Pinnacle Rarities News & Blog

We are excited to announce the purchase of this high-grade collection of PCGS Silver Commemoratives.  Assembled by a collector over the past fifteen years, every coin is wonderfully preserved and graded either MS67 or MS68 by PCGS (with the exception of 4 graded by NGC).  The collector always focused on obtaining the very finest quality possible.  For example he owned one of only four Elgins that PCGS awarded a MS68.  The set contains several fabulous Bruce Scher pedigreed examples, as well as a few from both the JFS and Jewell collections.  He was almost halfway to completion on the 144 piece set, but eventually decided to pursue other numismatic interests.   We have been working with this client for the past dozen years, so were thrilled when offered the opportunity to buy this special group of coins. We know you will enjoy browsing this assemblage of superb, finest known issues.

Click Here to View the Collection

Article written by: Dan Duncan

The just concluded American Numismatic Association annual Money Show isn't known for the large public draw of its summer counterpart. It has the great exhibits; it travels to different locations annually to test the collector public from various regions; and it generally has a solid auction. But despite the top-notch work the ANA puts into the show, having a great retail event in New Orleans may be too much to ask. Public attendance was low. However, not all was lost. For Pinnacle, our show presence isn't contingent on making sales to collectors. We focus as much on buying, and building relationships with clients and collectors--sometimes meeting new ones, sometimes putting faces to names or reacquainting with a few we may not have seen in a decade or more. If you made it out, it was a pleasure meeting with you. If you didn't, consider next year's Money Show to be held in Atlanta, GA.

After a few days in the Big Easy, we had caught up on the latest industry news and gossip. Hands down, the hot topic was the Marketplace Fairness Act, which grants state governments the authority to collect sales tax on transactions from remote sellers, particularly online retailers. Yet this bill doesn't only affect Internet businesses. It includes all phone and mail orders, even when the vendor has no online presence. The bill refers to "remote sales" as any transaction done outside your home state. The U.S. Senate passed a version and the House of Representatives has their version (HR684) in committee. It is obvious the adverse impact this will have on our hobby, so we urge you to contact your Representative to ask them to vote this business-crippling Act down.

The second topic of discussion (true for most trips to New Orleans) was the food. I have not been to New Orleans since Katrina. Downtown has recovered; Bourbon Street is as wild as ever; and the food at every restaurant we happened into served mouth watering Cajun delights.

The market keeps chugging along. Dealers and collectors alike complain about the lack of availability. Part of the problem from a wholesale standpoint is the proliferation of shows during this time of year. Many of the inventories we looked through contained the same items we saw in Schaumburg just a couple weeks ago. Quite a few dealers didn't bother making the trip, instead taking the week off looking toward upcoming shows or refueling after CSNS and EAC shows from the previous weeks. While we found a few interesting items, as we always do, the majority of our inventory continues to be acquired directly from our collector clients who, we might add, have wonderful taste. New purchases will continue to post throughout the week, including a fabulous, high-grade silver commemorative collection, so stay tuned.

The Central States Numismatic Society's convention is perennially a great show.  No matter the location (and Schaumburg's just about the worst), every major dealer turns up to do business and this year was no exception.  It is routinely our third best show of the year, after FUN and the summer ANA.  Obviously, others agree, as the CSNS auctions tend to be overflowing with coins.  This year, there was not only quantity, but also quality, both on the floor and in the auction.  Besides the Walton 1913 Liberty nickel, which sold for $3,172,500, two other coins as well as a pattern brought more than a million dollars apiece in Heritage's sale.  While we didn't obtain any of the seven-figure items, we were phenomenally busy from the Tuesday before the show started until Saturday, both buying and selling.

We were surprised at how much of our inventory sold by the end of Wednesday to fellow dealers before the general public was allowed on the bourse.  One dealer commented that we had the nicest and freshest coins on the floor, which we can attribute to the continued acquisitions we make from clients with whom we've placed coins over the past two decades. It's gratifying to know that we are many collectors' first choice when it comes time to sell.  We've said it before, but we can't stress often enough that our success has to do with the valued relationships we've established with our clients.  It still surprises us how few dealers are willing to buy back (not simply take on consignment) every single coin they've ever sold.  We have always done so and always will.  And as we make sure we like what we sell, we are always happy to do so.

