
What may be America’s oldest silver dollar has become the world’s most expensive coin, with its owner saying it changed hands in a private transaction between coin collectors for nearly $8 million.
Steven L. Contursi, who has owned the mint-condition 1794 Liberty dollar for the past seven years, confirmed Thursday he has sold it to the Cardinal Collection Educational Foundation of Sunnyvale for $7.85 million.
The previous record price paid for a coin was $7,5 million for a U.S.-minted 1933 $20 gold piece, according to the American Numismatic Association.
Numismatics expert say the 1794 coin, if not the first U.S. silver dollar ever minted, is clearly the first of the approximately 150 still in existence.
Source: AP via PressofAC.com
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FRN by jasonogrady —
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January 8, 2009
The following email started making the rounds in November 2008. It is categorized by rumor-busting Snopes.com as “undetermined” and was submitted by ACNS member Joe Gurrier.
The gist of the story is that the rear of the circulating $1 Federal Reserve Note features an arrangement of 13 stars in the form of a Star of David in the right-hand circle above the eagle.
According to the circulating email “this was ordered by George Washington who, when he asked Hayim Solomon, a wealthy Philadelphia Jew, what he would like as a personal reward for his services to the Continental Army, Solomon said he wanted nothing for himself but that he would like something for his people. The Star of David was the result.”
The full email follows…
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Minting of Presidential $1 Coins have hit a new low, according to the latest production figures by the United States Mint.
The series, which started in 2007 with over 340,000 George Washington Presidential coins, has experienced a production decline with each succeeding $1 release, with the exception of the Jackson dollar.
Van Buren production is down by more than one-third compared to Washington dollar figures, as the following table reveals.
Tip: CoinNews.net
The Senate on Saturday joined the House in passing legislation that seeks to commemorate the centennial of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) with 350,000 silver dollar coins in 2010.
The bill, named the Boy Scouts of America Centennial Commemorative Coin Act or H.R. 5872, has overwhelming support and now moves to its next step — congressional packaging for the President, who is expected to sign it into law.
Congressman Pete Sessions [R-TX] introduced the legislation in April and said,
Source: CoinNews.net
WASHINGTON – The United States Mint has chosen four pilot cities to test new efforts to encourage regular use of the $1 Coin. A series of events at popular attractions and retailers, as well as television, radio, newspaper and online communications, seeks to make residents of Austin, Texas; Grand Rapids, Michigan; Portland, Oregon; and Charlotte, North Carolina, aware of the benefits of regularly using the $1 Coin. The campaign begins this month.
“This is the first program of its kind to inspire shoppers, diners and commuters to use $1 Coins in their normal, everyday activities,” said United States Mint Director Ed Moy. “When each of us spends the $1 Coin, we make a difference for our country, because the $1 Coin is durable and using it saves the Nation money. We hope our pilot cities lead the change!”
The $1 Coin lasts for decades and is 100 percent recyclable, so using it can save the country billions of dollars over the years.

The U.S. Mint has expanded their Circulating $1 Coin Direct Ship Program. This program makes it easy for retailers, financial institutions, and other interested parties to obtain smaller quantities of $1 coins than can otherwise be obtained from the Federal Reserve.
The $1 Coin Direct Ship Program provides individualized service to the financial community and other interested parties who wish to acquire $1 coins at face value in smaller quantities than currently available to financial institutions.
The circulating Presidential $1 Coins will be available in 25-coin rolls packaged in quantities of 10 rolls per box, priced at $250 face value. The coins will not be separated by mint mark. Customers may order up to 500 $1 coins (two boxes) within any given Presidential $1 Coin issuance period.
Originally started on 11 June 2008 the program was limited to John Quincy Adams dollar coins which quickly sold out.
On 21 August 2008 the program was expanded to include Presidential dollar coins for:
- George Washington
- John Adams
- Thomas Jefferson
- James Madison
- James Monroe
- John Quincy Adams
- Andrew Jackson
All are now sold out with the exception of Andrew Jackson who’s dollars coins are still available at face value. Get them while you can folks!
The United States Mint announced a new program to ship circulating Presidential $1 Coins directly to retail establishments, financial institutions, and members of the public.
The $1 Coin Direct Ship Program provides individualized service to the financial community and other interested parties who wish to acquire $1 coins at face value in smaller quantities than currently available to financial institutions.
The circulating Presidential $1 Coins will be available in 25-coin rolls packaged in quantities of 10 rolls per box, priced at $250 face value. The coins will not be separated by mint mark. Customers may order up to 500 $1 coins (two boxes) within any given Presidential $1 Coin issuance period.
The United States Mint will pay shipping and handling fees on orders delivered via standard shipping methods.
- The United States Mint pays for standard shipping and handling of domestic orders. Any special handling will be paid by the customer.
- Orders are limited to two boxes ($500) per President.
- Specific coins are available only while supplies last.
- Please allow approximately 1-2 weeks for shipping.
- All sales are final.
Presidential dollar coins released to date:
John Quincy Adams dollars are currently sold out.
Read the rest of the press release at the U.S. Mint Web site.
I received this email from PCGS today:
New PCGS Bulk Submission Policies Effective July 1, 2008
BULK SUBMISSIONS
Effective July 1, 2008, only PCGS Authorized Dealers may submit coins under the Bulk Submissions program. Collectors Club members who wish to submit coins under the Bulk Submissions program must either become a PCGS Authorized Dealer or submit coins through a PCGS Authorized Dealer.
SPECIAL INSERTS
Effective July 1, 2008, special inserts (First Strike, 50 States Flags, Signature Series, Satin Finish, etc.) will be available only through the Bulk Submissions program and will not be available under any other service level.
These changes are being made to speed up and streamline processing and turnaround times at PCGS. Any bulk submissions received by PCGS or postmarked before July 1 will be processed under the old Bulk Submission program rules.
Beginning May 13, 2008, the United States Mint is shining the spotlight on its Presidential $1 Coin products. Here’s what collectors can expect.
On Tuesday, May 13, the United States Mint will release a second option in the collection, the United States Mint Presidential $1 Coin Historical Signature Set, in honor of John Adams, our Nation’s second President.
This latest product includes a proof version of the John Adams Presidential $1 Coin and an intaglio print of John Adams from the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. The intaglio print is visible from the cover of the textured, leather-like folder of the United States Mint Presidential $1 Coin Historical Signature Set. Inside the folder is the official John Adams Presidential signature, courtesy of the White House Historical Association. A Certificate of Authenticity accompanies each set.
The first option in the collection, the United States Mint Presidential $1 Coin Historical Signature Set – George Washington, is also available.
Source: CoinLink.com
The next Presidential $1 coin to be released is the John Quincy Adams dollar (pictured) which will be released on 15 May 2008. A full release schedule is available on the U.S. Mint Web site.
The United States Mint has announced the upcoming arrival of new Presidential $1 dollar coin products in May.
For some collectors, the announced offerings may come as a bit of a surprise since the Mint is pushing out an additional product as well as the next scheduled coin honoring U.S. Presidents.
They have, in fact, extended their Presidential product line and are spotlighting already released coins in new ways.
Presidential $1 Coin Historical Signature Set
The U.S. Mint had somewhat quietly released a new collection in April called the Presidential $1 Coin Historical Signature Set. It featured George Washington.
Source: CoinNews.net