There are five major series of half eagles: Draped Bust Small Eagle; Draped Bust Large (or Heraldic) Eagle; Capped Bust Left; Capped Head Left Large Size; and Capped Head Left Small Size. The first two series were discussed in the first part of this article.

Half Eagles 1807-1834

The Half Eagle series continues with three different types beginning in 1807 and ending in 1834. The first is the Caped Bust Left Half Eagle Type; 25 millimeters in diameter with a weight of 135 grains of 0.9167 fine gold alloyed with copper. It comes with a reeded edge and was designed by John Reich and struck at the Philadelphia mint.

There were almost 400,000 made of this type in eleven date variations. While every date is a condition rarity just like the previous Draped Bust Type, no particular date is technically more than Scarce in the lower grades; all are regularly available for those few who are willing to pay the price of a genuinely rare and collectable coin, which as a rule comes well struck with good eye appeal. Nearly 2,800 survive in all grades certified, which gives us a survival rate of just over one half of one percent, and about half of those are Uncirculated, implying that they were saved as souvenirs at the time in no greater number than any of the other early gold coins. As a type, there are extremely rare to uncollectible in the gem grades, which always bring multiples of bids and sell quickly when they are occasionally available.

The second type is the Capped Head Left Large Size Type, which has all the same technical specifications as the previous type. Starting in 1813 and manufactured until 1829, this series sports as many or more rarities by date than any other gold series, and perhaps, any other United States coin series as well. No half eagles were struck in either 1816 or 1817 due to a fire in the mints rolling mill, where the planchets were made. There are at least eight uncollectible dates in this series in any grade. There is a total mintage of nearly 670,000 for all dates, or which there are 1,200 certified survivors in all grades, or a survival rate of nearly two percent, of which 775 are Uncirculated, or one tenth of one percent.

The third and last type of half eagle is the capped Head Left Small size type, made between 1829 and 1834 on a smaller 22.5-millimeter planchet proportionally thicker to maintain the weight. This new smaller type were made with a close collar—the “third’ die—a then-recent minting innovation for speeding up production and standardization of coin manufacture. While the weight of one hundred thirty-five grains of 0.9167 fine gold alloyed with copper remains the same, the hubs for the newly designed head is probably by William Kneass and all are struck at the Philadelphia mint. There was a total mintage of just over 700,000 coins made, of which only 205 are certified in all grades, a survival rate of three-one-thousandths, not much. There are 10 date varieties recognized on this type, and all are rare in all grades, and all are uncollectible in the Gem Uncirculated grades.

These three Capped Head types have a total mintage of 1.8 million, with a total of 4,100 certified survivors, of two percent. This accounts for 78 percent of all the early gold coins of all dates and all denominations made between 1795 and 1834 making them the “common” type of the entire early gold series.

Capped Bust Left Type 1807-1812

1807: With a total mintage of 51,000 and 472 examples certified in all grades, of which 225 survive in Uncirculated condition, the 1807 is tied with the 1810 Large Date Large 5 as the most “common” date of this type. 1808 has a survival rate of almost one percent in all grades. Extremely Scarce but a collectable one percent survival rate.

1808: With a total mintage of 32,000 and 345 examples certified in all grades, of which 153 survive in Uncirculated condition, making the 1808 the fourth most “common” date of the type, with a one-percent survival rate. There are also 15 gems certified of the 1808, making it the only date with a reasonable possibility to find a gem example for sale occasionally. Extremely Scarce.

1808/7: Overdate with a total mintage of 23,000 and 81 examples certified in all grades, of which 36 survive in Uncirculated condition, one of which is a gem. This overdate is the forth rarest date in the type, with just a third of one percent surviving at all. Rare.

1809/8: Another overdate with a total mintage of 34,000 and 330 examples certified in all grades, of which 170 survive in Uncirculated condition. The 9/8 is collectible in all grades including gem, if you are willing to pay for the condition rarity that it is with a one-percent survival rate. Hans M. F. Schulman had an amassing gem that I believe he sold to Abe Kosoff when I worked for him in 1968. The gems make this the second most “common” date of the type. Extremely Scarce.

1810 Small Date Small 5: All the 1810 varieties have an estimated total mintage of around 100,000, but each variety of this date has an unknown exact mintage. Dannruther is working out this question as we write. Akers knew of no Uncirculated examples and called this date rare in 1975, since then there are 12 examples certified in all grades of which three are Uncirculated, none of which are better than MS62. There are no Gem Uncirculated or Proof coins known or rumored, making this the second rarest date of the type. Rare.

1810 Small Date Large 5: With an unknown mintage, there are 129 examples of this rare coin certified in all grades, of which 76 are Uncirculated. Rare.

1810 Large Date Small 5: With an unknown mintage estimated by Dannruther at between 2,000 and 3,000 made of two different die pairings, there are nine examples of this rare coin certified in all grades, two of which are Uncirculated. Akers, Dannreuther and DiGenova consider this date rarer than the population reports show. This is, in my opinion, the rarest date of the type. Extremely Rare.

1810 Large Date Large 5: Again, with an unknown but undoubtedly large original mintage, there are 460 examples certified of this date making it the second most “common” date of the type. There are also 283 examples in Uncirculated and six of those are gem. Extremely Scarce.

1811 Small 5: With an estimated mintage of 55,000, there are 348 certified survivors in all grades, making this date the fourth most “common” date of the type. Scarce.

