticated and graded by one of the following third party grading services: CAC, NGC, and PCGS.

A List of Some of the Most Important 1793 Wreath Cents and Their Price History

1793 Wreath Cent, Sheldon-5

  • PCGS MS64+BN #26401320: S.K. Hartzfeld, 1879; S.H. and H. Chapman; Ed. Frossard – $100; George M. Parsons; Ed. Frossard, October 1884, Lot 984 – $200; Richard B. Winsor; S.H. and H. Chapman, December 1895, Lot 825 – $160; S.H. and H. Chapman; George H. Earle, Jr.; Henry Chapman, June 1912, Lot 3357 – $220; Clarence S. Bement; Henry Chapman, May 1916, Lot 287 – $520; Henry Chapman; Col. James W. Ellsworth, March 1923; Wayte Raymond; William Cutler Atwater; B. Max Mehl, June 1946, Lot 11 – $1,050; R.E. “Ted” Naftzger, Jr., February 23, 1992; Eric Streiner; Jay Parrino; from here, unknown to us… Imaged on PCGS CoinFacts. The finest known of this variety.

1793 Wreath Cent Sheldon-6, Vine and Bars Edge

Breen 7. Vine and Bars Edge. Rarity 3. Sprung die causes central part of hair detail to appear worn, even in Mint State.

  • Mint State: Clarence S. Bement; Henry Chapman, May 1915, Lot 288 – $360; Dr. George P. French, March 21, 1929. As a “Red and Olive Proof” B. Max Mehl, Fixed Price List, 1929 – $1,200; Henry A. Sternberg; J.C. Morgenthau & Co., April 1933, Lot 4 – $350; B. Max Mehl Collection, 1944; T. James Clarke, 1950; Dr. William H. Sheldon, April 19, 1972; R. E. Naftzger, Jr., February 23, 1992; Eric Streiner; Jay Parrino…
  • NGC MS65: Seavey 1873; Lorin G. Parmelee, February 6, 1892; H. P. Smith; Dr. Thomas Hall; Virgil Brand, September 7, 1909; New Netherlands Coin Company; Harold Bareford July 1951; Herman Halpern, 1985; “The Herman Halpern Collection”, Stack’s, March 1988, Lot 6 – $46,750. Superior Galleries, August 1992, Lot 10 – Passed.
  • Mint State: Richard B. Winsor; S.H. and H. Chapman, December 1895, Lot 825 – $110; S.H. and H. Chapman; George H. Earle, Jr.; Henry Chapman, June 1912, Lot 3359 – $160; Henry Chapman; Col. James W. Ellsworth, March 1923; Wayte Raymond, April 1923; George H. Clapp; American Numismatic Society.

1793 Wreath Cent, Sheldon-8

B-13, Rarity-3-. Curved sprig atop the date. Triangular “bow” of the ribbon on the reverse. Obverse die also used on Sheldon 9. Numismatist Walter Breen speculated that this die marriage produced 6,112 coins that were delivered on April 13, 1793. Diagonal die crack forms on reverse to the left of O through EN in cent down to the left leg of A to the rim.

  • PCGS AU55 #10798714:  “The Leo Beranek Collection of Early Federal Coinage”, Heritage Auctions, January 10, 2008, Lot 2665 – $40,250.

1793 Wreath Cent, Sheldon-9

Breen 12. Vine and Bars Edge. Curved sprig on the three leaf device between truncation and date. Large bow. Obverse also used on Sheldon 8. In Noyes Die State B, a die crack develops at the top of C in AMERICA and extending to final A. High relief dies. The most common wreath cent variety.

  • PCGS MS69 #2368140: Virgil M. Brand; Burdette G. Johnson, 1941; Ernest Henderson, 1958; Dorothy Paschal, 1959; Dr. William H. Sheldon, April 19, 1972; R.E. “Ted” Naftzger, Jr., February 23, 1992; Eric Streiner; Jay Parrino; Superior, March 2000, Lot 67; Superior, March 2001, Lot 12; private collector; Steve Contursi; Cardinal Collection Educational Foundation; “The Cardinal Collection”, Stack’s Bowers, January 2013, Lot 13002 – $558,125; Stack’s Bowers, August 14, 2013, Lot 4019 – $481,750. Pedigree research assisted by Stack’s Bowers.
  • PCGS MS66+BN CAC #25338683: Sylvester S. Crosby, Brand, February 7, 1941, B.G. Johnson; “The Oscar Pearl Collection”, Numismatic Gallery, 1944 Fixed Price List, Lot 7 – $1,150; “The Charles M. Williams Collection”, Numismatic Gallery, November 1950, Lot 10 – $1,175; “The R.E. ‘Ted’ Naftzger, Jr. Collection”, New Netherlands Coin Company, November 1973, Lot 330 – $14,000; Dr. Fred Yee; World Wide Coin Co., August 1975; Steve Ivy Rare Coin Co., August 1975; Bowers and Ruddy, August 1975; Dr. Herbert I Letterman; Auction ’82 – RARCOA, July 1982, Lot 510 – $38,000; Jimmy Hayes; RARCOA; Anthony Terranova; Alex Acevedo; R.E. “Ted” Naftzger, Jr., February 23, 1992; Eric Streiner; Jay Parrino; Heritage Auctions, August 1998, Lot 5852 – $138,000; “The Haig A. Koshkarian Collection”, American Numismatic Rarities, March 2004, Lot 8; “The Oliver Jung Collection”, Heritage Auctions, August 7, 2014, Lot 5520 – $528,750. Pedigree research assisted by Heritage Auctions.
  • PCGS MS64+BN #25303657: Stack’s Bowers, January 2013, Lot 13109; Stack’s Bowers, August 15, 2018, Lot 1017 – $99,000. Breen die state VII.
  • NGC XF45BN #3909406-001: William Ulrich; while owned by Ulrich, the coin was flown 206 times around the earth aboard Gemini VII, William Fox Steinberg, privately, 1972 – $15,000; unknown intermediaries; privately to Thomas V. Tallarico, acting as purchasing agent for an anonymous collector, 1977; Tallarico Rare Coins to Paul Sims, Inc., February 17, 1987 – $20,000; unknown intermediaries. As NGC XF45 #3909406-001. Stack’s Bowers / Sotheby’s, May 20, 2015, Lot 42 – $82,250.

1793 Wreath Cent, Sheldon-10

Rarity-4. Injured rim variety. Period after legend on reverse.

1793 Wreath Cent, Sheldon-11A

Rarity-4+. Vine and Bars Edge.

  • PCGS AU53+ #13666792: Tom Reynolds, December 2002; Walter J. Husak. “The Walter Husak J. Collection”, Heritage Auctions, February 2008, Lot 2010; “The Daniel W. Holmes Collection, Part I”, Goldberg Auctioneers, September 2009, Lot 18, Stack’s Bowers, August 14, 2013, Lot 4021 – $25,000 Reserve Not Met. Planchet flaw at ribbon.

1793 Wreath Cent, Sheldon-11B

Rarity-4. Lettered Edge.

  • PCGS EF45: Federal Coin Exchange, October 1953; Mrs. R. Henry Norweb; “The Norweb Collection, Part III”, Bowers and Merena, November 1988, Lot 2694 – $5,060; Stack’s Bowers, August 7, 2012, Lot 11182 – $30,550.

1793: Sheldon-11C

Rarity-3-. Lettered edge. Copper of inferior quality for this variety, supplied to the Mint by Greenleaf & Watson.Many have laminated planchets.

  • PCGS MS64BN #10739381: Dr. Charles Clay; “The Dr. Charles Clay Collection”, W.H. Strobridge, December 1871, Lot 701 – $67.50; purchased by James E. Root; “The James E. Root Collection”,  Edward Cogan, December 1878, Lot 231 – $42; purchased by Lorin G. Parmelee; “The Lorin G. Parmelee Collection”, New York Coin and Stamp Company, June 1890, Lot 673 – $80; purchased by S.H. and H. Chapman, possibly for John G. Mills; “The John G. Mills Collection”, S.H. and H. Chapman, April 1904, Lot 1232 – $130; purchased by Carl Wurtzbach; Wurtzbach to Virgil Brand, privately; Brand estate; New Netherlands Coin Company to Harold Bareford; “The Bareford Collection”, Stack’s, September 1978, Lot 502 – $16,000; purchased by W.M. “Jack” Stone; Stone to Leo Baranek through Joseph Landry; “The Leo Beranek Collection of Early Federal Coinage”, Heritage Auctions, January 10, 2008, Lot 2666 – $276,000. Pedigree research assisted by Heritage Auctions.
  • PCGS AU53 CAC #20120286: Bowers and Ruddy’s Rare Coin Review #24, Autumn 1975 – $5,500; Bowers and Ruddy, December 1975, Lot 270 – $3,850; Bowers and Ruddy’s Rare Coin Review #26, Summer 1976 – $3900; Andrew P. Lustig; Bowers and Merena, September 1985, Lot 14 – $7,700; Kagin’s, January 1986, Lot 4100 – $2,860; Andrew P. Lustig; Midwest collector; Jay Woodside; Harold “Red” Seiler; Jay Woodside, September 1993; Thomas D. Reynolds, February 1997; John B. MacDonald; Denis W. Loring; “The Denis W. Loring Collection of 1793 Large Cents”, Heritage Auctions, January 2012, Lot 3030; “The Collection of Thaddeus A. Tatum III”, Stack’s Bowers, August 15, 2018, Lot 1019 – $36,000
  • “AU55”: Robert Coulson; New York Coin & Stamp Co., January 1890, Lot 2511 – $26.50; S.H. & H. Chapman, privately; unknown intermediaries; Dr. William H. Sheldon; T. James Clarke, October 1954; R.E. “Ted” Naftzger; New Netherlands Coin Company, November 1973, Lot 334 – $6,000; Jack Beymer offered for $7,600 in his March 1978 ad in The Numismatist; Michael Elliot; Bruce Stowe, October 1995; Thomas D. Reynolds, February 1997; Denis W. Loring…

1793 Wreath Cent, Sheldon-13

Breen 20. Re-engraved hair.

  • PCGS F12, offered by Stack’s Bowers, 8/7/2012, #11183, $30,550.

1793 Wreath Cent, Sheldon-14

Rarity-5. Develops long die rack from Rim above E through portrait to the right of 3 to the rim.

  • PCGS AU53 CAC #25673204: “The Henry C. Miller Collection”, Thomas L. Elder, April 1917, Lot 644 – $102.50; Henry C. Hines; Dr. William H. Sheldon; Sheraton Coin Co.; Dr. William H. Sheldon, April 1972; “R.E. ‘Ted’ Naftzger, Jr. Collection”, New Netherlands Coin Company, November 1973, Lot 336 – $3,250; First Coinvestors; Pine Tree Auctions, February 1975, Lot 599 – $3,500; William R.T. Smith; Jack H. Beymer; Albert Ault; Alfred K. Nippert, Jr.; Heritage Auctions, September 2015, Lot 3688; “The Collection of Thaddeus A. Tatum III”, Stack’s Bowers, August 15, 2018, Lot 1020 – $57,600. CC#8. Pedigree research assisted by Stack’s Bowers.

1793 Wreath Cent, Strawberry Leaf Cent

1793 Wreath Cent graded G04 by PCGS. Image: Heritage Auctions.
1793 Wreath Cent graded G04 by PCGS. Image: Heritage Auctions.

This variety features a trefoil leaf, which does not in any way resemble a strawberry plant, on the obverse above the date. Four examples known. Carry vine and bars edge device. PCGS VG10 is the finest. This coin was formerly graded F12 by NGC, and was represented as such in its 2004 and 2009 auction appearances.

  • PCGS VG10 #12952855: David Proskey; Scott & Co., October 1877, Lot 201 – $77.50; purchased by H.G. Sampson acting on behalf of Lorin G. Parmelee; “The Lorin G. Parmelee Collection”, New York Stamp and Coin Co., June 1890; Lot 671 – $79; purchased by Charles Steigerwalt, Charles Steigerwalt to Dr. Thomas Hall, privately, October 1890 – $90; The Dr. Thomas Hall Collection, en bloc, to Virgil Brand, September 7, 1909; Brand estate; consigned by Armin Brand to B.G. Johnson on February 7, 1941; purchased by James Kelly, May 1941 – $2,500; Purchased by Roscoe E. Staples – $2,750; Staples estate; “The Frog Run Farm Collection”. As NGC F12, #1827897-001. American Numismatic Rarities , November 30, 2004, Lot 130 – $414,000; Stack’s Bowers, August 5, 2009, Lot 51 – $862,500. As PCGS VG10. Stack’s Bowers, August 6, 2020; Lot 1006 – $660,000. Pedigree research assisted by Stack’s Bowers.
  • PCGS G4: Discovered in Philadelphia by William Rabin, Rabin marketed the coin in the  September 1941 issue of The Numismatist, page 736 – $2,500; James Kelly, May 1949, Lot 1044 – $1,250; Floyd Tallmadge Starr; “The Floyd T. Starr Collection of United States Large Cents and Half Cents”, Stack’s, June 1984, Lot 7 – $51,700; Isaac Tatnall Starr, June 12, 1989; R.E. “Ted” Naftzger, Jr., February 23, 1992; Eric Streiner; Jay Parrino, October 7, 1995; Anthony Terranova, October 16, 1994; Daniel W. Holmes; “The Daniel W. Holmes Collection, Part I”, Goldberg Auctioneers, September 2009, Lot 8; Adam Mervis; “The Adam Mervis Large Cent Collection”, Heritage Auctions, January 2014, Lot 2420 – $381.875.
  • About Good: George W. Merritt; Ed Frossard, January 1879, Lot 90 – $45.50; Ferguson Haines; W. Elliott Woodward, October 1880, Lot 189 – $60; H.G. Sampson; Ferguson Haines; S.H. and H. Chapman’s sale of October 1888, Lot 846, withdrawn; Ferguson Haines; Ed Frossard, December 1894, Lot 700 – $120; J. Sanford Saltus, May 16, 1906; American Numismatic Society Collection.
  • PCGS F02: Purportedly discovered in circulation in 1845; John Meader, December 1868; Richard B. Winsor; “The Richard B. Winsor Collection”, S.H. & H. Chapman, December 1895, Lot 823; Sylvester S. Crosby, April 1896; Dr. Thomas Hall, September 7, 1909; Virgil Brand; Brand estate, February 7, 1941; Burdette G. Johnson, September 12, 1941; James Kelly, 1941; “The Charles M. Williams Collection”, Numismatic Gallery, November 1950, Lot 6; Floyd Tallmadge Starr; “Floyd T. Starr Collection of United States Large Cents and Half Cents”, Stack’s, June 1984, Lot 6; R.E. “Ted” Naftzger, Jr., February 23, 1992; Eric Streiner; Jay Parrino, October 7, 1995; Anthony Terranova, October 16, 1995; Daniel W. Holmes; “The Daniel W. Holmes Collection, Part I”, Goldberg Auctioneers, October 2009, Lot 7; Adam Mervis; “The Adam Mervis Large Cent Collection”, Heritage Auctions; January 2014, Lot 2419 – $352,500.

* * *

Coin Specifications

Country:  USA
Year Of Issue:  1793
Denomination:  One Cent
Mint Mark:  None (Philadelphia)
Mintage:  63,353
Alloy:  Copper
Weight:  13.48 g
Diameter:  26.00 to 28.00 mm
Edge:  Lettered: ONE HUNDRED FOR A DOLLAR + leaf (or two leaves)
OBV Designer  Henry Voigt
REV Designer  Henry Voigt
Quality:  Business Strike

 

Additional Resouces

Bowers, Q. David. The Experts Guide to Collecting & Investing in Rare Coins. Whitman Publishing.

–. A Guide Book of United States Type Coins. Whitman Publishing.

Breen, Walter. Walter Breen’s Encyclopedia of U.S. Coins. Doubleday.

-. Encyclopedia of Early United States Cents 1793-1814. Bowers and Merena Galleries.

Early American Coppers: www.eacs.org

Guth, Ron and Jeff Garrett. United States Coinage: A Study by Type. Whitman Publishing.

Noyes, William C. United States Large Cents 1793-1814. William C. Noyes.

Taxay, Don. The U.S. Mint and Coinage. Arco Publishing.

Yeoman, R.S and Jeff Garrett (editor). The Official Red Book: A Guide Book of United States Coins. Whitman Publishing.

 

© Charles Morgan and Hubert Walker. Published by CoinWeek under license.

The post 1793 Wreath Cent : A Collector’s Guide appeared first on CoinWeek: Rare Coin, Currency, and Bullion News for Collectors.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

longacreshields-1024x509

The Two-Cent Piece: The Civil War and In God We Trust

Two-Cent Piece. Image: CoinWeek/ Stack's Bowers.
Two-Cent Piece. Image: CoinWeek/Stack’s Bowers.

The two-cent piece was a large copper coin struck by the United States Mint. It was first struck in 1864, but public demand for the unusual denomination subsided after just two short years. Produced in ever decreasing numbers after that, the coin was last issued for circulation in 1872. Proof-only versions were struck for collectors the year after that but Congress abolished the coin with the passage of the Coinage Act of 1873.

Slightly smaller than a modern U.S. quarter dollar, the two-cent piece was conceived as a stopgap denomination to facilitate trade at a time when most coins had been withdrawn from circulation and hoarded due to the economic strain caused by the Civil War.

With the war effort costing the Federal Government nearly $3 million per day (in 1864 money), the challenge of keeping silver and gold coins in circulation proved daunting for the Treasury Department. Even copper coins had all but disappeared from circulation within the first two years of fighting. Among the solutions was to issue paper money in various forms and to introduce base metal coins in two-, three-, and five-cent denominations. It wasn’t until the late 1870s that Congress would pass legislation authorizing the resumption of specie (i.e., precious metal) payments.

The Birth of a National Motto

The first time IN GOD WE TRUST appeared on a United States coin. Image: CoinWeek.
The 1864 Two-Cent Piece marked the first time IN GOD WE TRUST appeared on a United States coin. Image: CoinWeek.

While the two-cent piece didn’t catch on as a circulating coin, it is significant in that it the very first United States coin to carry the motto IN GOD WE TRUST. The motto was placed there on the order of Treasury Secretary Salmon P. Chase, who got the idea from the Reverend M.R. Watkinson, a Baptist preacher from Ridleyville, Pennsylvania, who recommended that the nation recognize God on its coins.

In a letter to Chase dated November 13, 1861, Watkinson wrote:

You are probably a Christian. What if our Republic were not shattered beyond reconstruction? Would not the antiquaries of succeeding centuries rightly reason from our past that we were a heathen nation? What I propose is that instead of the goddess of liberty we shall have next inside the 13 stars a ring inscribed with the words PERPETUAL UNION; within the ring the all seeing eye, crowned with a halo; beneath this eye the American flag, bearing in its field stars equal to the number of the States united; in the folds of the bars the words GOD, LIBERTY, LAW.

From 1861 to ’64, the Mint’s engraving department tested different mottoes before landing on the version that Chase ultimately approved.

Public sentiment was strongly in favor of the motto, and on March 3, 1865, Congress passed legislation that authorized but did not demand the use of IN GOD WE TRUST on “gold, silver, and other coins.” As a result, many other denominations were slightly revised so as to allow for the addition of the new national motto.

The Two-Cent Piece Shield Design

Two-Cent Piece and Shield Nickel. Image: CoinWeek.
Two-Cent Piece and Shield Nickel. Image: CoinWeek.

The two-cent piece was designed by United States Mint Chief Engraver James B. Longacre. The coin’s obverse (so designated because it bears the date) has a federal shield with a ribbon over it bearing the national motto IN GOD WE TRUST. Behind the shield are two arrows and a branch with leaves (most likely an olive branch). Although the standalone shield was novel at the time of its production, similar shields have appeared on United States coins since the adoption of the Heraldic Eagle design debuted on the reverse of the 1795 $5 half eagle gold coin.

The two-cent piece’s reverse features a vegetal wreath that surrounds the denomination, which is displayed as a large 2 over a downwardly arched CENTS. The legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA surrounds the wreath.

This design is similar to the Shield nickel of the same period, which was also designed by Longacre.

Two-Cent Piece Annual Mintage Figures

Two-cent pieces were struck in both Proof and regular circulating finishes. Although the Proof mintages were normally smaller than the regular-issue mintages, more Proofs of high quality survive today since they were treated as special collector coins at the time of release.

While all two-cent pieces are of the same type, many die varieties exist. The most significant of these are the Small Motto and Large Motto varieties of 1864. The Small Motto is much rarer and therefore more valuable. In addition, several doubled dies, coins with prominent die cracks, and various other mint errors are often encountered in this series.

  • 1864 – 19,847,500
  • 1865 – 13,640,000
  • 1866 – 3,177,000
  • 1867 – 2,938,750
  • 1868 – 2,803,750
  • 1869 – 1,546,500
  • 1870 – 861,250
  • 1871 – 721,250
  • 1872 – 65,000
  • 1873 (Proof Only) – approx. 1,100 struck

More In-Depth Two-Cent Piece Analysis by CoinWeek

Two-Cent Pieces. Image: CoinWeek.
Two-Cent Pieces. Image: CoinWeek.

