Busy Agenda At National Money Show In March

Above, yours truly with U.S. Mint Director Ventris C. Gibson and Mitch
Geriminsky at the 2023 National Money Show in Phoenix, Arizona.

Currently, I am planning to attend this year's National Money Show in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Mitch Geriminsky and I attended last year's show in Phoenix, Arizona and had a great time.

The show will be held on March 14-16 at the Broadmoor Resort. 

That's all provided the weather cooperates as one has to drive through Raton, New Mexico on Interstate 25 to get there. Raton is notorious for its tricky driving conditions during the winter.

According to Coin World:

Millions of dollars of historic rare coins and paper money will be on display at the American Numismatic Association’s National Money Show. The annual event will be held March 14 to 16 at the Broadmoor Resort in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

“Important coins and early U.S. bank notes from the ANA’s Edward C. Rochette Money Museum will be on display at the show, including a spectacular exhibit of the first one-cent denomination coins of the United States. Items range from the Fugio cent of 1787 to the United States Mint’s earliest issues, including the large Liberty Head cents struck from 1793 to 1799,” said ANA President Thomas J. Uram.

Numismatics of the region will also be represented. “We’ll also have a display of Colorado currency, featuring a selection of early Colorado National Bank notes along with a set of the famous Lesher dollars created by silver mine owner Joseph Lesher in the town of Victor, Colorado, in the Cripple Creek mining district,” explained Money Museum director and curator Doug Mudd.

Other Money Museum rarities that can be viewed include one of approximately 40 known surviving 1933 gold $10 eagles designed by Augustus Saint-Gaudens. A 1943 Lincoln cent mistakenly struck in copper/bronze alloy that still has its original mint red color after 81 years is being shown. Another cent of interest is a 1944 cent erroneously struck on a zinc-coated steel planchet that had been intended for only 1943 issues.

The National Money Show will take place in Bartolin Hall at The Broadmoor. Public hours are Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

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.

Mint Director Ventris C. Gibson Participate In World's Fair of Money

Above, yours truly, U.S. Mint Director Ventris C. Gibson and
 Mitch Germinsky at the National Money show in Phoenix.

U.S. Mint Director Ventris C. Gibson will be participating at the World's Fair of Money next week in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

The event is put on by the American Numismatic Association.

According to InvestorsObserver:

Washington, DC, Aug. 02, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- United States Mint (Mint) Director Ventris C. Gibson will participate in the official ribbon-cutting ceremony for the American Numismatic Association’s (ANA) World’s Fair of Money ® at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, 1000 Fort Duquesne Blvd, Pittsburgh, PA 15222.  The ribbon cutting will occur on Tuesday, August 8, at 12:00 p.m. (EDT), and attendees will have an opportunity to meet with Director Gibson while visiting the Mint booth at Halls A and B – Booth 1430.  The Fair runs from August 8 to 12, 2023.

Attendees will have the exclusive opportunity to participate in a daily drawing.  Four ANA Director’s Strike Silver Tickets will be drawn each day, giving the ticket holder the ability to purchase one of 20 2023 Peace Silver Dollar Uncirculated Coins that were personally struck by Director Gibson.

Mitch Geriminsky and I met Director Gibson last March at the ANA's National Money Show in Phoenix.

To read more, go here.

Another Counterfeit Coin Facebook Ad

Above, a screen capture of the ad.

Facebook has been very lax in vetting advertising from so-called silver coin dealers and allowing obvious fraudulent ads appear on the social media platform.

The latest is a scheme to sell alleged proof American Silver Eagle coins with presentation boxes for $9.98 each by a company called Avaliry. This price is way below the current silver spot price of a little over $23.00/toz. 

I bought an American Silver Eagle Proof coin directly from the U.S. Mint at the National Money Show for $80.00. While doing so, the director of the U.S. Mint, Ventris C. Gibson, autographed my purchase.

Above, a real American Silver Eagle proof set signed
by the direct of the U.S. Mint. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Other similar ads have been popping up on Facebook with the same format (under different names) using a video. Some were even offering the "proof" coins for $7.98 each. No doubt these are Chinese counterfeits. 

I have notified Facebook. I am sending this blog post to Doug Davis at the Anti-Counterfeiting Educational Foundation (ACEF).

U.S. Mint Reports Mixed Bullion Sales For April

Above, 2023 American Silver Eagle proof set. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

When I bought my American Silver Eagle proof set at the National Money Show in Phoenix in March from the U.S. Mint booth, it had only been days after the coins were released. The set was signed by Mint Director Ventris C. Gibson.

Since then, sales of the gold and silver American Eagles has been brisk, although the silver version lags from the previous year's sales during the same period.

Coin News reported:

Sales of American Eagle and Buffalo gold bullion coins from the U.S. Mint decreased in April after a strong performance in March, but their year-to-date totals have significantly exceeded those from the first four months of last year.

Meanwhile, sales of the U.S. Mint’s silver bullion coins remained steady for a third consecutive month in April and continued to lag behind their performance during the same period last year.

In April, sales of American Eagle gold bullion coins totaled 170,000 ounces, a 20.9% decrease from March’s highest monthly sales since January 2021 of 215,000 ounces. Nonetheless, it still reflects a 93.2% increase compared to April 2022’s sales of 88,000 ounces. Year-to-date sales of 605,500 ounces show a 17.7% increase from the 514,500 ounces sold during the same period last year.