1811 Large 5: Again with an estimated mintage of 45,000, there are just 69 examples certified in all grades. This is the third-rarest date of the type, with a survival rate of just one percent. There are 37 Uncirculated examples, of which three are Gem. Less than one percent survives. Scarce.

1812: With a mintage of 58,000, there are 425 examples certified in all grades, making this date the third most “common” date of the type. There are 266 Uncirculated pieces, of which 15 are Gem, making this date expensive but collectable on the rare occasions that an example is available for sale as less than one percent survive. Scarce.

Capped Head Left Large Size Type 1813-1829

1813: With a mintage of 95,500 and 541 examples certified in all grades, this is as close to “common” date as the type allows. There are 325 examples that are Uncirculated of which seven are called Gem, for a total survival rate of one half of one percent, or the most “common” date of the type. Pretty common, with less than one percent surviving. Rare.

1814/3: Overdate with a mintage of 15,500 and 98 examples certified in all grades, for a survival rate of seven-tenths of one percent, or the second most “common” date of the type. There are 62 Uncirculated examples and none of them are Gem, with again less than one percent surviving. Rare.

1815: With a mintage of 635 and eight examples certified in all grades. Dannreuther notes that four examples are impounded in museums. There are four certified called Uncirculated and one Gem. Akers estimated 12 or 13 examples extent, which is probably closer to the actual population than the grading services population reports. The only one I ever saw was owned by Stanley Kesselman in 1976. Extremely Rare to Uncollectible.

1818: With an estimated mintage of 21,000 and 74 examples certified in all grades. Dannreuther explained to me that this population number is incorrect because neither grading services recognized the difference between the 1818 Normal Date and the 1818 5D/50 until a couple of years ago, skewing the numbers and making the Normal date appear more common then it is. Rare in all grades, according to both Dannreuther and DiGenova.

1818 5D/50: With an estimated mintage of 22,000 and 14 examples certified in all grades, for a non survival rate of six-tenths of one percent, and only seven in Uncirculated.
At best, extremely rare, at worst, uncollectible.

1818 STATESOF: With an estimated mintage of 7,500 and 78 examples certified in all grades makes this date Rare. Sixty-four Uncirculated examples certified makes this rarity occasionally available to those who buy aggressively. Less than one percent survives today.

1819: With an estimated mintage of 300, this is one of the famous rarities of the type. Only three examples have been certified in all grades, so you can basically kiss this one goodbye.

1819 5D/50: With a mintage of just over 51,000, there are only 15 examples certified in all grades, for a glorious survival rate of three thousandths of one percent. Only six Uncirculated pieces makes this date Extremely Rare to Uncollectible.

1820 Curved 2 Small Letters: With a mintage of 263,000 for the three types of 1820, and a certified population of four in all grades of the Curved 2 Small Letters, all of which are Uncirculated. Akers noted in 1975 that this date was available in higher grades, and also noted the existence of a Proof in the 1956 Melish Sale, which has never been certified.

1820 Curved 2 Large Letters: With an unknown mintage and a certified population of five in all grades, all of which are Uncirculated. Akers notes the existence of two Proofs. The best 1820 I ever saw James Halpern had in 1978.

1820 Square 2: All Square 2 half eagles have large letters on the reverse. With an unknown mintage, but large, at least a quarter of a million or whatever it was, and a certified population of 95 in all grades, of which 84 are Uncirculated, 10 are Gems and one a Proof. Akers notes three Proofs. Possibly the second most “common” coin of this type. Scarce.

1821: With an incorrect mintage of 34,000 noted and a certified population of 13 in all grades, of which six of which are Uncirculated. Dannreuther notes that most of the mintage was dated 1820 and the Square 2 variety, this coin is way rarer than the “mintage” would suggest. A lone Gem is out there somewhere. Rare.

1822: With another incorrect mintage of nearly 18,000 noted, of which Dannreuther also remarks that they were mostly 1820 dated coins, and at most possibly 500 were actually dated with the year they were made, 1822. A certified population of none in all grades. Three are known, two of which are in the National Collection, and the other one sold in 1982 in the Eliasberg sale for $687,000 to Mr. Pogue. This date is considered the most famous date of the entire gold series, including the 1933 Double Eagle, and possibly the single most desirable US gold coin ever struck. Uncollectible.

1823: With a mintage of 15,000 and a certified population of 53 in all grades, of which 33 are Uncirculated. This is the forth most “common” date of the type. A gem exists and Akers notes there may have been a Proof that hasn’t shown its head since 1885. Scarce, with less than one percent surviving.

1824: With a mintage of just over 17,000 and a certified population of 37 in all grades, of which 22 are Uncirculated and two are Gem, and Akers notes a single Proof. Rare, with less than one percent surviving.

1825/1: Overdate with an estimated mintage of 17,500 of and a certified population of 16 in all grades, of which nine are Uncirculated. Akers notes a couple of Proofs. Rare.

1825/4: Rare overdate with an estimated mintage of 2,500 and a certified population of two in all grades, of which one is are Uncirculated. One was in the Eliasberg Collection and the other in the Kaufman Collection. Extremely Rare and Uncollectible.

1826: With a mintage of 18,000 and a certified population of 19 in all grades, all of which are Uncirculated. Akers notes a Proof. One percent surviving, thus Rare.

1827: With a mintage of nearly 25,000 and a certified population of 28 in all grades, of which 16 are Uncirculated, three of which are Gem. Again less than one percent are still with us. Rare.