In this article, former CoinWeek contributor Greg Reynolds discusses the history of the denomination and offers his opinion on where the value-buying opportunities lie within the series. Greg also gets the perspective of prominent numismatists John Albanese and Matt Kleinsteuber on this short-lived copper coin series.

Specifications

Two-Cent Piece
Years Of Issue:  1864-73
Mintage (Circulation):  High – 19,847,500 (1864); Low – 65,000 (1872)
Alloy:  95% copper, 5% tin and zinc
Weight:  6.20 g
Diameter:  23.00 mm
Edge:  Plain
OBV Designer  James Barton Longacre
REV Designer James Barton Longacre

 

* * *

The post The Two-Cent Piece: The Civil War and In God We Trust appeared first on CoinWeek: Rare Coin, Currency, and Bullion News for Collectors.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Lincoln Memorial Cent, Bronze (1959-1982) | CoinWeek

What is the Lincoln Memorial Cent? The Lincoln Memorial cent was first issued in 1959. It was the second reverse design used in the Lincoln cent series, which was introduced originally in 1909 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the birth of 16th president Abraham Lincoln. The 150th anniversary of that event occasioned another design […]

The post Lincoln Memorial Cent, Bronze (1959-1982) | CoinWeek appeared first on CoinWeek: Rare Coin, Currency, and Bullion News for Collectors.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

2000 Cheerios Cent: History and Value | CoinWeek

Why were 10,000,000 Lincoln Cents Distributed in Boxes of Cheerios? As part of an innovative major PR campaign, in 2000, the United States Mint teamed up with processed food manufacturer General Mills. In addition to the millions of dollars spent on TV ads and other activities, the Mint delivered 10 million Lincoln cents and 5,500 […]

The post 2000 Cheerios Cent: History and Value | CoinWeek appeared first on CoinWeek: Rare Coin, Currency, and Bullion News for Collectors.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

What Are the Odds You’ll Find a 1943 Copper Penny in Change?

  By Charles Morgan and Hubert Walker for CoinWeek …..   Never say never. 1943 Copper Pennies (officially, 1943 copper cents) have been found in cafeterias, gum ball machines, and circulating in change. One was even held privately by a Mint Chief Engraver. Another is said to have been spirited out by a Denver Mint […]

The post What Are the Odds You’ll Find a 1943 Copper Penny in Change? appeared first on CoinWeek: Rare Coin, Currency, and Bullion News for Collectors.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

1943 Copper Penny : History and Value | CoinWeek

By Charles Morgan and Hubert Walker for CoinWeek ….. 1943 Copper Pennies (officially, 1943 copper cents) have been found in cafeterias, gum ball machines, and circulating in change. One was even held privately by a Mint Chief Engraver. Another is said to have been spirited out by a Denver Mint employee. Regardless of how they […]

The post 1943 Copper Penny : History and Value | CoinWeek appeared first on CoinWeek: Rare Coin, Currency, and Bullion News for Collectors.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Top 10 Lincoln Cents

By CoinWeek ….. Lincoln cents, the most popularly collected of all coins produced by the United States, will mark their 115th year of production in 2024. Once a rite of passage for generations of coin collectors, building a complete set of the series has become increasingly difficult in recent years. From million-dollar rarities to the […]

The post Top 10 Lincoln Cents appeared first on CoinWeek: Rare Coin, Currency, and Bullion News for Collectors.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

United States 1864 Two Cent Coin

With the passage of the Coinage Act of 1864, the United States Congress authorized the design and production of a brand-new denomination, the short-lived Two Cent coin. As part of the government’s experimentation with odd denominations (including the three-cent nickel, the silver trime, the 20-cent piece, and the four-dollar stella gold coin, the two-cent piece […]

The post United States 1864 Two Cent Coin appeared first on CoinWeek: Rare Coin, Currency, and Bullion News for Collectors.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Fugio Cents: The First Regular-Issue United States Coin

By John Dannreuther, Gordon Wrubel, Craig Sholley, Brian Greer, Chuck Link, Tony Terranova, Chris Victor-McCawley, David McCarthy, and Erik Goldstein for PCGS ……   Over the last few years, a group of Fugio enthusiasts has held discussions about Fugio Cents and whether the pieces should be considered the first regular-issue United States coins. As will […]

The post Fugio Cents: The First Regular-Issue United States Coin appeared first on CoinWeek: Rare Coin, Currency, and Bullion News for Collectors.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

1841 Proof Braided Hair Half Cent Offered by GreatCollections

As part of their October 8 online auction of classic and rare U.S. coins, GreatCollections is offering an original 1841 Braided Hair half cent graded Proof 63 Red Brown (RB) by PCGS and approved as strong for that grade by CAC. It is stored in a PCGS Original Green Holder (OGH). The Braided Hair design, […]

The post 1841 Proof Braided Hair Half Cent Offered by GreatCollections appeared first on CoinWeek: Rare Coin, Currency, and Bullion News for Collectors.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Stewart Blay Indian Head, Flying Eagle Cent Collection to Be Auctioned by GreatCollections

Sale also to feature Blay Collection of Barber Dimes   When GreatCollections sold the Stewart Blay Collection of Lincoln Cents in January 2023, one of if not the finest collection of Lincoln cents ever assembled, several record prices were established for a total of over $7.7 million. Now, GreatCollections will be offering the Blay collections […]

The post Stewart Blay Indian Head, Flying Eagle Cent Collection to Be Auctioned by GreatCollections appeared first on CoinWeek: Rare Coin, Currency, and Bullion News for Collectors.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

The Key Date 1909-S V.D.B. Lincoln Cent Value Keeps Going Up

By CoinWeek …. Among the many rare coins issued in the 20th century by the United States Mint, the 1909-S V.D.B. Lincoln cent stands out as the one of the greatest. Not because it is the rarest, but because no other coin has captivated as wide a swath of American pocket change collectors. The release […]

The post The Key Date 1909-S V.D.B. Lincoln Cent Value Keeps Going Up appeared first on CoinWeek: Rare Coin, Currency, and Bullion News for Collectors.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

A Current Deceptive 1811 Half Cent Counterfeit

By Jack D. Young, Early American Coppers (EAC), and the Dark Side Group …… As a quick intro, I have had over 60 research articles on the subject of current counterfeit coins published in half a dozen different coin forums – with the majority exclusive here on CoinWeek! In previous articles, I have reviewed three […]

The post A Current Deceptive 1811 Half Cent Counterfeit appeared first on CoinWeek: Rare Coin, Currency, and Bullion News for Collectors.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

How Coin Mintages Sometimes Get Messed Up

By Roger W. Burdette, special to CoinWeek ….. We’re all familiar with coin guides of one sort or another. The most frequently used are price guides, which attempt to report the current “value” of specific coins in various levels of preservation. Some of these track auction sales and report the results, others claim to consolidate […]

The post How Coin Mintages Sometimes Get Messed Up appeared first on CoinWeek: Rare Coin, Currency, and Bullion News for Collectors.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Guess the Grade: 1831 Matron Head Large Cent

  * * * You are looking at an 1831 Matron Head Large Cent – can you guess the grade? But first…. Last time, we shared with you a toned 1803 Draped Bust Silver Dollar. Many “CoinWeek graders” took a shot at grading the coin at our YouTube Offices. Four came to the same grading decision […]

The post Guess the Grade: 1831 Matron Head Large Cent appeared first on CoinWeek: Rare Coin, Currency, and Bullion News for Collectors.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

The Coins of Portuguese Mozambique, Part 2

By Tyler Rossi for CoinWeek ….. Part 1 | Part 2 * * * While Portugal originally claimed a massive swath of Africa–from Angola on the west coast to Mozambique on the east coast–the British Empire disputed the Iberian nation’s right to a number of central territories. A subsequent ultimatum delivered on January 11, 1890, […]

The post The Coins of Portuguese Mozambique, Part 2 appeared first on CoinWeek: Rare Coin, Currency, and Bullion News for Collectors.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Where Does the Wheat Cent Market Go After the Blay Sale?

By Charles Morgan for CoinWeek ….. Although there have been several significant Lincoln cent collections assembled and disassembled over the last few decades, two collections represented the height of the marketplace for the series. The first was the Joshua and Ally Walsh Collection. The January 2006 Heritage Auctions sale of this collection set many records, […]

The post Where Does the Wheat Cent Market Go After the Blay Sale? appeared first on CoinWeek: Numismatic & Coin Collecting News.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Where Does the Wheat Cent Market Go After the Blay Sale?

By Charles Morgan for CoinWeek ….. Although there have been several significant Lincoln cent collections assembled and disassembled over the last few decades, two collections represented the height of the marketplace for the series. The first was the Joshua and Ally Walsh Collection. The January 2006 Heritage Auctions sale of this collection set many records, […]

The post Where Does the Wheat Cent Market Go After the Blay Sale? appeared first on CoinWeek: Rare Coin, Currency, and Bullion News for Collectors.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Where Does the Wheat Cent Market Go After the Blay Sale?

By Charles Morgan for CoinWeek ….. Although there have been several significant Lincoln cent collections assembled and disassembled over the last few decades, two collections represented the height of the marketplace for the series. The first was the Joshua and Ally Walsh Collection. The January 2006 Heritage Auctions sale of this collection set many records, […]

The post Where Does the Wheat Cent Market Go After the Blay Sale? appeared first on CoinWeek: Rare Coin, Currency, and Bullion News for Collectors.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

1914-D Cent Among Highlights at David Lawrence Rare Coins

Sunday Auction 1269 from David Lawrence Rare Coins (DLRC) is live and features over 600 total lots. Included in the variety of fantastic PCGS-, NGC-, and CAC-approved items in this week’s sale is a popular 1914-D 1c PCGS MS64 RD; a key date rarity 1916-D 10c PCGS MS65 FB; a lovely branch mint 1840-D $2 […]

The post 1914-D Cent Among Highlights at David Lawrence Rare Coins appeared first on CoinWeek: Rare Coin, Currency, and Bullion News for Collectors.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Guess the Grade of This Rare Key Date 1914-D Lincoln Cent

  * * * You are looking at a 1914-D Lincoln cent. Can you guess the grade? But first. Last week, we took a look at an 1856 gold dollar with an “upright 5” from the Deadwood Collection. If you guessed MS62, you are correct. Today, let’s look at the 1914-D. Just over one million […]

The post Guess the Grade of This Rare Key Date 1914-D Lincoln Cent appeared first on CoinWeek: Rare Coin, Currency, and Bullion News for Collectors.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

GreatCollections

The superb quality of the 1916 Lincoln cent is well known amongst enthusiasts. New hubs had been prepared for the 1916 issue, and many of the resulting coins resemble Proof strikes and have squared rims. The current example being offered by GreatCollections.com, encapsulated in a Secure Shield holder, is the sole MS-68 Red (RD) so […]

The post GreatCollections appeared first on CoinWeek: Rare Coin, Currency, and Bullion News for Collectors.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Watch the Video: Mint Red 1958-D Lincoln Cent Roll Break!

  * * * We didn’t know what to expect when we purchased an original roll of 1958-D Lincoln cents for $15 from a local coin shop. 1958 marked the final year of production for the Wheat Reverse Lincoln cent–or just plain Wheat cent–one of the most collected coin types in the United States. The […]

The post Watch the Video: Mint Red 1958-D Lincoln Cent Roll Break! appeared first on CoinWeek: Rare Coin, Currency, and Bullion News for Collectors.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Counterfeit Coin Detection – 1802/0 Half Cent

Telltale clues indicate this fake originated from a later coin   By Numismatic Guaranty Company (NGC) ….. The early years of the United States Mint saw some rather uncouth practices in striking coins that would not be tolerated today, such as the creation of “overdates”, in which a die from a previous year was repunched […]

The post Counterfeit Coin Detection – 1802/0 Half Cent appeared first on CoinWeek: Rare Coin, Currency, and Bullion News for Collectors.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Confederation-Period Copper Coins: Halfpence, Cents, or Coppers?

By Craig Sholley, John Dannreuther, Jeff Rock, William Eckberg, Chris McCawley, and Brian Greer for PCGS …… Many of the Confederation-period copper coins, including the Connecticut, New Jersey, and Vermont state coinages–along with private issues such as the Nova Constellatio, Immune Columbia, and “1785 USA Bar” pieces–are presently referred to as “coppers”. That hasn’t always […]

The post Confederation-Period Copper Coins: Halfpence, Cents, or Coppers? appeared first on CoinWeek: Rare Coin, Currency, and Bullion News for Collectors.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

PCGS Defines Early American Coppers by Correct Denominations

Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) is officially redefining a series of early American Colonial coins widely categorized by their state names and copper composition with numismatically correct references to their original denominations. The move recategorizes Confederation-period New Jersey, Vermont, and Connecticut coins as well as other pieces, such as Immune Columbia and Nova Constellatios–colloquially dubbed […]

The post PCGS Defines Early American Coppers by Correct Denominations appeared first on CoinWeek: Rare Coin, Currency, and Bullion News for Collectors.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

The Four Master Hubs of the 1909 Lincoln Wheat Cent Transition

By Shawn Tew ….. A case study undertaken both by myself, Shawn Tew (Michigan), and fellow numismatic researcher Chris Welch (Oregon) has resulted in the conclusion that there were two separate galvanos and that four different master hubs were created for the 1909 transitional year between the end of the Indian Head cent and the […]

The post The Four Master Hubs of the 1909 Lincoln Wheat Cent Transition appeared first on CoinWeek: Rare Coin, Currency, and Bullion News for Collectors.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

From the Dark Corner: An “Authenticated” 1909-S VDB Lincoln Cent

By Jack D. Young, Early American Coppers (EAC) …… Again, from my year-end review and organization of my archive folders and images comes another installment in this series! And as always, I will start with the certified “Dark Corner” example: a 1909-S VDB, one of the most cherished of Lincoln cents: This example first reared […]

The post From the Dark Corner: An “Authenticated” 1909-S VDB Lincoln Cent appeared first on CoinWeek: Rare Coin, Currency, and Bullion News for Collectors.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

P-Mintmark Firsts on US Coins

By Joshua McMorrow-Hernandez for PCGS …… There’s much numismatic clamor for coins from the “CC” mint that operated in Carson City, Nevada, from 1870 through 1893, and many collectors love “S” mint coins from San Francisco – a mint with lore all its own. But what about the Philadelphia Mint, the one that started it […]

The post P-Mintmark Firsts on US Coins appeared first on CoinWeek: Rare Coin, Currency, and Bullion News for Collectors.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Seven of the Most Valuable Wheat Cents

By Bullion Shark LLC …… Though they aren’t worth much on their faces, pennies are some of the most fun coins to chase as a collector. That said, there’s a big difference between common pennies that might not be worth your time and those with historical and collectible value. Wheat cents (or wheat pennies as […]

The post Seven of the Most Valuable Wheat Cents appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

United States 1961 Lincoln Cent Proof

When the production of Proof coins resumed after an eight-year hiatus at the Philadelphia Mint ended in 1950, mintages initially remained quite limited. But in 1957, the United States Mint issued over one million Proof Sets for the first time in its history. Continuing this trend, the 1961 issuance crept above three million for the […]

The post United States 1961 Lincoln Cent Proof appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

United States 1961 Lincoln Cent Proof

When the production of Proof coins resumed after an eight-year hiatus at the Philadelphia Mint ended in 1950, mintages initially remained quite limited. But in 1957, the United States Mint issued over one million Proof Sets for the first time in its history. Continuing this trend, the 1961 issuance crept above three million for the […]

The post United States 1961 Lincoln Cent Proof appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

New Jersey Copper Leads Coltrane Collection Over $2.4 Million

A 1788 New Jersey Copper, MS63 Brown sold for $192,000 to lead Heritage Auctions’ Estate of Mike Coltrane Collection of U.S. Coins Signature Auction to $2,445,498 on November 2. The event’s top lot is the finest known Maris 50-f and the only Mint State Head Left Copper. “Mike Coltrane was a long-time student of numismatics, […]

The post New Jersey Copper Leads Coltrane Collection Over $2.4 Million appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

New Jersey Copper Leads Coltrane Collection Over $2.4 Million

A 1788 New Jersey Copper, MS63 Brown sold for $192,000 USD to lead Heritage Auctions’ Estate of Mike Coltrane Collection of U.S. Coins Signature Auction to $2,445,498 on November 2. The event’s top lot is the finest known Maris 50-f and the only Mint State Head Left Copper. “Mike Coltrane was a long-time student of […]

The post New Jersey Copper Leads Coltrane Collection Over $2.4 Million appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Sydney F. Martin Collection Part II Realizes Nearly $4.2 Million in Stack’s Bowers Winter 2022 Showcase Auction

Stack’s Bowers Galleries is proud to have conducted Part II of the Sydney F. Martin Collection in Baltimore at their Winter 2022 Showcase Auction, the official auction of the Whitman Coin & Collectibles Expo. Martin was a longtime supporter and enthusiastic member of the Colonial Coin Collectors Club (C4), and it was fitting that his […]

The post Sydney F. Martin Collection Part II Realizes Nearly $4.2 Million in Stack’s Bowers Winter 2022 Showcase Auction appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

United States 1865 Two Cent Piece

First struck in 1864 in an attempt to solve the nationwide coin shortage, caused by the onset of the U.S. Civil War, the Two Cent piece never truly caught on and suffered from a consistently shrinking mintage. As only the second issuance, the 1865 type still had a significant mintage of 13,640,000 specimens (for comparison’s […]

The post United States 1865 Two Cent Piece appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

NGC Counterfeit Detection: 1809 Large Cent

This fake has problems with both its weight and its composition   By Numismatic Guaranty Company (NGC) …… The United States Mint issued the Classic Head Cent series from 1808 to 1814. Generally, these coins can sell for hundreds if not thousands of dollars. Lower-quality copper was used to create the blanks, so many were […]

The post NGC Counterfeit Detection: 1809 Large Cent appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Top 10 Most Controversial US Coins

By Tyler Rossi for CoinWeek ….. The 1933 Saint-Gaudens 20$ Double Eagle Sold in 2021 for $18.87 million, this is officially the most expensive coin in the world. But that’s not what makes it so controversial. Shortly after the United States Mint struck 445,500 double eagles in the spring of 1933, President Franklin Roosevelt issued […]

The post Top 10 Most Controversial US Coins appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

United States 1978-P Lincoln Cent

The Philadelphia Mint struck over 5.5 billion Lincoln cents in 1978, consuming 765,914.1 pounds or 157,583.8 metric tonnes of copper. It should be noted, however, that the West Point facility did strike roughly 1.5 billion of these coins and there is no way to distinguish between the two mintages. Combined, this represented only 56.5 of […]

The post United States 1978-P Lincoln Cent appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Famous 1943 Bronze Cent Error Coin Offered by GreatCollections

Biding is now live on Greatcollections.com for a handsome example of the famous 1943 Copper Penny error, graded as AU 50 BN by PCGS and earning a blue CAC sticker. Interested collectors should note this is a rare opportunity to acquire such a numismatically important coin. Bidding ends Sunday, November 13, 2022, at 4:12:20 PM […]

The post Famous 1943 Bronze Cent Error Coin Offered by GreatCollections appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Colonial, Gold Rarities Highlight the Stack’s Bowers Winter 2022 Auction

Stack’s Bowers Galleries is proud to announce their Winter 2022 Showcase Auction, the Official Auction of the Whitman Coin and Collectibles Winter Expo. The sale will be offered across 15 sessions, beginning on Thursday, October 27 with live bidding for Part II of the Sydney F. Martin Collection and ending with the final Internet Only […]

The post Colonial, Gold Rarities Highlight the Stack’s Bowers Winter 2022 Auction appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Mike Byers Mint Error News – Unique 1973-S Proof Ike Dollar Mated Pair

By Mike Byers for Mint Error News …… 1973-S Proof Ike Dollar Mated Pair Ike Dollar Struck on a 1¢ Planchet mated with an Ike Dollar Indented by a 1¢ Planchet PCGS PR67 & PR67RB   This unique discovery is the only known mated off-metal and indented pair on any United States Proof coin. This […]

The post Mike Byers Mint Error News – Unique 1973-S Proof Ike Dollar Mated Pair appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

NGC Counterfeit Coin Detection: 1867 Indian Head Cent

The numbers just don’t add up on this fake coin   By Numismatic Guaranty Company (NGC) …… The Indian Head Cent series of 1859-1909 remains one of the most popular with collectors of US coins. It covers a period from just before the Civil War to just before World War I. There are no stoppers […]

The post NGC Counterfeit Coin Detection: 1867 Indian Head Cent appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Brother Jonathan Shipwreck Gold Among Highlights at David Lawrence Rare Coins

Sunday Auction #1242 from David Lawrence Rare Coins (DLRC) is now live and features over 600 total lots – including more than 50 No Reserve lots and over 20 Vault Values. Included in the variety of fantastic PCGS-, NGC-, and CAC-approved items in this week’s sale is a famous key date 1913-S 25c PCGS/CAC VF20; […]

