Coin News for June 30, 2010
Splits Vs. Tears (In Paper Money): What’s the Difference?
PMG
Have you ever received a note with the comment “Split” or “Tear” and didn’t understand exactly what it meant? Many have. In this article, I’ll explain the difference between these two similar terms and how to identify them. They have very different causes and appearances, so it’s important to know the distinction. Let’s start with splits. Splits are created over time by repeated folding along the same line. Splits gradually move along the fold, separating the paper as it weakens. Each edge of the split usually has the same amount of wear due to this gradual effect. Splits are most commonly seen in the margins or body of notes grading VF and below. However, it is not uncommon for a note of a higher grade to have splits if heavy folds are present.
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The Top 7 Ways to Ruin Your Coins
Susan Headley
The seven best ways to ruin your coins are things that many beginning collectors do without even thinking about them. I’ve even seen expert coin dealers spitting on their coins! If you care about protecting the investment you’re making in your coin collection, take the time to learn how to properly handle, clean, store, and protect your rare coins. Just touching your coins with your bare fingers is enough to cause damage to them, especially if you collect higher grade coins. And you will definitely damage them if your fingers come in contact with mint-state and proof coins. Your fingers contain oils and miniscule pieces of grit that will adhere to the coins and cause them to discolor or suffer microscopic scratching. When you handle your coins, wear cotton or latex gloves, and handle only the edges.
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Bashlow Confederate Coin Restrike Six-Coin Sets
The E-Sylum
The “second restrikes” of both denominations were made by August C. Frank & Co., Philadelphia, to the order of Robert Bashlow during the Civil War centennial in 1962. They are not rare as individual pieces. According to the brochure, 5,000 pieces of both the cent and half dollar were struck in silver, a like amount in “goldine” (a brassy alloy developed for token planchets by the Osborne Coinage Co. in the 1930s), and 20,000 pieces of each of the denominations in bronze. These figures agree with those given by Walter Breen in the Complete Encyclopedia (cent only, Nos. 8011, 8014 and 8013 respectively). Some of these pieces were put up in sets housed in “official holders” like the set shown in The E-Sylum. “Special offer,” the brochure said. “We are making the beautiful Official Lucite Holder illustrated above available to all who purchase the Confederate Half Dollar now (italics in original).
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Obsolete Paper Money ‘Very Active’ in the Market
Stack’s News
The secret that isn’t secret: obsolete paper money is very active in the marketplace, and interest is growing! As I write these words, Stack’s sale of the 52 Collection is underway. This is a specialized offering subtitled “Art and Security on American paper currency.” Crossing the block are 781 lots of American paper money and related items, with emphasis on proof impressions and other special notes issued by state-chartered banks. These are “high end” examples within the specialty. This leads me to say a few words about the collecting of obsolete paper money: The field generally described as obsolete bank notes sometimes erroneously as broken bank notes, comprises paper money issued in our country by several thousand banks from 1782 until 1866. In the late 1780s Americans were suffering from the depreciation of the government’s paper money—Continental Currency.
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U.S. Mint Announces Remaining 2010 Product Release Dates
U.S. Mint
The United States Mint today announced projected release dates for the remaining products in its 2010 product portfolio. The 2010 Scheduled Products Listing is available online at http://usmint.gov/catalog. Please note that on-sale dates are subject to change. The list is updated as specific release dates are determined or changed. Visit http://www.usmint.gov/catalog for the most current information. Customers may begin placing their orders at noon Eastern Time (ET) on the specified on-sale dates. Orders will be accepted at http://www.usmint.gov/catalog and at 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468). Hearing- and speech-impaired customers with TTY equipment may order by calling 1-888-321-MINT (6468). A shipping and handling fee of .95 will be added to all domestic orders.
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Still No 2010 U.S. Proof Gold and Silver Eagles
Mint News Blog
The US Mint has announced the release dates for their “remaining” 2010 products. The collectible Proof and Uncirculated 2010 Gold Eagles and 2010 Silver Eagles are still missing from the schedule, although the US Mint still preserves a glimmer of hope that these popular products might be produced. The updated schedule includes exact on-sale dates for all previously listed products (although the dates are still stated as tentative). No new products have been added to the schedule, although I would have thought that the US Mint would release the “new” America the Beautiful Quarter Products this year. It’s possible that they will be added to the scheduled later. The 2010 Proof and Uncirculated Gold and Silver Eagles are listed on the schedule as “TBD.”
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Related posts:
2010, Coin, June, News
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