WCT News

1809 French 40 Francs in Proof. Image: Stack’s Bowers/CoinWeek.

By Jeremy Bostwick – Senior Numismatist and Cataloger, Stack’s Bowers …… Updated by CoinWeek March 2026

At the January 2025 New York International Numismatic Convention (NYINC) Auction of ancient and world coins from Stack’s Bowers Galleries featured the third installment of the Richard Margolis Collection (part II of his extensive array of French material). Numerous once-in-a-lifetime treasures crossed the auction block, many of which have been off the market for decades.

One such item is a tremendously elusive (and potentially unique) gold 40 Francs in Proof from 1809. Bearing the left-facing laureate head of Napoleon, it offers stunning eye appeal and flair, with immense brilliance in the fields and frostiness on the sharply struck devices. The only proof striking of the type seen across both major grading services, this Gem NGC PROOF-65 specimen also hails fr…

By Tyler Rossi for CoinWeek …..

What to Look for in Pocket Change and While Coin Roll Hunting A collector looks up the value of a Mercury Dime. Image: Adobe Stock.

Coin collectors often start with the simplest source of treasure: pocket change. Everyday circulation still produces surprising discoveries for anyone willing to look closely. While truly rare finds remain uncommon, several types of coins regularly appear in circulation and coin rolls.

Collectors who search carefully can still find attractive coins, discontinued designs, silver coinage, and even dramatic mint errors. Each category offers the potential for value and the thrill of discovery.

Below are the key types of coins worth pulling from circulation.

Look for High-Grade Coins with Eye Appeal

The first category includes high-grade coins and Proof coins with strong eye appeal.

Finding a true Mint State coin while coin roll hunting happens very rarely. However, coll…

Legendary SS Central America Treasure Returns to the Spotlight

A monumental artifact from the California Gold Rush has re-emerged. Moreover, it now comes with a modern twist.

For the first time, investors can purchase fractional ownership in the famed “Eureka Bar,” a massive 64-pound gold ingot recovered from the wreck of the SS Central America, the legendary “Ship of Gold.”

Kagin’s Digital, a subsidiary of Kagin’s Inc. based in Belvedere Tiburon, California, announced the offering on March 17, 2026. The firm has structured the historic bar into a digital investment vehicle designed for accredited investors.

Forged in San Francisco in 1857, the Eureka Bar weighs an extraordinary 933.34 troy ounces. A 933-Ounce Giant from the California Gold Rush

Forged in San Francisco in 1857, the Eureka Bar weighs an extraordinary 933.34 troy ounces. Augustus Humbert, a prominent assayer, and private coiner John Glover Kellogg produced the ingot during the height of th…

 

Three days of family fun, rare exhibits, and educational opportunities highlight one of the hobby’s premier events.

Hands-on family activities, once-in-a-lifetime displays of rare money, and exclusive buying and selling opportunities filled three days of numismatic discovery at the National Money Show. The American Numismatic Association (ANA) presented the event at the Savannah Convention Center in Savannah, February 26–28.

The show attracted more than 2,800 registrants. Collectors, dealers, and history enthusiasts traveled from across the United States to attend.

Visitors explored rare exhibits, attended educational sessions, and participated in family-friendly activities. Meanwhile, dealers actively bought and sold coins, paper money, and related collectibles across the bourse floor.

ANA Executive Director Kiick, U.S. Mint Director Hollis, and ANA President Lighterman cut the ribbon to open the National Money Show to the public. ANA …

CoinWeek Bullion Report

For decades, the U.S. coin market followed a simple rule.

When silver prices rise, 90% “junk” silver usually trades at a premium to melt value. Demand from stackers and collectors keeps it there.

However, the market has flipped in early 2026.

Today, many dealers report something rare. In some cases, 90% silver coins trade at or even below the spot price of silver.

This situation has confused many collectors. It has also created opportunities for buyers. Yet the reason behind it has little to do with silver’s intrinsic value.

Instead, the cause is far more practical.

The junk silver market now faces a liquidity crisis driven by a refinery bottleneck.

A Market Flooded With Silver

First, consider the surge in selling.

Silver prices recently reached record highs. As a result, many investors decided to cash out. They brought bags of old U.S. coinage to local coin shops across the country.

…

In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, CoinWeek is pleased to present a bit of numismatic history on the Irish nation’s favorite saint.