1828: With an estimated mintage of 20,000 and a certified population of 11 in all grades, of which six are Uncirculated, way less than one percent, three of which are Gem. Akers was correct in 1975 when he compared the 1828 with the 1815, the rarity being similar. Akers also notes a couple of Proofs. Extremely Rare.

1828/7: Overdate with an estimated mintage of about 8,000 and a certified population of five in all grades, of which four are Uncirculated. As Akers points out, this date is actually rarer than the 1815, with no where near one percent surviving.

1829: With a mintage of 25,000 and a certified population of four in all grades, of which all are Uncirculated. Extremely Rare, and again, no where near one percent survive.

Capped Bust Small Size Type 1829-1834

1829: With a mintage of 32,000, of which there are certified eight in all grades, and all eight are Uncirculated, one of which is a Gem, for a survival rate of two-tenths of one percent. For some reason the “9” is larger than all the other number in the date. There is one Proof certified and another in the National Collection. Extremely Rare.

1830 Small 5D: With an estimated mintage of about 63,000, of which there are certified 31 in all grades, and of those 24 in Uncirculated. Only one half of one percent still with us. Rare.

1830 Large 5D: With a mintage of estimated at 63,000, of which there are five certified in all grades, four of which are in Uncirculated. There is one Gem and one Proof certified. Akers correctly estimated the surviving population in 1975, so his assumption that there are other Proofs is also probably correct. Rare.

1831: With a mintage of 140,000-plus, of which there are 20 certified in all grades, and six of those are Uncirculated. 1831 comes with both a Large 5D, estimated mintage of 25,000 or more, and Small 5D, estimated mintage of 100,000 or more, just like the 1830, and noted by both Akers and Dannreuther, but the grading services do not distinguish between the two so neither can we on our own census. Rare.

1832 12 Stars Obverse: With an estimated mintage of 2,500, of which there are three certified in all grades, two of which are Uncirculated. Akers lists six by owner in 1975. Extremely Rare, with one-tenth of one percent surviving at all.

1832 13 Stars Obverse: With a mintage estimated at 155,000, of which there are certified 34 in all grades, and 27 of those are in Uncirculated, for a survival rate of two-tenths of one percent. Rare.

1833 Large Date: With an estimated mintage of about 96,000, of which there are certified 31 examples in all grades, of which 21 are Uncirculated and eight are Proof. The hub has been modified this year with a slightly more pronounced head. Rare.

1833 Small Date: Also with a mintage estimated at about 96,000, of which there are certified eight in all grades, seven in Uncirculated. Rare.

1834 Plain 4: With a mintage of 50,000 for both varieties, there are certified 33 examples of the Plain 4 in all grades, of which 14 are Uncirculated. Akers notes there are no Gem or Proof coins, which is borne out by this census. Just over one-half of one percent survives in any grade and thus Rare.

1834 Cross 4: With part of the mintage of the Plain 4, the Cross 4 has 15 certified survivors in all grades, or which 12 are Uncirculated. Rare.

Silvano DiGenova is a WorthPoint Worthologist specializing in coins. Neil Berman contributed to this article.

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The Coinage Act of 1792 authorized the striking of half eagle coins, and sure enough, three years later the mint finally got both the material and the resources together to actually make the coins. The first half eagles were struck on July 31, 1795 from dies created by the Mint’s official first chief engraver, Robert Scot. Since only the major devices were hubbed, and all the other information was added to each die one die at a time, 64 major date variations were created.

There are five major series of half eagles: Draped Bust Small Eagle; Draped Bust Large (or Heraldic) Eagle; Capped Bust Left; Capped Head Left Large Size; and Capped Head Left Small Size. Each had its own set of obverse and reverse dies. Because of the time and expenses that these dies required for preparation, they were always reused so long as they were serviceable. The pressure of production combined with the havoc that must have faced the mint during the Yellow Fever outbreak in Philadelphia and other East Coast cities in 1798 added to the re-usage of dies.

I can think of no series where this confusion under myriad of pressures is more evident than the early half eagles. There are coins struck that dated three years or more after the dies were prepared, giving us varieties of dates with no relationship to the date on the die. There are so many rare coins in this series that it would be safe to say that there are really no common coins in the series at all. The total survivors are less than one half of one percent in all grades. While we can debate whether there was any specimen coins produced, the first Proof is in 1820.

Draped Bust Small Eagle 1795-1798

All the half eagles made between 1795 and 1806 were 25 millimeters in diameter with a reeded edge and weighted one 135 grains of .9167 fine gold alloyed with copper. All were designed by Robert Scot and struck at the Philadelphia mint. There was a total of just over 17,000 made of the small eagle type, of which 566 have been certified in all grades, (or just about a three percent survival rate), and only 138 uncirculated pieces (or only seven-tenths of one percent). Although there are prooflikes known, there are no actual proofs known or rumored to exist (Akers).

1795: With a total mintage of 8,700, there is a total certified population of 483, with only 65 survivors in Uncirculated. Being the first year of issue, this coin must have been saved en masse because it has a large five-percent survival rate, or more than double the average half eagle. This is the “common” date of the type. Noted as rare, both Akers and Dannruther comment on one die with the last S in States struck over a D. Rare.

1796/5: Overdate with a total mintage of just under 6,200, with only 51 coins certified in all grades. Only eight-tenths of one percent survives. Very Rare.