The post Brother Jonathan Shipwreck Gold Among Highlights at David Lawrence Rare Coins appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

United States 1925 Lincoln Cent

1925 represented a 31% drop in output from the previous year’s total production at the Philadelphia Mint. Despite producing a fraction of the previous year’s coinage, demand for the cent remained quite high. While continuing to strike coins, the Philadelphia Mint installed two new automatic weighing machines in 1925 to help increase production speed. As […]

The post United States 1925 Lincoln Cent appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

2009 Lincoln Bicentennial Cent Designs and Values

By Steven Cochran for Gainesville Coins …… In 2009, the United States Mint marked the 200th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s birth with a four-coin series of circulating commemorative cents. Known as the “Lincoln Bicentennial” series, the program consisted of four different reverse designs marking major milestones in Lincoln’s life. The 2009 Lincoln Bicentennial Designs The […]

The post 2009 Lincoln Bicentennial Cent Designs and Values appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Rare Modern US No Mint Mark Proof Coins

By Bullion Shark LLC …… Modern Proof coins that were struck at the San Francisco Mint, as most Proof coinage has been since 1968, normally bear an “S” mint mark. A small number of these coins have surfaced over the years that lack the mint mark, and they are among the greatest rarities of modern […]

The post Rare Modern US No Mint Mark Proof Coins appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

The Copper Coinage of George III

By Tyler Rossi for CoinWeek ….. Commonly known as the “Mad King” who lost the American colonies, George III was, for most of his reign, a relatively successful monarch. Since his father died young in 1751, George III came to the throne when his grandfather George II passed in 1760. The new king was the […]

The post The Copper Coinage of George III appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

United States 1976 Lincoln Memorial Cent

Despite the Bicentennial Coin Program that resulted in the redesigning of half the United States circulating denominations, the Lincoln cent remained unchanged. While the Philadelphia Mint reported an official mintage of 4,674,292,426 Lincoln cents for 1976, this is slightly deceiving. In fact, as stated in the Annual Report of the Director of the Mint for […]

The post United States 1976 Lincoln Memorial Cent appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

United States 1901 Indian Head Cent

With the opening of their brand-new facility at 1700 Spring Garden Street, 1901 was a big year for the United States Mint in Philadelphia. This new facility afforded the Mint a much larger production capacity through massive upgrades in equipment. Most importantly, all aspects of the production line would now be powered by electricity, and […]

The post United States 1901 Indian Head Cent appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Tom Bender’s Collection, Featuring Elite Troves of Carson City Coins, Indian and Lincoln Cents, Offered at Heritage Auctions August 22-28

“Duke of Carson City Coins” among most important in all of U.S. numismatics A passion can be sparked by any number of factors. In the case of renowned U.S. coins collector Tom Bender, a call to his brothers renewed his interest in a hobby handed down from his father. “I started collecting coins as a […]

The post Tom Bender’s Collection, Featuring Elite Troves of Carson City Coins, Indian and Lincoln Cents, Offered at Heritage Auctions August 22-28 appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Top Pop DCAM 1951 Proof Lincoln Cent Offered by GreatCollections

As part of their sale of the Red Copper Collection, GreatCollections is offering collectors the opportunity to bid on an outstanding top population 1951 Deep Cameo Proof Lincoln Cent graded as PR67 DCAM by PCGS. As the highest grade for the type, this coin is a true rarity. As so much more than a placeholder, […]

The post Top Pop DCAM 1951 Proof Lincoln Cent Offered by GreatCollections appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

‘Legendary’ 1927-D Double Eagle Offered at Heritage Auction

August 22-28 event also features collections of James R. McGuigan, Christopher J. Salmon and Tom Bender   In their classic reference Encyclopedia of U.S. Gold Coins 1795-1933, Jeff Garrett and Ron Guth call the 1927-D Saint-Gaudens double eagle “a legendary rarity — the rarest regular-issue gold coin of any denomination of the 20th century.” Add […]

The post ‘Legendary’ 1927-D Double Eagle Offered at Heritage Auction appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Rare Deep Cameo Proof 1957 Lincoln Cent at GreatCollections

GreatCollections is offering collectors an opportunity to bid on a beautiful 1957 Proof Lincoln cent graded as PR67 RD DCAM by PCGS. With only two examples of a higher grade, this rarity would make a great addition to any collection of Proof Lincoln cents. Collectors should be aware that bidding on this high-grade Proof coin […]

The post Rare Deep Cameo Proof 1957 Lincoln Cent at GreatCollections appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

ANS Announces New Book on Coins of Ancient Sakra

The American Numismatic Society (ANS) is pleased to announce the publication of In the Treasure Room of the Sakra King: Votive Coinage from Gandhāran Shrines (Numismatic Studies 44), by Waleed Ziad, which is now available to purchase. In a lush valley within the Sakra peak in Gandhara (northwestern Pakistan) is a vast limestone cave temple, […]

The post ANS Announces New Book on Coins of Ancient Sakra appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Struck Counterfeit Coin of the Week: 1797 “S-136” Large Cent + 1-Page Attribution Guide

By Jack D. Young, Early American Coppers (EAC) ……   This latest installment in the continuing summary of the deceptive struck counterfeits documented to date concerns the 1797 “S-136” Large Cent. As with previous articles in this series I have included a one-page attribution guide to aid in the identification of any that are still […]

The post Struck Counterfeit Coin of the Week: 1797 “S-136” Large Cent + 1-Page Attribution Guide appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

All-Time #1 Lincoln Cent Proof Set Collection to be Auctioned by GreatCollections

For the past 20 years, the “Red Copper Collection” has won almost all of the top Registry Set awards for Lincoln Cents. The famed collection was carefully put together one coin at a time over the past 50 years by an advanced East Coast collector. But now other collectors have the opportunity to own part […]

The post All-Time #1 Lincoln Cent Proof Set Collection to be Auctioned by GreatCollections appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Is the 1911-S Lincoln Cent the Fifth Series Key?

By Joshua McMorrow-Hernandez for PCGS …… Lincoln cent enthusiasts can reel off the “Big Four” key dates for their favorite series with little hesitation: 1909-S, 1909-S VDB, 1914-D, and 1931-S. That rare quartet omits the next three big dates on many Lincoln lovers’ minds, which include the 1922 No D Strong Reverse, the 1943 Bronze, […]

The post Is the 1911-S Lincoln Cent the Fifth Series Key? appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

United States 1931-D Lincoln Cent

At the height of the Great Depression and resulting from the dramatic decline in the public’s demand for coins, the Denver Mint’s operations nearly ground to a halt. This resulted in an 88.8% drop in mintage figures for the Lincoln Cent, from over 40 million pieces to almost 4.5 million coins. Adding to this initial […]

The post United States 1931-D Lincoln Cent appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Finest Known 1835 Matron Head Large Cent Offered by GreatCollections

GreatCollections is offering discerning collectors the opportunity to bid on an 1835 Matron Head large cent graded MS65 RB by PCGS. Certified by CAC as a “Head of 1836” variety, not only is this coin extremely high grade for the type, but it plays testament to a controversial period in American numismatics. This coin is […]

The post Finest Known 1835 Matron Head Large Cent Offered by GreatCollections appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Proof Large Cent Featured in Stack’s Bowers August 2022 Showcase Auction

By Christopher Maisano – Numismatist, Stack’s Bower Galleries …… Offerings of early copper Proofs are always exciting, and the choice 1841 large cent that is featured in the Stack’s Bowers August Global Showcase Auction certainly lives up to the highest expectations. This lovely example displays mingled chestnut, golden-tan and rose toning on both sides. The […]

The post Proof Large Cent Featured in Stack’s Bowers August 2022 Showcase Auction appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

GreatCollections – 1914-S Lincoln cent MS 65 RD with a CAC certification

As part of their current auction of the Edgemont Collection of Lincoln cents, GreatCollections is offering collectors the exciting opportunity to win a 1914-S Lincoln cent graded as MS 65 RD by PCGS with a CAC certification. Nearly 25 years ago this high-grade, semi-key date piece was placed in a 3.1 gen OGH holder. Bidding […]

The post GreatCollections – 1914-S Lincoln cent MS 65 RD with a CAC certification appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

1943 Steel Pennies: How Much They Are Worth Now

By Joshua McMorrow-Hernandez for Gainesville Coins …… Most steel pennies are worth between 20 cents and 20 dollars. Prices for 1943 penny error coins, like the 1943-D doubled mintmark variety, can reach several hundred dollars. There are few vintage coins as widely collected as the 1943 steel Lincoln penny. This applies within and even beyond […]

The post 1943 Steel Pennies: How Much They Are Worth Now appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

United States 1864 Large Motto Two Cent Piece

In 1864 when the Two Cent coin was first issued, the US Civil War was still raging. One effect of the war was a massive shortage of hard currency. While specie coins had disappeared from circulation quite early in the war, by ’64 even small copper cents were thin on the ground as evidenced by […]

The post United States 1864 Large Motto Two Cent Piece appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Incredible U.S. Coin Rarities Offered in Stack’s Bowers June 2022 Auction

Stack’s Bowers Galleries is excited to present their June 2022 Showcase Auction of United States Coins and Numismatic Americana, the official Auction for the Whitman Coin & Collectibles Summer 2022 Expo. This sale marks the firm’s first return to the Summer Whitman Expo since 2019 and tremendous excitement is anticipated from both collectors and dealers. […]

The post Incredible U.S. Coin Rarities Offered in Stack’s Bowers June 2022 Auction appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Differences Between 1981 Type 1 and Type 2 Proof Lincoln Cents

By Joshua McMorrow-Hernandez for PCGS …… Modern Proof coins have thrown many intriguing curveballs toward collectors over the years, with some of the most confusing examples spinning out of the 1981 Proof Set issued by the United States Mint. The 1981 Proof Set marked the end of more than just the Susan B. Anthony dollar, […]

The post Differences Between 1981 Type 1 and Type 2 Proof Lincoln Cents appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

United States 1929 Lincoln Cent

Hindsight is 20/20, and despite the Great Depression looming right around the corner, it was business as usual at the United States Mint in 1929. In fact, that year the Philadelphia facility struck 185,262,000 cents coins alone, and when combined with the other mint facilities, the mintage topped 277 million pieces. This was the largest […]

The post United States 1929 Lincoln Cent appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Previously Known 1943-S Doubled Die Cent Discovered to Be Overdate

By Tom DeLorey …… About 45 years ago, collector Del Romines came into my office at Coin World’s “Collectors Clearinghouse” with two well-worn 1943-P nickels that he thought were 1943/2-P overdates. I thought that he might be right, so I took pictures of his coins, published them, and asked if anybody had a higher-grade specimen […]

The post Previously Known 1943-S Doubled Die Cent Discovered to Be Overdate appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Boulder City Collection of Classic US Cents in Heritage Showcase Auction

Heritage Auctions is proud to present, in a current Showcase sale, the Boulder City Collection. Built around an outstanding set of Flying Eagle and Indian Cents, including both circulation strikes and proofs as well as a number of collectible varieties, this collection also boasts a wide variety of other outstanding coinage, highlighted by a 1895 […]

The post Boulder City Collection of Classic US Cents in Heritage Showcase Auction appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Stack’s Bowers Galleries to Present Sydney F. Martin Collection

Stack’s Bowers Galleries has been selected to sell Sydney F. Martin’s many remarkable numismatic collections at public auction over a several-year span, beginning in 2022. Stack’s Bowers Galleries has sold most of the finest collections of pre-Federal coins presented at auction over the last 50 years. “Our world-class expertise in this specialized area was a […]

The post Stack’s Bowers Galleries to Present Sydney F. Martin Collection appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

From the Dark Corner: An “Authenticated” Amazing Counterfeit 1796 Large Cent

By Jack D. Young, Early American Coppers (EAC) ……   So, here we are after my “last” installment of this series. In that one, I stated: “that’s it for now – but should we find another TPG-authenticated variety not discussed previously I will add a new Dark Corner article.” And now I would like to […]

The post From the Dark Corner: An “Authenticated” Amazing Counterfeit 1796 Large Cent appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

From the Dark Corner: An “Authenticated” Counterfeit 1798 “S-158” Large Cent

By Jack D. Young, Early American Coppers (EAC) …… This is the last of my intended short Dark Corner articles – a fitting last example, as it is the one that got me started on this research journey a few years ago! My intention for this series was as follows: –Write short informational articles on […]

The post From the Dark Corner: An “Authenticated” Counterfeit 1798 “S-158” Large Cent appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Q. David Bowers: Brief Notes on Indian Head Cents

By Q. David Bowers – Co-Founder, Stack’s Bowers ….. In 1859, a new design was adopted for the cent, incorporating on the obverse Miss Liberty dressed in an Indian war bonnet, with UNITED STATES OF AMERICA surrounding, and the date below. The design was by Chief Engraver James B. Longacre. ​The reverse displayed a laurel […]

The post Q. David Bowers: Brief Notes on Indian Head Cents appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

1922: A Unique Year in U.S. Coin History

By Bullion Shark LLC …… Today, the United States Mint is the largest producer of coins in the world, striking billions of circulating coins, millions of bullion coins in four metals, and various commemorative coins and special issues. There are even circulation-quality coins not made for circulation and sold to collectors, like the American Innovation […]

The post 1922: A Unique Year in U.S. Coin History appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Mike Byers Mint Error News – 1942-S Lincoln on Curaçao Cent Planchet

By Mike Byers for Mint Error News …… 1942-S Wartime Lincoln Cent Struck on a Bronze Planchet NGC MS 62 Brown Unique Discovery Coin   This is a fascinating 1942-S Lincoln cent that was struck on a 2.5-gram bronze planchet with a composition of 95% copper, 4% zinc, and 1% tin. After examining this unique […]

The post Mike Byers Mint Error News – 1942-S Lincoln on Curaçao Cent Planchet appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

It’s a Jungle out There! Later Date Large Cent Counterfeits

By Jack D. Young, Early American Coppers (EAC) …… As I continue to document the “family” of counterfeits currently available on the market, both as copies and as authentic examples, I realize how difficult this is as the counterfeits continue to evolve. I have family articles on CoinWeek about two different Bust dollars, fake Turban […]

The post It’s a Jungle out There! Later Date Large Cent Counterfeits appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

United States 1807 Draped Bust Half Cent

The Draped Bust was the second design type of the half cent denomination. Conceived as an important low-value coin for the everyman, the denomination was never popular with the American public. With rising copper prices and decreased spending power, the US Congress discontinued the denomination with the Coinage Act of February 21, 1857. Among collectors. […]

The post United States 1807 Draped Bust Half Cent appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Struck Counterfeit Coins: Another Family of Struck Fake Large Cents

By Jack D. Young, Early American Coppers (EAC) …… It has been a while since I wrote my CoinWeek article on the “family” of large cent counterfeits based on the 1833 N-5 variety, but I have since found the time to discuss another of the “family” type that I call the “beaded” border counterfeit based […]

The post Struck Counterfeit Coins: Another Family of Struck Fake Large Cents appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Top Registry Set of Lincoln Cents Offered by David Lawrence Rare Coins

Sunday Auction #1215 from David Lawrence Rare Coins (DLRC) is now live and features over 600 total lots – including more than 20 Vault Values, over 250 No Reserve Lots, and nearly 55 Washington Quarters recently deaccessioned from the D.L. Hansen Collection. Included in the variety of fantastic PCGS-, NGC-, and CAC-approved items in this […]

The post Top Registry Set of Lincoln Cents Offered by David Lawrence Rare Coins appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Counterfeit Coin Detection – 1857 Half Cent

Problems abound on the obverse and reverse of this crude fake   By Max Spiegel – Numismatic Guaranty Company (NGC) ……   The Half Cent denomination that had existed since the US started minting its own currency in the late 1700s was legislated out of existence in 1857. Though this year is scarce among the […]

The post Counterfeit Coin Detection – 1857 Half Cent appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Near-Perfect DCAM Proof 1970-S Lincoln Cent at GreatCollections

Collectors should note that a near-perfect Deep Cameo Proof 1970-S Lincoln cent, certified PR-69 RD by PCGS with a US bunting flag label, is currently being auctioned by GreatCollections. At the time of publication, the highest of 71 bids stands at $3,303.00 USD. This lot has been viewed 406 times, and 32 GC members are […]

The post Near-Perfect DCAM Proof 1970-S Lincoln Cent at GreatCollections appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

The 1909-S VDB Lincoln Cent: A Popular Yet Controversial Coin

By Blanchard & Company …… It was 1905. American coins had been sporting the same designs for over 50 years, and President Roosevelt decided that it was time for a change. He wanted our nation to have coins comparable to those of the ancient Greeks. Roosevelt initiated this effort by contacting sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens to […]

The post The 1909-S VDB Lincoln Cent: A Popular Yet Controversial Coin appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

United States 1857 Braided Hair Half Cent

The smallest denomination ever struck by the U.S. Mint, the half cent is an extremely complex series. It features five major types and subtypes that all have a series of varieties, the last of which was the Braided Hair half cent (1840-57). As the new Chief Engraver, Christian Gobrecht was responsible for shifting the design […]

The post United States 1857 Braided Hair Half Cent appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Q. David Bowers: The Curious 1817 Cent With 15 Stars

By Q. David Bowers – Co-Founder, Stack’s Bowers ….. I have always liked large copper cents. First minted in 1793, they were made continuously until 1857, with the solitary exception of 1815. Back in the early 1950s I began to build a library of numismatic reference books, and by 1955 I had all the standard […]

The post Q. David Bowers: The Curious 1817 Cent With 15 Stars appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Counterfeit Coin Detection – 1908-S Counterfeit Indian Head Cent

1908-S Counterfeit Indian Head Cent   By Max Spiegel – Numismatic Guaranty Company (NGC) ……   The grading room was recently presented with a 1908-S Indian Head cent for certification. The 1908-S cent had the third-lowest mintage in the Indian Head cent series, with 1,115,000 pieces struck. The first of only two San Francisco Mint Indian […]

The post Counterfeit Coin Detection – 1908-S Counterfeit Indian Head Cent appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

United States 1936 Lincoln Cent

Demand for domestic coinage continued to grow in 1936 and the United States Mint responded by adding shifts and ramping up production. In Philadelphia, cent production was higher than it had been at any time since 1920. In total, 309,632,000 pieces were struck, all from blanks that were manufactured in-house. This production level largely satisfied […]

The post United States 1936 Lincoln Cent appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Classic 1793 Wreath Cent Offered in Stack’s Bowers Spring Showcase Auction

By Christopher Maisano – Numismatist, Stack’s Bower Galleries …… The 1793 Wreath cent can be considered an ultimate type coin as well as an incredibly desirable and scarce item that traces its history to the earliest days of the United States Mint. Stack’s Bowers Galleries are pleased to present a handsome, high-grade circulated example of […]

The post Classic 1793 Wreath Cent Offered in Stack’s Bowers Spring Showcase Auction appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

United States 1861 Indian Head Cent

By January 1861, the process of southern secession was underway, signaling the onset of America’s deadliest war. Throughout this tumultuous year, the country experienced a multitude of historic events: Abraham Lincoln would become the 16th president, the Confederate States of America was born, and the Civil War commenced. Despite the loss of its branch facilities […]

The post United States 1861 Indian Head Cent appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Fugio Cents: The First Regular-Issue United States Coin

By John Dannreuther, Gordon Wrubel, Craig Sholley, Brian Greer, Chuck Link, Tony Terranova, Chris Victor-McCawley, David McCarthy, and Erik Goldstein for PCGS …… Over the last few years, a group of Fugio enthusiasts has held discussions about Fugio Cents and whether the pieces should be considered the first regular-issue United States coins. As will be […]

The post Fugio Cents: The First Regular-Issue United States Coin appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

From the Dark Corner: An “Authenticated” NOT 1787 Connecticut Copper

By Jack D. Young, Early American Coppers (EAC) …… In this series, I intend to continue to showcase different levels of “counterfeits”, using a rather broad definition of the term. To that end, this installment focuses on a one-off example that is actually an altered/tooled variety made to appear as another. It is deceptive enough […]

The post From the Dark Corner: An “Authenticated” NOT 1787 Connecticut Copper appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

United States 1967 Lincoln Cent

1967 marked the beginning of a return to normalcy for the United States Mint. The Coinage Act of 1965 radically recalibrated American coinage, dropping the 90% silver standard in favor of base metal dimes and quarters and a 40% silver-clad alloy for halves. As legislators and bureaucrats sought to remedy the ongoing national coin shortage, […]

The post United States 1967 Lincoln Cent appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

United States 1864 Two Cent Coin

With the passage of the Coinage Act of 1864, the United States Congress authorized the design and production of a brand-new denomination, the short-lived Two Cent coin. As part of the government’s experimentation with odd denominations (including the three-cent nickel, the silver trime, the 20-cent piece, and the three-dollar stella gold coin, the two-cent piece […]

The post United States 1864 Two Cent Coin appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