The Irish Coin that Helped Solve Colonial America’s Money Shortage

Few colonial coins carry a story as dramatic as the St. Patrick Farthing. Struck in Ireland during the 17th century, this unusual coin traveled across the Atlantic and became one of the earliest forms of money used in what is now the United States.

The series is famous for its striking religious imagery, its connection to early New Jersey history, and its appearance in three metals: copper, silver, and gold. Most collectors encounter the copper version. However, silver pieces are scarce and the gold issue is unique.

Together they form one of the most intriguing chapters in colonial numismatics.

Irish Origins in the Mid-17th Century

The St. Patrick Farthing was struck in Dublin, Ireland, likely between 1658 and…

By Kyle Clifford Knapp for PCGS ……

From The PCGS Coin Grading Room

One of the many dreaded PCGS No Grades that may prevent a coin from receiving a numeric (70-point Sheldon) grade is surface smoothing. Considered a subcategory of “damage” due to the physical movement of metal involved, smoothing is a commonly encountered problem on issues from the early United States Mint and is seen on rarities from other eras as well. Basic familiarity with the appearance of such alterations can prevent unpleasant surprises in grading results and give one a better grasp on the condition and value of an affected example.

Repaired 1795 Flowing Hair Dollar. Courtesy of PCGS. Smoothing with Heat

Perhaps the oldest form of surface smoothing is simple heating or melting. This method is similar to some well-known methods of jewelry repair, wherein the metal is raised to a high temperature, at which point it becomes malleable and can be tapped, scraped, or otherwise manip…

By CoinWeek Staff

The rare coin market kicked off 2026 with a bang. At the Heritage Auctions FUN Signature Sale, a stunning 1804 Class III Draped Bust Dollar, one of just sixteen known examples of the date, stole the spotlight, hammering at a jaw-dropping $3,538,000. The sale marked the return of the storied Adams-Carter specimen, last seen on the block in 2009 when it sold for $2.3 million.

Coin Photo Heritage – Image by CoinWeek – 1804 Class III Draped Bust Dollar Adams-Carter Specimen PCGS PR-58

This wasn’t just a win for one coin. It was a monumental week for the hobby. When the final gavel fell on all sessions, including Ellsworth & Jacobson’s Special Collections and the U.S. Currency Signature® Auction, the combined total surged to $63,386,877.

Let’s break down the highlights from what may be the strongest across-the-board numismatic auction in recent memory.

The 1804 Dollar: The King Still Rules

Few coins in American numisma…

A Milestone of Early American Enterprise

Few coins capture the birth of American private gold coinage like the 1830 Templeton Reid $2.50. Struck in Georgia during the nation’s first gold rush, this quarter eagle stands at the crossroads of frontier ingenuity, constitutional debate, and the urgent need for circulating money.

Coin Photo by Stack’s Bowers – Image by CoinWeek – 1830 Templeton Reid $2.50. AU-58 (PCGS). CAC.

The example offered in the February 2026 Showcase Auction from Stack’s Bowers Galleries brings that story into sharp focus.

Georgia Gold Before the Branch Mints

America’s earliest gold discoveries unfolded in the Carolinas at the turn of the 19th century. Soon after, similar geology revealed rich deposits in northern Georgia. As miners poured into Cherokee lands around 1829–1830, raw gold flooded local markets. Yet turning dust and nuggets into spendable money proved difficult and slow.

That gap invited innovation. Temple…

1972-S Eisenhower Dollar “Clover Leaf” Error. Image: Mike Byers / CoinWeek.

“Clover leaf” Error By Mike Byers for Mint Error News ……

This remarkable “clover leaf” mint error features a Proof Eisenhower Dollar mated planchet set. The error formed when three planchets of different denominations entered the striking chamber at the same time. The set includes two copper-alloy cent planchets and one copper-nickel nickel planchet struck together during a single Proof strike.

How the Clover Leaf Error Occurred

Eisenhower Dollars require a large, dollar-sized planchet that fits securely inside the striking collar. In this case, three smaller planchets replaced the correct dollar planchet. Because cent and nickel planchets measure far smaller than a dollar planchet, they could not seat properly within the collar. Instead, the planchets overlapped inside the striking area before the dies closed.

Evidence of a Single Str…