A successful coin collector is a well-informed one, and thanks to the web, collectors today have access to more and better information about coins than at any previous time. Numismatic Guarantee Corporation (NGC), an industry leader in coin grading based in Florida, and Park Avenue Numismatics, a high-end numismatic dealer with offices in Florida, Texas, Louisiana, […]
Agreeing to Disagree on Grades–Take 2
In an earlier post, “Agreeing to Disagree on Grades,” I challenged two grades by NGC and PCGS, respectively–a 2000-W Library of Congress bimetallic $10 platinum and gold piece, graded MS69, and an 1879-S Morgan reverse of 78 crossover graded AU58. The bimetallic coin was proof, not mint state. The 1879-S coin had been in an […]
Agreeing to Disagree on Grades
You’ve heard the old saying, “Let’s agree to disagree,” when two viewpoints are at odds in a meeting or other get-together. Before third-party grading, that phrase often pertained to numismatics in that the owner of a coin during a typical transaction inflated a grade while the seller deflated it. After all, the owner wanted to […]
Interview with Dr. Michael Bugeja, Latest Addition to the CCAC
CoinUpdate and CoinWorld columnist Dr. Michael J. Bugeja was sworn into the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC) during their meeting on July 26th, 2011 in Washington, D.C. He is a professor and director of the Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication at Iowa State University. Prior to 2003, he taught media ethics, magazine writing, and […]
Grand Canyon 2010-P America the Beautiful Coins: Errors and Varieties
Last week I learned that several collectors reported discovering 2010-P Grand Canyon five-ounce silver America the Beautiful (ATB) coins with unusual finishes, and that NGC had decided to certify some coins as having a “light finish” variety. I became intrigued by this issue and decided it was something collectors would want to know more about. […]
Numismatic Malpractice
I purchase coins on the Internet portal Proxibid, monitoring all numismatic auction houses for my personal site, Proxiblog. I send raw coins for my set registry to PCGS. Ones returned to me as altered have distinct characteristics–the topic of this post. Whizzing constitutes numismatic malpractice. Coin doctors use of a high-speed drill with a brush-like […]
Interview with Royal Australian Mint’s CEO Ross MacDairmid
Initially created to meet the challenge of decimalization in 1966, The Royal Australian Mint has a top-notch reputation for excellence and design world-wide. Michael Alexander of the London Banknote and Monetary Research Centre speaks to Ross MacDairmid, the RAM’s CEO about fresh directions for the Mint and also a bit about Australia’s memorable & impressive […]
How to Buy from the U.S. Mint in Person
As readers of this web site know, I have generally been supportive of the U.S. Mint and believe it is sometimes the subject of excessive criticism. At the same time, there is no question that there are many areas where the Mint could do a better job such as with its web site and by […]
PCGS Changes Plus and Secure Policies
Editor’s Note: Coingrader Capsule columnist Michael Bugeja published a commentary in the April 18 issue of Coin World questioning a PCGS policy banning “plus” designations at the Economy service level and an NGC policy banning CrossOver coins from all grading companies, except PCGS. He also followed up on that commentary, reporting for Coin Update News […]
Interview with Erik Jansen, Newest Member of the CCAC
Erik Jansen is the most recent member to join the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC), having been sworn in on May 25th, 2011. He represents the interests of the general public in the coinage of the United States. He is the Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of a medical device firm in Mercer Island, Washington. […]
