The U.S. Mint’s 100 Dollar gold American Liberty coin was named Best Gold Coin in Krause Publication’s Coin of the Year (COTY) competition for coins dated 2021. The coin won handily, with a 36 percent margin over its closest competitor. The highly detailed gold coin
China’s Auspicious Culture – Swans 20 Yuan won the Best Silver coin category in the Coin of the Year (COTY) contest for coins dated 2021. While the unique and stunning coin was a deserving winner, China only narrowly beat out the competition, with voting the
Ukraine took home top honors as the Krause Coin of the Year for coins dated 2021. It wasn’t even close. The winning coin, which commemorates the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the Act of Declaring Ukraine’s Independence, garnered 30 percent of the total votes
Latvia won the “Most Inspirational Coin” category at the 2022 Coin of the Year (COTY) Awards. Its “Personal Freedom” coin, dated 2020, was created by artist Beate Šņuka. Described as a young and promising designer, this is her debut coin. The coin, which was struck
Barbados won the “Most Innovative Coin” category at the 2022 Coin of the Year (COTY) Awards. Its Blue Marble coin, which was minted by Shanghai Jin Jia Medals Ltd., is a spherical coin in the shape of earth. The reverse of the .999 fine silver
The Austrian Mint’s “Centenary of the Salzburg Festival” coin won the Most Artistic Coin category at the 2022 Coin of the Year (COTY) awards. The coin, dated 2020, commemorates the long-running opera, theatre, and classical music festival. The innovative coin, which has the appearance of
The Austrian Mint won the Best Bi-Metallic category at the 2022 Coin of the Year (COTY) Awards. It Big Data coin, dated 2020, is part of the mint’s Silver Niobium series. The coin’s design symbolizes man under permanent surveillance. As described by the Austrian Mint:
The South Africa Mint won the best Circulating Coin category at the 2022 Coin of the Year Awards. The winning coin, dated 2020, commemorates 25 years of constitutional democracy in South Africa. The 2 Rand circulating coin is the last in a collection marking the
Latvia’s unique Linden Leaf coin earned the top spot in the Best Silver Coin category at the 2022 Coin of the Year (COTY) awards. The leaf-shaped coin, dated 2020, is dedicated to urban ecology. As described by Latvijas Banka: With greater numbers of people moving
Provided by: Collector Coins The Austrian Mint’s Gold of the Pharaohs coin earned top billing in the Best Gold Coin category at the 2022 Coin of the Year awards. The coin, dated 2020, is the second coin in The Magic of Gold series. As described
France’s Monnaie de Paris won the Best Crown Coin category at the 2022 Coin of the Year (COTY) awards. The winning coin, dated 2020, depicts and is named after the famed Champs-Elysées. Champs-Elysées Avenue, which links the Concorde Place to the Arc of Triumph, stretches
Provided by: U.S. Mint Austria was the big winner in the 2022 Coin of the Year Awards for coins dated 2020, winning three of ten categories. The U.S. Mint won the “Most Historically Significant” category with its Women’s Suffrage Centennial Commemorative Silver Dollar. One final
exclusivecoins.blogspot.com The Royal Mint of Great Britain won the Most Inspirational Coin category at the 2021 Coin of the Year (COTY) Awards. The winning coin, “Innovation in Science: Stephen Hawking,” is the first in a series celebrating innovators in science. The first coin in the
Canadian Coin Review Cook Islands’ “Meteorites: Chicxulub Crater” coin was named the Most Innovative Coin at the 2021 Coin of the Year (COTY) Awards. The coin, which pays homage to the famous Chicxulub crater, features a genuine meteorite insert. The Chicxulub crater is an impact
The Monnaie de Paris (Paris Mint) won the Most Artistic Coin category at the 2021 Coin of the Year (COTY) Awards with its 10 EURO silver coin commemorating the fall of the Berlin Wall. The shaped coin, dated 2019, features an optical illusion. As the
Treasure of Paris, the Eiffel Towner The Monnaie de Paris won the Best Crown Coin in the 2021 Coin of the Year (COTY) Awards with its Paris’ Treasures, City of Lights: Eiffel Tower coin. The award-winning coin, which is part of the “Tresors de Paris”
The German Mint’s 30th Anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall took home the best Circulating Coin Award at the 2021 Coin of the Year Awards. The coin, dated 2019, commemorates the opening of the Berlin Wall, which took place on November 9, 1989.
