WCT News

As the Penny Era Ends, This 1955 Lincoln Cent Still Sells for Six Figures

As circulating penny production ends, one spectacular 1955 Lincoln cent still defines the thrill of finding something extraordinary in ordinary change

America no longer produces pennies for everyday circulation.

Yet one penny from 1955 refuses to fade away.

The 1955 Doubled Die Obverse Lincoln Cent became famous because anyone could recognize it. You did not need a microscope. You did not need to understand die states or minting technology. You only needed to look at the date.

There it was: 1955, boldly doubled.

Then came LIBERTY. Then IN GOD WE TRUST.

For generations of collectors, that image created a simple but powerful idea: the next cent in your pocket might not be an ordinary cent at all.

Now that idea carries even more historical weight.

The United States Mint struck its final circulating penny in Philadelphia on November 12, 2025. The Mint…

Beth Deisher Returns to ACEF Board to Fight Coin Counterfeits

One of numismatics’ most influential journalists and anti-counterfeiting advocates has returned to a leadership role at the Anti-Counterfeiting Educational Foundation.

The Anti-Counterfeiting Educational Foundation (ACEF) elected Beth Deisher to its Board of Directors effective September 15, 2026.

ACEF and Beth Deisher

Deisher succeeds Mary Sauvain on the board. Sauvain moved into the position of ACEF Executive Director on August 1. She had served as a board member since January 2024.

For Deisher, the move marks a quick return to ACEF leadership. She stepped down as executive director on August 1 after serving in that position since April 2024. According to ACEF, the change gave her more time to pursue other interests.

However, Deisher’s decades of experience in journalism, numismatic education, and the fight against counterfeit coins will remain part of the foundation’s leadership. Read more about From Coin World to the Counterfeit Fight: Beth Deisher Returns to ACEF Board

2017 South African Silver Krugerrand Bullion Coin. The 2017 Silver Krugerrand: How a Bullion Icon Entered a New Era

By CoinWeek IQ

In 2017, the South African Mint marked a milestone that few bullion coins have ever reached. To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the gold Krugerrand, the Mint introduced something entirely new: its first-ever one-ounce silver Krugerrand.

At the same time, the Mint expanded the Krugerrand family with a one-ounce platinum 10-rand coin and additional fractional gold sizes. Yet, despite those releases, the silver Krugerrand immediately stole the spotlight. Not only did it signal a bold evolution of a bullion icon, but it also commemorated the birth of the modern bullion coin itself.

The Krugerrand: The Coin That Changed Bullion Forever

Few coins rival the global recognition of the South African Krugerrand. Introduced in 1967, the gold Krugerrand became the world’s first modern bullion coin, created specifically for private owner…

This 1806 Quarter Has 10 Hidden Varieties and One “Good-4” Sold for $7,200

At first glance, the 1806 Draped Bust Quarter looks like a simple piece of early American silver.

Look closer.

Behind Robert Scot’s portrait of Liberty sits a story about a denomination Americans barely wanted, a dramatic redesign of the national eagle, an overdate created from an old 1805 die, and 10 different die marriages that collectors still hunt today.

There is even an 1806 quarter so rare that a worn example graded only Good-4 brought $7,200 at auction in March 2026.

Yet the regular 1806 quarter remains one of the most practical ways to own a major early United States silver type. That combination makes the date especially appealing. It offers history, rarity, varieties, and genuine accessibility within a series where the great rarities can cost six or seven figures.

1806 25c – CAC AU58

The illustrated CACG AU58 coin captures that appeal espe…

PlusThe cent is gone from circulation, so why is there a brand-new 2026-S Proof cent?

The United States Mint will release a Proof Set on October 6 that collectors may look back on very differently from a typical annual issue.

The 2026 United States Mint Proof Set captures one of the most unusual years in modern American coinage. It includes a Lincoln cent made after the Mint ended production of pennies for circulation. Plus it contains a dime with Liberty on the obverse for the first time since 1945. And it also replaces John F. Kennedy on the half dollar for a one-year anniversary design. Moreover, five different quarters tell an abbreviated story of the American experiment.

All of it comes during the nation’s 250th anniversary.

