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181 Year Old Shipwreck Yields Some of the Rarest US coins Ever Found
Posted by Derek Sawchenko on
On June 14th, 1838, a boiler explosion caused the Pulaski Steamship to sink approximately 30 miles off the coast of North Carolina. Two-thirds of the passengers and crew on-board were lost as a result of this disaster.
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- Tags: Gold, Shipwreck Coins, Silver
The Gold Bullion Act of 1985 & the Birth of the American Gold Eagle
Posted by Derek Sawchenko on
During the 1980s, the South African Gold Krugerrand and the Canadian Gold Maple Leaf were extremely popular coins in the United States. In 1984, over $600 million worth of Krugerrands were marketed in the United States. However, people began to react to the racial tensions in South Africa and sales plummeted. Eventually, President Reagan banned the Krugerrands as a way of taking an economic stand against the South African government. This crippled the South African mint as half of their sales were derived from the United States.
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- Tags: Coin History, Gold
1943 Copper Penny Found in a High School Cafeteria Set to Fetch Millions at Auction
Posted by Derek Sawchenko on
In 1947, Don Lutes Jr. bought lunch from his high school cafeteria and noticed something strange about his change. One of the pennies he received had a copper tint to it. Normally, this would be fine for most pennies, however, the date on this penny was 1943. Lutes Jr. knew that pennies from that date were always made of steel. This was due to the Military's needs during World War II.
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- Tags: Coin Auctions, Numismatics
The Coins that Saved a Soldier's Life
Posted by Derek Sawchenko on
At the beginning of World War I, Optatius Buyssens was on a scouting mission for the Belgian Army. Unfortunately, the Belgian and French Franc coins that were in his breast pocket were jingling enough for a German soldier to hear them. As a result, Buyssens was shot and fell to the ground. The German soldier proceeded to kick him in the head to confirm his death and went on his way. Ironically, the same coins that got Buyssens in trouble were the same coins that saved his life. The bullet ricocheted off of 6 coins, which was just enough to...
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- Tags: Coin History
A Farewell to Mint Sculpt Engraver Charles Vickers
Posted by Derek Sawchenko on
Charles L. Vickers had a long and illustrious career in numismatic coins. After his service in the Army, Vickers attended the Art Students League, Frank Reilly School of Art, the Pratt Institute, and the School of Visual Arts.
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- Tags: Mint Designers