The 2020 World’s Fair of Money That Never Was
The August sales that took place without the annual ANA show demonstrated a strong demand for quality coins By Jeff Garrett for Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC) …… Last week should have been the highlight of my numismatic year. Every summer since 1974, I [...]
The Rare Coin Market and the Hobby Move Online
Markets are being tested by the COVID-19 crisis; so far, the rare coin market is passing The internet has been one of the most significant driving forces for numismatics since the late 1990s. Indeed, the hobby has been forever changed [...]
Bidding at Auction, In Person and Online
The numismatic market is alive and well, with recent auctions proving its strength and resilience. As I write this article, most rare coin professionals and collectors around the world are sheltered in trying to weather the effects of the coronavirus [...]
The Long and Short of Coin Collecting in Times of Uncertainty
There is no denying that we in America are currently consumed by media coverage of coronavirus. The slow drip of bad news accelerated last week when the stock market plunged due to fears of shutdowns and deep economic damage. Anyone [...]
Jeff Garrett: The Superstar $4 Stella, 1879-1880
Very few United States coins inspire the awe and fascination of the 1879 and 1880 $4 gold coins, otherwise known as “Stellas”. These enigmatic coins are far beyond the financial reach of most collectors. But that hasn’t stopped the Stella [...]
The Smithsonian National Numismatic Collection
Spring is fast approaching and for many that means a trip to our nation’s capital to see the cherry blossoms and to visit the many free Smithsonian Museums. There will also be millions of young people taking the traditional eighth [...]
Coin Collecting by Die Variety
Variety is the spice of life — and coin collecting. Over the last several months, a client of mine has taken a deep dive into collecting Morgan Silver Dollars. This client is quite studious and has spent considerable time learning [...]
The Challenges of Circulated Coinage
Take the scenic route when collecting circulated coins. The most common advice any experienced numismatist will dispense is “buy the best you can afford.” I have shared this particular nugget of wisdom many times myself. In practice, it usually means [...]
A Christmas Miracle and Lessons Learned
Last week, I experienced one of the most amazing events of my 45-year numismatic career. While I have often said that every day in my profession is like the Antiques Roadshow, seldom does something come out of left field that [...]