1797 15 Stars Obverse: Ten stars to the right of Liberty and five to the left. With a mintage of about 100 in two die varieties, only seven examples have been certified in all grades. Both Akers and Danruther report that there are about 20 survivors of this date, although that seems a little high to me. Statistically, either the reported mintage is too low or there are well more survivors reported than actually exist. Extremely Rare.

1797 16 Stars Obverse: Eleven stars to the right of Liberty and five to the left. With a mintage of 850 with two die varieties, only 16 examples that have been certified in all grades, including two in uncirculated condition. Danruther reports a gem in the mint collection, but I have never seen it. Fewer than two percent survive. Very Rare.

1798: With less than 100 minted, there are only four examples certified, making this the rarest of the small eagle dates. Danruther reports at least seven exist, possibly eight, of which two are in the mint collection. All known examples are struck with a rusted reverse die. Extremely Rare, bordering on uncollectible.

Draped Bust Large or Heraldic Eagle 1795-1807

The Large eagle type was manufactured from the middle of 1797 until 1807, although the obverses with 1795 were used again three years after they were made. There were a total of 318,000 manufactured at the mint, of which 3,900 are certified in all grades, making a total survival rate of just over one percent. Almost 1,700 Uncirculated examples known, or just about one half of one percent, which makes the “common” dates scarce and every other date Very Scarce to Extremely Rare, with just one percent surviving.

1795: All with 15 Stars obverse, 10 stars to left of Liberty and five to the right, and 16 stars on reverse. The total mintage is estimated at 900 to 1,100in three die varieties, two of which Danruther calls unique. The other one has 57 examples certified in all grades, of which 41 are uncirculated, leaving a strong four-and-a-half percent survival rate. Rare.

1797 Normal Date 15 Stars Obverse: Ten stars to the left of Liberty and five to the right. Danruther estimates a mintage of 25 with the unique survivor in the National Collection. There are no others certified or known, making this date the Rarest of the type (and uncollectible).

1797/5 Overdate with 15 Stars Obverse: Ten stars to the right of Liberty and five to the left. With an estimated mintage of 325, just six examples have been certified, of which three are Uncirculated. This is the rarest collectable date of the type.

1797 16 Stars Obverse: Ten stars to the right of Liberty and six to the left, with an estimated mintage of only 50 coins, there are none certified. The only known example is in the Lilly Collection at the Smithsonian. This is the second 1797 date variety that Dannruther lists as previously unpublished in Yeoman, and the second or third uncollectible date.

1798 Large 8, 13 Stars Reverse: With a mintage of about 4,000, a total of one hundred 75 have been certified in all grades, (a four and a half percent survival rate), 23 of which are Uncirculated. Rare.

1798 Large 8, 14 Stars Reverse: With a mintage of about a thousand, just 22 have been certified in all grades, with a lone example in Uncirculated. Extremely Rare with an average of two and one half percent survivors.

1799 Small Stars Reverse: With a mintage of 6,700, only 50 are certified in all grades and fourteen are Uncirculated. Just seven-tenths of one percent are still with us. Very Rare.

1799 Large Stars Reverse: With a mintage of 750, of which 37 are certified in all grades and fourteen are Uncirculated. Five percent survive. Very Rare.

1800: With a mintage of more than 37,000, the mint finally goes into full production in 1800. There are 473 examples certified in all grades, of which 168 are Uncirculated. This is the third most “common” date of the type, although it has an average survival rate of right less than one percent. Very Scarce.

1802/1: Overdate with a mintage of 53,000, of which 462 are certified in all grades and 167 are Uncirculated. This date has the highest mintage of the type and is the fourth most “common” date of the type, although this date has a survival rate of only eight-tenths of one percent. Very Scarce.

1803/2: Overdate with a large mintage of 33,000, of which 571 are certified in all grades and 144 are Uncirculated. There are 14 gems of this date, the second largest number of all half eagles of all early dates. Perhaps the survival rate of close to two percent (twice the average), explains the large number of nice coins, also making this the most “common” date in both quantity and quality for the type. Very Scarce.

1804: Was called Small 8, renamed Normal 8 by Dannruther. With a large mintage of nearly 22,000, of which 190 are certified in all grades and 76 are Uncirculated. Very Scarce. Less than one percent survives.

1804: 8 over 8. Normal 8 punched over a Large 8, with a mintage of 8,500, of which 93 are certified in all grades and 55 are Uncirculated. A full one-percent survival rate makes this coin Rare.

1805: With a large mintage of more than 33,000, of which 344 are certified in all grades, and 200 are Uncirculated. With the average one-percent survival rate, this date is Scarce and is tied for fifth most “common” date of the type with 1807. Really choice examples are occasionally available, although there are only four gems known.

1806 Round 6, 7X6 Stars: Seven stars left of Liberty and six stars right. With a high mintage of over 43,000 (the second highest of the type), 525 are certified in all grades and 245 are Uncirculated. This is the second most “common” date of the type, with just over one percent surviving. Only two gems are known. Scarce.

1806 Pointed 6, 8X5 Stars: Eight stars left of Liberty and five stars right. With a mintage of 20,000, of which 110 are certified in all grades and 67 are Uncirculated. There are no gems known, although occasional choice pieces are known to appear. Rare; only one half of one percent survives.

1807: With a mintage of 32,000, of which one percent survives, 340 are certified in all grades and 88 are Uncirculated. Tied with 1805 as the fifth most “common” date of the type. Choice examples are tough and there is only one known gem, but I’ve never seen it. Scarce.

