CoinWeek

Most $2 bills move from one wallet to another. This one traveled through the Space Race.

RR Auction now offers Gene Cernan’s Series 1953 $2 United States Note, serial number A10241591A, in its Space Exploration, Aviation, and Meteorites sale. The lot carries a $30,000-plus estimate, and the auction closes April 23. Cernan signed and flight-certified the portrait side with the inscription: “Flown on Gemini 9A, Apollo 10, Apollo 17—Landed on Moon, Gene Cernan.” PMG graded the note Choice Fine 15, and the holder cites provenance to Eugene A. Cernan and the Jefferson Space Museum Collection.

Gemini 9, Apollo 10, and Apollo 17 Lunar Surface-Flown $2 Dollar Bill – From the Personal Collection of Gene Cernan – PMG CF 15

Yet the grade and certification tell only part of the story. The real power comes from the bill’s history. This small note linked one astronaut, one family memory, and three landmark missions of the American space program.

A Lucky Bill with a …

By CoinWeek Notes …..

The Birth of the Two-Cent Piece in 1864

In 1864, Congress passed the Coinage Act of 1864 and introduced a brand-new denomination: the two-cent piece. At the time, lawmakers experimented with several unusual coins, including the Three-Cent Nickel, Silver Trime, Twenty-Cent Piece, and the Stella $4 gold coin.

However, the public never fully embraced the two-cent piece. As a result, the denomination lasted only nine years, from 1864 to 1873. The United States Mint struck the first examples on April 22, 1864.

1864 Two-Cent Piece. FS-401. Small Motto. MS-66 RD (PCGS). A Solution to Civil War Coin Shortages

During the American Civil War, Americans hoarded gold and silver coins. Consequently, everyday commerce suffered from a severe shortage of circulating money.

To solve this problem, the federal government increased the production of base-metal coinage. Specifically, officials wanted to replace privately issued tokens and re…

Witter Coin Third Annual Scavenger Hunt

Witter Coin will send collectors and casual treasure hunters across San Francisco on Saturday, April 25, for its third annual citywide scavenger hunt. The San Francisco dealer says it will hide 10 rare coins worth more than $50,000 across the city, then release clues on Instagram at @wittercoin beginning at 7 a.m. and continuing through the day.

Witter Coin Third Annual Scavenger Hunt

The idea fits the city. San Francisco rose with the Gold Rush, and Witter wants to tap that history with real numismatic prizes, not replicas. That angle gives the event an immediate local hook. It also gives the public a direct way to engage with rare coins outside the usual auction room or coin show.

A Gold Rush Theme With Real Coins at Stake

Witter Coin has operated in San Francisco since 1960. Founder Dean Witter opened the business in the Financial District in 1960 after first creating a coin album in 1959. Seth Chandler took over the c…

The Bolivia 1942 50 Centavos struck on a U.S. wartime nickel planchet ranks among the most unusual discovery coins in modern numismatics. The Philadelphia Mint struck Bolivia’s 1942 coinage under the broader authority Congress gave the Mint to produce coins for foreign nations, and specialists now describe this piece as the only known Bolivia 1942 50 Centavos struck on a U.S. wartime nickel planchet. Mint Error News first published the discovery in 2009, and CoinWeek later revisited the story because of its importance to world mint-error collectors.

Unique Bolivia 1942 50 Centavos Struck on a U.S. Wartime Nickel Planchet A Discovery Coin That Slipped Through Twice

This coin did not reveal its story at once. First, Heritage Auctions offered it in the Whittier Collection of Latin American Coinage on June 2, 2006, as part of Lot 16308, a three-coin group that included a bronze original strike, a supposed silver original strike, and a restrike. Heritage described the “sil…

A Brief and Unusual Chapter in U.S. Coinage

The Twenty-Cent Piece stands as one of the most unusual denominations in United States history. It entered circulation with promise. However, it failed almost immediately.

The United States Mint struck the coin from 1875 through 1878. Yet, the Mint released it for circulation only in 1875 and 1876. After that, officials stopped distributing the denomination.

1875-S Twenty-Cent Piece. BF-6. Rarity-4. MS-68 (PCGS). Secure Holder.

During its final two years, the Mint produced just 1,100 Proof coins. Collectors purchased these directly, rather than receiving them in circulation.

As a result, the Twenty-Cent Piece holds one of the shortest production runs and lowest mintages in U.S. history.

