I just got back from Baltimore, where I attended the Whitman Coin and Collectibles Expo. It’s a major coin show that occurs three times a year, drawing dealers and collectors from all over the country. I particularly enjoy this show, as I always seem to find great deals there. I also get to catch up with some of my old east coast friends who don’t venture beyond the northeast—and they generally hook me up with some neat coins that they have been saving for me.
This particular convention was quite exciting. I scrutinized thousands of coins, but only purchased a selection that had great eye appeal. I passed on many coins that didn’t meet my standards, but I did buy about 200 coins that I thought were really cool. These coins are being offered on both our live TV shows and the Internet Only Coin Show, so I hope you enjoy these coins as much as I do.
There is one particular coin I didn’t buy, but it will always stick in my mind. It was a 1907 Ultra High Relief St. Gaudens Double Eagle, graded PCGS PR69. This is a mind-blowing coin. When Augustus St. Gaudens designed his version of the twenty dollar gold piece his initial version was in very high relief. There were only about 20 of these coins ever made with extremely raised devices and deeply dished fields. The normally circulating St. Gaudens Double Eagle is considered by many to be the most beautiful U.S. coin. You can imagine what it looks like in extremely high relief. Now consider how breathtaking this great rarity would be if graded Proof 69—virtually perfect. Needless to say, this coin is hands down the finest known, and it was not very surprising to me when it sold for the spectacular price of 2.7 million dollars!
Baltimore was a great success, but it’s time for me to move on. I’m back in California preparing some great shows, but my stay in the office will be short lived. The ANA World Fair of Money, which is the biggest coin show of the year, is this month. This show is in a different city each year. This year, it’s being held in the great historic center of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, so check back in a few weeks for an update.
Until then—happy collecting!
You can contact Jack at jack@artandcointv.com
