CoinWeek

When collectors speak of legendary numismatic icons, the name Croesus stands tall. Known for his immense wealth and innovation, King Croesus of Lydia changed the course of monetary history in the 6th century BC.

Coin Photo by Heritage – Image by CoinWeek – Early Croesus Stater from the Cambridge Collection in Heritage Fun Auction Jan 12, 2025

Now, a once-in-a-generation opportunity presents itself as a prototype gold stater from the Cambridge Collection, one of the rarest and most historically important coins ever struck, heads to auction on January 12, 2025, at 6:00 PM ET during Heritage Auctions’ NYINC World & Ancient Coins Platinum Session at the InterContinental New York Barclay Hotel.

A Masterpiece with Monumental Significance

This extraordinary specimen, cataloged as a Prototype Lydian Croesus AV Stater, has been certified NGC Choice MS, 5/5 Strike, 5/5 Surface, indicating its pristine preservation and absolute historical weight. What make…

By Jack D. Young – Special to CoinWeek

Counterfeit U.S. coins are nothing new. But in today’s market, modern Chinese-made fakes, often housed in convincing counterfeit holders, are pushing the boundaries, and threatening unsuspecting collectors at every level.

This article highlights just a few of the Carson City (CC) dollar counterfeits currently circulating, many of which were reviewed during a FrostByte “Chit Chat” session on December 7th. These fakes aren’t just poor reproductions; they’re often sophisticated deceptions that exploit gaps in collector knowledge and marketplace oversight.

Let’s dig into some examples, and more importantly, how to spot the red flags.

The “Impossible” Seated Liberty Dollars

Among the most glaring examples are Seated Liberty dollars allegedly from Carson City, but dated before CC coins were ever struck.

1861-CC Seated Dollar with motto – Counterfeit

This is a  historical impossibility. The …

A spectacular, historically significant, unique set of Martha Washington Quarter-sized test pieces, struck circa 1999, offers a rare window into how the United States Mint experiments with coin finishes, compositions, and surfaces. Not only are these pieces officially documented, but they also represent five distinct experimental finishes, two of which later entered mainstream U.S. coinage.

Listed on the USPatterns website and assigned Judd-2116, these test pieces were struck in cupro-nickel clad and certified by NGC. More importantly, the set remains unique, making it one of the most intriguing modern pattern discoveries available to collectors.

Five Experimental Finishes Tested by the U.S. Mint

This exceptional set consists of five Martha Washington quarters, each struck with a different experimental finish. At the time, the U.S. Mint explored surface treatments to improve durability, aesthetics, and long-term performance.

Martha Washingtom Quarter Te…

1795 $5 Large Eagle, BD-13, High R.8, MS62 PCGS

An extraordinary collection of the rarest and most important early U.S. half eagle varieties ever assembled will cross the auction block on January 8 at Heritage Auctions’ U.S. Coins Signature® Auction – FUN Special Sessions: Ellsworth & Jacobson.

The Harvey B. Jacobson, Jr. Collection of Early Half Eagles is a remarkable 68-lot offering that represents one of the most ambitious and successful pursuits in American numismatics. Built with a singular goal, to acquire the rarest known die varieties in the early $5 gold series, the collection includes every early gold variety that eluded legendary collector Harry W. Bass, Jr., with the sole exception of two unique 1797 varieties permanently housed in the Smithsonian Institution.

A Collection Built on Elite Rarities

“Like many of the savviest numismatists, Harvey Jacobson pursued the major rarities in this series first,” says Todd Imhof, Executive Vice President at…

Coin Photo Stack’s Bowers, Image by CoinWeek – 1887 Liberty Half Eagle. Proof-64+ (PCGS). CAC.

By CoinWeek

Few U.S. gold coins inspire as much curiosity as the 1887 Liberty Head Half Eagle. At first glance, it appears to be just another late-date $5 gold piece from the With Motto era. However, a deeper look reveals something far more compelling. In fact, the 1887 Half Eagle stands alone in American numismatics as the only Proof-only half eagle of any design type.

That singular distinction raises an obvious question: why?

Despite decades of research, no definitive explanation exists. Nevertheless, when the coin is placed within its broader historical, economic, and numismatic context, the story becomes clearer. Moreover, its rarity, pricing structure, and long-term collecting potential make the 1887 Half Eagle one of the most intriguing Proof gold issues of the 19th century.