China won the Best Gold Coin Category in the 2021 Coin of the Year (COTY) Awards. The category honors coins manufactured from gold, platinum, palladium or another exotic precious metal, which have all-around artistic appeal, both from aesthetic and a commercial standpoint. The 2021 COTY
The Austrian Mint’s 100 Euro, “Magic of Gold: The Gold of Mesopotamia,” was named the “Most Historically Significant Coin” at the 2021 Coin of the Year (COTY) Awards. The category recognizes coins commemorating events, institutions or individuals deemed highly significant in terms of the historical
The U.S. Mint’s Apollo 11 50th Anniversary Five Ounce Silver Coin was named Coin of the Year at the 2020 Krause Coin of the Year (COTY) Awards. The coin also won the Best Silver Coin and Best Contemporary Event Coin categories. The COTY Awards program,
The Austrian Mint won the “Best Gold Coin” category at 2020 Coin of the Year (COTY) Awards for its 50 Euro honoring Alfred Adler. The winning coin, dated 2018, is part of a three-coin series that celebrates the pioneering schools of psychotherapy. The other coins in
Australia’s Perth Mint won the “Most Inspirational” coin category at the 2020 Coin of the Year (COTY) Awards. The award-winning coin, dated 2018, commemorates the end of World War I. World War I caused widespread devastation across Europe, killing millions of civilians. The four-year conflict
Lithuania won the “Most Innovative” category at the 2020 Coin of the Year (COTY) Awards. The award-winning coin is actually a four-coin set commemorating the 100th Anniversary of Restoration of Lithuania’s Independence. The set, dated 2018, includes one gold and three silver coins, which are
Latvia’s Honey Coin was named Coin of the Year at the 2020 Krause Coin of the Year (COTY) Awards. The awards ceremony was held on February 1, 2020, in conjunction with the World Money Fair in Berlin, Germany. “The impact of bees on both our
The Mint of Austria won the “best circulating coin” category at the 2020 COTY Awards for its 2 Euro commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the Founding of the Austrian Republic. The bi-metallic coin, dated 2018, celebrates the Austrian Republic centenary, which took place during waning
The Austrian Mint won the “Best Bi-Metallic Coin” category in the 2020 Coin of the Year Awards (COTY). Anthropocene, the 2018 edition of the mint’s popular Silver Niobium coins, artistically depicts the large footprint that humans have on left on our planet. As described by
Royal Australian Mint’s $5 Earth & Beyond – Curved Earth coin took home the “Best Crown Coin” at the 2020 Coin of the Year (COTY) Awards. The spectacular coin, dated 2018, features a full-color convex surface, which was a first for the Australian Mint. The Curved
The Lithuanian Mint’s Rasos Svente 5 Euro was voted the “Best Silver Coin” at the 2020 Coin of the Year Awards (COTY). The award-winning colored coin, dated 2018, commemorates Joninės (or Rasos), a midsummer celebration that is held in Lithuania on the night of June 23rd every
Italy’s 70th Anniversary of the Italian Constitution 5 Euro won the “Best Contemporary Event Coin” category at 2020 Coin of the Year (COTY) Awards. The coin, dated 2019, includes a female representation of Italia, wearing a cloak featuring the colors of the country’s flag. The Best
A French coin commemorating the end of World War I is in the running for the 2020 Coin of the Year award. The Monnaie De Paris’ 2018 FR France Silver €10 Great War Colorized (Peoples’ Jubilation) won the COTY’s Most Historically Significant category. The category
Three countries took home more than one Krause Coin of the Year Category Award for coins dated 2018. Austria was the big winner with three coins, Lithuania and Australia won with two coins each. For the first time in the history of the award, half
Coins of the Abbasid Governors of Tabaristan exist today in large numbers because they were used by merchants on the Silk Road, the ancient trade route that spanned more than 7,000 miles from Constantinople to China. The Kingdom of Tabaristan, located in modern-day northern Iran,
The Umayyad dinar was the first coin to articulate the Islamic Faith. The first one was believed to have been struck in the year 77 of Hijra ( 696/7AD) in time for the pilgrimage season so that every Muslim could take home a statement of
Jesus Christ first appeared on Roman coins during the reign of Justinian II. He ruled the Eastern Roman (or Byzantine Empire) from 685 to 695 A.D. and again from 705 to 711 A.D. Reign of Justinian II Justinian II first ruled the Roman Empire alongside
Roman Emperor Justinian I, Justinian the Great, ruled the Byzantine Empire from 527 A.D. to 565 A.D. Among his many accomplishments, Justinian codified all existing Roman laws in what would be known as the Codex Justinianus. Of particular interest to numismatists, Justinian eliminated pagan imagery from Roman coinage in the East.