Silvano DiGenova is a WorthPoint Worthologist specializing in coins. Neil Berman contributed to this article.

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The obverse of the Mongolia silver 500-tugrik coin, which depicts a wolverine with diamond eyes. The theme of the coin is Wildlife Protection.

The reverse of the Mongolia silver 500-tugrik coin. This coin won the silver Coin of the Year honors at the World Money Fair in Berlin earlier this year.

I found an interesting article on the front page of Numismatic News.

This year at the World Money Fair, which was held in Berlin, the Coin of the Year honors went to Mongolia for its silver 500-tugrik coin, which depicts a wolverine with diamond eyes. The theme of the coin is Wildlife Protection.

The award was presented on Feb.7, 2009, by David C. Harper on behalf of World Coin News, sponsor of the award and sister publication to Numismatic News. The winner of the Most Historically Significant Coin was the U.S. One Dollar Silver from the U.S. Mint, commemorating The Founding of Jamestown in 1607.

In all there were 10 major categories of winners: Most Historically Significant won by the United States, Best Trade Coins, won by Italian State Mint; Best Contemporary Event Coin, won by U.S. Mint, which depicted desegregation of Little Rock Central High School in 1957; Best Gold Coin was won by Royal Danish Mint; Most Artistic Coin was won by Austrian Mint; Best Silver Coin, as we said before, was won by the National Bank of Mongolia; Most Innovative Coin (50 dollar silver) won by Pobjoy Mint for British Virgin Islands; Best Crown Coin (20 Ruble Silver) was won by the National Bank of the Republic of Belarus; Most Inspirational Coin (1,000 Rubles) was won by the National Bank of the Republic of Belarus with religious theme.

How wonderful this event must have been, bringing together all of these countries, some once under Communism and now experiencing their individualities.

Ed McDonough is a Worthologist who specializes in coins.

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Worthologists Thom Pattie and Christopher Kent and Dan “The Man in the WorthPoint Van” Borsey were on hand to represent WorthPoint at the show and give expert appraisal of the hundreds of items that were brought in.

Winnowing from the chaff

As with most appraisal events, there is a lot to winnow before the gems appear. This show was no exception. One item that was fascinating and expertly preserved was a five-shilling note issued and signed Jan. 1, 1776. Its book value was about $150 to $200, and as a piece of history, it was invaluable.

Five-shilling note

Another piece of history appeared in the form of a knife with an attached engraved metal plate bearing the name Jessie James. There was, like many of the pieces that came in over the three-day period, a story attached. It seems it was acquired from a collector of knives who had amassed many. There the story ends. Background and provenance, questionable, interesting, but not substantive enough to put a value on the piece. It should be noted that on the reverse of the knife, etched into the bone handle was Kearney, Missouri June 5 1876, the date Jessie’s brother, Frank, was married.

Jesse James knife

Real or contrived, the piece did provoke interest and debate among the appraisers. The consensus—the value was at a few hundred dollars without the addition of documented proof of authenticity.

Looks may be deceiving in the next item that appeared in the form of a last-quarter, 19th-century “Pairpoint” desk lamp with scenic shade. Although it had the look, feel and smell of a genuine Pairpoint lamp, the maker’s mark was etched not stamped into the base. While the shade was, indeed, scenic and beaded, it just did not ring true. The verdict—a nice lamp at a couple of hundred dollars. Had it been the real deal, value would have been upward of $5,000.

"Pairpoint" lamp

The crowning jewel of the show was an extraordinary ceramic piece done in the Art Nouveau style by the pre-eminent entrepreneur in the field of the ceramic industry, Bernard Bloch. Marked BB on the base, numbered and signed, this incredibly graceful piece, circa 1900, matched, if not surpassed, the works of Bloch’s fellow Czech/Bohemian ceramic makers, Johann Maresch and Julius Dressler.

Bloch Art Nouveau

The piece was originally purchased at Brimfield a year before for fewer than $500. It’s important to note that many collectors of Nouveau porcelains and ceramics are turning full attention to the Bohemian ceramics makers and designers and are vying for prized pieces such as this one. A conservative value of $2,500 was placed on the piece, and the owner went away happy.

– By Christopher Kent, a member of the WorthPoint board of advisers and director of evaluations for WorthPoint. He is also an antiques and collectibles generalist, fine-arts broker and president of CTK Design.

(All photos by Dan Borsey)

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In the middle of a hot summer, I toured the cool cash at the 36th annual Whitman Coin & Currency Convention in Baltimore, Md. What I found, besides about 500 dealers specializing in currency, coins, gold, and platinum, was the Kid’s Korner.

Pat Finner, vice president of the American Numismatic Association, was managing the Kid’s Korner, a special program where kids are treated to free coins, books, pamphlets and special programs.

“We encourage families to come to our show, because we believe that coin collecting is one of the few collecting opportunities that a family can enjoy,” Finner said. “Everyone can have a coin collection and pass it down to their children, their grandchildren and their great grandchildren. They not only have the advantage of having something of value, they have the sentimental value also.”

Coins are sometimes given as gifts to a child from an uncle, aunt, grandma for their birthday, first communion or other holiday, and Finner suggests that each child keep a diary to remember where the coin came from. “So, their coin collection is truly personal. It’s theirs and theirs alone.”

For 10 years, Finner has been working the Kid’s Korner at the show. “Many children are just bored out of their minds,” she said. “So, we find that by having programs and classes and mini-seminars that are very interactive, the children stay interested.”