Sales open October 6, 2026, at noon Eastern Time. The Mint has priced the set at $107. Each set contains 10 Proof coins struck at the San Francisco Mint with the “S” mintmark. The Mint packages the coins in two clear protective …

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By Vic Bozarth for PCGS ……

This article continues my series on medals and tokens from World’s Fair expositions held between 1876 and 1926. It focuses on the medals and tokens of the 1901 Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York.

Only three Pan-American medals or So-Called Dollars came from the expo. However, the tragedy that occurred there makes the event essential to any survey of major world’s fairs.

Triumph and Tragedy at the Buffalo Expo

The exposition ran from May 1 to November 2, 1901. More than eight million people attended. At least 5.3 million visitors paid the 50-cent admission fee.

Investors quickly bought $5 million in stock and capital bonds. State and federal grants added another $800,000.

Rail service determined the success of most expositions. Organizers depended on easy travel for visitors. The Chicago and North-Western Railway promoted “through” train service to several major cities. Buffalo secure…

The Hidden Challenge Behind the 1918-S Mercury Dime

The 1918-S Mercury Dime stands as one of the most instructive issues of the Winged Liberty Head series. On paper, the coin appears abundant. In practice, it challenges even the most advanced collectors. Its story unfolds at the intersection of wartime demand, industrial compromise, and modern grading standards that reward precision over quantity.

1918-S Mercury Dime. Image: DLRC / CoinWeek.

Although the issue lacks the headline rarity of the 1916-D or the low-mintage 1921 dimes, the 1918-S has earned a different reputation. Collectors pursue it not for scarcity alone, but for the extreme difficulty of locating sharply struck examples with fully defined reverse bands.

San Francisco Mint Production in 1918

In 1918, the San Francisco Mint struck five denominations. Mint records show that production heavily favored cents and dimes over larger silver and base-metal coins.

San Francisco Mint coinage totals fo…

The 1928 $10 Gold Certificate Star Note, cataloged as Friedberg #2400* and graded PCGS Banknote Choice Uncirculated 63, stands as one of the most desirable issues in small-size United States paper money. Its appeal comes from a rare combination of first-year design status, limited production, and strong collector demand.

1928 $10 Gold Certificate Star Note. PCGS Banknote Choice Uncirculated 63. FR-2400*

Most importantly, this note represents the first small-size $10 gold certificate ever issued. When combined with its replacement note designation, the issue occupies a distinct position within the gold certificate series.

A Landmark Issue in Small-Size Currency

The Series 1928 redesign marked a major shift in U.S. paper money. The $10 gold certificate introduced the smaller format still familiar today. It also debuted several defining visual elements.

Most notably, the note features a yellow-gold Treasury seal and matching serial numbers. These characteri…

1913 Buffalo Nickel Type 1: Why the Original Design Had to Change

The 1913 Buffalo Nickel Type 1 marks a turning point in American coinage. It replaced the Liberty Head “V” Nickel and signaled a bold new artistic era at the United States Mint. Today, collectors prize this short-lived subtype for its artistry, history, and scarcity.

1913 Buffalo Nickel Type 1

Below, we present a fully fact-checked, authoritative guide to the 1913 Type 1 Buffalo Nickel, optimized for collectors, researchers, and serious numismatists.

The End of the Liberty Head Nickel Charles E. Barber – 6th Chief Engraver of the U.S. Mint

For 30 years, the Liberty Head Nickel, designed by Chief Engraver Charles E. Barber, circulated across America. However, by 1908, the design had reached the 25-year minimum required for redesign under the Mint Act of September 26, 1890.

President Theodore Roosevelt had already launched his campaign to beautify American coinage. He collaborated with…

This $10 Gold Coin Was Once the Only One Known, Now It is the Finest Know by 18 Points

For decades, collectors knew of only one.

Then a legendary shipwreck yielded four more.

Now, the finest certified example of the 1852 Wass, Molitor & Company $10 Close Date gold coin has returned to the spotlight. The PCGS AU-58 coin, which carries a CAC Green sticker, realized $354,375 at GreatCollections on September 27, 2026. The price included the buyer’s premium. Its hammer price reached $315,000 after 74 bids.

That alone makes the result significant. However, the story behind the coin reaches far beyond its auction price.

This rare $10 gold piece connects the failed Hungarian Revolution of 1848, the California Gold Rush, San Francisco’s chronic shortage of usable money, and one of the most famous shipwreck treasures ever recovered.

Moreover, this particular coin carries an extraordinary pedigree. It passed through the collections of A.C. Nygren …