Saint Helena was the wife of the Roman emperor Constantius I and the mother of the emperor Constantine the Great. Due to her significant influence during his reign, Constantine minted coins with her name, titles and portrait. Influence of Helena Helena was married to Constantine’s
Constantine the Great was the first Christian emperor of Rome. Nonetheless, many of the coins issued during his reign still incorporated pagan designs. Reign of Constantine Constantine I, also known as Constantine the Great, ruled the Roman Empire from AD 306 and 337. He rose
Commodus, the son of Marcus Aurelius, served as the Emperor of Rome from 180 to 192 A.D. During his reign, he came to associate himself with Hercules, minting coins of himself wearing the Greek hero’s trademark lion-skin headdress. Decline of the Roman Empire Marcus Aurelius
Marcus Aurelius served as the emperor of Rome from 161 to 180 A.D. His 19-year reign was marked by military conflict and a series of disasters, including a plague that devastated Rome. Despite these challenges, the coins he minted reflect military victories and a quest
The Shekel of Tyre was the official Jewish Temple sanctuary coin. It was also one of the most widely circulated coins during the life and crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Tyre, a port city of ancient Phoenicia, was a center of commerce in the ancient world.
Many of the Roman prefects of the province of Judea issued their own coinage. Because of his connection to Jesus Christ, the prutah of Pontius Pilot are among the most coveted. Pilate’s Rule Over Judea Pontius Pilate was the Roman prefect (or governor) of Judaea
The Denarius of the Emperor Tiberius, commonly referred to as the “Tribute Penny,” was referenced by Jesus Christ in the Bible. As written in Mark 12:17, Jesus referenced the denarius when asked about paying taxes to the Romans. He held up the coin and said: “render unto Caesar
Lucius Cornelius Sulla, often referred to simply as “Sulla,” has the honor of being the first living person depicted on Roman coin. Sulla also played a significant role in the fall of the Roman Republic and the rise of its empire under Julius Caesar. The
Unlike other ancient civilizations, little remains of Carthage. There are few works of art, literature, or architecture to tell the story of the Carthaginians. Some coins exist, although they are expensive when they come up for auction. Coins bearing a horse or local flora and
Under Alexander the Great, the silver tetradrachm was the most widely-circulated coin. As Alexander built his empire, it was used to pay tribute, as well as mercenaries. After Alexander’s death, the kingdoms that had been under his rule continued to mint the coins bearing his
During the second half of the fifth century, the abundant silver mines of nearby Laurium allowed Athens to produce millions of tetradrachms. The silver coins helped fund the Golden Age of Athens, during which the military, politics, and culture of the ancient Greek civilization flourished. Golden
Philip II ruled the Kingdom of Macedon from 359-336 B.C. Though far less well-known than his son, Alexander the Great, King Phillip started the expansion of the Macedonian Kingdom into an empire. He is also remembered for his gold Staters, although most are thought to
A silver or gold coin that might have circulated to pay for troops and supplies during the first Persian invasion of Greece between 492 BC and 490BC represents this important period of the history of western civilization. The invasion ended in failure for the Persians
The gold Stater of Croesus was the world’s first gold coin. It features a bull and a lion facing one another. Art was now used to adorn the surface of coins to identify the coin with the coin producer. Lydia’s King Croesus King Croesus reigned
The Lydian striated Stater is the first attempt in western civilization at assigning value to small pieces of metal in order to facilitate trade. These small electrum (a mixture of gold and silver) coins are the first “coins” made around 660 BC. Within 60 years,
Mauritania’s tri-metallic 20 Ouguiya coin (KM-15) was named the “Best Circulating Coin” at the 2019 Krause Coin of the Year Awards (COTY). The coin, dated 2017, gave Mauritania’s its first COTY award to date. Struck by the Monnaie de Paris (French Mint), the standard
The Republic of Palau’s Great Micromosaic Passion – Birth of Venus coin was named the “Most Innovative” at the 2019 Krause Coin of the Year Awards (COTY) in Berlin. The coin, dated 2017, is the first in the groundbreaking “Great Micromosaic Passion” series. The $20
The Cook Islands won the “Best Crown Coin” Category at the 2019 Krause Coin of the Year Awards (COTY) ceremony in Berlin. The silver 5 Dollar Red Dawn coin, dated 2017, is part of the Scarab Collection, which celebrates the scarab of ancient Egypt. Millions of
The South African Mint won the “Best Contemporary Event Coin” category for the 2017 Heart Transplant (KM-619) 2 Rand coin. The coin marks the 50th anniversary of the first successful human-to-human heart transplant. It was performed on December 3, 1967, by a team of approximately
The Austrian Mint took home the honors for the Most Historically Significant Coinat the 2019 Krause Coin of the Year Awards (COTY). The award-winning 20 Euro coin (KM-3269), dated 2017, marks the 175th anniversary of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. Minted as a commemorative in proof
The Monnaie de Paris won the Best Bi-Metallic Coin at the 2019 Krause Coin of the Year Awards (COTY). The award-winning two Euro coin, dated 2017, commemorates the 25th anniversary of the pink ribbon, which is the global symbol of the Fight against Breast Cancer.