While our show purchases are usually posted to the web the week immediately following the show, we have about 150 new coins this time, so we are going to hold off on mentioning an interesting collection we acquired.  Look for another email from us after next week's New Orleans ANA when we'll be able to give it the time it deserves.  In the meantime, enjoy the interesting selection of new purchases that will continue to post until late Friday afternoon.  By tomorrow, we should have nearly 100 new purchases for your perusal.    Our new acquisitions include quite a few lovely Silver Commems, some great Buffalo nickels, Mercury dimes and Walkers, along with some stunning Barber and Seated type material.  We also picked up a handful of highly pleasing Capped Bust material, and a few interesting gold coins, including a spectacular 1905 $10 Liberty in PCGS MS67.  While we think we may indeed have something for everyone, if you don't see what you are looking for, please let us know.  Dan and Matt are off to the New Orleans ANA next week for more numismatic excitement.  We look forward to hearing from you.

The recently concluded March show was the most active Baltimore show we've had in several years.  It didn't hurt that our inventory is at its largest (ever), but there was definitely a confidence shown by collectors that wasn't quite so widely present from 2009 through 2012.  We aren't sure if it's a general confidence in the overall economy, or an increased focus to divert assets into tangibles over inflation fears.  But, there was an unmistakable buzz in the air.  We are also getting more orders from new clients back at the office.  So, for whatever reasons, the market appears to be off to a great start this year.

In particular, we have seen great demand across all 20th Century type coins in finest and near finest conditions.  We have had the good fortune to have acquired collections of Standing Liberty Quarters and Buffalo nickels, for which sales have been brisk. Lincoln cents, Mercury Dimes, Washington Quarters and Walking Liberty Halves are all experiencing robust demand.  Silver Commemoratives are finally starting to show increases in price, after a continual slide that lasted about a decade (except for the top pops).  Although generic gold has still been sluggish as bullion prices haven't seen any movement in well over a year, rare date, early, and proof gold issues remain easier to sell then buy.  We would love to fill our inventory with such pieces, but opportunities to acquire them are outpaced by collectors with want lists in place with orders.

As always, the biggest complaint from dealers in Baltimore was finding enough quality material.  While we are fortunate to have made many valuable dealer connections over the years, we have no doubt that our success stems from the fabulous coins we get back from our clients...even many coins we didn't sell to them originally. We depend on these valuable relationships to fulfill our goal of bringing you a wide array of fabulous numismatic treasures.  Thank you to those of you who have been sending amazing coins our way.  In many respects, what we do is as much (or more) about relationships than coins.  Either way, we have been exceedingly lucky so far this year with both the strength of the market and the coins that we've been able to handle.

We are frequently asked by our newer clientele how often we post coins.  The answer is pretty much every day! While we tend to have a consistent amount of fresh purchases after every show, we actually buy as much or more in the office.  So check back often, or if you would prefer, you can always let us know what you are looking for and we will notify you before those coins post online.  Many of our best coins are sold directly to clients before ever making it to the web.  Right now, we have one of our most diverse inventory selections ever. So enjoy browsing and we look forward to hearing from you.

Click Here to see the New Purchases.

As a continuation of the drive to beautify the nation’s coinage that began with Teddy Roosevelt and Augustus Saint-Gaudens revamping the gold denominations, all five minor U.S. coins received design upgrades between 1909 and 1916. In 1913, Charles E. Barber’s Liberty Head nickel was replaced by the Buffalo nickel of sculptor James Earle Fraser, who formerly worked as Saint-Gaudens’ assistant. The obverse renders an authentic portrait of a Native American warrior facing right and the initial reverse (Type 1) depicts a bison on a raised mound.  As the words “FIVE CENTS” were quickly showing wear on the initial design, a modification (Type 2) removing the mound was made by Charles Barber.

Over 1.2 billion Buffalo Nickels were minted at three Mints: Philadelphia, San Francisco and Denver.  Circulation strikes were issued from 1913 through 1938.  In most years they were struck at all three active Mints, but none at all were produced in 1922, 1932 and 1933.  Additionally, Denver didn’t mint any for the years 1921, 1923, 1930 and 1931.  The Philly mint struck no nickels in 1931 and the final year, 1938.  And San Francisco didn’t create any in 1934 or 1938.  The 1938-D/S was produced when it was decided that Buffalo nickel dies would not be sent to San Francisco during the issue’s final year.  Reverse dies earmarked for San Francisco were instead repunched with D’s and produced in Denver.  There are a total of 64 regular issues spanning 23 production years.