I was fascinated by the grab bag ay the Kid’s Korner. Here, a very large bucket of all types of old, collectible coins was set out and each child was able to reach in with one hand and grab as many of these coins as they could. All the coins were put into a plastic bag and the bag was given to the child to take home. All for free. Where did all the coins come from, I asked Finner? “We have a very supportive dealer community here at the Baltimore show. The dealers donate all the coins in our grab bag.”

“A lot of our material comes from the Bureau of Printing and Engraving and the U.S. Mint. There’s tons of free stuff out there if you know how to get it. It’s a wonderful opportunity for teachers and parents to come to the show and we’ll tell them how to get everything free to help their children collect.”

It’s true. Here, coin booklets from Whitman Publishing were given to each child, and they were to fill a booklet of collectable pennies as fast as they can. At the end of 30 minutes, they took home what they completed.

The Bureau of Printing and Engraving and the U.S. Mint not only provided materials, but also a small bag of actual shredded currency, guaranteed to be worth $25—if you can paste it back together. A bureau engraver was also on hand to demonstrate how a $5 or $10 bill is painstakingly engraved.

“It’s very exciting for me, and I love the look on the (children’s) face when you give them the free stuff. It helps them collect. I’m privileged to do it,” Finner concluded with a smile.

A video on the Kid’s Korner at the Whitman Coin & Currency Convention can be viewed here.

Tom Carrier is a general Worthologist, with an expertise in a wide variety of subjects.

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While the economy may be dominated by talk of bulls and bears, when it comes to the Chinese New Year, which begins Jan. 26, it is the Year of the Ox. The ox is the sign of prosperity through fortitude and hard work, and people born under this sign are truthful and sincere. So this probably isn’t the sign for Bernie Madoff, architect of the $50-billion Ponzi scheme.

Chinese New Year Ox by Lladro

(Find out more about  this collectible at  the Lladro’s site.)

It was the Year of the Rat in 2008, which might sound a bit more like Madoff’s year, but it turns out that that was a time of hard work and prosperity—a good time to start a business or get married.

The Chinese New Year is based on a calendar that has been in use for centuries, a combination of lunar and solar calculations. The New Year starts with the new moon on the first day of the calendar new year and ends on the full moon 15 days later.

The 15th day of the New Year is called the Lantern Festival, which is celebrated at night with lantern displays and children carrying lanterns in a parade.

Since the lunar cycle is about 29.5 days, the Chinese have to insert an extra month every few years to catch up with the solar calendar. The years also cycle through 12 animal signs—the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep or goat, monkey, rooster, dog, and boar or pig.

Ancient Chinese zodiac figures

(For further information on these exceptional Tang-era figures, click here.)

There are five types of ox years. The Metal Ox tends to clash with people who do not agree with him and isn’t very affectionate. The Water Ox is more reasonable and methodical. The Wood Ox flexible and socially adroit. The Fire Ox is forceful and proud.

This is the year of the Earth Ox. The Earth Ox is a “less creative” but “enduring” ox, secure, stable and industrious. Just the ox we need these days.

Antique mutton-fat white jade carving

(If you are interesting in learning more about this piece, visit GoAntiques dealer Objets D’Art Uniques.)

Chinese New Year—with a new animal sign and even nuances with the signs—offers a collecting cornucopia.

The Singapore Mint has, of course, Year of the Ox coins. The mint is striking 88 sets of two five-ounce coins—one gold coin, one silver—with the price for a set $10,604 Singapore or $7,143. The mint is offering other collectibles and gifts, as well.

Singapore coin set

The Lantern Festival marks the end of the New Year’s celebration, and a wide variety of Chinese lanterns is available at the AFC China Co.

On the Chinese calendar, 2010 will be the Year of the Tiger. Business can be difficult for the rash impulsive Tiger, according to the Chinese zodiac, and he could find that money is scarce or withheld from him. He will only be rewarded if he exercises prudence and patience. He must avoid impulsive acts and be conservative in his outlook. Zounds! Sound like the Year of the Tiger has already been here!

2012 Year of the Dragon vases

(To learn more about these Ming vases, go to Ancient Dragon House.)

Visit our Chinese New Year feature page for videos and more stories about Chinese collectibles.

WorthPoint—Discover Your Hidden Wealth

Giving away gold to help others is a very special act of generosity. When it is done at Christmas, well, that is a miracle.

But, that’s exactly what happened to the Salvation Army in Denver, Colo., during the 2007 Christmas season. Over a period of six days, six historic $20 gold pieces with dates from 1883 to 1906 showed up in the Salvation Army’s traditional red buckets, but anonymously. To this day, nobody knows who the Secret Santa is that provided such a valuable contribution.

The gold coins are the Liberty $20 gold pieces issued by the U.S. Treasury from 1849 to 1907. The obverse, or “heads” side, features a bust of Lady Liberty facing to the left surrounded by 13 six-pointed stars and the date under Lady Liberty. On the reverse, or tails, is a stylized Great Seal eagle with a glory of 13 six-pointed stars surrounded by sun-rays and the legend, “United States of America” and the denomination “Twenty Dollars.”

“We went to see if we could get them valued after Christmas and WorthPoint stepped forward to help,” said Major Neal Hogan, director of social services for the Salvation Army. “They really have shown a spirit of caring for the community. They have taken a lot of steps to help by connecting us up with people that are in the process of making these move forward into a real gift that can help.”