For the third consecutive month, American Eagle silver bullion sales increased by 900,000 ounces, marking a 5.9% rise from April 2022’s 850,000 ounces. Nevertheless, sales have declined by 21.1% to 6,649,000 ounces year-to-date, compared to the 8,431,500 ounces sold during the same period last year.

To read more, go here. 

Mints To Hold Conference In Canada

Above, yours truly and Mitch Geriminsky with U.S. Mint Director Ventris
 C. Gibson at the National Money Show earlier this month in Phoenix.

With things going haywire in the financial world lately, delegates representing the world's mints (including the U.S. Mint) will be holding a conference in Canada in October. One would think they would meet sooner given the situation the financial markets are in.

Numismatic News reported:

Readily accessible cash is critical to the ability of societies to go about their daily lives, according to the International Mint Directors Association.

The IMDA and the International Mint Directors Network will gather more than 300 delegates from the minting and related industries to discuss the future of circulation coins, collector coins and bullion on October 15-18 in Canada. It is the first time in five years the Mint Directors Conference will be held.

Looking ahead a Foundation of International Mint Industry Association statement reads, “2022 closes with a world economy struggling to deal with heightened geopolitical uncertainty and with growth rates for 2023 at best challenged and potentially in decline. The inflation ‘genie’, generally under control over the past decade or so, is now out of the bottle and as central banks attempt to reign it in, the impact of a rapidly increasing interest rate response is placing households and consumers under serious strain.” The FIMIA was established as the successor to the Mint Directors Conference in June 2022, the former organization having been founded in 1962.

To read more, go here. 

2023 American Silver Eagle Proof Coin Sales Numbers

Above, the standalone 2023 American Silver Eagle Proof coin. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Talk about being at the right place and at the right time.

The U.S. Mint released its 2023-W American Silver Eagle Proof coin on March 2. I attended the National Money Show of the American Numismatic Association in Phoenix on March 4. The U.S. Mint had a booth at the show selling their goods, including the 2023-W American Silver Eagle Proof coin sets.

(For an article by Numismatic News on the U.S. Mint's offerings this year, go here.)

The sales numbers are now out and they are down from last year's sales.

I bought the single standalone coin, which cost $80. It was signed by U.S. Mint Director Ventris C. Gibson on the Certificate of Authenticity and on the box lid.

Coin News reported:

Early United States Mint sales figures are in for the 2023-W Proof American Silver Eagle.

Released March 2 in three options, by itself, in 40-coin packs for authorized bulk buyers, and as a part of the 2023 Congratulations Set, the 1-ounce silver coin reached combined sales of 420,199, marking a sizable 37.7% drop from last year’s coin which logged early reported sales of 673,987.

In breaking down the numbers by product, sales through March 5 for the 2023-W Proof Silver Eagle include:

• 335,209 coins for the standalone option (product code 23EA),
• 50,200 coins for the 40-coin bulk option (23EA040) with 1,255 units sold, and
• 34,790 coins as a part of the Congratulations Set (product code 23RF)

Since the economy is dicey right now at best, with a recession possibly looming (some economists say), it is understandable why sales are down.

To read more, go here.

American Silver Eagle Proof Coin

Above, Mitch and I with Director Ventris C. Gibson. 

While at the National Money Show, Mitch Geriminsky and I met the new (she was confirmed last June by voice vote of the U.S. Senate) Director of the United States Mint, Ventris C. Gibson.

Mitch had met her first at the U.S. Mint's booth at the show. He got this for me from her at the time:

Above, the signed card Mitch Geriminsky got for me. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

According to the U.S. Mint website:

WASHINGTON – On Friday, Ventris C. Gibson took the oath of office as Director of the United States Mint. President Biden nominated Ms. Gibson on December 13, 2021. On May 4, the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs advanced her nomination. The full Senate approved the nomination by voice vote on June 15.

Director Gibson becomes the 40th Director of the Mint. She is the first African-American to serve as Director, and the seventh woman to serve in this position.

“I am honored and humbled to be confirmed as Director of the Mint,” said Gibson. “Since joining the Mint last October, I have been tremendously impressed by the dedication and professionalism of its workforce, and the outstanding quality of the circulation coins, bullion coins, and numismatic products made by the Mint.”

Director Gibson is a U.S. Navy veteran who joined the Mint from the District of Columbia government, where she served as the Director of Human Resources. In this role, Ms. Gibson provided executive oversight and execution of human capital programs and services for nearly 37,000 employees. Prior to that, she served as Associate Deputy Assistant Secretary for Human Resources in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. She was responsible for the development, articulation, and delivery of Department-wide human resources policies, plans, and programs.

When Mitch went back to the U.S. Mint booth, I went with him and bought the new 2023 American Silver Eagle Proof coin. It was released March 2 and is from the West Point Mint. Director Gibson signed the certificate of authenticity and the coin box for me and posed with Mitch and I for photos. 

Above, the American Silver Eagle Proof coin and other coins
 I got at the National Money Show. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It is amazing on who one can meet and the things one can buy at these shows.

The National Money Show

Above, with Ventris C. Gibson, the Director of the U.S. Mint.

We spent three hours today and some cash at the National Money Show at the Phoenix Convention Center.

We had good time checking out many coins and bullion of varying ages and denominations while there. 

Vendors were more willing to make better deals as today was the show's last day and didn't want to lug back goods.

We met Ventris C. Gibson, the Director of the U.S. Mint.