The Austrian Mint won the Most Artistic Coin Category at the 2019 Krause Coin of the Year Awards (COTY). The winning 50 Euro honoring Sigmund Freud, dated 2017, is part of a three-coin series celebrating the pioneering schools of psychotherapy. The other coins in the
The U.S. Mint took home “Best Gold Coin” honors at the 2019 Krause Coin of the Year Awards (COTY). The winning American Liberty 225th Anniversary Gold Coin, dated 2017, features a modern interpretation of Lady Liberty. It commemorates the founding of the United States Mint
The U.S. Mint’s Boy’s Town Centennial silver dollar won “Most Inspirational Coin” for coins dated 2017 in the Krause Coin of the Year Awards (COTY). The winning commemorative silver dollar coin commemorates the 100th anniversary of Boys Town, an organization dedicated to helping children. A century
The Monnaie de Paris took home the top prize at the 2019 Krause Coin of the Year Awards (COTY). Its French Excellence Guy Savoy coin won “Best Silver Coin” and “Coin of the Year” for coins dated 2017. The coin is part of the French Excellence
Sculptor and coin designer Joaquin Jimenez received the 2019 Lifetime Achievement in Coin Design Award at the Thirty-Sixth Annual Coin of the Year Awards Ceremony, which was held in February. It was not his only big win — Jimenez designed the 50 Euro French Excellence
The 2016 was the first time the United States won the Krause Coin of the Year award in twelve years. The United States Baseball Hall of Fame cupped clad half dollar, KM#576, won “most innovative” and was selected by the judges as the Coin of
Poland’s 10 zlotych silver coin (Y.902) was named the “Most Inspirational Coin” in the 2016 Krause Coin of the Year Awards. The award-winning silver coin, dated 2014, honors the birth of Jan Karski, who smuggled Holocaust evidence to the Allies in a hollow key. The
Latvia’s Baltic Way five-Euro coin (KM161) was named the “Best Contemporary” coin in Krause’s Coin of the Year Awards for coins dated 2014. The coin commemorates the 25th anniversary of the Baltic Way demonstration that brought together citizens of Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia. As described
The Austrian Mint’s Judith II 50 Euro gold coin was named the “Most Artistic Coin” dated 2014 in Krause’s Coin of the Year Awards. The award-winning gold coin is the third in the Mint’s Klimt and his Women series, which honors the work of Gustav
Canada’s 20-dollar “Maple Canopy—Autumn Allure”(KM#1759) silver coin won the “Best Crown” category for coins dated 2014 in the Krause Coin of the Year Awards presented at the World Money Show in Berlin in 2016. The award-winning coin was the fourth and final issue from the
Great Britain won “Best Circulating” Coin dated 2014 in the Krause Coin of the Year Awards for its bimetallic 2-pound featuring the iconic depiction of Lord Kitchener on a World War I recruiting poster (KM# 1279). This was the first coin in a five-year series marking the outbreak of
Germany’s 10-euro silver coin commemorating the 300th anniversary of Daniel Fahrenheit’s invention of the mercury thermometer (KM#332 & #332a) was named the “Most Historically Significant Coin” in the Krause Coin of the Year Award for coins dated 2014. The award honors coins commemorating historic events that
Austria’s 25-euro silver and niobium coin (KM#3227), which highlights the science of evolution, won best “Bi-Metallic Coin” for coins dated 2014 in the Krause Coin of the Year Awards. Part of the Austrian Mint’s Silver Niobium series, the stunning coin, which is dated 2014, is
Austria’s 20 Euro commemorating the fall of the Iron Curtain won the Krause Coin of the Year Award in the “Best Silver” category for coins dated 2014. The coin marks the 25th anniversary of the creation of a free, peaceful and united Europe. As described
Finland was a big winner for Coin of the Year Awards for coins dated 2015. It took home two honors, one of which was “Best Bi-Metallic Coin.” The 5-euro coin, KM-225, depicts a Lapland reindeer and features a bi-metallic copper-nickel center with an aluminum-bronze ring.