United States 1910 Lincoln Cent

While still a fledgling design, the Philadelphia Mint struck nearly 50% more 1910 Lincoln cents than in 1909 or 1910. In fact, it was the largest single issuance of Lincoln cents by the Philadelphia Mint until 1917. With a mintage of 146,801,218 pieces, this coin is easily obtainable in both general circulated and Mint State […]

The post United States 1910 Lincoln Cent appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

The Gumball Machine Giveth: GreatCollections Offers Rare 1943 Copper Cent

  GreatCollections.com is offering a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for collectors to acquire one of the most famous US error coins. Bidding on the famous 1943 Lincoln “Gumball” Copper cent, graded as AU50 BN by PCGS, ends on Sunday, January 30. The current highest bid (as of the time of publication of this article) is $192,500 USD […]

The post The Gumball Machine Giveth: GreatCollections Offers Rare 1943 Copper Cent appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

The Gumball Machine Giveth: GreatCollections Offers Rare 1943 Copper Cent

  GreatCollections.com is offering a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for collectors to acquire one of the most famous US error coins. Bidding on the famous 1943 Lincoln “Gumball” Copper cent, graded as AU50 BN by PCGS, ends on Sunday, January 30. The current highest bid (as of the time of publication of this article) is $192,500 USD […]

The post The Gumball Machine Giveth: GreatCollections Offers Rare 1943 Copper Cent appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Bags in the Basement: Quantity Over Quality

By Victor Bozarth for PCGS ……   Some coin deals are more memorable than others. Most deals are “one and done”, and you go on to the next deal. But when you buy a collection or hoard, the timeline might involve a decade. Come on Vic, really? What kind of coin deal is still unresolved […]

The post Bags in the Basement: Quantity Over Quality appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

The 1894 Doubled Die Indian Cent

By Joshua McMorrow-Hernandez for PCGS …… One of the most enduring Indian Cent varieties is the 1894/1894 Doubled Date, a piece that excites not only series enthusiasts but also even the more casual collector. It’s earned a place of prominence among a few other selected Indian Cent varieties, including 1867/67 and 1869/69 doubled dies as […]

The post The 1894 Doubled Die Indian Cent appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

The 1894 Doubled Date Indian Cent

By Joshua McMorrow-Hernandez for PCGS …… One of the most enduring Indian Cent varieties is the 1894/1894 Doubled Date, a piece that excites not only series enthusiasts but also even the more casual collector. It’s earned a place of prominence among a few other selected Indian Cent varieties, including 1867/67 and 1869/69 doubled dies as […]

The post The 1894 Doubled Date Indian Cent appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Struck Counterfeit Coin of the Week: An Interesting 1798 “S-158 Large Cent” + 1-Page Attribution Guide

By Jack D. Young, Early American Coppers (EAC) …… This is intended as a summary of the documented counterfeit 1798 “S-158” large cents to date, including several listed sellers. The “source” coin, the example most likely used to create the dies to strike the other copies was unknown when we became aware of the first […]

The post Struck Counterfeit Coin of the Week: An Interesting 1798 “S-158 Large Cent” + 1-Page Attribution Guide appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

GreatCollections Offering Chance for Mint State 1909-S V.D.B. Lincoln Cent

By CoinWeek …. For any first-year-of-issue Lincoln cent from the San Francisco Mint, it is hard to escape the shadow of the V.D.B. type on which the coin’s designer, Victor David Brenner, placed his initials at the bottom of the reverse. And coin collectors have until Sunday, January 2, to take advantage of the offering […]

The post GreatCollections Offering Chance for Mint State 1909-S V.D.B. Lincoln Cent appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

An Odd Cache of 1826 Large Cents Hidden in the 1800s

By Q. David Bowers – Co-Founder, Stack’s Bowers ….. The late Oscar G. Schilke lived on the shore of Dodge Pond in Niantic, Connecticut, in the 1950s and ’60s. Prominent on the numismatic scene for many years beginning in the early 1930s, he would often set up exhibits in banks. These displays served to attract […]

The post An Odd Cache of 1826 Large Cents Hidden in the 1800s appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Finest Known 1796 Liberty Cap Cent in Once-in-a-Lifetime Auction at GreatCollections

By CoinWeek …..   On December 19, bidding ends on this “Museum Quality” 1796 Liberty Cap Cent in the latest GreatCollections sale. As the finest example known, this Liberty Cap Cent is graded MS66+ RB in a Gold Shield holder by PCGS and approved by CAC as strong for the grade. While there was a […]

The post Finest Known 1796 Liberty Cap Cent in Once-in-a-Lifetime Auction at GreatCollections appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Top Rank PCGS Registry Sets of Half Cents and Large Cents at David Lawrence Rare Coins

Sunday Auction #1200 from David Lawrence Rare Coins (DLRC) is now live and features 585 total lots – including 75 Vault Values and 210 No Reserve Lots. Included in the variety of fantastic PCGS-, NGC-, and CAC-approved items in this week’s sale is a flawless registry-quality 1888 3cN PCGS/CAC MS67+; a nice key date 1893-S […]

The post Top Rank PCGS Registry Sets of Half Cents and Large Cents at David Lawrence Rare Coins appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

United States 1976 Lincoln Cent

1976 was an important year in American Numismatics. The Bicentennial quarter, half dollar and dollar had been released, featuring Jack Ahr’s drummer, Seth Huntington’s view of Independence Hall and Dennis William’s Liberty Bell, respectively. But from the start, United States Mint Director Mary Brooks was against the idea of changing the designs of all six […]

The post United States 1976 Lincoln Cent appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Jeff Garrett: The Color of Money

A guide to Red, Brown, and Red Brown copper coinage   By Jeff Garrett for Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC) …… While this article shares a title with the classic Paul Newman and Tom Cruise movie about pool hustlers, it refers to the incredible valuation increases that collectors attribute to the colors assigned to copper coinage. […]

The post Jeff Garrett: The Color of Money appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

GreatCollections Offering 1953-S Lincoln Cent With Specatcular Target Toning

By CoinWeek ….. A brilliantly “target toned” 1953-S Lincoln cent certified MS-65 BN by NGC with a green CAC sticker is being auctioned by GreatCollections. At the time of publication, the high bid stands at $1,150.88 USD, underscoring the premiums some collectors are willing to pay for remarkable toning. Struck towards the end of circulating […]

The post GreatCollections Offering 1953-S Lincoln Cent With Specatcular Target Toning appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

The Walter J. Husak Collection of Large Cents, 1793-1814

By Joshua McMorrow-Hernandez for PCGS …… Early American Large Cents are one of the most popular and yet most challenging areas of numismatics. These hulking copper “pennies”, struck for commerce at a time when the United States was in its infancy, are well regarded by collectors and have been studied throughout the ages. They are […]

The post The Walter J. Husak Collection of Large Cents, 1793-1814 appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Where Are the Bronze Lincoln Memorial Cents Going?

By Joshua McMorrow-Hernandez for PCGS …… You may have noticed it’s getting harder to find bronze Lincoln Memorial cents in circulation these days. In the last few years, they’ve been getting notably scarcer in circulation. A lot of folks want to know why – especially given that Lincoln cents don’t see as many transactions in […]

The post Where Are the Bronze Lincoln Memorial Cents Going? appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

United States 1909-S Indian Head Cent

Description The 1909-S Indian Head cent is a semi-key coin that also represents one of the last issues of the iconic one-cent coin series that began in 1859 and ended in 1909. After being struck exclusively at the Philadelphia Mint since its inception, Indian Head cents were finally issued by a branch mint beginning in […]

The post United States 1909-S Indian Head Cent appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

COAC 2021: The Victor David Brenner Centennial

By Peter van Alfen for American Numismatic Society (ANS) …… After a hiatus of a dozen years, this last Friday and Saturday (17–18 September) saw the resumption of the Coinage of the Americas Conference (COAC) series at the American Numismatic Society (ANS). Since the mid-1980s, COACs have been one of the leading venues for the […]

The post COAC 2021: The Victor David Brenner Centennial appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

A Massive Coin for a Massive Empire: The Russian 5 Kopek Copper

The Imperial Russian 5 Kopek certainly has a heft befitting such an imposing country. But why strike such large copper coins?   By Tyler Rossi for CoinWeek ….. As a consequence of his extensive wars with Sweden in the late 17th century, Russian Emperor Peter the Great implemented one of the first comprehensive overhauls of […]

The post A Massive Coin for a Massive Empire: The Russian 5 Kopek Copper appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

United States 1931-S Lincoln Cent

Description The Lincoln cent is the United States’ longest-serving coin. Its 1909 debut marked the centennial of the birth of Abraham Lincoln, and its elegant sculptural design served as the vanguard of a new wave of American coin art. And while the golden era of American coin design is most associated with medallic artist and […]

The post United States 1931-S Lincoln Cent appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

United States 1918 (P) Lincoln Cent

Description Lincoln cents were in short supply as the United States entered its second year of war in Europe. Increased wartime economic activity drove up demand for circulating coinage, resulting in larger mintages. The more than 288 million cents produced at the Philadelphia Mint in 1918–the largest mintage in the series up to that point–were […]

The post United States 1918 (P) Lincoln Cent appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Arizona Collection of U.S. Large Cents to be Offered at Heritage Auctions

1794 S-48 Starred Reverse Chapman Discovery Coin among highlights featured during Jan. 5-10 FUN Auction   A discerning eye taking advantage of important opportunities led to the formation of The Arizona Collection of United States Large Cents, a special collection named after the home state of the shrewd collectors who assembled it. The trove features […]

The post Arizona Collection of U.S. Large Cents to be Offered at Heritage Auctions appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

David Lawrence Acquires ESM Proof Half, Large Cent Collections From Harlan J. Berk, Ltd

David Lawrence Rare Coins (DLRC) of Virginia Beach, Virginia, has purchased one of the most impressive sets of Proof Half Cents and Large Cents ever put together. In a private transaction, Mike Printz of Harlan J. Berk, Ltd (HJBLTD) and John Brush of DLRC pieced together the transfer of the nearly complete set of Proof […]

The post David Lawrence Acquires ESM Proof Half, Large Cent Collections From Harlan J. Berk, Ltd appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Dave & Adam’s Submits Rare 1943 Bronze Cent to NGC for Certification

  Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC) has certified one of the finest examples of the famed 1943 Bronze Cent, an elusive mint error highly prized by coin collectors. The coin was submitted by Dave & Adam’s Card World, a powerhouse in the world of collectible sports cards. In order to save copper for the war effort […]

The post Dave & Adam’s Submits Rare 1943 Bronze Cent to NGC for Certification appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Live or Memorex- a Dark Side Struck Counterfeit 1797 Large Cent

By Jack D. Young, Early American Coppers (EAC) …… Continuing on the theme of deceptive struck counterfeits, this is likely my most ambitious research article since my CoinWeek piece on the counterfeit 1798 “S-158” large cents, the coin and variety that lead a group of fellow enthusiasts and myself down the path of hunting for […]

The post Live or Memorex- a Dark Side Struck Counterfeit 1797 Large Cent appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Mike Byers Mint Error News – Mated Pair of 1974-S Lincoln Cents Struck by 2 U.S. Cent Obverse Dies

By Mike Byers for Mint Error News …… Although there are U.S. coins that are two-headed (struck by two obverse dies), two-tailed (struck by two reverse dies) and muled (struck by two different denominations), this is a unique mated two-headed Lincoln cent pair struck by two U.S. cent obverse dies. The United States Mint in […]

The post Mike Byers Mint Error News – Mated Pair of 1974-S Lincoln Cents Struck by 2 U.S. Cent Obverse Dies appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Partrick, Simpson Collections Highlight CSNS Event at Heritage Auctions April 22-25

1792 Judd-13 White Metal Quarter offered for first time in history   More than 2,500 lots from 14 single-owner collections and from clients around the world highlight Heritage Auctions’ U.S. Coins Signature Auction, April 22-25 on HA.com. The event represents the official auctions scheduled during the Central States Numismatic Society (CSNS) annual convention, which was […]

The post Partrick, Simpson Collections Highlight CSNS Event at Heritage Auctions April 22-25 appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

A “Long-Lost” Lord St. Oswald 1794 Half Cent Reappears

By Ron Guth ….. In 1795, an Englishman named William Strickland returned to his home following a sightseeing trip to America that began in 1794. On his voyage home, Strickland carried with him two 1794 Half Cents, a 1793 Chain Cent, two dozen 1794 Large Cents, three 1795 Half Dollars, two 1794 Silver Dollars, three […]

The post A “Long-Lost” Lord St. Oswald 1794 Half Cent Reappears appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Top Pop 1909-S Lincoln Cent Repunched Mintmark Variety Offered by GreatCollections

By CoinWeek …. On Sunday, April 18, bidding ends at GreatCollections.com for this S Over Horizontal S 1909-S Lincoln Cent, graded MS-67 RD by PCGS and approved by CAC as strong for the grade. It is also housed in a gold shield holder. When it comes to the 1909-S penny, it is hard to escape […]

The post Top Pop 1909-S Lincoln Cent Repunched Mintmark Variety Offered by GreatCollections appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Understanding Lincoln Wheat Cents: Issues Worth $1 or Less

By Chris Bulfinch for CoinWeek ….. Lincoln Wheat cents turn up in pocket change, the effects of loved ones, and in rolls of cents tucked away in drawers. Struck by the unfamiliar reverse design and age, many who come across these coins start Googling, only to find a deluge of jargon-laden auction listings, price estimates, […]

The post Understanding Lincoln Wheat Cents: Issues Worth $1 or Less appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Understanding Lincoln Wheat Cents: Issues Worth $1 or Less

By Chris Bulfinch for CoinWeek …..   Lincoln Wheat cents turn up in pocket change, the effects of loved ones, and in rolls of cents tucked away in drawers. Struck by the unfamiliar reverse design and age, many who come across these coins start Googling, only to find a deluge of jargon-laden auction listings, price […]

The post Understanding Lincoln Wheat Cents: Issues Worth $1 or Less appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Classic US Coins: The Short-Lived Two Cent Piece

The Two Cent Piece by Kathleen Duncan – Pinnacle Rarities …… The Two Cent piece designed by James Longacre was struck for a mere 10 years from 1864 until 1873. The design made a singular and enduring contribution to the nation’s history by introducing the motto IN GOD WE TRUST to coinage for the first […]

The post Classic US Coins: The Short-Lived Two Cent Piece appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

New Half Cent Handbook Looks to Demystify Collecting Half Cents by Variety and Die State

By CoinWeek ….. The Half Cent Handbook: Draped Bust Varieties: 1800-1808 (2021), by Ed Fuhrman Since its release in 2019, The Half Cent: 1793-1857, self-published by former Early American Coppers (EAC) president William Eckberg, has been a mainstay at the CoinWeek offices for the information it provides on America’s “greatest little coin”.  An update on […]

The post New Half Cent Handbook Looks to Demystify Collecting Half Cents by Variety and Die State appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Proof Indian Head Cents: An Overview by Decade

Indian Head Cents by Dan Duncan – Pinnacle Rarities …… Production of the ever-popular Indian cent spanned six fascinating decades of United States history. Struck from 1859 until 1909, there are 52 Proof emission dates contained within that run, and these 52 also Proofs feature subtle die varieties and a couple of major design changes. […]

The post Proof Indian Head Cents: An Overview by Decade appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

$250 Indian Head Cent / Wheat Cent Grab Bag

By CoinWeek …. In this episode of CoinWeek Streaming News, CoinWeek Editor Charles Morgan cracks open a bag of over 150 mixed date small cents he’d just bought on eBay. Usually, this is a bad idea; can you trust that an “unsearched” bag you’re purchasing over the internet is really unsearched? And what dealer (even […]

The post $250 Indian Head Cent / Wheat Cent Grab Bag appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Extraordinary New Jersey Coppers From the Donald G. Partrick Collection at Heritage

  The Donald G. Partrick Collection of Extraordinary Colonial Coinage Featuring New Jersey Coppers promises to strike a chord with specialists across every colonial collecting interest. Divided into robust Signature and Internet sessions, the sale includes 510 total lots-nearly 200 magnificent pieces in the live Signature Session, complemented by over 300 impressive lots poised for […]

The post Extraordinary New Jersey Coppers From the Donald G. Partrick Collection at Heritage appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

The S-Mint Indian Cents: Classic US Coins

By Joshua McMorrow-Hernandez for PCGS …… There are few coin series that originated in the 19th century and are as widely collected by date and mintmark as the Indian Cent. Designed by James B. Longacre, Chief Engraver of the United States Mint, and in production from 1859 through 1909, the Indian Cent saw the vast […]

The post The S-Mint Indian Cents: Classic US Coins appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

From the Brink to the Dark Side: Early American Copper Struck Counterfeits & Damaged Source Coins

Struck Counterfeits By Jack D. Young for Early American Coppers (EAC) …… As introduction, a member of Early American Coppers (EAC) posted on the club’s Facebook page “Dark Side”, a fake 1796 “S-85” that he astutely identified from a recent internet listing, and as follow-up to that discussion I was able to post images of […]

The post From the Brink to the Dark Side: Early American Copper Struck Counterfeits & Damaged Source Coins appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Historic 1794 Starred Reverse Cent Featured in Stack’s Bowers March Las Vegas Auction

  By James McCartney – Senior Numismatist, Stack’s Bowers …… The Sheldon-48 Starred Reverse 1794 Liberty Cap cent is one of the most popular, eagerly sought, and also enigmatic varieties in the early large cent series. The reason for including 94 stars on the reverse of this variety has been lost to history although, as […]

The post Historic 1794 Starred Reverse Cent Featured in Stack’s Bowers March Las Vegas Auction appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Stack’s Bowers March Showcase Auction Features Incredible PR-67+ DCAM (PCGS) CAC 1897 Cent

  By James McCartney – Senior Numismatist, Stack’s Bowers …… The Proof 1897 Indian cent is an underrated rarity among the late dates from this series. From a mintage of 1,938 pieces, 731 were intended for sale in conjunction with the year’s silver Proof sets, while the remaining 1,207 examples went into minor coin Proof […]

The post Stack’s Bowers March Showcase Auction Features Incredible PR-67+ DCAM (PCGS) CAC 1897 Cent appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

United States 1980 (P) Lincoln Cent

1980 was an inflection point in the history of the cent. The juxtapenultimate date struck from the majority-copper alloy in use since the early 1960s, 1980 Lincoln cents were struck and issued against a backdrop of uncertainty about the denomination, as successive administrations tested new compositions and pondered its elimination. The coins themselves are not […]

The post United States 1980 (P) Lincoln Cent appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Heritage to Offer Finest Known 1796 No Pole Half Cent at FUN Auction

Heritage Auctions is proud to offer the finest known 1796 No Pole Half Cent as a part of our January 20-24 FUN Signature Auction. This legendary numismatic rarity grades MS67 Red and Brown according to PCGS. The year 1796 is important in the history of the first Philadelphia Mint and some collectors have made a […]

The post Heritage to Offer Finest Known 1796 No Pole Half Cent at FUN Auction appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

United States 2003 Lincoln Cent

Background The 2003 Lincoln cent was issued against the backdrop of many calling for the denomination’s elimination and represented one of the better-struck issues bearing the Lincoln Memorial reverse. Cents had been struck on copper-plated zinc planchets since 1982, earning the coins the moniker “Zincoln”. Their composition, adopted to cut production costs, provided only a […]

The post United States 2003 Lincoln Cent appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

United States 1968-D Lincoln Cent

Description In the lead-up to the passage of the Coinage Act of 1965, speculators and coin collectors drew the ire of the Mint, the Treasury, and many members of Congress who thought that the bustling coin hobby was to blame for the national coin shortage. Anybody who has studied a Red Book will understand that […]

The post United States 1968-D Lincoln Cent appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Numismatic Expert Kevin Vinton to Join Stack’s Bowers Galleries Team

Stack’s Bowers Galleries (SBG) is pleased to announce that Kevin Vinton, respected expert, dealer, and auctioneer in United States colonial coinage and early federal copper will be joining the firm. Beginning in January 2021, Vinton will bring over a decade of full-time experience in the numismatic business to Stack’s Bowers Galleries, with his base to […]

The post Numismatic Expert Kevin Vinton to Join Stack’s Bowers Galleries Team appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Incredible Gem 1809 Classic Head Half Cent: Stack’s Bowers Direct

By Stack’s Bowers …… The Green-Newman-Pogue Specimen 1809 Classic Head Half Cent. C-6, B-6. Rarity-1. MS-65+ BN (PCGS). CAC.   This is a gorgeous example featuring a warm halo of mint color emerging from Liberty’s cap and around her head, fading into ideal frosty medium brown. The superb eye appeal matches the technical grade, with […]

The post Incredible Gem 1809 Classic Head Half Cent: Stack’s Bowers Direct appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Three Platinum Sessions Highlight Heritage FUN Signature Auction

Although Florida United Numismatists (FUN) canceled January’s Expo in Orlando, Heritage’s full slate of auctions change only in their date and location. Heritage will go forward with the scheduled numismatic auctions, just as we have done seamlessly and successfully when the April 2020 Central States, June and September Long Beach, and Summer ANA conventions were […]