In the meantime, WorthPoint sponsored a “Cool Kids” art contest. Kids visiting the WorthPoint booth at the American Presidential Experience in Denver during the Democratic National Convention were asked to draw, paint, or color a thank you to the Secret Santa for their generous contribution. Later, all the artwork was judged with prizes for the winner.

All of the coins were to be auctioned off Oct. 24, 2008 to raise money for Salvation Army programs for the coming year. “We’ll start off next Christmas with a pot of money with what was given [this year],” Major Hogan says.

The Salvation Army, as it is known now, started and continues on an unconventional approach to spreading hope among the destitute, the poor, the needy and others on the margins of society. Instead of churches and pulpits, they have help centers and gather contributions through each Christmas season with bell ringers and the well-known red kettles. Begun in 1852 by William Booth in England, it was first known as the Christian Mission. By 1878, with nearly 1,000 volunteers, his movement was described as a volunteer army. Instead, Booth changed it to Salvation Army, with soldiers of Christ, known as Salvationists. The Salvation Army now operates its international headquarters in London, England where it all began.

So, to the Secret Santa, thank you. You know who you are and in our hearts we know you are one of us. Merry Christmas to you, and to all a good night.

NOTE: An auction was held in late 2008 by Freeman’s Auction Company and the six gold coins were auctioned off for a total of $4,700 or about $783 each, well within the range of estimate of $750 to $800 each.

Watch a video about the gifts of gold to the Salvation Army here.

Tom Carrier is a general Worthologist, with an expertise in a wide variety of subjects.

WorthPoint: Get the Most from Your Antiques & Collectibles.

To set the tone, get dressed for the part. What would be more appropriate than a suit made specifically for Barack Obama during the campaign? To show that you never know where you’ll come across a significant collectible, this great find was discovered by a shopper at a bargain store in New York. A tag bearing Obama’s name was stitched in the inside coat pocket attesting to its authenticity. Its value has not been determined because no similar suit has been auctioned to date. However, it is estimated to be worth from $5,000 to the low five figures.

Naturally, you will want to complement your new suit with a set of cobalt-blue-and-gold presidential-style cuff links in its own leather presentation box. On the reverse is a bas-relief signature of Barack Obama, just perfect for your inaugural party at $250 a set or a lapel pin for $150.

Obama cuff links

Plates with a smiling Santa Claus obviously won’t fit your theme. Instead, consider setting your table with official inaugural plates. They cost $82 each and have a startling navy-blue-and-gold pattern with the official inaugural seal in gold.

2009 inaugural plate

When it’s time, bring out a wonderfully colorful, etched bottle of Mumm Champagne. Limited to only 200 individually numbered bottles, bearing the red-white-and-blue campaign logo with the inauguration date of Jan. 20, 2009, is an unusual collectible starting at $300. Add the gold-etched set of four Champagne flutes for $60 or a set of etched rocks glasses, too, featuring the presidential seal and the etched signature of the 44th president of the United States. A matched decanter with the gold-embossed presidential seal rounds out a perfect set for $75.

Obama Champagne

Decanter and flute

Caution alert: Lest you get carried away in the headiness of the festivities, be sure to buy a back-up bottle or two of bubbly for toasting purposes, otherwise you’ll drink your collectible’s value.

Decorate your inaugural table with the cross-cut crystal vase adorned with the presidential seal and signature of Barack Obama in gold for $75. I don’t know if President Obama has a favorite flower is, but it will look just as presidential filled with your favorite. Or you might go with some patriotic red, white and blue carnations.

Obama vase

Once the party’s over, store your cuff links and lapel pin in a hardwood replica of the Oval Office desk, similar in design to the original given to President Rutherford B. Hayes by Queen Victoria of England and used by most presidents ever since. The original desk, the one that John-John Kennedy famously played under, is priceless, but your wooden replica box is much more affordable at $125.

Oval Office desk replica

Of course, there are other collectibles to be had. Every inauguration brings out the best in artists and artisans. Issuing an official inaugural medal has been tradition since 1901 when William McKinley took office. This year, Mark Mellon, a Connecticut artist, was asked to create the bas-relief image of Barack Obama for the 2009 official inaugural medal.

“There were times when I was sculpting when I literally had tears in my eyes,” Mellon said, “just knowing the magnitude of the moment. As an artist, to have just a little bit of input in how we celebrate this president is a huge honor—a huge honor and a big responsibility.”

To truly commemorate the occasion, purchase the complete set of gold, silver and bronze medals in its own presentation box for $3,000. Or you can purchase an individual bronze for $70 and a sterling silver version for $400.

Inaugural medals

To see other great and wonderful gifts (and future heirlooms) that honor our 44th president on the day of his inauguration, visit Worthologist Jim Warlick’s Official Souvenirs site.

P.S. And don’t forget to buy food and beverages for the party.

WorthPoint—Get the Most from Your Antiques & Collectibles

DENVER, Oct. 17 — The Salvation Army (http://www.imsalvationarmy.org/), WorthPoint, a leading online source for information about art, antiques and collectibles (http://www.worthpoint.com/) and ANACS, America’s oldest coin-grading service (http://www.anacs.com/) today recognized the winners of the “Cool Kids Art Contest.”

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgibin/prnh/20081017/CLF017)

The contest, open to children ages 5-12, was held to thank an unknown person or persons who dropped six gold $20 Liberty coins into Salvation Army kettles on Denver’s 16th Street Mall during last year’s Christmas holiday season.