In addition to taking home top honors for its Baseball cupped clad half dollar, the U.S. Mint’s Baseball gold $5 coin (KM# 578) was named “Best Gold Coin” in the Krause Coin of the Year for coins dated 2014. Both coins are part of the 2014
Dr. Dean Kotlowski is the newest member of the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC). A professor of History at Salisbury University in Salisbury, Maryland, Kotlowski will serve as the CCAC’s historian for the next four years. Established in 2003, the CCAC advises the Secretary of the
The U.S. Mint recently named Joseph Menna as its Chief Engraver. Menna, who has worked for the Mint for 14 years, is a talented artist, his work earning him numerous Krause Publications’ Coin of the Year awards in various categories. He will now oversee the design development aspects
Finland’s 10 euro (KM-226) marking the 70th anniversary of peace after World War II won “Best Silver” Krause Coin of the Year Award for coins dated 2015. Finland also took home an award for its 5 Euro Lapland reindeer coin (KM-224), which was named the “Best
The Japan Mint won the “Best Contemporary Event” category for Krause’s Coin of the Year Award for coins dated 2015. The gold 10,000 yen, (Y.248), dated 2015, is the third in a series commemorating the Great East Japan Earthquake Reconstruction. The Great East Japan earthquake occurred on March 11, 2011.
Italy won in the “Most Artistic” category and Coin of the Year for coins dated 2015 with the 10 Euro, silver, 70 Years of Peace, KM387. The obverse and reverse of the coin was designed by Maria Grazia Colaneri. Ms. Colaneri received the distinction of
Britain’s Winston Churchill 2015 Brilliant Uncirculated £5 (KM-1298) coin won “Best Crown” for coins dated that year in the Krause Coin of the Year Awards. The Royal Mint released the coin to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Churchill’s death. With the release of the 2015
Austria’s 100 euro Capercaille (KM#3246) was named the Best Gold Coin in the Krause Coin of the Year Awards for coins dated 2015. The stunning coin is part of the Austrian Mint’s Wildlife in our Sights series, which celebrates the diversity of Europe’s native wildlife
The Cook Islands’ $2 Space–Time Continuum coin (KM#1693) was named the “Most Innovative” coin dated 2015 by the international panel of judges in the Krause Coin of the Year Awards. The revolutionary coin features a magnetic sphere at its center, which can be removed. The
Canada took home the honors for the most historically significant coin in the Krause Coin of the Year Awards for coins dated 2015. The $20 silver Canada, In Flanders Field, KM#1860 coin commemorates the 100th anniversary of the poem “In Flanders Fields” by Lt. Col.
The U.S. Mint won the “Most Inspirational” coin category for 2015 dated coins in the Krause Coin of the Year Awards for the USA March of Dimes $1 KM#604 silver dollar. The coin commemorated the 60th anniversary of the Salk polio vaccine. The reverse design
The United States Mint won “Best Circulating Coin” for its America the Beautiful Program quarter honoring Kisatchie National Forest. The USA Kitsache 25 cent KM#598 was the Mint’s second win in the 2017 Krause Coin of the Year Awards. In 2010, the United States Mint
The United States Mint launched the first coin pursuant to the American Innovation $1 Coin Act (H.R. 770). This is the beginning of a 14-year dollar coin series that recognizes American innovation, commemorating innovation and innovators from each state, each U.S. territory, and the District
The Royal Canadian Mint won the Krause Coin of the Year Award’s Most Inspirational Coin category for coins dated 2016 with a $20 silver coin honoring Mother Earth. Designed by artist Alexandra Lefort, the coin features a 3D droplet with an inset full-color image of Earth, conveying
The Republic of Latvia’s 5 Euro silver “National Entrepreneur” was named the most artistic coin in the Krause Coin of the Year Awards for coins dated 2016. The multi-faceted coin features a QR code, highlighting that it is possible to combine the art of the
China’s bi-metallic “Year of the monkey” 10 Yuan coin won the Best Circulating category in the Krause Coin of the Year Awards for 2016 dated coins. In addition to the stunning design, the coin features new security features. The commemorative circulating 10-yuan coins are legal tender of
Australia won the Best Silver Coin in the Krause Coin of the Year Awards for its 2016 $5 silver “Northern Sky Cassiopeia” dome-shaped coin. It is the first of a three-coin series featuring the Northern Sky constellations. It was designed by B. King. The Australia Mint’s previously
In a somewhat surprising selection, the Krause Coin of the Year judges selected France’s Joan of Arc coin as the “Most Historically Significant Coin.” The 200 Euro gold coin is the third issue in the multi-year Women of France series, which pays tribute to three
At the Krause Coin of the Year Awards, Austria won in the Best Bi-Metallic Coin category for coins dated 2016 with its 25 Euro niobium silver depiction of “Time.” The latest addition to the Austria Mint’s award-winning series uses its two-tone niobium core and outer silver