The post Three Platinum Sessions Highlight Heritage FUN Signature Auction appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

United States 1960 Lincoln Cent Overdate Varieties in Proof

Description As David Lange writes in his excellent CoinWeek article, 1960 was a pivotal year for coin collecting in America. Rare coins, the traditional backbone of the hobby, continued to thrive, with many historic collections being built – some publicly, some privately. But the real buzz encircling the coin hobby centered on modern U.S. Mint […]

The post United States 1960 Lincoln Cent Overdate Varieties in Proof appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

The Most Valuable US Pennies: A Baker’s Dozen

By Bullion Shark LLC …… While each series of United States cent (or penny) has its own key coins based on mintages and the number of surviving coins, the most valuable pennies ever sold is a different group of coins that takes into account other factors like market conditions, demand, and the coin’s role in […]

The post The Most Valuable US Pennies: A Baker’s Dozen appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Everything You Need to Know About the 1943 Copper Penny

By Bullion Shark LLC …… As collectors of U.S. coins are well aware, in 1943 during World War II, the United States Mint struck zinc-coated steel pennies to help conserve copper and tin needed for armaments for American troops fighting in Europe and Japan. Authorized by a 1942 law that temporarily changed the composition of […]

The post Everything You Need to Know About the 1943 Copper Penny appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Heritage Offering Finest Known 1792 Silver Center Cent at Jan. 2021 FUN Auction

Few issues in the annals of American coinage are as historically important as the 1792 patterns. Those simple coins laid the foundation for everything that followed in United States coinage and established an innovative, decimal-based monetary system that became one of the most successful in the history of the world. Excluding the 1792 half disme, […]

The post Heritage Offering Finest Known 1792 Silver Center Cent at Jan. 2021 FUN Auction appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

E Pluribus Unum Collection Pt 2 Realizes $1.1 Million+ at Stack’s Bowers Nov. 2020 Auction

Built over more than half a century, the E Pluribus Unum Collection is replete with coins and medals of superb rarity and quality, many with pedigrees dating as far back as the 19th century. Sales from this collection commenced in the Stack’s Bowers Galleries November 2019 Auction with the record-setting $1.5 million sale of New […]

The post E Pluribus Unum Collection Pt 2 Realizes $1.1 Million+ at Stack’s Bowers Nov. 2020 Auction appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

1969-S DDO Penny Sold to Honest Coin Dealer for 5 Cents Expected to Realize Over $40,000 at Auction

Over the past 50 years, an individual from San Francisco accumulated thousands of Lincoln cents from change, friends, and by searching rolls. He never found anything of note, and finally the day came to sell the collection. He obtained several quotes from local coin shops and ended up selling the whole collection for a few […]

The post 1969-S DDO Penny Sold to Honest Coin Dealer for 5 Cents Expected to Realize Over $40,000 at Auction appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

United States 1974 Lincoln Cent

Description 1974 was an interesting year in the annals of numismatic history. The country was putting the finishing touches on its planned Bicentennial celebrations. The United States Mint was gearing up to produce a range of commemorative coins and medals to mark the occasion. The year would also mark the final Blue and Brown Pack […]

The post United States 1974 Lincoln Cent appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Results Analysis of the Donald G. Partrick Collection of Connecticut Copper Coins

By Ron Guth ….. On November 1, 2020, Heritage Auctions sold the Connecticut Copper collection assembled by Donald G. Partrick. This was a highly anticipated event because many of Mr. Partrick’s coins had been off the market since the 1980s and earlier. Mr. Partrick was known as a strong buyer of top-quality and rare Colonial […]

The post Results Analysis of the Donald G. Partrick Collection of Connecticut Copper Coins appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Copper and the War of 1812 – The 1814 Plain 4 Large Cents of 1816

By Joshua McMorrow-Hernandez for PCGS …… Copper and the War of 1812 Coin production at the United States Mint had become erratic in the years leading up to the War of 1812, with no half cents struck since 1811, half dimes off the production roster since 1805, and silver dollars and gold eagles absent since […]

The post Copper and the War of 1812 – The 1814 Plain 4 Large Cents of 1816 appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Connecticut Coppers of Donald G. Partrick Collection at Heritage Auction

One of the most memorable U.S. Coin auctions of all time may well have been Heritage Auction’s January 2015 presentation of Donald G. Partrick’s extraordinary United States colonials. In that unprecedented sale, 355 lots realized a total of nearly $26 million – a remarkable result yet, incredibly, only a small portion of Mr. Partrick’s holdings. […]

The post Connecticut Coppers of Donald G. Partrick Collection at Heritage Auction appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Choice Uncirculated Rolls of Early Lincoln Cents Beginning to Stir

By Dr. Richard S. Appel – UniqueRareCoins.com …… The 1963-64 period witnessed a price explosion for uncirculated rolls of U.S. coins that has yet to be duplicated. Numerous rolls of cents through half dollars rose in price from near face value in the mid-1950s to many multiples of those levels just a few years later. […]

The post Choice Uncirculated Rolls of Early Lincoln Cents Beginning to Stir appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Stunning NGC-Certified Connecticut Coppers From Partrick Collection Being Sold

More than 500 Connecticut Coppers certified by Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC) from the Donald G. Partrick Collection are being offered for sale, representing an outstanding opportunity for collectors of post-Colonial US coinage. Bidding is now underway in a Heritage Auctions sale containing nearly all of them, with the auction scheduled to conclude on November 1, 2020. One […]

The post Stunning NGC-Certified Connecticut Coppers From Partrick Collection Being Sold appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

The 1909-S VDB Lincoln Cent and How it Changed the Hobby: CoinWeek Streaming News

CoinWeek Streaming News is brought to you by NGC. For information about NGC’s current grading specials and services, as well as to look up certs, pricing information, and current populations, visit www.ngccoin.com. * * * CoinWeek editor Charles Morgan takes a deep dive into the 1909-S VDB Lincoln cent, the coin that changed American numismatics forever. Buoyed […]

The post The 1909-S VDB Lincoln Cent and How it Changed the Hobby: CoinWeek Streaming News appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

New Jersey Coppers: Engraver Walter Mould Leaves His Mark

By Gordon Wrubel for for PCGS …… In 1881 Dr. Edward Maris published his comprehensive study of the New Jersey copper die varieties. These were described and classified with a number for the obverse and letter for the reverse die. Example: 6-D, 18-M, 63-r. Nearly all the famous collectors of the 19th century such as […]

The post New Jersey Coppers: Engraver Walter Mould Leaves His Mark appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

1943 Steel Penny and Copper Pennies: History, Values and a Rare Variety

By Bullion Shark LLC …… The year 1943 found the United States getting more deeply involved in World War II with overseas deployments. At home, there was the completion of the Pentagon building in Virginia, and air raid practices at night, and rationing of food and gasoline. Driven largely by the ramp-up in industrial and […]

The post 1943 Steel Penny and Copper Pennies: History, Values and a Rare Variety appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Historic Origins and Values of the Wheat Penny: Bullion Shark

By Bullion Shark LLC …… The Lincoln cent has been issued continuously since 1909, longer than any other coin currently produced by the United States. It has seen three different reverse subtypes during that period while retaining the same obverse (apart from slight modifications) and it is a coin that has long appealed to both […]

The post Historic Origins and Values of the Wheat Penny: Bullion Shark appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Top Pop 1916 Lincoln Cent in Stack’s Bowers November 2020 Auction

  By James McCartney – Senior Numismatist, Stack’s Bowers …… As a well-produced issue from the first decade of the series, the 1916 Lincoln cent is among the most popular representatives for both type collectors and small cent specialists. With a mintage of 131.8 million pieces, the 1916 cent represents a transition between the lower […]

The post Top Pop 1916 Lincoln Cent in Stack’s Bowers November 2020 Auction appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Popular 1944-D/S Lincoln Cent Overstrike Offered by GreatCollections

By CoinWeek …. On Sunday, August 23, bidding ends on GreatCollections.com for this 1944-D/S Lincoln cent, graded MS-67 RD by PCGS and approved by CAC. Almost 431 million Lincoln cents were struck in 1944 at the Denver Mint, and out of that number thousands of repunched, overstruck (D/S) mint marks are known to have made […]

The post Popular 1944-D/S Lincoln Cent Overstrike Offered by GreatCollections appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Stack’s Bowers Galleries Sells Nearly $14 Million of US Coins and Exonumia in August Sale

Over $13.94 million in United States coins and Numismatic Americana was sold in the Stack’s Bowers Galleries August 2020 Las Vegas Auction, contributing to overall prices realized of $21,739,851 USD for the sale across all categories. The auction was held August 5-7 at the Bellagio Hotel and Casino alongside the PCGS Members Only Show, with […]

The post Stack’s Bowers Galleries Sells Nearly $14 Million of US Coins and Exonumia in August Sale appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Could COVID Kill the Penny?

By Blanchard and Company, Inc …… The COVID-19 pandemic has created a nationwide coin shortage. Shoppers are relying on debit and credit cards to avoid touching cash, which can carry germs, but that’s left parts of the nation short on spare change. Here’s what the Federal Reserve recently said on that topic: Business and bank […]

The post Could COVID Kill the Penny? appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

NGC Certifies Two Brasher Doubloons, Other Extreme Rarities From Partrick Collection

Numismatic Guaranty Corporation® (NGC®) has certified hundreds of additional selections from the incomparable collection of Donald G. Partrick. Incredibly, this stunning group of coins includes two Brasher Doubloons, fabled rarities that rank among the most prized coins in all of numismatics. The centerpiece of the Partrick Collection is undoubtedly the finest-known New York-Style Brasher Doubloon: […]

The post NGC Certifies Two Brasher Doubloons, Other Extreme Rarities From Partrick Collection appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

ESM Collection of Large Cents Realizes Over $4.6 Million at Stack’s Bowers August Rarities Night

The incredible ESM Collection of United States Large Cents realized over $4.6 million in the Stack’s Bowers Galleries August 2020 Las Vegas Auction. Offered as part of the firm’s Rarities Night session on Thursday, August 6, this was perhaps the most highly anticipated selection from the legendary ESM Collection. Offered was a virtually complete set […]

The post ESM Collection of Large Cents Realizes Over $4.6 Million at Stack’s Bowers August Rarities Night appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

GBUSMint_Bowers-header-fixed

Bowers on collecting: Focus on a great book

Whenever anyone asks me for suggestions on several books to start a good numismatic library, I always recommend the standard work by  William H. Sheldon, Early American Cents, 1949,  mostly available in its 1958 second edition retitled Penny Whimsy

Continue reading on Coin Update News

Newly Unearthed Maris 10 1/2-C New Jersey Copper in Stack’s Bowers August Auction

By James McCartney – Senior Numismatist, Stack’s Bowers …… ​Stack’s Bowers Galleries is excited to present a newly discovered example of the 1786 Maris 10 1/2-C New Jersey copper in their upcoming August 2020 Las Vegas Auction. The Maris 10 1/2-C is a relative newcomer to the corpus of the New Jersey copper series, which […]

The post Newly Unearthed Maris 10 1/2-C New Jersey Copper in Stack’s Bowers August Auction appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

The Engraved Pattern “Mature Head” Cent Design Model

A Window Into the Mind of Christian Gobrecht   By Rexford Goldbaum ….. Editor’s note: This article originally appeared in Penny Wise, the official publication of Early American Coppers. Click here for more information about this vital organization for copper collectors. In the absence of contemporary documentation denoting the details of issuance of early Proof […]

The post The Engraved Pattern “Mature Head” Cent Design Model appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

GBUSMint_Bowers-header-fixed

Bowers on collecting: Focus on a great book

Whenever anyone asks me for suggestions on several books to start a good numismatic library, I always recommend the standard work by  William H. Sheldon, Early American Cents, 1949,  mostly available in its 1958 second edition retitled Penny Whimsy

Continue reading on Coin Update News

Top Pop Matte Proof 1913 Lincoln Cent: Stack’s Bowers Direct

By Stack’s Bowers …… None Finer at Either PCGS or CAC 1913 Lincoln Cent. Proof-67+ RB (PCGS). CAC.   This is a magnificent survivor from the coveted Matte Proof series of the early 20th century, struck from 1909 through 1916. Each side of this Superb Gem glows with a blend of golden and tangerine hues, […]

The post Top Pop Matte Proof 1913 Lincoln Cent: Stack’s Bowers Direct appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Historic 1793 Strawberry Leaf Cent Could Bring Over a Half-Million Dollars at Auction

By James McCartney – Senior Numismatist, Stack’s Bowers ……   Stack’s Bowers Galleries is thrilled to offer the finest known example of the 1793 Strawberry Leaf Cent in their August 2020 Las Vegas Auction​, presented as part of the ESM Collection of United States Large Cents. First purchased for $77.50 in 1877, this early cent […]

The post Historic 1793 Strawberry Leaf Cent Could Bring Over a Half-Million Dollars at Auction appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Stack’s Bowers Offering ESM Collection of Large Cents, Ancient Roman Solidi

ESM Collection of United States Large Cents Stack’s Bowers Galleries is thrilled to present the ESM Collection of United States Large Cents as part of our August 2020 Auction. The collection comprises a virtually complete set of large cents by major variety, spanning all issues from 1793 through the end of the type in 1857. […]

The post Stack’s Bowers Offering ESM Collection of Large Cents, Ancient Roman Solidi appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Top Pop 1913-S Lincoln Cent: Stack’s Bowers Direct

By Stack’s Bowers …… Top Pop 1913-S Lincoln Cent – Finest RB Seen at PCGS or CAC MS-66 RB (PCGS). CAC.   Attractive and impressively preserved, this Gem is overwhelmingly dominated by the original Mint Red color. The surfaces are toned in rich apricot and pinkish hues, with just a touch of sapphire-blue iridescence across […]

The post Top Pop 1913-S Lincoln Cent: Stack’s Bowers Direct appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Finest Known Pedigreed Large Cents of ESM Collection at Stack’s Bowers August Auction

Stack’s Bowers Galleries is thrilled to present the ESM Collection of United States Large Cents as part of our August 2020 Auction. The collection comprises a virtually complete set of large cents by major variety, spanning all issues from 1793 through the end of the type in 1857. Featured are all of the most iconic […]

The post Finest Known Pedigreed Large Cents of ESM Collection at Stack’s Bowers August Auction appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Coin Profile: United States 1911-D Lincoln Cent

Description The Lincoln cent is the United States’ longest-serving coin. Its 1909 debut marked the centennial of the birth of Abraham Lincoln, and its elegant sculptural design served as the vanguard of a new wave of American coin art. But while the golden age of American coin design is most associated with medallic artist and sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens, it is […]

The post Coin Profile: United States 1911-D Lincoln Cent appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Abraham Lincoln: A Numismatic Legacy Considered

By Charles Morgan and Hubert Walker for PCGS …… [Editor’s note: This column originally appeared in the PCGS E-Zine newsletter on November 6, 2012 and has been updated to its current form. —CoinWeek] Prelude to War On January 12, 1848, a 39-year-old Whig congressman from Illinois named Abraham Lincoln took to the House floor and […]

The post Abraham Lincoln: A Numismatic Legacy Considered appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Mike Byers Mint Error News – Unique Great Britain Guinea/Sovereign Pattern in Copper

Recently Surfaced After 200 Years   By Mike Byers for Mint Error News …… W&R-182 Copper NGC MS62BN Although this unique pattern Guinea/Sovereign is listed in the Wilson and Rasmussen reference book as W&R-182 Copper, it is not photographed in this reference book because the researchers and authors could not verify the existence of this […]

The post Mike Byers Mint Error News – Unique Great Britain Guinea/Sovereign Pattern in Copper appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Confronting Sheldon

By David Thomason Alexander for CoinWeek ….. Dr. William Herbert Sheldon, born on November 19, 1898 and dying on September 17, 1977, was venerated for decades as one of the historical giants of American numismatics. During his later life he took the stage as the godfather or even the resident deity of the highly specialized […]

The post Confronting Sheldon appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

America’s First “Penny”: The 1793 AMERI. Flowing Hair Cent

By Joshua McMorrow-Hernandez for PCGS …… After the founding of the United States in 1776, a variety of privately issued coins, medals, and tokens served alongside foreign coinage to provide the new nation with small but decent supplies of money for everyday commerce. But the concept of national sovereignty is cemented not only by charters […]

The post America’s First “Penny”: The 1793 AMERI. Flowing Hair Cent appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Finest Graded 1862 Cent Featured in Stack’s Bowers June 2020 Santa Ana Auction

  Featured in the Stack’s Bowers Galleries upcoming June 2020 Santa Ana Auction is an incredible MS-68 (PCGS) 1862 Indian cent that stands alone at the top of the condition census. It is the sole finest 1862 cent graded by either PCGS or NGC, and is tied with the very finest known across the entire […]

The post Finest Graded 1862 Cent Featured in Stack’s Bowers June 2020 Santa Ana Auction appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Struck Counterfeit Coins: Another “All in the Family” Half Cent – 1835/1826

By Jack D. Young, Early American Coppers (EAC) …… Continuing the theme from my previous CoinWeek article on the “family” of 1804 “C-6” struck counterfeits with another improbable die combination in the half cent series, the obverse of 1835/reverse of 1826! I decided to start this installment off with one of the most recent examples […]

The post Struck Counterfeit Coins: Another “All in the Family” Half Cent – 1835/1826 appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Replacing the Large Cent With the Small Cent: A New Era

By Joshua McMorrow-Hernandez for PCGS …… The United States one-cent coin was, along with the half cent, among the first denominations ever coined by the United States Mint for mass distribution and circulation in 1793. The nation’s early one-cent coins are much larger in diameter than those produced since those of the current size and […]

The post Replacing the Large Cent With the Small Cent: A New Era appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Victor David Brenner & His Lincoln Cent

By Joshua McMorrow-Hernandez for PCGS …… Lincoln cent collectors new and seasoned alike know the three ubiquitous letters of their specialty. These are the letters “VDB”, which boldly appear on the reverse of the scarce 1909 VDB and rare 1909-S VDB Lincoln cents and the obverse of all Lincoln cents made since 1918. For many, […]

The post Victor David Brenner & His Lincoln Cent appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Collecting Colonials: 1786 Landscape Type Vermont Coppers Offer Whimsy and Challenge

By Charles Morgan and Hubert Walker for CoinWeek ….. When numismatist Hillyer Ryder set out to publish a reference catalog of Vermont coppers, he saw a series full of whimsy and wonder. This was a series of copper coins that were struck as circulating money in Vermont during the short period of time after the […]

The post Collecting Colonials: 1786 Landscape Type Vermont Coppers Offer Whimsy and Challenge appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Collecting Colonials: 1786 Vermontensium Landscape Type Coppers Offer Whimsy and Challenge

By Charles Morgan and Hubert Walker for CoinWeek ….. When numismatist Hillyer Ryder set out to publish a reference catalog of Vermont coppers, he saw a series full of whimsy and wonder. This was a series of copper coins that were struck as circulating money in Vermont during the short period of time after the […]

The post Collecting Colonials: 1786 Vermontensium Landscape Type Coppers Offer Whimsy and Challenge appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

CoinWeek Podcast #133: Early US Copper Planchets (with Bill Eckberg)

  CoinWeek Podcast #133: Early U.S. Copper Planchets (with Bill Eckberg) Mobile phone users. Stream this podcast for free by downloading the podomatic app or subscribe to the CoinWeek Podcast on iTunes. This week on the CoinWeek Podcast, Early American Coppers (EAC) President Bill Eckberg joins us to talk about how the United States Mint acquired its […]

The post CoinWeek Podcast #133: Early US Copper Planchets (with Bill Eckberg) appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

United States 1928-S Lincoln Cent

Description The Lincoln cent is the United States’ longest-serving coin. Its 1909 debut marked the centennial of the birth of Abraham Lincoln and its elegant sculptural design served as the vanguard of a new wave of American coin art. But while the golden age of American coin design is most associated with medallic artist and […]

The post United States 1928-S Lincoln Cent appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Early American Copper Coin Profiles: Finest Certified 1811 Half Cent

The 1811 Classic Head half cent is a low-mintage key in the popular series and a challenging condition rarity in high grade. Only a handful of high-quality examples have survived over the years, and any auction appearance of a Mint State specimen is a notable event for early copper collectors. PCGS has certified only five […]

The post Early American Copper Coin Profiles: Finest Certified 1811 Half Cent appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Gem Proof 1868 Judd-611 Pattern Large Cent in Stack’s Bowers June Baltimore Auction

By James McCartney – Senior Numismatist, Stack’s Bowers …… The Braided Hair large cent was struck for circulation from 1839 through 1857, when it was retired in favor of the smaller Flying Eagle cent. These “late date” large cents are among the most popular United States coins of the 19th century, and collectors often assemble […]

The post Gem Proof 1868 Judd-611 Pattern Large Cent in Stack’s Bowers June Baltimore Auction appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Stack’s Bowers March 2020 US Coin Auction Session Two Garners Nearly $1 Million

