CoinWeek

After months of anticipation and speculation, on December 9 Stack’s Bowers Galleries auctioneer Chris Ortega finally dropped the gavel on the newly discovered James A. Stack, Sr. Class III 1804 dollar, along with other rarities that have been off the market since before James A. Stack, Sr.’s death in 1951.

1804 Draped Bust Silver Dollar. Class III. BB-306. Second Reverse. Lettered Edge. Proof-65 (PCGS). CAC. CMQ.

Graded Proof-65 (PCGS) with CAC and CMQ approval, the Stack 1804 dollar brought $6 million, surpassing pre-sale estimates and setting a new world record for the issue.

It nearly tripled the previous record for a Class III 1804 dollar of $2.3 million, set in 2009. (All prices include a 20% buyer’s fee.)

James A. Stack, Sr.

James A. Stack, Sr., a New York textile executive who was not related to the founders of the Stack’s Bowers Galleries firm, was an advanced collector of United States and world coins and currency.

His wish was that none …

By Jack D. Young, Early American Coppers (EAC), and the Dark Side Group …… Updated Dec 11, 2025

Jack Young at the 2018 Whitman Expo.

After submitting my 50th exclusive CoinWeek article on counterfeits, CoinWeek sent me a note asking whether I’d considered doing one on the five or 10 most deceptive counterfeits I’d ever seen and what had tipped me off about them. I responded that I thought that was a great idea!

But writing more articles on all of the fakes appearing in many different selling venues got in the way, and now, after 65+ articles published on CoinWeek, I found myself revisiting the idea!

And I wrote it under my “Dark Corner” brand instead of my current “Fun with Fakes (FwF)” because every one of the following has had one or multiple examples certified and slabbed as genuine by a major third-party grading service (TPG) or two.

These are the ones that keep me up at night, and certainly a…

The Buffalo Nickel series, struck from 1913 through 1938 and designed by James Earle Fraser, has long rewarded collectors with distinctive die varieties. Among the most intriguing is the 1938-D D Over S, a final-year over-mintmark variety that demonstrates both the artistry of the series and the practical constraints of Mint operations at the time.

Coin Photos by Stacks Bowers – Image by CoinWeek – 1938-D/S Buffalo Nickel. FS-513. MS-67+ (PCGS). CAC. – November 2025 Showcase Auction – Session 8 – U.S. Coins – Half Cents to End – Lot 8106 Why It’s an Over-Mintmark, Not an Overdate

Understanding the variety begins with correct terminology. An overdate involves one date struck over another, such as the 1918/7-D Buffalo Nickel. The 1938-D D Over S, by contrast, is a classic over-mintmark (OMM)—specifically a D mintmark punched over an S. No alteration to the date occurred, and the variety’s diagnostics are confined to the mintmark…

With gold trading above $4,200 per ounce, buyers face a crucial decision.

Should you put your money into modern bullion coins, or are common-date numismatic gold coins currently trading at little to no premium? What is the superior value play?

When gold reaches historic levels, spreads widen, premiums shift, and market psychology changes. The result is a landscape where the simple choice (“just buy bullion!”) is no longer so simple.

Below is a breakdown of the pros and cons of each category to help investors evaluate where the real value lies.

Modern Bullion Gold Coins

 American Gold Eagle, Canadian Maple Leaf, Gold Buffalo, Krugerrand, Britannia, etc.

World gold bullion coins represent one of the most trusted and globally recognized forms of modern precious metals investment. Moreover, because they are issued by national mints with strict quality standards, coins such as the Ameri…

In 1902, the United Kingdom celebrated the coronation of King Edward VII with a remarkable series of commemorative coins. Among these issues, the 1902 Edward VII Matte Proof Coronation Set, often labeled “Specimen Proof,” stands out as one of the Royal Mint’s most distinctive and collectible achievements. Today, these sets command strong respect from collectors, and for several compelling reasons.

Photo Heritage Auctions – 1902 Edward II Matte Proof (Specimen) set in original Case

Unlike standard circulation coins or later mirror-proof issues, the 1902 Edward VII coins introduced a finish that collectors had never seen before. The Royal Mint produced a limited number of pieces with a soft, matte, non-reflective surface and finely frosted reliefs that rest on a velvety field.

Consequently, these matte proofs display a subtle and elegant look rather than the bright flash associated with conventional proofs.

Because the finish remains unique to the 19…