As the world awaits the judging for the 2017 dated coins, we continue our review of the 2016 dated coins that won each category of the Krause Coin of the Year Awards. The awards for these coins were presented at the World Money Show in
It was no surprise that Germany’s 5 Euro “Planet Earth” would win the Most Innovative category and go on to win the Krause Coin of the Year for coins dated 2016. The polymer ring is a revolutionary product that not only serves as an anti-counterfeiting
2016 and 2017 were years of seemingly endless controversy, but the international panel of Krause Coin of the Year judges preferred non-controversial commemorative topics to win the best contemporary event and most historical categories for coins dated 2016. Switzerland’s 20 Euro commemorative for the Gottardo
When the U.S. Mint makes a mistake, coin collectors often rejoice. Rare 1943 bronze cents are a stellar example, intriguing numismatists ever since 16-year-old Don Lutes Jr. found one in change from his school cafeteria in 1947. According to coin experts, there are 17 confirmed
Collectors love a good mistake. The Krause nominators made a whopper of a mistake and no one in the broader panel of judges caught it. In fact, the coin received the plurality of votes to win the category of best crown. The winner of the
A collection of 18 Native American portrait galvanos sold for a total of $64,560 at Heritage Auction’s recent Long Beach Expo. The works are widely regarded as Edward Warren Sawyer’s most significant contributions to medallic art. Sawyer trained with Hermon Atkins MacNeil, who designed the Standing
A gold coin believed to be carried around by President George Washington is headed to auction this summer. In August, the 1792 Washington President gold eagle will be auctioned without reserve at the American Numismatic Association’s annual World’s Fair of Money Convention in Philadelphia. According
Geer Steyn became the fifty seventh recipient of the J. Sanford Saltus Award for excellence in medallic art at the biannual conference of the International Art Medal Federation (FIDEM) in Ottawa, Ontario on May 29, 2018. Donald Scarinci, Chairman of the Saltus Award Committee of
Congress is currently considering the “Plymouth 400th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act of 2017.” The coins would be minted in 2020. As the name suggests, the bill calls for the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins in commemoration of the 400th anniversary of the landing
A rare 1787 New York Brasher Doubloon was recently sold for more than $5 million. The transaction, which was brokered by Heritage Auctions, sets one of the highest prices ever reported for an American coin. The Brasher Doubloon is one of the rarest and most historical of
David J. Ryder is now the new Director of the U.S. Mint after being confirmed by the Senate on March 21, 2018. The Mint has not had a permanent director since Edmund C. Moy left it in January 2011. Long-Standing Vacancy at U.S. Mint Ryder
What should have been an obverse coin design depicting women empowered in the fight against breast cancer instead became a design of women who are angry and in protest. There is a subtle difference in expression between power and anger. Unfortunately, the US Mint got
Don Everhart, retired Lead Sculptor at the United States Mint, was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award in Coin design at the World Money Fair in Berlin on Saturday, February 3, 2018. Everhart created more than 100 coins and medals for the United States during his
Germany won the 2018 Krause Coin of the Year Award for coins dated 2016. The winner is the 5 Euro silver “Planet Earth” coin with the new polymer ring technology. The coin was designed by Stefan Klein. An easy win in the Most Innovative category,
Last week, after years of prodding by members of the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC) and the collector community, the United States Mint finally announced a medal program. Unfortunately, it is nothing more than a bullion sales program and is likely to do more to
The 2017 Brookgreen Medal was designed by Heidi Wastweet. Her unique design features the first square-shaped medal in the series. The prestigious Brookgreen Gardens medals collection is now one of only two series of American Art medals that exists. It follows the tradition of other
Tom Uram has been elected to the American Numismatic Association (ANA) Board of Governors for the 2017-19 election term. Uram is also a member of the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee and President of the Pennsylvania Association of Numismatists (PAN). Uram was sworn-in to his new
The Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC) recently approved designs for a Congressional Gold Medal to collectively honor to the members of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS). The medal will be awarded “in recognition of their superior service and major contributions during World War II.”