View All Lots & Bid in the Internet Sessions Here   Session Two of the Stack’s Bowers Galleries March 2020 Auction closed with total prices realized of nearly $1 million USD. The sell through rate based on the quantity of lots was 93%, with the sold lots achieving 104% of their total estimates, which had […]

The post Stack’s Bowers March 2020 US Coin Auction Session Two Garners Nearly $1 Million appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

ESM Collection of US Half Cents Tops $1 Million During Stack’s Bowers Rarities Night Sale

  The ESM Collection is one of the most significant half cent cabinets offered by Stack’s Bowers Galleries in recent years. It is ranked #2 Current Finest on the PCGS Registry in categories Half Cents Basic Set, Circulation Strikes (179301857) and Half Cents with Major Varieties Circulation Strikes. This complete set of half cents by […]

The post ESM Collection of US Half Cents Tops $1 Million During Stack’s Bowers Rarities Night Sale appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Matte Proof 1910 Lincoln Cent at GreatCollections Much Scarcer Than Commonly Understood

By CoinWeek …. On Sunday, April 5, bidding ends on GreatCollections.com for this 1910 Lincoln Proof cent, graded PR-67 RD by PCGS and approved by CAC. Of the scarce Matte Proofs issued from 1909 through 1916, the 1910 has the highest official mintage at 4,118 (all the rest are under 3,000 to lesser and greater […]

The post Matte Proof 1910 Lincoln Cent at GreatCollections Much Scarcer Than Commonly Understood appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Classic US Coin Profiles: Possibly the Finest 1916-D Lincoln Cent

The story of the 1916-D Lincoln cent, which claims a mintage approaching 36 million coins, mirrors those of its contemporaries. The issue can be found without trouble through grades as high as MS64 Red, though many pieces are spotted or struck from excessively worn dies, displaying soft detail. Nonetheless, even Gem Red coins are accessible, […]

The post Classic US Coin Profiles: Possibly the Finest 1916-D Lincoln Cent appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Unique 1800 S-209 Obverse Brockage Cent Featured in Stack’s Bowers Baltimore Auction

By James McCartney – Senior Numismatist, Stack’s Bowers …… We are thrilled to present a rare mint error large cent among the many early American copper highlights in our March 2020 Official Auction of the Whitman Coin & Collectibles Spring Expo. This 1800 Sheldon-209 cent depicts an obverse brockage, leaving in an intaglio impression of […]

The post Unique 1800 S-209 Obverse Brockage Cent Featured in Stack’s Bowers Baltimore Auction appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

1955 DDO Lincoln Cent Sells for $111k at GreatCollections.com

By CoinWeek …. On Sunday, March 1, bidding ended on GreatCollections.com for this 1955 Doubled Die Obverse Lincoln cent, graded MS-65+ RD by PCGS and approved by CAC. After 53 bids, the lucky new owner or owners of the finest known fully red specimen certified by PCGS paid $111,000 USD ($124,875 with Buyer’s Premium) for […]

The post 1955 DDO Lincoln Cent Sells for $111k at GreatCollections.com appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

1955 DDO Lincoln Cent Sells for $124k at GreatCollections.com

By CoinWeek …. On Sunday, March 1, bidding ended on GreatCollections.com for this 1955 Doubled Die Obverse Lincoln cent, graded MS-65+ RD by PCGS and approved by CAC. After 53 bids, the lucky new owner or owners of the finest known fully red specimen certified by PCGS paid $111,000 USD ($124,875 with Buyer’s Premium) for […]

The post 1955 DDO Lincoln Cent Sells for $124k at GreatCollections.com appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

vatican-city-2020-€10-art-series-header

Vatican City: New copper coin series, “Art and Faith,” featuring Michelangelo’s Pietà launched

The Ufficio Filatelico e Numismatico Governatorato della Città del Vaticano — Holy See will issue (5th March) new copper collector coins which focus on the theme of “Art and Faith,” the combination of which has always characterised art and distinguishes countless masterpieces preserved in Vatican City, some of which will be the subject of this new cycle of numismatic issues.
Through art, the popes over the centuries have communicated and accomplished their spiritual mission

Continue reading on Coin Update News

Condition Census 1793 Wreath Cent Featured in Stack’s Bowers 2020 Baltimore Auction

Fresh-to-Market S-11c Variety a Major Wreath Cent Rarity   By James McCartney – Senior Numismatist, Stack’s Bowers …… The large cents struck by the United States Mint in 1793 are some of the most popular and romantic issues in American numismatics. We are delighted to present a truly stunning Flowing Hair, Wreath Reverse example graded […]

The post Condition Census 1793 Wreath Cent Featured in Stack’s Bowers 2020 Baltimore Auction appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Coin Clinic: Color Designations

Are the color designations Brown, Red Brown, or Red a judgment call on half cents, cents, and 2-cent coins or is there some standard a coin must reach to be identified as such?
Uncirculated and Proof U.S. copper coins are considered to be Brown if they retain less than 5 percent of their original mint glow, Red Brown if the original red color covers 5 to 95 percent of the obverse and reverse surface, and Red if more than 95 percent of the surface retains this original color

Continue reading on Numismatic News

Stack’s Bowers Direct Coin of the Week: Gem Proof 1870 Two Cent Piece

Just One Certified Finer   1870 Two Cent Piece. Proof-66+ RD (PCGS). CAC. This is an enchanting specimen, the surfaces awash in vivid rose-orange color with subtle olive undertones evident at isolated viewing angles. The design elements are fully struck and rise boldly above shimmering reflectivity in the fields. Expertly preserved and visually appealing, this […]

The post Stack’s Bowers Direct Coin of the Week: Gem Proof 1870 Two Cent Piece appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

CoinWeek Podcast #125: Denis Loring on Collecting Copper Coins

 CoinWeek Podcast #125: Denis Loring on Collecting Copper Coins Mobile phone users. Stream this podcast for free by downloading the podomatic app or subscribe to the CoinWeek Podcast on iTunes. Charles Morgan sits down with renowned Early American Coppers collector Denis Loring to discuss the magic of XF coins, collecting copper by die variety, and some of the hobby’s […]

The post CoinWeek Podcast #125: Denis Loring on Collecting Copper Coins appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

1958 Doubled Die Remains One of the Most Elusive Lincoln Cent Varieties

By Joshua McMorrow-Hernandez for PCGS …… The Lincoln cent is one of the most popular United States series, and over its century-plus run that began in 1909 it has spawned a multitude of exciting varieties. Among the rarest breed of these are doubled dies, and many collectors know the most popular pieces by heart, including […]

The post 1958 Doubled Die Remains One of the Most Elusive Lincoln Cent Varieties appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

The 1875 Dot Reverse Indian Head Cent: Did It Catch a U.S. Mint Crook?

By Joshua McMorrow-Hernandez for PCGS …… What’s up with the unusual raised dot on the reverse of some 1875 Indian Head cents? That’s the question many coin collectors have asked for decades. The little raised dot in question appears near the top left corner of the “N” in the word “ONE” on the reverse of […]

The post The 1875 Dot Reverse Indian Head Cent: Did It Catch a U.S. Mint Crook? appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

CoinWeek IQ – Intro to Colonial State Copper Coinages

Colonial State Coppers by Lianna Spurrier for CoinWeek ….. Colonial coins and Federal issues are entirely different beasts, and when you’re first getting into colonials, it can be a steep learning curve. And while we can’t make you an expert in one short article, we can give you a solid introduction to a section of […]

The post CoinWeek IQ – Intro to Colonial State Copper Coinages appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Gem Red 1835 Classic Head Half Cent Offered in Stack’s Bowers March 2020 Baltimore Auction

  By James McCartney – Senior Numismatist, Stack’s Bowers …… Assistant Engraver John Reich’s Classic Head design type was introduced on the large cents of 1808 and debuted on the half cents of the following year. It was relatively short-lived on the larger denomination and lasted only through 1814, although it was employed on the […]

The post Gem Red 1835 Classic Head Half Cent Offered in Stack’s Bowers March 2020 Baltimore Auction appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Coin Profile: United States 1877 Indian Head Cent

Description: The small “white cents”, so-called because of their light color compared to that of the older large cents, had at first escaped the hoarding of coins that came with the Civil War. But by 1862, in spite of the production of millions of the coins, the cent had also disappeared from circulation, joining the […]

The post Coin Profile: United States 1877 Indian Head Cent appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

The 10th Anniversary of the Lincoln Shield Cent

By Joshua McMorrow-Hernandez for PCGS …… It’s perhaps hard to believe that 10 years have already passed since the first Lincoln Union Shield cent emerged in 2010. It came about as the fifth and final reverse redesign in fewer than 13 months following 2009’s successful four-coin circulating commemorative program showcasing Abraham Lincoln’s colorful life from […]

The post The 10th Anniversary of the Lincoln Shield Cent appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Near-Gem 1797 Large Cent Featured in Stack’s Bowers March 2020 Baltimore Auction

  By James McCartney – Senior Numismatist, Stack’s Bowers …… The large cents struck by the United States Mint in the 18th century were crucial to the fledging economy of young America. They were extensively used in everyday transactions and many were damaged, lost, or worn smooth as a result. Few collectors will ever own […]

The post Near-Gem 1797 Large Cent Featured in Stack’s Bowers March 2020 Baltimore Auction appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

The 1960 Small Date Cent: The Coin that Kicked Off a Collecting Frenzy

By David W. Lange for CoinWeek ….. There are a handful of events that have brought the hobby of collecting coins front and center in America’s consciousness. Perhaps the first was the discontinuance of large cents in 1857 that set people scrambling to find one of every date while they lasted. Another was the debut […]

The post The 1960 Small Date Cent: The Coin that Kicked Off a Collecting Frenzy appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Horses and Torses: Collecting New Jersey Coppers as Illustrated by the E Pluribus Unum Collection

By Kyle Knapp for PCGS …… The Stack’s Bowers Galleries sale of the E Pluribus Unum Collection of New Jersey Coppers in Baltimore in November 2019 offered collectors the rare opportunity to examine a cabinet carefully assembled and improved upon for years by a dedicated specialist of the series. As on many such occasions, new […]

The post Horses and Torses: Collecting New Jersey Coppers as Illustrated by the E Pluribus Unum Collection appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

United States 1914-D Lincoln Cent

Description The Lincoln cent is the United States’ longest-serving coin. Its 1909 debut marked the centennial of the birth of Abraham Lincoln and its elegant sculptural design served as the vanguard of a new wave of American coin art. But while the golden age of American coin design is most associated with medallic artist and […]

The post United States 1914-D Lincoln Cent appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Pair of Famous Bronze Cent Mint Errors Brought Together Under One Owner

The 1943 Donald Lutes bronze cent, at left above, and the 1943-S Kenneth S. Wing bronze cent. The ultra-rare NGC-certified Lutes and Wing 1943 Bronze Cents each recently realized more than $200,000 and received wide media coverage Two of the rarest and most famous US coins have been brought together under a single owner. The […]

The post Pair of Famous Bronze Cent Mint Errors Brought Together Under One Owner appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

austria-2020-€5-new-years-pair-copper-header

Austria: 2020 begins with new celebratory holiday silver and copper collector’s coins

The Austrian Mint has launched new 2020-dated New Year’s collector’s coins with the theme of celebrating the 150th anniversary of the opening of Vienna’s legendary Musikverein concert hall in 1870. In keeping with the anniversary, the 2020 New Year’s coin features the Greek god, Apollo

Continue reading on Coin Update News

austria-2020-€5-new-years-pair-copper-header

Austria: 2020 begins with new celebratory holiday silver and copper collector’s coins

The Austrian Mint has launched new 2020-dated New Year’s collector’s coins with the theme of celebrating the 150th anniversary of the opening of Vienna’s legendary Musikverein concert hall in 1870. In keeping with the anniversary, the 2020 New Year’s coin features the Greek god, Apollo

Continue reading on Coin Update News

Struck Counterfeit Coins: A Family of Struck Fake Large Cents

By Jack D. Young, Early American Coppers (EAC) …… After writing the previous “family” article about rather deceptive struck counterfeit half cents based on the genuine 1804 “C-6” variety, I felt it timely to document another member of the family: counterfeit large cents based on the 1833 “N-5”. Just a note, I consider this type […]

The post Struck Counterfeit Coins: A Family of Struck Fake Large Cents appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Classic US Coins – Redesigning Currency with the Flying Eagle Cent

The Flying Eagle Cent By Blanchard and Company, Inc ….. It was the 1850s and the United States Mint had a problem. The “large cent”, which was simply a penny, was becoming too expensive to manufacture. The coin was nearly the size of a half dollar and consisted entirely of copper. They needed an alternative. […]

The post Classic US Coins – Redesigning Currency with the Flying Eagle Cent appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Struck Counterfeit Coins: A Family of Struck Fake Half Cents

By Jack D. Young, Early American Coppers (EAC) …… A recent internet listing for an 1804 “C-6” half cent was the motivation to pull this information together for presentation. I actually sent a note to the seller about the listed example (which he replied is genuine and came from a respected US auction house) as […]

The post Struck Counterfeit Coins: A Family of Struck Fake Half Cents appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

CoinWeek Debunks: Five Valuable Coins You WON’T Find Under Your Couch Cushion

By Joshua McMorrow-Hernandez for CoinWeek ….. We hear about many rare coins in the media that are worth big bucks, inspiring some of us to seek out these valuable pieces in hopes of striking it rich. The disappointing reality is that most of the coins making headlines are extraordinarily rare and thus virtually impossible to […]

The post CoinWeek Debunks: Five Valuable Coins You WON’T Find Under Your Couch Cushion appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

CoinWeek Ancient Coins: Coins of Medieval Armenia

By Mike Markowitz for CoinWeek ….. THE CILICIAN KINGDOM OF ARMENIA (1199 – 1375) produced a vibrant culture strongly influenced by interaction with neighboring Crusader states[1]. Wealth derived from trade between East and West led to an extensive royal coinage that includes some of the most handsome and popular medieval coins collected today. Cilicia[2] is a […]

The post CoinWeek Ancient Coins: Coins of Medieval Armenia appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Near-Mint 1795 C-2a Half Cent Featured in Stack’s Bowers Rarities Night 2019 ANA Auction

Half Cent Rarity by James McCartney – Senior Numismatist, Stack’s Bowers …… Early American copper enthusiasts will be delighted at the incredible 1795 C-2a half cent featured in lot 5073 of Rarities Night in our August 2019 ANA Auction. Certified AU-58+ (PCGS), this half cent ranks as a Condition Census example and offers superior, near-Mint […]

The post Near-Mint 1795 C-2a Half Cent Featured in Stack’s Bowers Rarities Night 2019 ANA Auction appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

CoinWeek IQ: A Breakdown of Flowing Hair Large Cents

By Lianna Spurrier for CoinWeek ….. The Flowing Hair cent of 1793, along with the half cent, were the first coins mass-produced by the United States Government on its own property. As such they are widely studied and collected, which has resulted in a wealth of knowledge about minor die varieties for the early issues. […]

The post CoinWeek IQ: A Breakdown of Flowing Hair Large Cents appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

ANA Signature Auction Features Great Coins in Fascinating Collections

The ANA World’s Fair of Money is always one of the top numismatic events of the year, and, as always, Heritage is proud to be able to present the official auction. This event, scheduled for August 14-18 at the convention in Rosemont, Illinois, with Platinum Night scheduled for the evening of August 14, features coins […]

The post ANA Signature Auction Features Great Coins in Fascinating Collections appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Mormon Gold, Planchet Error SBA Among Highlights of Heritage Auctions’ World’s Fair of Money Coin Auction

By Lianna Spurrier for CoinWeek ….. In conjunction with the ANA World’s Fair of Money in Chicago, Heritage will be holding an auction from August 13-20 featuring a wide array of US coins, colonials, patterns, and world coins. It will be held at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, with viewing from August 11-17. Primarily […]

The post Mormon Gold, Planchet Error SBA Among Highlights of Heritage Auctions’ World’s Fair of Money Coin Auction appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

CoinWeek IQ – The Oddities of Indian Head Cents

By Lianna Spurrier for CoinWeek …..   We all know that there are countless varieties of large cents, meticulously cataloged and collected. Early silver coinage and Morgan dollars are the same way, with many collectors focused on varieties. But did you ever stop to think about variety collecting with Indian Head cents? They’re generally seen […]

The post CoinWeek IQ – The Oddities of Indian Head Cents appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Rare Proof 1837 N-10 1837 Cent Featured in Stack’s Bowers August 2019 ANA Auction

By James McCartney – Senior Numismatist, Stack’s Bowers ……   Among the most coveted early American coppers are the Proof large cents struck in the mid-19th century. With production figures shrouded in mystery, Proof large cents have been the subject of intense scholarly debate and serve as crown jewels in the most advanced cabinets. Our […]

The post Rare Proof 1837 N-10 1837 Cent Featured in Stack’s Bowers August 2019 ANA Auction appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

World’s Finest Collection of Indian Head Cents Offered by Heritage Auctions

Heritage Auctions announces it has been chosen to present The Castle Collection of Indian Cents – the world’s finest examples obtainable of this widely collected 19th-century set – at its August 13-20 official auction of the ANA’s World’s Fair of Money. The Castle Collection is estimated to bring seven figures when it makes its auction […]

The post World’s Finest Collection of Indian Head Cents Offered by Heritage Auctions appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Top Pop 1924 Lincoln Wheat Cent in Demand at GreatCollections

Lincoln Wheat Cent By CoinWeek …. Later this week on Sunday, June 23, bidding ends on this 1924 Lincoln Wheat cent, graded MS-67+ RD by PCGS, on GreatCollections.com. Even though the Philadelphia Mint produced over 75 million pennies in 1924, all cents struck before roughly 1930 tend to be scarce in high condition. The present […]

The post Top Pop 1924 Lincoln Wheat Cent in Demand at GreatCollections appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Early US Coins: Only $361.03 Worth of Chain Cents Were Ever Produced

By Blanchard & Company …… It’s big, beautiful and very rare. It’s also controversial and was only minted for one year, which increases the rarity value of any survivors today. The 1793 Chain Cent is one of the first coins American collectors began acquiring in the 1800s. Today, the 1793 Chain cent remains a highly […]

The post Early US Coins: Only $361.03 Worth of Chain Cents Were Ever Produced appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Heritage Auctions – Seldom Seen Selections: A Superb 1909-S VDB Cent

The debut of the Lincoln cent was highly anticipated, by coin collectors and the general public alike. As the first U.S. portrait coin struck for circulation, with the bust of the universally popular president on the obverse, the new design was greeted with unprecedented enthusiasm. The August 1909 edition of The Numismatist notes: ” … […]

The post Heritage Auctions – Seldom Seen Selections: A Superb 1909-S VDB Cent appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

David W. Lange on the Enduring Appeal of the Lincoln Cent

By David W. Lange for Whitman Publishing …… Like most numismatists of my generation, I discovered the hobby of collecting coins through the Lincoln cent series. My introduction occurred at a very tender age, around six or seven, and I have my older brother Doug to thank for that. In the early 1960s, coin collecting […]

The post David W. Lange on the Enduring Appeal of the Lincoln Cent appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

CoinWeek IQ: Collecting Flying Eagle Cents

By Lianna Spurrier for CoinWeek ….. Flying eagle cents offer a unique opportunity to collectors. Many early coins, such as large cents, have been extensively studied and are commonly collected by die pairing and variety. Most of these populations have been well picked over, and the series contains so many different coins that getting started […]

The post CoinWeek IQ: Collecting Flying Eagle Cents appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

CoinWeek IQ: Collecting Flying Eagle Cents

By Lianna Spurrier for CoinWeek …..   Flying eagle cents offer a unique opportunity to collectors. Many early coins, such as large cents, have been extensively studied and are commonly collected by die pairing and variety. Most of these populations have been well picked over, and the series contains so many different coins that getting […]

The post CoinWeek IQ: Collecting Flying Eagle Cents appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Rare Original Proof 1836 Half Cent Featured in Stack’s Bowers May 2019 Baltimore Auction

  By James McCartney – Senior Numismatist, Stack’s Bowers …… Proof early American copper coinage is one of the most fascinating and intensely pursued series in numismatics. Mint records are largely unclear on these half cents and large cents, leaving much of the production statistics to be drawn from the surviving populations. Most issues are […]

The post Rare Original Proof 1836 Half Cent Featured in Stack’s Bowers May 2019 Baltimore Auction appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Jim Bisognani: These Lincolns Make Cents

Solving the copper conundrum; summer expos around the corner   By Jim Bisognani – NGC Weekly Market Report ….. Although the first day of summer is a month away, spring is still having a hard time establishing itself here in my New Hampshire. This morning, as I made my way to my home office, it was a rather […]

The post Jim Bisognani: These Lincolns Make Cents appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Heritage Auctions – Seldom Seen Selections: The Finest Certified Immunis Columbia Copper

The 1787 Immunis Columbia, with the Eagle reverse, is a mysterious issue that has puzzled numismatists since the earliest days of the hobby. In The Early Coins of America, Sylvester Sage Crosby states these pieces were originally believed to be manufactured in England. However, Crosby’s study of the punches used for the dies and the […]