A Proof-Only Mystery in a Year of Heavy Gold Coinage Coin Photo S…

Stack’s Bowers Press Release December 12, 2015

Set #232 Breaks Record for the Most Valuable Modern U.S. Numismatic Item at $800,000

After a slightly delayed start due to unprecedented levels of collector interest, the sale was underway with tremendous excitement stretching across nearly four hours of competitive bidding.

Set #1, presented in the first lot of the sale, soared to an incredible price of $200,000 and established this as a landmark offering for the category’s most elite collectors.

The top price of the session was realized by Set #232, which sold for $800,000 as the last lot, and included the very last circulating penny intended for issuance struck at Philadelphia and Denver, along with the final Omega penny in gold. Also included in the lot were the three sets of canceled dies used to strike this historic series.

With this $800,000 result, set #232 now ranks as the most valuable modern U.S. numismatic item, surpassing th…

Few early Walking Liberty Half Dollars tell a clearer story than the 1917-S Reverse Mintmark issue. It represents a turning point in Mint policy, a subtle design change that created one of the most studied varieties in the series.

Photo By Great Collections – 1917-S Walking Liberty Half Dollar Reverse Mintmark PCGS MS-65 (CAC Green)

Now, a PCGS MS-65 example with a CAC Green sticker brings that history to market in a GreatCollections auction ending December 14 at 5:45 PM Pacific Time.

For collectors of early Walkers, this is the kind of coin that deserves close attention.

A Year of Transition for the Walking Liberty Half Dollar

When Adolph A. Weinman’s Walking Liberty Half Dollar debuted in 1916, branch mint coins carried their mintmarks on the obverse. That placement did not last long.

On February 14, 1917, Mint Director F.H. von Engelken ordered the mintmarks moved to the reverse. He believed the obverse mintmarks looked like die defects a…

Photo By Stack’s Bowers – The Last set # 232 of the Omega Lincoln Cents with the Cancelled Dies

Stack’s Bowers Galleries conducted the landmark “Omega” Lincoln Cents auction on December 11, marking the final chapter in the long history of United States circulating cents.

Selected by the United States Mint to handle this historic offering, Stack’s Bowers presented all 232 three-coin Omega Cent sets, drawing significant participation from collectors and institutions worldwide.

The Omega Cents represented the very last circulating pennies struck by the United States Mint. Each coin bore a distinctive Omega (Ω) privy mark, symbolizing the conclusion of a legacy that began in 1793.

The Sets

Each three-coin set included a 2025 Lincoln cent struck at the Philadelphia Mint, a 2025-D Lincoln cent struck at the Denver Mint, and a historic 2025 Lincoln cent struck in 24-karat gold at the Philadelphia Mint.

The gold cent represented th…

Image by CoinWeek – Portrait of Jesus as it appeared on a gold coin from the Byzantine Empire.

CoinWeek Ancient Coin Series by Mike Markowitz …..

As with politicians, nothing is more important to gods than image … Perhaps this is the secret of the longevity of the God of Israel, that He never allowed an image of Himself[1].

THE OLD TESTAMENT’S strict prohibition of idolatry inhibited the development of religious art in the early centuries of Christianity[2]. Although Theodosius I (ruled 379-95 CE) made Christianity the official state religion of the empire[3], familiar pagan imagery persisted for another century on the coinage. Money truly is conservative! Nike, the winged goddess of Victory, a common reverse type, was gradually transformed into an angel holding a cross[4].

Wedding Commemoratives

On July 28, 450, Emperor Theodosius II fell from his horse and died without a successor. Hi…

Photo By Stack’s Bowers – 1916-D Mercury Dime. MS-67 FB (PCGS). CAC. -March 2020 Auction – Session 7 – The D. Brent Pogue Collection Part VII: Masterpieces of United States Coinage – Lot 7050 – Sold $204,000

By  CoinWeek Notes …..

The 1916-D Mercury Dime stands as a scarce key-date coin from the first year of an iconic American series that ran for almost 30 years.

The Mercury, or Winged Liberty, Dime features an elegant design that draws heavily from the French Beaux Arts movement of the late 19th century.

The United States Mint issued it just before launching the  Roosevelt Dime  (1946–Present), and it remains the last dime the Mint struck entirely in .900 silver.

Coins Released in 1916 by the US Mint

In the year of the coin’s initial release, Americans were introduced to three iconic U.S. coin designs.<…