Hover to zoom. Editor’s Note: Michael Bugeja’s columns are based on his buying experiences on eBay, Proxibid, and HiBid. He mainly bids on raw (not holdered) coins. In his monthly columns here, he provides tips on how to grade, identify varieties, spot doctoring, decipher subpar photos, and much more. Even with his expertise, he regrets most of his buys after he sees the actual coins in hand. In this three-part series, he takes inventory of his 2022 purchases and shares his top ones for each platform, along with what he learned and how that will guide his purchases in 2023. I was one of the ..read more

The top NGC-certified coin was an 1870-S Seated Liberty Dollar that realized $420,000. Twenty-four vintage American coins certified by Numismatic Guaranty Company (NGC) each realized prices over $100,000 in Heritage Auctions’ FUN U.S. Coins Signature Auction on January 15, 2023. The top NGC-certified coin was an 1870-S Seated Liberty dollar graded NGC EF-40 (lot 3766) that realized $420,000. It is generally believed that not more than a dozen 1870-S dollars were produced, and only nine are confirmed to exist today. These were apparently struck in connection with a ceremony to lay th ..read more

Hover to zoom. The treasury of Niue has released the fourth coin in the current series featuring some of the world’s best-known and valuable COMIX comic book covers and characters. The latest silver Proof and colour coin features Spider-Man, debuting in 1962, the superhero character by the name of Peter Parker first appeared in the anthology comic book Amazing Fantasy #15 in August 1962 in the Silver Age of Comic Books.  The coins are produced by the New Zealand Mint at their facilities in Wellington, on behalf of the treasury of Niue, and are created in partnership with Warner Bros. C ..read more

Hover to zoom. This installment of “From the Colonel’s Desk” comes from the pen of award-winning author Robert W. Shippee, a longtime collector and researcher. His book Pleasure and Profit: 100 Lessons for Building and Selling a Collection of Rare Coins maps his adventures in legal tender; here, he explores an important American medal rooted in Kentucky. The name Shelby is familiar to those who live in Kentucky and, indeed, far beyond its borders. There’s the city of Shelbyville, located in Shelby County in north central Kentucky. Nine other states have cities named Shelby or Shelbyville, an ..read more

The Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC) will hold a public meeting by teleconference on Tuesday, January 24, 2023, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. (EST). Agenda (subject to change): Swearing in of new member John Saunders. Review and discussion of candidate designs for the Harlem Hellfighters Congressional Gold Medal. Pursuant to 31 U.S.C. § 5135, the CCAC was established to: Advise the Secretary of the Treasury on any theme or design proposals relating to circulating coinage, bullion coinage, commemorative coins, Congressional gold medals, and national and other medals; Advise the Secr ..read more

Hover to zoom. The Royal Canadian Mint has released its 2023-dated gift mint sets that include a specially designed series of non-circulating one-dollar coins. The commemorative gift-giving sets are designed to mark special occasions or to celebrate events such as a new addition to the family, a birthday, a wedding, or a graduation. The presentation incorporates a gift-card format enabling the inclusion of a personally written message, and is accompanied by an envelope. This year, the theme of all commemorative coins is Canada’s moose, not dissimilar to the Caribou featured on the 25-cent ci ..read more

The following was re-posted from the “Bowers on Collecting” column on Coin Update On April 17 to 19, 1980, the Central States Numismatic Society Convention was held in Lincoln, Nebraska, preceded by Professional Numismatists Guild Day on the 16th. The atmosphere was uncertain. Prices of gold and silver were down from their recent all-time highs, and everyone was waiting for the rise to continue, but it hadn’t happened. Many dealers held large inventories of gold and silver coins in high Mint State and Proof grades as these were of “investment quality” and had led the market. PNG Day opened wi ..read more

The 2022 United States rare coin market was estimated at more than $6 billion, according to an analysis by CDN Publishing. The most valuable U.S. coin at auction last year was this 1821 $5 denomination gold piece (“Half Eagle”) that was sold for a record $4,620,000 by Heritage Auctions. (Photo credit: Heritage Auctions.) Record-setting prices for high-quality U.S. coins defied the trend of declining asset values of other collectibles the past year (Virginia Beach, VA) January 12, 2023 — The market for rare United States coins enjoyed a banner year in 2022, with many hundreds of price records ..read more

Hover to zoom. The Dutch Ministry of Finance has authorised the production and release of the first set of commemorative coins for 2023, which is also part of an ongoing series entitled “Dutch World Heritage.” The tenth coin in the series focuses on the historic city of Willemstad, formerly the capital of the Netherlands Antilles until its dissolution in 2010. It is now the capital and seat of government of the Caribbean island of Curacao, which is a constituent part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Anyone who thinks of what Willemstad in Curacao might be or who has had the pleasure of vis ..read more

The following is excerpted from Clifford Mishler’s Coins: Questions & Answers Q: What is the Isabella quarter? How valuable is it? A: The Isabella quarter, bearing the portrait of Queen Isabella I of Spain, was the second commemorative coin issue of the United States. It was also the first and only 25-cent issue in either the classic or modern commemorative coin series. It must be mentioned for the record, however, that the 1932 Washington quarter was initially intended to be a commemorative, but was continued as a regular issue in 1934, and that the “Drummer Boy” Bicentennial quarter of ..read more