The post Heritage Auctions – Seldom Seen Selections: The Finest Certified Immunis Columbia Copper appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Heritage Auctions – Seldom Seen Selections: The Finest Certified Immunis Columbia Copper

The 1787 Immunis Columbia, with the Eagle reverse, is a mysterious issue that has puzzled numismatists since the earliest days of the hobby. In The Early Coins of America, Sylvester Sage Crosby states these pieces were originally believed to be manufactured in England. However, Crosby’s study of the punches used for the dies and the […]

The post Heritage Auctions – Seldom Seen Selections: The Finest Certified Immunis Columbia Copper appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Early American Coppers, American Numismatic Society to Remember Specialist and Friend Del Bland

On Friday, May 3, 2019, at the Early American Coppers (EAC) Convention in Dayton, Ohio, the EAC and the American Numismatic Society (ANS) will host a get-together to allow the many friends and colleagues of the late Del Bland to remember, celebrate, and honor this extraordinary man. He passed away on October 16, 2018. Delmar […]

The post Early American Coppers, American Numismatic Society to Remember Specialist and Friend Del Bland appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Austria-2019-Knights-tale-Maximilian-I-€10-proof-pair-header

Austria: Chivalry is the theme with the first coin issued in new “Knights’ Tales” five-coin series

The Mint of Austria has announced the issue of a new series which focuses on an exciting, chivalrous, and, at times, dangerous chapter in European history, the Knight’s Tales of the Middle Ages. Travel back in time to a bygone age that was notorious for being bloody and brutal

Continue reading on Coin Update News

NGC Celebrates First 2019-W Cent With Special Attribution

A special NGC attribution and label are among the ways coin collectors can recognize this historic US Mint release. Special submission instructions must be followed. See the “Submission Instructions” section of this article * * * The United States Mint has announced that a 2019-W Proof Cent will be included with all purchases of the […]

The post NGC Celebrates First 2019-W Cent With Special Attribution appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

How the Flying Eagle Cent Reinvented the Coin

By Blanchard & Company ……   For more than 60 years, the United States minted the large cent. These coins, about the size of a half dollar, consisted of nearly pure copper. They were heavy, cumbersome and falling out of favor for commerce. By the early 1850s the time had come to issue something more […]

The post How the Flying Eagle Cent Reinvented the Coin appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

NGC Certifies Rare 1943 Copper Cent

Numismatic Guaranty Corporation® (NGC®) has certified a 1943 Copper Cent that was found in a gumball machine decades ago. The 1943 Copper Cent is generally regarded as the most famous of all mint errors. All 1943 cents were supposed to have been struck in zinc-coated steel so that copper could be conserved for more important […]

The post NGC Certifies Rare 1943 Copper Cent appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Coins Are a Curious Thing: Indian Head Cents

By Jim Bisognani – NGC Weekly Market Report ….. As often happens during the winter season, I find myself at the mercy of the elements. This past weekend was one of those occasions: moderate snowfall lingering all day, howling winds and frigid temps. Old Man Winter’s wrath allotted me time to stay inside my warm abode, and with […]

The post Coins Are a Curious Thing: Indian Head Cents appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Collecting Early American Coins for Profit

By Mark Ferguson – www.MFrarecoins.com ……… While dealing in coins for more than forty years, I’ve observed that the most experienced and sophisticated collector/investors are drawn to collecting early American coins – the very first coins produced by our country.  These are the coins minted between 1793, the first year of regular issue United States […]

The post Collecting Early American Coins for Profit appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Lincoln Cents, Including One of Finest Known 1929-S, Highlight GreatCollections.com

By CoinWeek …. On Sunday, February 10, bidding closed on several high-quality Lincoln cents offered on GreatCollections.com. Below are a few noteworthy selections. 1929-S Lincoln Cent PCGS MS-66+ RD CAC The 1929-S didn’t see a great deal of circulation due to the Great Depression, but circulated examples of the issue are not uncommon today. Many […]

The post Lincoln Cents, Including One of Finest Known 1929-S, Highlight GreatCollections.com appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

World-Class Collection of Flying Eagle and Indian Cents Available From Harlan J. Berk

By Harlan J. Berk, Ltd …… The Images Collection is an exceptionally fine assemblage of Mint State Flying Eagle and Indian cents built over an eight-year period, with 61 of the 62 coins purchased prior to August of 2002. The collector had a remarkably good eye for color and quality, and it shows throughout. The […]

The post World-Class Collection of Flying Eagle and Indian Cents Available From Harlan J. Berk appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

ANS Acquires Del Bland Archive of United States Large Cent Research

The American Numismatic Society (ANS) is pleased to announce the acquisition of the vast archive of research data assembled by United States large cent expert Del Bland, who died in late 2018. Nearly 50 years ago, Bland began scouring auction catalogs, meticulously compiling information on the condition, sale prices, and ownership of large cents. By […]

The post ANS Acquires Del Bland Archive of United States Large Cent Research appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Heritage Auctions – Seldom Seen Selections: The Bushnell Specimen Getz Pattern Cent

The 1792 Washington President 1 copper and silver coins are attributed to the hand of Lancaster, Pennsylvania engraver Peter Getz. Working with a large number of contributors, the late George Fuld published The Washington Pattern Coinage of Peter Getz, a history and census of this issue in 2009. Pennsylvanian Robert Morris, who was born in […]

The post Heritage Auctions – Seldom Seen Selections: The Bushnell Specimen Getz Pattern Cent appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Whitman Publishing Releases New Third Edition of Lincoln Cents Guide Book

  Whitman Publishing has released an updated and revised third edition of its best-selling Guide Book of Lincoln Cents. It continues in the popular tradition of the Guide Book of Morgan Silver Dollars and other Bowers Series numismatic guides, which number more than two dozen volumes. The 320-page full-color book is available now, in January […]

The post Whitman Publishing Releases New Third Edition of Lincoln Cents Guide Book appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Denmark: National Bank’s 200th anniversary remembered with new Brilliant Uncirculated mint set

The Royal Danish Mint has released (3rd December) a new collector Brilliant Uncirculated mint set which also remembers the 200th anniversary of the founding of the country’s central bank. The anniversary is this year’s mint set theme which describes the 200-year history of the coins

Continue reading on Coin Update News

Bullion’s shadow hangs over market

Collectible and bullion impacted coins continue to sell in a tight range as this market commentary is being written. Gold bullion is trying to hold above $1,200 while silver is making its goal line stand at $14.
There has been some uptick in activity in gold coins that appears to originate from stock market investors looking to cushion their now increasingly vulnerable stock and bond portfolios

Continue reading on Numismatic News

Austria: New Year’s Day 2019 is welcomed with “Joy of Living” coin

The Austrian Mint has unveiled their annual and popular New Year Coin which celebrates 2019 and is dedicated to the concept of Lebensfreude, a potent cocktail of contentment, exuberance, and lust for life. This German word is best translated using the French term “Joie de vivre,” and is a concept symbolised on the coin in the form of a dancer who is essentially full of the joy of living

Continue reading on Coin Update News

Counterfeit Coin Detection – 1877 Indian Head Cent

By Numismatic Guaranty Corporation ….. A difference in facial expression is among the many clues this coin is fake. Although it had only the second-lowest mintage of the Indian Head Cent series after the 1909-S, the 1877 issue is by far the rarest coin in the series today. The rarity of this issue is even […]

The post Counterfeit Coin Detection – 1877 Indian Head Cent appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

United States 1976 Lincoln Cent

Description: 1976 was an important year in American Numismatics. The Bicentennial quarter, half dollar and dollar had been released, featuring Jack Ahr’s drummer, Seth Huntington’s view of Independence Hall and Dennis William’s Liberty Bell, respectively. But from the start, U.S. Mint Director Mary Brooks was against the idea of changing the designs of all six […]

The post United States 1976 Lincoln Cent appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

CoinWeek: EAC Remembers R. Tettenhorst, Numismatist

Collector R. Tettenhorst–real name Bernard Alan Edison–built an amazing collection of half cents and was a revered member of the copper collecting community. Edison was born in St. Louis, Missouri on March 23, 1928. He was a scion of the Edison family, who founded the famous Edison Brothers shoe store chain. Edison graduated from Harvard […]

The post CoinWeek: EAC Remembers R. Tettenhorst, Numismatist appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Choice Mint State 1807 “Comet” Draped Bust Cent Featured in Stack’s Bowers ANA Auction

By James McCartney – Numismatist & Cataloger, Stack’s Bowers …… Our upcoming August 2018 Auction at the ANA World’s Fair of Money will feature a number of significant early American copper specimens, including a popular 1807 Sheldon-271 cent. Certified MS-63 BN by PCGS, it is an exceptionally preserved example of this Comet variety with a […]

The post Choice Mint State 1807 “Comet” Draped Bust Cent Featured in Stack’s Bowers ANA Auction appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Cleaned Copper Coins May Be Challenging to Detect

Posted by David W. Lange, NGC Research Director This month Dave discusses the difficulty of detecting cleaned copper and bronze coins. My recent column on the mistaken perception held by many that old coin albums will still prompt attractive toning on coins today elicited a great deal of comment from both collectors and dealers. It […]

The post Cleaned Copper Coins May Be Challenging to Detect appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Bernard Alan Edison, aka “R. Tettenhorst” (1928-2018): In Memoriam

By CoinWeek ….   Bernard Alan Edison, the collector responsible for one of the all-time great collections of copper United States Half Cents, has passed away. He was 90 years old. Better known in the wider hobby by the nom de coin “R. Tettenhorst” (which was actually the name of his secretary, to whom his […]

The post Bernard Alan Edison, aka “R. Tettenhorst” (1928-2018): In Memoriam appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Rare Chinese Coin Pattern Highlights from Stack’s Bowers April Hong Kong Auction

By Kyle Ponterio – Senior Numismatist & Cataloguer, Stack’s Bowers …… Chinese Coin Pattern: An Amazing “Fang Kong” Pattern 10 Cash This week’s first highlight from the Q. David Bowers/R.B. White Collection of Chinese Copper Coins is the amazing An-hui “Fang Kong” coin pattern 10 Cash. Struck in the style of the earlier square-hole type […]

The post Rare Chinese Coin Pattern Highlights from Stack’s Bowers April Hong Kong Auction appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Incredible “L. Giorgi” Pattern 10 Cash at Stack’s Bowers Hong Kong Auction of Chinese Coins

By Kyle Ponterio – Senior Numismatist & Cataloguer, Stack’s Bowers ……   This week’s Hong Kong Auction highlight from the Q. David Bowers/R.B. White collection of Chinese Copper coins is Lot 40299, an incredible pattern 10 Cash, undated (ca. 1914) and signed by the prolific die engraver and head of the Tientsin Mint, Luigi Giorgi. […]

The post Incredible “L. Giorgi” Pattern 10 Cash at Stack’s Bowers Hong Kong Auction of Chinese Coins appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Stack’s Bowers Ponterio Sale Features Bowers’ Chinese Coins in Copper

Stack’s Bowers and Ponterio is pleased to announce details of their upcoming Hong Kong Auction of the Q. David Bowers Collection of Chinese Coins in Copper. This offering, presented in a stand-alone catalog, will be held Monday, April 2 at The Mira Hong Kong, 118 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong. The collection is […]

The post Stack’s Bowers Ponterio Sale Features Bowers’ Chinese Coins in Copper appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Heritage Auctions – Red 1922 No D Lincoln Cent, Die Pair 2, Strong Reverse

Old-time collectors knew this issue simply as the “1922 Plain” cents, although the current terminology is 1922 No D Lincoln Cent No cents were coined at the Philadelphia Mint in 1922, accounting for the great rarity of 1922-D cents with no visible mintmark, nor were any 1922 cents struck in San Francisco. Three Denver die […]

The post Heritage Auctions – Red 1922 No D Lincoln Cent, Die Pair 2, Strong Reverse appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Exceedingly Rare 1958 Doubled Die Obverse Lincoln Cent Offered at Stack’s Bowers March 2018 Baltimore Auction

1958 Doubled Die Obverse Lincoln Cent – One of Just Three Examples Known By Ben Orooji, Numismatist & Cataloger – Stack’s Bowers …..   Stack’s Bowers Galleries is delighted to offer one of only three known examples of the 1958 Doubled Die Obverse FS-101 Lincoln cent in their Official Auction of the Whitman Coins & Collectibles […]

The post Exceedingly Rare 1958 Doubled Die Obverse Lincoln Cent Offered at Stack’s Bowers March 2018 Baltimore Auction appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Impressive “Huai” Pattern 20 Cash Chinese Coin at Stack’s Bowers Hong Kong Auction

By Kyle Ponterio – Stack’s Bowers Auctions …… Another highlight from the Q. David Bowers Collection of Chinese Copper Coins to be offered in Stack’s Bowers April 2-4, 2018 Hong Kong auction as a standalone catalog. Here are featured the Impressive Kiangsu-Chingkiang “Huai” Pattern 20 Cash – the only known example in private hands. The […]

The post Impressive “Huai” Pattern 20 Cash Chinese Coin at Stack’s Bowers Hong Kong Auction appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Colonial Coinage – Fugio Coppers Are Not One-Cent Coins

Coin Rarities & Related Topics: News and Analysis regarding scarce coins, markets, and coin collecting #404 A Weekly Column by Greg Reynolds …..   Research for this discussion began with the idea that there are many 18th-century copper coins that now cost from $500 to $1,500 each. Indeed, a neat set of major varieties of Fugio […]

The post Colonial Coinage – Fugio Coppers Are Not One-Cent Coins appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Classic US Coins – How the Key Date 1909-S VDB Cent Got Into Collectors’ Hands

By Eric Brothers for CoinWeek ….. There is a lot of romance associated with coin collecting, and certain popular and greatly coveted coins convey that romance simply by mentioning them. One that comes to mind is the 1909-S VDB Lincoln cent. That coin has a “perfect storm” of romance surrounding it: a new design, a […]

The post Classic US Coins – How the Key Date 1909-S VDB Cent Got Into Collectors’ Hands appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Coin Collecting Strategies – One Way to Pay for an Indian Cent Set

Coin Collecting Strategies – A middle-class path to completing a series in a few years Coin Collecting Strategies By Jim Bisognani for Numismatic Guaranty Corporation …… February is at hand, and no matter what the prodigious rodent in Pennsylvania prognosticates, here in New England, February equates to having another Super Bowl to watch with great […]

The post Coin Collecting Strategies – One Way to Pay for an Indian Cent Set appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

World Coins – Interesting and Inexpensive Coins of Russia

By Al Doyle for CoinWeek ….. Imagine a vast nation with a long and fascinating history of numismatic issues. Does that sound like an introduction for an overview of U.S. coinage? Guess again. The coins of Russia have a large collector following both internally and internationally. Eye appeal always plays a major role in popularity, and the […]

The post World Coins – Interesting and Inexpensive Coins of Russia appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Struck Counterfeit Coin of the Week: 1806 “C-1” Half Cent + 1-Page Attribution Guide

By Jack D. Young, Early American Coppers (EAC) ……   This is the 14th article in the continuing summary of deceptive struck counterfeits documented to date; it is the first in the series reviewing an early half cent, and is one of the three little sisters “variety” documented so far. This is also the earliest […]

The post Struck Counterfeit Coin of the Week: 1806 “C-1” Half Cent + 1-Page Attribution Guide appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Malaysia: Commemorative coins celebrate the first anniversary of the inauguration of HM Seri Paduka Baginda Yang di-Pertuan Agong XV

The Bank Negara Malaysia will issue commemorative coins in conjunction with the inauguration of His Majesty Seri Paduka Baginda Yang di-Pertuan Agong XV Sultan Muhammad V who became the 15th Yang di-Pertuan Agong (head of state) of Malaysia. His Majesty was elected as the 15th Yang di-Pertuan Agong for a five-year term, by the Malay Rulers at the 243rd Conference of Rulers (Special Meeting) at Istana Negara, Kuala Lumpur on the 14th October 2016

Continue reading on Coin Update News

Party Like Its 1800 – Highlights from David Lawrence Rare Coins Internet Auction 992

By David Lawrence Rare Coins …… Our Sunday Internet Auction #992 offers a fantastic selection 265 New Items, 50 No Reserve lots and 25 Vault Value items. Be sure to browse and bid early as all lots will begin closing at 8pm EST on Sunday, December 24. Some of the more interesting highlights from this […]

The post Party Like Its 1800 – Highlights from David Lawrence Rare Coins Internet Auction 992 appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Struck Counterfeit Coin of the Week: 1799 “S-189” Large Cent + 1-Page Attribution Guide

By Jack D. Young, Early American Coppers (EAC) …… This article is intended as a continuing summary of the deceptive struck counterfeits documented to date; it is unique in that only one struck example has been reported, and it is one of the “Kings” of early large cent collecting. The probable source coin is well […]

The post Struck Counterfeit Coin of the Week: 1799 “S-189” Large Cent + 1-Page Attribution Guide appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Collecting 18th Century New Jersey Copper Coins

Coin Rarities & Related Topics: News and Analysis regarding scarce coins, markets, and coin collecting #394 A Weekly Column by Greg Reynolds …..   Between the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, and the enactment of the United States Constitution on June 21, 1788, the federal (national) government did not establish an […]

The post Collecting 18th Century New Jersey Copper Coins appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Struck Counterfeit Coin of the Week: “1785” Bar Copper + 1-Page Attribution Guide

By Jack D. Young, Early American Coppers (EAC) …… This is only my second article regarding counterfeit Colonial “coins”, following one published here on CoinWeek concerning struck fake Massachusetts half cents, and the same process of other recent (within the last several years) deceptive struck early coppers believed to be Chinese in manufacture. This new […]

The post Struck Counterfeit Coin of the Week: “1785” Bar Copper + 1-Page Attribution Guide appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Struck Counterfeit Coin of the Week: 1796 “S-93” Large Cent + 1-Page Attribution Guide

By Jack D. Young, Early American Coppers (EAC) …… This latest installment in the continuing summary of deceptive struck counterfeits documented to date centers around this 1796 “S-93” Large Cent; as in previous articles in this series, I have included a one-page attribution guide to aid in the identification of any that are still out […]

The post Struck Counterfeit Coin of the Week: 1796 “S-93” Large Cent + 1-Page Attribution Guide appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Condition Census 1795 Half Cent in Stack’s Bowers Baltimore Auction

By James McCartney, Numismatist & Cataloger – Stack’s Bowers ……   The Stack’s Bowers November 2017 Official Auction of the Whitman Coins & Collectibles Baltimore Expo promises to be a truly monumental event in both quality and quantity of offerings. This year’s auction will be highlighted by selections from the Cardinal Collection Educational Foundation, the […]

The post Condition Census 1795 Half Cent in Stack’s Bowers Baltimore Auction appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

British Halfpenny Imitations Minted and Circulated in New York Before 1800

Coin Rarities & Related Topics: News and Analysis regarding scarce coins, markets, and coin collecting #385 A Weekly Column by Greg Reynolds …..   Imitation British halfpennies were made in New York State during the 1780s and widely circulated as money. The purpose here is to introduce this series and to provide guidelines for collecting them. […]

The post British Halfpenny Imitations Minted and Circulated in New York Before 1800 appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

British Halfpenny Imitations Minted and Circulated in New York Before 1800

Coin Rarities & Related Topics: News and Analysis regarding scarce coins, markets, and coin collecting #385 A Weekly Column by Greg Reynolds ….. Imitation British halfpennies were made in New York State during the 1780s and widely circulated as money. The purpose here is to introduce this series and to provide guidelines for collecting them. A […]

The post British Halfpenny Imitations Minted and Circulated in New York Before 1800 appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Struck Counterfeit Coin of the Week: 1795 “S-76b” Large Cent

By Jack D. Young, Early American Coppers (EAC) …… This installment starts with a 2012 internet-listed example deemed a counterfeit and removed from that venue; it was further discussed in the Coin Community Forum and labeled a “Chinese” 1795 large cent. Since I was already full in chasing these latest struck fakes, I decided to […]

The post Struck Counterfeit Coin of the Week: 1795 “S-76b” Large Cent appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

CoinWeek Ancient Coin Series: Coinage of the Normans in Sicily

By Mike Markowitz for CoinWeek …. FOR ENGLISH SPEAKERS, THE Norman conquest of England in 1066 is one of the most memorized events in Western history. But few have ever heard of the Norman conquest of Sicily. Descendants of ferocious Vikings who settled in the French province of Normandy, the warlike Normans were eventually Christianized. […]

The post CoinWeek Ancient Coin Series: Coinage of the Normans in Sicily appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

World Coin Profiles: Austria 1807 Copper 30 Kreuzer Coin

Overview: The Doppelkaiser The 1807 Austrian 30 kreuzer copper coin features a portrait of Franz II, last ruler of the Holy Roman Empire and first ruler of the Austrian Empire, where he was known as Franz I. He is more commonly known as Francis II in the English-speaking world, but for two years in Greater […]