Mintage Figures and Key Issues

The Twenty-Cent Piece came from three facilities:

Philadelphia Mint Carson City Mint San Francisco Mint

In 1875, the Mint expected strong export demand. Therefore, San Francisco str…

This Rare Cyzicus Stater Links Sea Power, Sacred Mystery, and Ancient Trade

Ancient coin auctions do not often offer a piece that can stop even seasoned collectors in their tracks. This Cyzicus electrum stater does exactly that. GreatCollections has listed this electrum stater from ancient Cyzicus in Mysia, dated to the 5th-4th centuries B.C.  This coin weighs 16.01 grams. NGC graded it Choice Very Fine, with Strike 4/5 and Surface 4/5. GreatCollections describes the type as “remarkably rare and potentially unique.” The Great Collections sale will take place on April 12th. Mark your calendars!

Ancient Mysia, Cyzicus 5th-4th Centuries B.C. EL Stater (16.01gms) NGC Ch VF

The appeal starts with the obverse. The catalog identifies the portrait as a bearded head of Cabeirus wearing a laureate pileus, with a tunny fish below. The reverse carries the familiar quadripartite incuse windmill punch. Yet the real fascination lies deeper. This coin does not only show a rare type. …

By Mike Markowitz

“Such was the unhappy condition of the Roman emperors, that, whatever might be their conduct, their fate was commonly the same…” — Edward Gibbon

The Crisis of the Third Century

The Crisis of the Third Century (c. 235–284 CE) brought chaos to the Roman Empire. Emperors rose quickly. However, most died violently. Often, their own soldiers or courtiers killed them.

Marcus Aurelius Probus

At the same time, instability weakened the economy. Inflation surged. The coinage system suffered.

Emperor Aurelian nearly restored order. He strengthened the empire. He also reformed the currency. As a result, he earned the title Restitutor Orbis (“Restorer of the World”). However, conspirators assassinated him in November 275 CE.

Next, the Senate appointed Marcus Claudius Tacitus. Yet his reign lasted only six months. Sources disagree on his death—fever or murder. His half-brother Florianus followed. However, his own troops killed him after…

The 1909-S/Horizontal S Lincoln cent holds a special place in American numismatics. It combines first-year Lincoln cent appeal with a minting blunder that collectors can actually see. As a result, it ranks among the most popular varieties in the entire series.

Collectors know this coin as FS-1502. PCGS also identifies it as RPM-002. While the 1909-S VDB tells a story of public controversy, the 1909-S/Horizontal S tells a very different story. It takes collectors straight into the die shop.

1909-S/S Lincoln Cent. FS-1502. S/Horizontal S. MS-67 RD (PCGS) A First-Year Lincoln Cent With Extra Drama

The Lincoln cent debuted in 1909. That launch changed American coinage forever. For the first time, a regular-issue U.S. coin featured a real person rather than a symbolic figure.

Then controversy followed. Victor David Brenner’s initials sparked debate almost at once. Because of that dispute, the Mint removed the V.D.B. from later 1909 cents. That decision create…

 

The surge in gold bar scams has reached a dangerous new level. Now, a $4 million loss has triggered legal action against major financial institutions. The case could reshape responsibility across the numismatic and financial sectors.

At the same time, the Numismatic Crime Information Center (NCIC) is urging dealers to act immediately. The goal is clear: reduce liability and stop scams before they happen.

Stock Illustration of Gold Bar Scam: Adobe Stock / CoinWeek. A Landmark Lawsuit Signals Industry Risk

A major law firm has filed a lawsuit on behalf of a victim who lost $4 million in a gold scam. The defendants include a national brokerage firm and a national bank.

This case matters. It directly challenges how financial institutions monitor and protect vulnerable clients, especially elderly investors.

According to NCIC reporting, scams increasingly target older individuals. Fraudsters often convince victims to liquidate assets and p…

The Anti-Counterfeiting Educational Foundation (ACEF) has expanded its prestigious Alan Kreuzer Memorial Award for 2026. This year, recipients will receive cash stipends ranging from $1,500 to $2,000, in addition to the award’s signature 3-inch bronze medal.

Strengthening the Fight Against Counterfeits

The Alan Kreuzer Memorial Award honors numismatists who dedicate their time and expertise to combating counterfeit coins and collectibles. These individuals play a critical role in protecting the integrity of the hobby.

“Fraudulent coins don’t just undermine a marketplace; they devalue our American heritage,” said Chandra Kreuzer Rudd, daughter of Alan Kreuzer.

Her continued support has proven essential. In 2017, she donated $50,000 to launch the anti-counterfeiting task force that eventually evolved into ACEF. Since then, her contributions have funded the annual award program.

Honoring a Legacy of Vigilance

The award commemorates the work o…