The coins will be auctioned October 24 at a live online auction on Freeman’s Web site (http://www.freemansauction.com/), and the proceeds will help The Salvation Army serve the community. Both WorthPoint and ANACS donated their services. In addition to providing an appraisal, WorthPoint helped The Salvation Army take the gold coins to auction.

The coins, minted between 1883 and 1906, were officially graded by ANACS and valued by WorthPoint expert Ed McDonough at $900-$1,000 a piece.

WorthPoint offers a database of sales records on art, antiques and collectibles and access to and commentaries by professionals who provide expert opinions and evaluations. ANACS operates the oldest independent third-party authentication and grading service in the country.

Award Winners

Out of more than 300 submissions, The Salvation Army selected two winners each from the 5-8 and 9-12 age categories. The four winners, Taylor Goodman, 8; Myria Garcia, 6; Phoebe Bawmann, 11; Laura Bottke, 10, will each receive $25 prizes. The finalists or “Red Ribbon” winners were Emma Campbell, 7; Olivia Bilek, 8; Hope (last name unlisted), 9; Christopher Miller, 12.

“WorthPoint is about helping people understand the value of their art, antiques and collectibles,” said Will Seippel, WorthPoint CEO and founder. “But in the case of the mystery coins, there is no price tag that can be put on this unselfish act of generosity. Co-sponsoring this art contest is our way of saying thanks and helping to teach youngsters the importance of giving.”

“The generosity of this donor is only matched by the enthusiasm of these children. It is a great honor to participate in such a noble event,” added James Taylor, ANACS president. “As long as the numismatic community continues to support this effort with coin donations, The Salvation Army can count on ANACS to assist with our certification services.”

“During these uncertain times and especially as the holidays approach, this donation will go a long way toward helping provide sit-down Christmas dinners and giving comfort and support to individuals struggling with difficult family, emotional or financial problems,” said Salvation Army Maj. Neal Hogan.

Gold coins have an interesting history with The Salvation Army. The first gold coin mysteriously appeared in a Salvation Army kettle site in the Chicago suburb of Crystal Lake in 1982. Since then, more than 300 gold coins have been donated at kettle sites across the country. The proceeds from these coins have gone to help people in need.

About ANACS
Founded in 1972, ANACS is a third-party coin grading and authentication service. Located in suburban Denver, ANACS was originally created by the American Numismatic Association (ANA) in Washington, D.C., to help coin collectors identify counterfeit coins. Today ANACS is known for its collector-friendly policies offering certification of U.S. and foreign coins, as well as tokens and medals. It attributes more different types of coin varieties and errors than any other coin-grading service.

About The Salvation Army
Nearly 36 million Americans receive assistance from The Salvation Army each year. The Salvation Army has been meeting people’s needs in Denver since 1887. For more than a century, the helpless, hopeless and needy have relied
on The Salvation Army for food, clothing, shelter, encouragement, comfort and prayer. In addition to these traditional services, its programs offer education, child care, elder care, gang intervention, athletics, character building, alcohol- and substance-abuse rehabilitation, as well as response to emergencies and natural disasters for the benefit of the children, families and communities of the Rocky Mountains.

About WorthPoint
Founded in 2007 and headquartered in Atlanta, WorthPoint (www.worthpoint.com) is an Internet-based data and media company that offers a vast database of sales records on art, antiques and collectibles from more than 400 auction houses. Members can share their insights, knowledge and passion and build collecting communities. WorthPoint helps collectors understand the history and value of their items and provides expert advice on how to preserve or sell them. While it does not facilitate the bidding of any items, WorthPoint provides information about upcoming auctions at its partner auction houses.

Contact Public Relations
404-549-6979 ext. 9017

Chinese Counterfeit Coins

By Ed McDonough

According to an article in the November issue of Coin World magazine, producing good quality counterfeit coins has become a very lucrative dream business in China, since it is not illegal to produce counterfeit coins and paper money there. Both Chinese and American coinage have been reproduced, many of them “slabbed” in what appear legitimate American coin grading company reproductions. Due to the finer quality of these operations, the average collector can be in a quandary unless they take special precautions.

A Chinese coin reproducer named Liu Ciyun is a large distributor on eBay and goes by the name “Jinghuashei.” If one goes to this site, one will see the reproduced items that are now labeled as “reproductions” since eBay has strict regulations regarding these types of products to alert potential buyers. The coins themselves are also stamped as reproductions, but how would all of these other exports be monitored, and what becomes of these items after passing hands? There are approximately 100 manufactures that produce about 100,000 fakes a month for Chinese-type coins alone.

ANACS, America’s oldest coin grading service, says that one way to tell the different is that these fakes are produced done with black gaskets in the slabs, and the slabs and do not properly fit the coin, while ANACS’s legitimately graded slabs are produced without black gaskets. The counterfeiter denies copying any PCGS slabs because they are “real trouble,” yet a 1916 Chinese silver coin has surfaced as a PCGS graded slab.

The collector’s only recourses are experience, knowledge, and when unsure, check with the local reputable coin dealer in the area. I have been a coin collector and dealer for more than 40 years and yet I still make mistakes and can be duped on occasion.

Coin World magazine is on the web at http://www.coinworld.com, but you must be a subscriber to access its articles online.

WorthPoint: Get the Most from Your Antiques & Collectibles