The post World Coin Profiles: Austria 1807 Copper 30 Kreuzer Coin appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Birch Cent Not Seen in 55 Years to Appear at Heritage Auctions ANA Platinum Night

1792 cent with plain edge traced back to 1890 Parmelee auction; consignment window still open The consignment deadline for Heritage Auctions’ 2017 American Numismatic Association (ANA) Auction is June 21, so sellers still have a few days to submit their high-end collections to appear along with special offerings, such as a 1792 Parmelee Birch Cent […]

The post Birch Cent Not Seen in 55 Years to Appear at Heritage Auctions ANA Platinum Night appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

David Lawrence Rare Coins Auction 965: Lots You Need to Know

By CoinWeek …..   David Lawrence Rare Coins (DLRC) conducts online auctions of certified coins, offering collectors a mix of classic and modern material in all grades so that the everyman collector and the ultra-high-end registry set builder has the opportunity to upgrade their collections with new coins each week. Auction 965 is live now […]

The post David Lawrence Rare Coins Auction 965: Lots You Need to Know appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Coin Grading Is in the Eye of the Beholder of the Holder, or…

By Harvey Stack – Founder, Stack’s Bowers ……   I recently read the great piece by Josh Mcmorrow-Hernandez on CoinWeek about what a coin’s grade says about you as a collector. He is so right, and one of the answers he gave is one that should be emphasized and amplified again and again. I have […]

The post Coin Grading Is in the Eye of the Beholder of the Holder, or… appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

From the Brink to the Dark Side: Early American Copper Struck Counterfeits & Damaged Source Coins

By Jack D. Young for Early American Coppers (EAC) …… As introduction, a member of Early American Coppers (EAC) posted on the club’s Facebook page “Dark Side”, a fake 1796 “S-85” that he astutely identified from a recent internet listing, and as follow-up to that discussion I was able to post images of the discovered […]

The post From the Brink to the Dark Side: Early American Copper Struck Counterfeits & Damaged Source Coins appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

United States 1931-S Lincoln Cent

Description: The Lincoln cent is the United States’ longest serving coin. Its 1909 debut marked the centennial of the birth of Abraham Lincoln. Its elegant sculptural design served as the vanguard of a new wave of American coin art. And while the golden era of American coin design is most associated with medallic artist and […]

The post United States 1931-S Lincoln Cent appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Classic U.S. Coins for less than $500 each, Part 15: Two Cent Pieces

News and Analysis regarding scarce coins, coin markets, and the coin collecting community, #283 A Weekly CoinWeek Column by Greg Reynolds….   [Originally published on June 24, 2015. --CW] Like Three Cent nickels, Two Cent Pieces tend to be interesting topics for conversations, even among non-collectors. Many people are astonished or curious to learn that […]

The post Classic U.S. Coins for less than $500 each, Part 15: Two Cent Pieces appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

CoinWeek IQ: Let’s Collect: Early Coppers – 4K Video

The coin collecting hobby in the United States grew tremendously in the mid 19th century when collectors saved Early American Copper Coins from destruction after the Large Cent and Half Cent was rendered obsolete by the emergence of the Small Cent. More than 150 years later, collecting these beautiful copper coins remains a vital part […]

The post CoinWeek IQ: Let’s Collect: Early Coppers – 4K Video appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

United States 1909-S Indian Head Cent

Images courtesy David Lawrence Rare Coins Description: The 1909-S Indian Head cent is a semi-key coin that also represents one of the last issues of the iconic one-cent coin series that began in 1859 and ended in 1909. After being struck exclusively at the Philadelphia Mint since its inception, Indian Head cents were finally issued […]

The post United States 1909-S Indian Head Cent appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Are “Unsearched” Penny Rolls Worth Buying?

By Joshua McMorrow-Hernandez for CoinWeek.com …… I recently had the guts to spend more than $100 in buying unsearched rolls of old one-cent coins on eBay. I know, I know, you’re probably wondering what possessed me to spend so much money on a bunch of circulated, common-date wheat cents. I’m sure I’d be giving P.T. […]

The post Are “Unsearched” Penny Rolls Worth Buying? appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Counterfeit Coin Detection – 1793 Flowing Hair Large Cent

Counterfeit large cents – 1793 Flowing Hair Cent – Tooling Marks; Raised Lines By Max Spiegel, NGC ……..   The first coins struck by the United States Mint were the half cents and large cents made in 1793. All half cents from this year bear the left-facing Liberty Cap design, while large cents feature three major […]

The post Counterfeit Coin Detection – 1793 Flowing Hair Large Cent appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

US Coins Surpass $6.5 Million at Stack’s Bowers 2016 Whitman Baltimore Auction

Nostalgia for young America was demonstrated throughout the sessions of the Stack’s Bowers Galleries Official Auction of the November 2016 Whitman Coin & Collectibles Expo, where colonial and classic issues claimed the spotlight at the Baltimore Convention Center. The United States coins portion of the sale saw strong results, surpassing $6.5 million in total prices […]

The post US Coins Surpass $6.5 Million at Stack’s Bowers 2016 Whitman Baltimore Auction appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Classic US Coins – The Last Wheat Cent

By Joshua McMorrow-Hernandez for CoinWeek ….. When the Lincoln wheat cents of 1958 were struck by the United States Mint, few individuals knew the coins would represent the end of a 50-year tradition. Collectors had little reason to suspect that the Lincoln cent, which had remained virtually unchanged since its debut in 1909, was set […]

The post Classic US Coins – The Last Wheat Cent appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Million Dollar Coins, Part 3: Half Cents

Coin Rarities & Related Topics: News and Analysis regarding scarce coins, markets, and coin collecting #358 A Weekly CoinWeek Column by Greg Reynolds ….. This discussion is about those U.S. half cents that are or were worth more than $1 million each, or may realistically retail for that much in the near future. As markets for […]

The post Million Dollar Coins, Part 3: Half Cents appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

A Relative to the Confederate Half Dollar? 6 U.S. Highlights in Sedwick Treasure Auction 20

By Cori Sedwick Downing – Daniel Frank Sedwick, LLC …… While Spanish colonial and shipwreck coins make up much of our November Sedwick Treasure Auction , a number of other collecting areas are well represented. We’ve already taken a look at paper money, so let’s turn to U.S. rarities coming up for auction. Lot 1401 – […]

The post A Relative to the Confederate Half Dollar? 6 U.S. Highlights in Sedwick Treasure Auction 20 appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Collectors Intrigued by Political Campaign Memorabilia

By Jim Bisognani for Numismatic Guaranty Corporation ……   Whitman Coin & Collectibles Winter Baltimore Expo on Deck; Colonial Copper Caper As we go to press the numismatic calendar reveals that we are one week away from the Whitman Coin & Collectibles Winter Expo, the last major venue for 2016. Wow, where did this year […]

The post Collectors Intrigued by Political Campaign Memorabilia appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Early American Coin Auctions – The Carolina Collection

By Arnold Miniman, Collector for Stack’s Bowers …… The Carolina Collection will be featured in the Stack’s Bowers Early American Coins auction session held in conjunction with the Colonial Coin Collectors Club. The session begins Friday evening at 4:00 PM ET, on November 4, 2016, in Room 308. The auction is now online for viewing […]

The post Early American Coin Auctions – The Carolina Collection appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Eliasberg-Partrick 1787 Massachusetts Cent in C4 Session of Stack’s Bowers Baltimore Auction

By James McCartney, Numismatist & Cataloger – Stack’s Bowers …..   Among the many highlights in our Early American Coins session at our November Baltimore Auction (presented in cooperation with the Colonial Coin Collectors Club, or C4), is the outstanding Choice Mint State 1787 Massachusetts cent offered in lot 5177. We had the pleasure of […]

The post Eliasberg-Partrick 1787 Massachusetts Cent in C4 Session of Stack’s Bowers Baltimore Auction appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

USA Coin Album: Numismatic Lame Ducks

By David W. Lange, Research Director at NGC …….. In politics, a lame duck is an official whose term of office is concluding and whose successor has already been elected. In effect, this person is seen as no longer useful. This term has a numismatic application as well. Among USA coins there have been many […]

The post USA Coin Album: Numismatic Lame Ducks appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Coin Auctions: Stack’s Bowers Announces Pogue V Date

Stack’s Bowers Galleries is pleased to announce Part V of their series of auctions featuring the D. Brent Pogue Collection–the most valuable rare coin collection ever to cross the auction block, and the collection with the highest overall quality. Gathered over a period of many years, dating back to the 1970s, many if not most […]

The post Coin Auctions: Stack’s Bowers Announces Pogue V Date appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Stack’s Bowers: Condition Census 1798 S-166 Draped Bust Cent to Be Featured in Baltimore Rarities Night Auction

By James McCartney, Numismatist & Cataloger – Stack’s Bowers ….. The Draped Bust cents of 1798 represent one of the most dynamic issues of early American copper coinage, with significant modifications to both the obverse and reverse design types throughout the year. With 46 distinct die pairings, the challenge this issue presents to collectors is […]

The post Stack’s Bowers: Condition Census 1798 S-166 Draped Bust Cent to Be Featured in Baltimore Rarities Night Auction appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Strong Hammer Prices at Goldberg Auction Reflect Early American Copper Market Strength

CoinWeek Auction Analysis ….. Led by the Fred Iskra Collection of Large Cents, copper coins made up more than 600 of the 2,600 lots offered by Goldberg Auctioneers in their September 4-7 Pre-Long Beach Auction. With prices realized ranging from strong to superior, the results are yet another indicator of what CoinWeek’s price analysts have […]

The post Strong Hammer Prices at Goldberg Auction Reflect Early American Copper Market Strength appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Private Lot Viewing – Heritage Auctions Platinum Night August 2016 – 4K Video

At the American Numismatic Association’s (ANA) 2016 World’s Fair of Money, Heritage Auctions offered collectors a chance to take home a number of important numismatic rarities. Before Heritage’s big Platinum Night Auction, CoinWeek editor Charles Morgan sat with Heritage’s Mark Borckardt to get a one-on-one tour of some of the sale’s most exciting offerings. In […]

The post Private Lot Viewing – Heritage Auctions Platinum Night August 2016 – 4K Video appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Million Dollar Coins, Part 1: 1792 Patterns

Bushnell-Parmelee-Jenks-Col. Green 1792 Birch Cent – The First American Cent – Choice AU-58 (PCGS) A Weekly CoinWeek Column by Greg Reynolds ….. Analysis regarding scarce coins, markets, and coin collecting #348 This week’s column is about those 1792 patterns that, in my estimation, are likely to be worth more than $1 million in the current market […]

The post Million Dollar Coins, Part 1: 1792 Patterns appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Classic U.S. Coins for Less Than $500 Each, Pt. 22: Braided Hair Half Cents

A Weekly CoinWeek Column by Greg Reynolds ….. Analysis regarding scarce coins, markets, and coin collecting #347 U.S. half cents were first struck in 1793, and Braided Hair half cents were introduced in 1840. It is generally believed, though, that all half cents dating from 1840 to 1848 are Proofs. Indeed, standard references imply that no […]

The post Classic U.S. Coins for Less Than $500 Each, Pt. 22: Braided Hair Half Cents appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Eliasberg Gold Shines Brightly at Stack’s Bowers 2016 ANA U.S. Coins Auction

Even three-and-a-half decades after the original dispersal of his incredible gold coin collection, Louis E Eliasberg, Sr. was the champion at the Stack’s Bowers August 2016 Official Auction of the ANA World’s Fair of Money United States coins realized over US$13.1 million as part of the overall Stack’s Bowers Galleries ANA auction, which in total […]

The post Eliasberg Gold Shines Brightly at Stack’s Bowers 2016 ANA U.S. Coins Auction appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Heritage Auctions: Two Cents Lead $38 Million Anaheim ANA Results

  Two early American cents, among the first struck by the U.S. Mint in 1792, sold for a combined US$869,500 – more than 43 million times their face value – to lead the results in Heritage’s August 10 – 14 ANA US Coins Signature Auction in Anaheim, California. Overall results from US coins totaled nearly […]

The post Heritage Auctions: Two Cents Lead $38 Million Anaheim ANA Results appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Medallic Portraits of Abraham Lincoln: Beyond Brenner

By Eric Brothers for CoinWeek ….. When one thinks of the image of Abraham Lincoln upon a coin, Victor David Brenner’s cent is the first thing that comes to mind. And, for the vast majority of people, it’s the only thing that comes to mind. At the time of its debut the Lincoln cent was […]

The post Medallic Portraits of Abraham Lincoln: Beyond Brenner appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

U.S. Coin Patterns for Less than $5,000 Each, Pt. 2: Two Cent Pieces

  Analysis regarding scarce coins,  markets, and coin collecting #345 A Weekly CoinWeek Column by Greg Reynolds ….. It has already been explained, in Part 15 of a series about classic U.S. coins, that a set of regular issue, business strike Two Cent Pieces may be completed without spending as much as $500 on any […]

The post U.S. Coin Patterns for Less than $5,000 Each, Pt. 2: Two Cent Pieces appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Coin Shows – Endless Numismatic Summer at Anaheim ANA World’s Fair of Money

By Jim Bisognani – Numismatic Guaranty Corporation ….. Two Cent Red Rarities; Franklin Halves A Valuable & Economical Series I can’t believe that as this article posts we are only a day away from the largest coin show in the US, the ANA World’s Fair of Money. The big show traditionally confirms areas of market […]

The post Coin Shows – Endless Numismatic Summer at Anaheim ANA World’s Fair of Money appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Classic U.S. Coins for Less Than $500 Each, Pt. 21: Matron Head Large Cents

Coin Rarities & Related Topics: News and Analysis regarding scarce coins, coin markets, and the coin collecting community #343 A Weekly CoinWeek Column by Greg Reynolds …… For less than $500 per coin, an extensive and impressive collection of early U.S. copper coins could be assembled ‘by date.’ Although Matron Head large cents could be […]

The post Classic U.S. Coins for Less Than $500 Each, Pt. 21: Matron Head Large Cents appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Two 1792 Cents Enliven Heritage 2016 ANA U.S. Coin Signature Auctions

Scarce gold issues costar in 5,000-lot Anaheim Platinum Night, Floor and Non-Floor Sessions A 1792 Silver Center Cent, Judd-1, SP35 PCGS Secure CAC will give collectors a rare opportunity to own one of the most historic coins in early American numismatics on August 10-14 at Heritage Auctions’ ANA U.S. Coins Signature Auction in Anaheim, CA. […]

The post Two 1792 Cents Enliven Heritage 2016 ANA U.S. Coin Signature Auctions appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Heritage Auctions to Present Jon Alan Boka 1794 Cent Collection at Long Beach

On display at the ANA and to be auctioned at the September Long Beach Expo, over half of the collection ranks in the top 10 for their respective variety Right: The finest-known 1794 S-19a Discovery Coin, XF40 PCGS. From The Al Boka Collection, Part II   This September at the Long Beach Expo, Heritage Auctions […]

The post Heritage Auctions to Present Jon Alan Boka 1794 Cent Collection at Long Beach appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Collecting Classic US Coins: Gem Circulated

Attractive coins can be found at all levels of the Sheldon scale Much attention in numismatics is focused on quality. One of the most common pieces of wisdom dispensed by experienced numismatists is to buy the best you can afford. For decades this advice has served most collectors very well. Top quality coins have been […]

The post Collecting Classic US Coins: Gem Circulated appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Classic U.S. Coins for less than $500 each: Draped Bust Half Cents

News and Analysis regarding scarce coins, coin markets, and the coin collecting community #329 A Weekly CoinWeek Column by Greg Reynolds…. Draped Bust half cents were minted from 1800 to 1808. U.S. half cents were first made in 1793 and last produced in 1857. A set of Draped Bust half cents ‘by date’ can be […]

The post Classic U.S. Coins for less than $500 each: Draped Bust Half Cents appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Incredible Gem 1793 Chain AMERICA Cent – A Numismatic Landmark

By Q. David Bowers – Stack’s Bowers…. Finest Ever Certified! There is something incredible, something special, about any 1793 Chain cent. First delivered by the coiner at the Mint on March 1, 1793, these were released into circulation without fanfare. There is no known record of anyone having a numismatic interest in them at the […]

The post Incredible Gem 1793 Chain AMERICA Cent – A Numismatic Landmark appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Classic U.S. Coins for less than $500 each – Part 18 – Classic Head Large Cents

News and Analysis regarding scarce coins, coin markets, and the coin collecting community #308 – A Weekly CoinWeek Column by Greg Reynolds …… As next week’s piece will concern classic U.S. coins that cost less than $100 each and expensive rarities do not tend to emerge ‘in the news’ during the month of December, it […]

The post Classic U.S. Coins for less than $500 each – Part 18 – Classic Head Large Cents appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

1795 Reeded Edge Large Cent Appears, First Time in 50 Years

To be offered at auction, Jan. 7, 2016, at the Tampa, Florida FUN convention A 1795 Reeded Edge large cent, NGC VG Details – The ‘House of Davis McKinney’ Specimen – will be sold at auction for the first time in half a century on January 7, 2016. It will be presented as part of […]

The post 1795 Reeded Edge Large Cent Appears, First Time in 50 Years appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

US Coin Profiles – 1807/6 Draped Bust Cent

Monumental Gem Red 1807/6 Large Cent -Far and Away the Finest Known 1807/6 Draped Bust Cent. S-273. Rarity-1. Large 7, Pointed 1. MS-66 RD (PCGS). OGH. CAC. This incredible red Gem delivers an unrivaled and captivating aesthetic, matched by an equally impressive provenance that traces it through some of the most significant hands in U.S. […]

The post US Coin Profiles – 1807/6 Draped Bust Cent appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Counterfeit Coin Detection: 1793 Flowing Hair Cent

by Max Spiegel, NGC …….. Tool marks and raised lines identify a counterfeit 1793 Flowing Hair Cent. The first coins struck by the United States Mint were the half cents and large cents made in 1793. All half cents from this year bear the left-facing Liberty Cap design, while large cents feature three major design types: […]

The post Counterfeit Coin Detection: 1793 Flowing Hair Cent appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Early American Rare Coins & Patterns in Kendall Collection Bring Solid Prices in Baltimore

Coin Rarities & Related Topics: News and Analysis regarding scarce coins, coin markets, and the coin collecting community #271 A Weekly CoinWeek Column by Greg Reynolds Early American, pre-1793 rarities tended to bring moderate to strong prices overall in the auction of the Kendall Collection in Baltimore on March 26th. The Kendall Foundation consignment alone […]

The post Early American Rare Coins & Patterns in Kendall Collection Bring Solid Prices in Baltimore appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Early American Rare Coins & Patterns in Kendall Collection Bring Solid Prices in Baltimore

Coin Rarities & Related Topics: News and Analysis regarding scarce coins, coin markets, and the coin collecting community #271 A Weekly CoinWeek Column by Greg Reynolds Early American, pre-1793 rarities tended to bring moderate to strong prices overall in the auction of the Kendall Collection in Baltimore on March 26th. The Kendall Foundation consignment alone […]

The post Early American Rare Coins & Patterns in Kendall Collection Bring Solid Prices in Baltimore appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Session 1 of Goldberg’s Pre-Long Beach Auction Brings $1.14 Million

Last of the Missouri Cabinet Coins Leads the Way…  By CoinWeek News Staff… With the Long Beach Coin, Currency, Stamp & Sports Collectible Show set to kick off on Saturday, January 29, the Los Angeles-based dealers Ira and Larry Goldberg are in the midst of conducting a seven-session auction that covers a broad range of […]

The post Session 1 of Goldberg’s Pre-Long Beach Auction Brings $1.14 Million appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Session 1 of Goldberg’s Pre-Long Beach Auction Brings $1.14 Million

Last of the Missouri Cabinet Coins Leads the Way…  By CoinWeek News Staff…   With the Long Beach Coin, Currency, Stamp & Sports Collectible Show set to kick off on Saturday, January 29, the Los Angeles-based dealers Ira and Larry Goldberg are in the midst of conducting a seven-session auction that covers a broad range […]

The post Session 1 of Goldberg’s Pre-Long Beach Auction Brings $1.14 Million appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Coins, Other Contents of Boston Time Capsule Revealed

By Hubert Walker for CoinWeek…. According to Lily Rothman in a January 6 piece for Time magazine, the Paul Revere-era time capsule unearthed and opened recently in Boston isn’t technically a “time capsule”. In the article, expert William E. Jarvis–who literally wrote the book on time capsules with his Time Capsules: A Cultural History (2002)–insists […]

The post Coins, Other Contents of Boston Time Capsule Revealed appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

The Incredible Gene Gardner Collection, part 4: Second Coin Auction on Monday, Oct. 27

A Weekly CoinWeek Column by Greg Reynolds …………. Coin Rarities & Related Topics: News and Analysis regarding scarce coins, coin markets, and the coin collecting community #247……. In addition to a very impressive collection of Capped Bust silver coins, some important Draped Bust silver coins, the all-time greatest collection of Barber Quarters, and highly ranked […]

The post The Incredible Gene Gardner Collection, part 4: Second Coin Auction on Monday, Oct. 27 appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek