CDN Publishing Acquires Whitman Publishing

Above, Whitman's 2024 Red Book. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Not too long ago, I posted about getting a 2024 copy (hardbound) of Whitman Publishing's A Guide Book of United States Coins (known as the Red Book). It is a good guide for buyers of coins. The only problem I had with it was that the book's binding was not properly stitched or glued onto the pages. A friend and I had to glue it.

Well, it has just been announced that Whitman Publishing has been acquired by CDN Publishing.

From Coin World:

CDN Publishing LLC, a prominent numismatic data company that publishes the wholesale-pricing Greysheet and other resources, has acquired Whitman Publishing, the leading firm in numismatic book-publishing.

Included in the acquisition are Whitman brands including H.E. Harris & Co. (stamps), Cowens (supplies), and the Whitman Coin and Collectibles Expo.

The deal was inked at Anderson Press headquarters in Florence, Alabama, on Oct. 31. Management and staffing of both companies will remain in place, with main offices in Alabama and Virginia.

Maybe the new parent company will do a better job on manufacturing the books.

To read more, go here.

Whitman's Guide To Franklin and Kennedy Half Dollars Released

Above, Franklin and Kennedy Half Dollars. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Last January, I had a strongbox that had been locked (no key) for over 23 years opened by locksmith in Gallup. Before it was opened, I had no idea what was inside.

Inside, among other things (some just plain junk), were 16 Franklin Half Dollars, 20 1964 Kennedy Half Dollars (in a coin capsule and they look in either Uncirculated (U) or Almost Uncirculated (AU) condition) and one Walking Liberty Half Dollar. As I said at the time, I made out better than Geraldo Rivera when he opened Al Capone's vault.

Last month, Whitman Publishing has released a new Franklin and Kennedy Half Dollar guide book. 

According to Coin World:

To celebrate the 75th anniversary of the first minting of the Franklin half dollar, Whitman Publishing offers an updated new edition of A Guide Book of Franklin and Kennedy Half Dollars. The 248-page fourth edition, written by professional numismatist Rick Tomaska, is available online and from booksellers and hobby shops nationwide.

The Franklin half dollar (minted from 1948 through 1963) and the Kennedy half dollar (minted from 1964 to date) are two of the most popular series in modern U.S. coinage.

“Whether you’re a collector spending $50 a month or an investor with a budget of $50,000, there are challenges and rewards to enjoy with these historic coins,” says author Rick Tomaska.

In addition to sharing behind-the-scenes knowledge of the retail and auction markets, Tomaska gives the history of the coins’ designs, production, and other technical and cultural aspects. He explores transitions in Mint craftsmanship and reveals why Franklin and Kennedy half dollars represent the end of an era.

The book looks like it might be worth getting. Just hope its binding is better than their Red Book's I received the other day.

To read more, go here. 

U.S. Mint To Launch "Suggestion Box" Website This Fall

Above, U.S. Mint Director Ventris C. Gibson with yours truly and Mitch Geriminsky last March.

The American Numismatic Association's World's Fair of Money in Pittsburgh is over, but there was some interesting news to come out of the show from the U.S. Mint.

Coin World reported:

Sometime this fall, the United States Mint will launch a website separate from its main online presence to solicit suggestions for numismatic products to recognize the nation’s 250th anniversary in 2026.

The bureau’s director, Ventris C. Gibson, made the announcement Aug. 11 during the 50th anniversary celebration of the Liberty Seated Collectors Club, held during the American Numismatic Association World’s Fair of Money in Pittsburgh.

Although the convention, one of the largest in the world, boasted millions of dollars in numismatic products from around the world, purchase of food items on the bourse was “cashless,” requiring credit cards to complete transactions

The United States Mint had a strong presence during the convention Aug. 8 to 12.

 To read more, go here.

800 Rare Gold Coins Discovered In Kentucky Cornfield

Since I bought my house in 2018 in New Mexico, the only interesting thing found on the land were pieces of Anasazi pottery pieces.

A Kentucky farmer was far luckier. He found over 800 rare gold and silver coins buried in his cornfield. The coins date to the Civil War and earlier.

WSB-TV reported:

The Great Kentucky Hoard, as it has been dubbed by numismatists, has mostly U.S. gold coins dating between 1840 and 1863. The value of the coins could exceed $2 million, WAVE-TV reported.

According to Coin World, the coins unearthed include 741 Coronet and Indian Head gold dollars, a number of 1863 Coronet $20 double eagles and small amounts of Coronet $10 eagles and Seated Liberty silver issues.

The coins are dated from 1840 to 1862 and are estimated at a value exceeding $2 million. https://t.co/1otcb5pypl

— WAVE (@wave3news) July 13, 2023

The gold dollars are dated from 1850 through 1862, according to Coin World. Their conditions are remarkably good, considering their age.

“Underneath were just these phenomenally beautiful, preserved coins,” Certified Collectibles Group Executive Vice President Andrew Salzberg told WAVE. “And I think they were preserved so well because they weren’t exposed to air, and they were buried in the ground.”

The person who found the coins and where they were found have not been revealed. The reason why the coins were buried are also unclear, although it is possible that the owner buried it during the Civil War to protect his stash from Union or Confederate armies.

Maybe I should get a metal detector and dig around.

To read more, go here. 

Numbers Suggest Kennedy 2023 Half Dollars Were Ordered For Circulation

Above, 1964 Kennedy half dollars containing 90% silver. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It was 2001 when the U.S. Mint last intentionally minted Kennedy half dollars for general circulation.

This year, the Mint apparently is producing Kennedy half dollars for general circulation. For some reason, numismatists are all excited over this. Frankly, as far as I am concerned, the only half dollars, Kennedy or otherwise, that interest me are the ones containing silver. I have plenty of 1964 Kennedy half dollars, the only year with 90% silver. For the following few years after that, the silver content was at 40%.

According to Coin World:

The difference between the overall number of 2023-P and 2023-D Kennedy half dollars struck in circulation finish by the U.S. Mint and the numbers of them sold at numismatic premiums above face value suggest that the Federal Reserve has ordered coins from the bureau for general circulation distribution.

As of June 21, circulation quality Kennedy half dollar production for 2023 posted at the U.S. Mint’s website records 5.4 million coins from each of the two Mint production facilities, a total of 10.8 million Kennedy half dollars.

Numismatic products that contain 2023 Kennedy half dollars went on public sale May 15 and include $100 face value canvas bags of 200 half dollars, comprising 100 coins from each Mint, offered at $147 per bag, and two-roll sets priced at $34.50, comprising one 20-coin roll from each Mint.

The 200-coin bags are limited to sales of a maximum of 11,000 bags, and two-roll set sales are limited to 25,000 sets.

As of June 18, bag sales reached 7,655 bags, while two-roll set totals were at 26,689. Those numismatic sale totals account for 2,598,560 coins from the overall circulation quality Kennedy half dollar output, or about 25% of the total.

To read more, go here. 

Arnold Palmer May Be Honored In 2029 Coinage

Above, Arnold Palmer in 1953.

Arnold Palmer, one of golf's greatest golfers, may be honored with commemorative coinage in 2029.

I think this is a great idea, I just hope that we're around then.

From Coin World:

Legislation introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives seeks commemorative coins in 2029 to honor American golfer and philanthropist Arnold Palmer “for his service to our country, achievements in the sport of golf and his exemplary character.”

Rep. Guy Reschenthaler, R-Pa., introduced the Arnold Daniel Palmer Commemorative Coin Act, H.R. 2808, on April 24.

Palmer, who died Sept. 25, 2016, at age 87, was recognized in 2011 with a congressional gold medal, bronze duplicates of which are available for sale from the U.S. Mint in 1.5-inch and 3-inch diameter issues for $20 and $160, respectively. 

To read more, go here. 

National Coin Week April 16-22

Next week, April 16 - 22 to be exact, is National Coin Week.

What is National Coin Week?

Coin World explains:

As I write this, the American Numismatic Association is preparing for this year’s National Coin Week, an annual celebration of collecting all things numismatic.

The 2023 edition is the 100th annual event for the ANA. The April 16 through 22 celebration’s theme is “Our Money, Our Heritage, Our America.”

As ANA President Ralph Ross writes in the April issue of the ANA journal The Numismatist, “I have a soft spot in my heart for NCW and see it as an opportunity to go all out with numismatics.” He adds that the coins in the United States Mint’s American Women quarter dollar program “reflect this year’s NCW theme perfectly.”

In its promotion of National Coin Week, the ANA notes, “Every coin, every piece of paper money in your pocket, wallet, or purse has a story to tell about history, and the stories will be celebrated during the 100th annual National Coin Week. ...”

The ANA adds, “This year’s event features free live educational webinars focused on the theme ‘Our Money, Our Heritage, Our America.’ ”

To read more, go here. 

Coins: What Will 2023 Bring?

As we are closing in on 2023, people may be wondering what the new year will bring in the coin investing community. I don't see any signs that Bidenflation will taper off. Hopefully, I'm wrong. So I am still investing in silver coins.

At Coin World, their editorial staff took a peek at their crystal ball(s) to see what 2023 will bring.

They start it with:

As we prepare to enter the new year, let us look into our mythical crystal ball and attempt to predict what the numismatic community will witness in 2023. To do that, I solicited thoughts from our editorial staff.

Here's one prediction:

From Jeff Starck, senior editor for world coins:

“More coins, more themes, lower mintages.

“World mints and issuers will continue to work to offer something ‘unique’ to a broader audience, while paring down mintages, for new issues.

“Cash is not dead … but it may be on life support. The increasing use of technology in commerce (and the shift to online purchases) continues to threaten the need for real money in circulation, but enough systems and constituencies benefit from having coins and paper money to ensure that they are safe.

“What goes up, must go down. … Right? After raging demand for Morgan dollars, silver and gold American Eagles (among other segments), those markets (and maybe more) seem to understandably be ripe for a correction. Unless they aren’t. Nothing has made sense for some time.”

To read more, go here.