Now that it looks certain that the United States Mint will soon have a properly appointed Director for the first time since George W. Bush’s nominee, Ed Moy, was sworn in as the 38th Director of the United States Mint on September 5, 2006, the
Author and Hall of Fame basketball player Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is the latest member of the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC). While many Americans know him as an author or as an NBA legend, the coin collector community knows him as a collector of 1850 to
Krause publications added Michael Chou to the group of nominators for the Krause Coin of the Year Award for coins dated 2016. Michael joined Cliff Mishler, George Cuhaj and myself to supplement Krause’s knowledgeable staff of prominent numismatists when the group gathered in Iola, Wisconson
Through the perspective of Oswulf the Englishman, “1066” provides a unique and compelling look into of the Norman conquest of England. If you are looking for an introduction to this period in history, this is the perfect book. The narrator, a monk, takes the reader
A contingent of state and federal officials recently gained entrance into the famed vaults at Fort Knox, prompting one politician to describe the experience as “seeing a leprechaun on a unicorn.” It was the first time that the United States Bullion Depository, which holds $186
The ubiquitous Red Book is the gold standard for coin collectors. The expanded version, aptly named Mega Red, includes 1,504 pages that are more than 30 percent larger than those in the standard Red Book. The latest version is now on sale. Mega Red’s coverage
The American Medallic Sculpture Association (AMSA) recently announced the winner of the American Medal of the Year Award. Susan Taylor, a Canadian artist, won for her Remembrance medal. It honors the heroic efforts of the Taylor’s grandfather, George Edie and his fellow comrades who fought in
The U.S. Mint recently announced that the 2017 American Liberty 225th Anniversary Gold Coin design will feature Liberty as an African-American woman. The new $100 gold coin joins part of a series of coins depicting Lady Liberty in a new and modern way. “Lady Liberty,
Italy took the top award for coins dated 2015 at the Krause Coin of the Year ceremony held during the World’s Fair of Money in Berlin on Saturday, February 5, 2017. Both the United States and Finland took home two category awards. Four of the
Finland and the United States were the top winners in the first round of judging in the Coin of the Year competition. Each nation won two of the 10 categories, while Italy, Japan, Canada, Great Britain, Austria, and the Cook Islands each won in a
Whether America won the War of 1812 or lost it is a matter of perspective. The important people and key battles also depend on point of view. So the coins commemorating the event by the United States and Canada make an interesting collection. The War
“1849: The Philadelphia Mint Strikes Gold” won the 2016 Numismatic Literary Guild Award. Michael Moran and Jeff Garrett teamed up to write a book that chronicles how the discovery of gold in California impacted the U.S. Mint and the nation. “The arrival of Colonel Mason’s
The American Numismatic Society is leading the way for numismatic ebooks. While the ebook has captured the commercial market for fiction and non-fiction books, numismatic booksellers like Whitman and Krause Publications have not been so quick to produce electronic versions of their reference books. The
The federal government recently won a decade-long legal battle over the ownership of rare Double Eagles coins. The Third Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the lower court’s decision ordering a Philadelphia family to surrender ten 1933 Saint-Gaudens Gold Double Eagles found in a safe deposit
A revolutionary new technology allows collectors to quickly identify or verify a coin’s provenance. The website, Ex-Numis, uses image recognition software to locate coins illustrated in auction catalogs. The new technology is the brainchild of Dr. Jonas Flueck, a professional numismatic dealer and an auctioneer
Ron Dutton (http://www.rondutton.co.uk/) won the Best of Show at FIDEM 2016 on September 10, 2016 for his group of medals, “Sun Terrace Beam,” “Totem of Memories,” “Hill Terrace Vines” and “Memories of Times Past.” These four medals are made of Brass, and wire and measure
A special committee will select the designs for the Breast Cancer Awareness Commemorative Coin, which are intended to raise breast cancer awareness, along with millions of dollars for research. President Obama signed the Breast Cancer Awareness Commemorative Coin Act into law on April 29, 2016. The
After extensive public debate, Jacob Lew, Secretary of the Treasury, announced that Harriet Tubman will replace President Andrew Jackson on the front of the $20 bill and the reverses of the $5 and $10 will also be redesigned to include several other notable women in
Steve Roach and Dennis B. Tucker recently joined the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC). Both members have backgrounds in journalism — Roach is editor-at-large for Coin World, while Tucker is the publisher of Whitman Publishing Company. The eleven-member CCAC play a vital role in U.S.
At its March meeting in Washington DC, the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC) considered the designs for a three coin set—gold $5, silver $1, and clad $1/2 dollar—to commemorate the one hundredth anniversary of Boys Town. It was the first time that obverses and reverses
For the first time in ten years the United States won top honors with the Baseball Hall of Fame clad half dollar coin as the Krause Coin of the Year for coins dated 2014. The United States won two awards at the first round of
It is highly probable that the U.S. Mint will issue commemorative coins to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11 in 2019. If so, Congress most probably will require a special joint committee for design review as they did for the World War 1 commemorative
A small ceremony was held at the United States Mint Headquarters in Washington DC on Thursday, October 8, 2015 to honor Gary Marks for his two terms of service on the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC). Marks served as a public member of the CCAC,
On October 8, 2015, after the vote on the 2016 Lions Club Commemorative coin, I grabbed Gary Marks by the hand. I looked him in the eye and thanked him for his service on the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC) on behalf of all Americans
The Magna Carta is celebrating its 800th birthday this year. To mark the historic occasion the United Kingdom, Australia and several other countries are minting commemorative coins. The Magna Carta was executed on a field in Runnymede in 1215 after an assembly of English barons
Since 1901, the Nobel Prize has been awarded to 889 Nobel Laureates. Recipients receive a gold medal. Yet, even though 889 gold medals have been presented, very few have ever been offered for sale. In May, Leon Lederman auctioned his 1988 Nobel Prize in Physics,
After waiting more than two years since the last Mint Director officially resigned, the White House announced last week that Matthew Rhett Jeppson would be nominated as Director of the Mint. Jeppson currently serves as the Principal Deputy Director of the U.S. Mint. Once sworn
Earlier this year, a 1792 Half Disme sold for a record $1.41 million dollars at Heritage Auctions’ U.S. Coin Florida United Numismatists (FUN) Signature Auction. The historic coin is generally recognized as the first circulating American coin struck under authority of the Mint Act of
The 1792 Silver Center Cent was the first coin officially struck at the First United States Mint. It also remains one of most significant in U.S. history, despite not being as well-known as other rare coins. The Coinage Act of 1792 (also known as the
Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II continues to age gracefully both in life and in coin. The Royal Mint recently unveiled the fifth effigy of the monarch, who has spent more than 63 years on the throne. The new design will be used on British coinage as
Maria Carmela Colaneri of Italy’s Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato received the Krause Lifetime Achievement Award in Coin Design at the World Mint Director’s Conference held in Berlin on January 31. She accepted the award in Italian to great applause. Maria Carmela Colaneri is best
For Americans traveling to Turks & Caicos there is no need to worry about converting money or returning home from vacation with a pocket full of coins you will never use. The official currency is the U.S. dollar. Like 50 countries across the globe, he
Susan Gamble, an artist for the United States Mint, passed away in January at the age of 57-years-old. Her legacy to the United States of America is her art and through that art she will be remembered forever. In 2007 Susan Gamble designed the reverse
Austria took top honors winning the Krause Coin of the Year for coins dates 2013 with its 50 euro gold coin, KM-3218, depicting Gustav Klimt’s, “The Expectation.” It is the second coin in Austria’s five year series celebrating the painter’s work. It was a big
The Numismatic Literary Guild “Book of the Year” honor was recently awarded to a book about New Jersey colonial coins. New Jersey State Coppers: History, Description, Collecting by Roger S. Siboni, John L. Howes and A. Buell Ish won the guild’s top honor for specialized
The Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee CCAC recently approved the designs for the congressional gold medal honoring the Lake Superior Band of the Fond du Lac Chippewa Code Talkers. The medal is part of Code Talkers Recognition Congressional Medals Program, which recognizes the dedication and valor
Dr. Herman J. Viola, who specializes in the history of the American West, was sworn in at last week’s meeting of the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC) for a four-year term. The CCAC provides recommendations to the Secretary of the Treasury on the themes and
The U.S. Mint will make history this week when it shows the world that it can produce the Shimon Peres Congressional Gold Medall from concept to finished product in just over one month. No private mint could have met the deadline set by Congress on
Mary N. Lannin, the newest member of the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC), attended her first meeting in Philadelphia on May 19, 2014, where she reviewed designs for the 2015 March of Dime Commemorative, the 9-11 Congressional gold medals, and a Code Talker medal. The
Krause Publications has announced the winners in each of ten categories for coins dated 2012. These ten coins will compete for the coveted Krause Coin of the Year designation which will be awarded at the World Mint Director’s conference in February. France and Australia accounted
The extraordinary efforts of the employees of the United States Mint to design, manufacture and distribute a Congressional Gold medal in just three months included a few firsts that could now be reported since the medal has been awarded. (PLEASE NOTE: The quickest Congressional Medal
Anyone who appreciates or collects the medals made at the United States Mint in the 19th Century knows Robert Julian and his magnum opus, Medals of the United States Mint the First Century 1792 to 1892 published by the Token & Medal Society, 1977. I
I am happy that my article about the Die Varieties of the Washington Before Boston medal has sent people back to their collections to look at the medals. I hope that more people will report their findings. A die emission sequence can only be theorized
September 8, 2012: Washingtonia was the topic of this year’s gathering of the colonial coin elite at Rodger Siboni’s home in New Jersey. New finds and discoveries were presented and some significant collections of Washingtonia were displayed. The highlight, in my opinion, was a New
The ANA Numismatic Art Award for Excellence in Medallic Sculpture is awarded annually at the ANA’s annual banquet in August of each year. The award is made to a sculptor who “exemplifies the fine art of designing, sculpting and engraving.” Mel Wacks, Committee Chairman said,
At its meeting in Washington on Tuesday, June 26, the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee of the United States Mint considered candidate designs for four medals in the Code Talkers Recognition Congressional Medal Program. Congress awarded these medals “in recognition of the dedication and valor of
By Donald Scarinci Israel won the coin of the Year for its 2010 Jonah in the Whale 2 Sheqalim coin. The coin had been selected as the “most artistic” category winner. Judges for Krause Publications nominated 95 coins issued in 2010 from around the world
