Numismatic News

The United States Mint is seeking applicants for appointment to the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC) as a member representing the interests of the general public. The deadline to email submissions is no later than 5 p.m. EST on Oct. 18. The Mint will review all applications and will forward recommendations to the Secretary of the Treasury for consideration. The CCAC is composed of 11 members: one specially qualified in numismatic collection curation, one specially qualified in the medallic arts or sculpture, one specially qualified in American history, one specially qualified in numismatics, three individuals appointed to represent the interests of the general public and four individuals recommended by the leadership of both the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate. Members are appointed for a term…

The Presidential silver medal honoring Grover Cleveland will be available from the U.S. Mint on Oct. 2. Cleveland was an American politician who served as the 22nd and 24th president of the United States from 1885 to 1889 and from 1893 to 1897. He was the only president in U.S. history to serve non-consecutive terms. In the years before his presidency, Cleveland served as mayor of Buffalo and as governor of New York, winning fame as an anti-corruption crusader. Cleveland was the first Democrat elected president after the Civil War and one of only two Democrats to serve as president between 1869 and 1933. Despite serving only two terms, he won the popular vote in three presidential elections: 1884, 1888 and 1892. The medal’s obverse depicts a bust of Grover…

Here are some answers sent from our e-newsletter readers. Read more responses at www.numismaticnews.com. Is toning on a coin desirable, or should it be removed? Why? It’s beautiful, don’t clean it. Karl MitchellAddress withheld I think toning is fine. Toning usually adds to the attractiveness of a coin. Leave toning alone. Also, wouldn’t removing the toning damage the coin during the process? K.E.Germantown, Ohio Toning should remain on the coin as it enhances the beauty of it! Jerry RemaleyAddress withheld Natural toning is beautiful. Leave coin alone. True antiquing. Mel KoonAddress withheld I consider the toning surface damage and stay away from these coins. If there were a process to restore the surface without getting a third-party grader branding it “Cleaned,” I would then consider the coin. Richard BumpusMarion, Mass.…

How Coin Dealers Could Be More Successful at Coin Shows I have been attending coin shows for many years. I enjoy helping promoters put on shows and observing commerce in action. Promoters conscientiously work hard to put on a successful show and become distraught when an attending dealer expresses unhappiness. To a smart business person, an unhappy customer is always concerning. I always root for dealers to have a successful coin show because they are instrumental in making shows possible. Their table fees pay for the venue and deliver funds that enable sponsoring coin clubs to continue operating and for professional show promoters to hold shows. Most importantly, dealers sell the coins that enable collectors to enjoy the hobby! When I hear a dealer complain that a show was not…

One longtime numismatist, one budding collector and five enthusiastic and highly involved hobbyists were recognized with American Numismatic Association (ANA) awards for their devotion to the hobby. The Numismatist of the Year was awarded during the Chicago World’s Fair of Money 133rd Anniversary Awards Banquet. The Young Numismatist of the Year was presented during this year’s Summer Seminar event. The Glenn Smedley Memorial Awards were presented during the Chicago World’s Fair of Money Member Awards and Donor Celebration. The Numismatist of the Year award recognizes collectors at the regional and/or national level who have demonstrated outstanding leadership within the hobby and the ANA. The 2024 recipient is numismatic author and U.S. gold coin expert Doug Winter. A member of the ANA since 1973, Winter has published over a dozen specialty…

■ Are all the signatures appearing on Confederate bank notes genuine, or are some of them facsimile signatures? Almost all Confederate bank notes were signed by hand in Richmond, Va. The Register and Treasurer signed the first six notes themselves, all others being signed by a bank of female clerks. It has been estimated that there were about 200 clerks that were assigned to sign each denomination. The exception was the 50-cent notes. These notes have facsimile signatures of Robert Tyler and Edward C. Elmore. The notes were likewise serial-numbered by hand, then cut from the sheets on which they were printed. ■ Was there anyone outside the South who printed some of the Confederacy’s bank notes? Confederate bank notes were printed in Richmond by Archer & Daly; Archer &…