Market Report - July 2009

ANA Summer Seminar

With summer upon us, we tend to relax and take it easy for a few weeks. This year I spent my relaxing weeks at the ANA Summer Seminar teaching a small but dedicated class all about Flying Eagle and Indian Cents. It was enjoyable for all. We tried not to go into information that was in the books. The hands-on approach is much better, so they learned about grading, counterfeits, problem coins and how to assemble a collection of beautiful coins regardless of the grade/price range. We talked about the market, history the monetary forces behind the coins.

I am using the remainder of the summer for finishing the last attribution guide - 1890-1909. I expect it to be ready before the end of the year.

By now you have no doubt seen my new web site. It has many new features that I hope you will find useful. You can sort the coins by year or value as well as the order they were listed. It has an automated check out system, which I was reluctant to add. I prefer to talk to collectors who order coins, rather than have an automated system. You can use it, but please feel free to call to discuss any coin. You can even make comments on coins you like.

The ordering system does not ask for Credit Card information. We prefer to keep that information off-line. Once you have given us this information through a secure method, like over the phone, you can just let us know that you want to charge the order and it will be done. Please feel free to offer any ideas on changes you would like to see.

If you want to make a counter-offer on any coin, please feel free to do so. Also, if you would like to see a coin offered at a special discount price. Please let me know and I'll reduce the price for all to see. My monthly market reports can be found under the articles link at the top of each page.

At the ANA Summer Seminar, I spoke with John Albanese about his CAC and Photo Seal. He was impressed with the constancy of the coins that I have Photo Sealed for the past 14 years. He said he would honor his bids for a Photo Sealed coin as if it were a CAC coin. This means that you don't need to duplicate efforts by sending a Photo Sealed coin to CAC. However, I cannot make the return offer for CAC coins. One of the reasons Photo Seal works is because I have seen every one. The new Pink Sheet is now on-line on the web site under pricing.

Also at the Seminar, I spoke with John Dannreuther who said that it has been decided that PCGS will start designating 1856 Flying Eagles as SP for Specimen, instead of MS or PR. They will automatically add the snow number. The current market situation has four values for 1856 Flying Eagles - S3 in MS holders, S3 in PR holders, S9 in MS holders and S9 in PR holders. There are also the other rare die pairs that will now be cataloged automatically by their Snow number rather than their format. This will create more demand for the various die pairs, with the S3 being the most desired.

The ANA World's Fair of Money in Los Angeles is proving to be another great event. I hope you plan on attending. If you do please stop by our table and say hello! Lastly, as you may recall, nearly 5 years ago Tucson was the epicenter of a great variety find in the Wisconsin Extra Leaf Quarters. I have made a You Tube video of this find explaining once and for all how they were made. I also explain the early pricing history of these coins. The links are presently on the home page of the web site.        

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