Proofs were struck from 1913 until 1916 and again in 1936 and 1937. Mintages range from a low of 600 for the 1916 to a high of 5,769 for the final proof issue in 1937.  (In the late 1980s, five 1927 so-called Specimens were also discovered.)  Proofs from 1913 to 1916 display a matte finish and exhibit a slight granularity and frostiness.  For the most part, this style was not favored by collectors, and mintages declined steadily due to weak demand.  After a twenty year hiatus, Proof sales resumed with the more traditional “brilliant” or reflective style, which was much more favorably received.  There are actually two different Proof varieties in 1936: The Type 1, Satin finish, which is semi-prooflike; and the Type 2, Brilliant finish, which is more highly mirrored and reflective.  The 1937 also features the Brilliant finish.

The Buffalo nickel has been resurrected not once, but twice – the first time as a 2001 commemorative silver dollar, and again in 2006 as a $50 gold bullion coin proving its enduring appeal. The series hailed from the time when renowned artists created some of numismatics’ all-time best designs.  We are pleased to provide you with a wide selection of over forty coins from one of the series’ premier aficionados, Gerald Forsythe.  Jerry has been collecting this series for decades and holds the honor of number one finest PCGS Registry sets (of all time) not only for this series, but for Mercury dimes and Walking Liberty halves.  When he has a few too many duplicates, we find those pieces good new homes.  So enjoy this unusually nice selection of one of America’s most beloved coins.

Click Here to view the coins for sale

Article written by: Kathleen Duncan

Since returning from the FUN show last month, we have been extremely busy with both purchases and sales.  This is particularly true amongst the fabulous Rollo Fox Standing Liberty quarters, with most selling in under a month.  Coins across all metals and denominations are moving better than this time last year.  In particular, Silver Commemoratives are beginning to increase in price, which is a first in over a decade.  As gold and silver prices continue to stagnate, we can only assume the activeness in rare coins stems from a push into hard assets from collectors’ increasingly widespread concerns of inflation.

We arrived Tuesday, a day before dealer setup, to get first or an early shot on dealers’ material.  Business was extremely active from the time the show opened, until we left Friday afternoon.  Dealers came by to offer us fresh deals, and clients were actively searching for the perfect treasures to add to their collections.  It was the most active Long Beach show we’ve had in a half dozen years.  Not only were we able to do business with many of our regular clientele, we met and transacted business with numerous new collectors.  The bourse had a nice buzz, which we don’t recall existing at Long Beach for a very long time.

Our purchases include a wide assortment of interesting rarities, from a handful of better-date Standing Liberty quarters, to some nice Seated and Barber type, to several high-grade Lincoln and Indian cents, and of course, a spectacular selection of Walkers and Commems.  New coins are continuing to post, so be sure to check back often.  We look forward to hearing from you.

Click Here to view our New Purchases.

You can now refine your search with our Advanced Search feature on our Home Page.  Just scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on either Advanced Search link, as show below:

You will then be directed to the Advanced Search page where you can refine your search with various options as shown below:

If you have any questions regarding the Advanced Search page or any other feature, please feel free to contact us.

Rollo Fox has assembled some amazing PCGS Registry collections over the years.  His Standing Liberty Quarters, which rank as the Number One Finest Set of All Time for the series with major varieties, are a testament to his attention to detail.  He has a knack of collecting numismatic designs that are often called America’s most beautiful, with strong sets of Saint Gaudens Double Eagle and Indian $10 designs. We are pleased to present this spectacular collection of one of America’s most beautiful coins.

Historical Notes:

With the three new silver coins of 1916—quarter, half and dime—designs for the regular issues of American gold, silver and bronze had been placed almost completely in the hands of artists outside the Mint. The artistic renderings of A. A. Weinman for the dime and half and Hermon Atkins MacNeil for the quarter, along with the renowned works by Augustus Saint Gaudens, are numismatics’ most honored, as vastly more artistic than those produced prior or since.

MacNeil’s Liberty strides strongly forward, holding a shield in one hand and an olive branch in the other.  Her shield is emblazoned with the United States stars and stripes.  The first coins struck in 1916 and 1917 depict her chest uncovered, but a redesign early in 1917 covered her upper torso in chain mail, providing the series with two major design types.  She symbolized the nation’s awareness and preparedness for battle and its equal readiness to provide peace, as the United States was on the brink of joining with Allied forces in the World War that had begun in 1914.   An eagle in flight, surrounded by thirteen stars representing the original colonies, is beautifully rendered on the reverse.

Standing Liberty Quarters were struck at the Philadelphia Mint from 1916 until 1930 with the exception of only 1922, when no quarters were struck at any mint.  Strikings at Denver and San Francisco were more sporadic.  There are 37 regular strikes as well as one overdate: a 1917-S Type 2 die, unused by the San Francisco Mint, was recut and used to strike several thousand 1918-S coins, creating a rare variety and the most challenging issue in the series.  Other Keys are the 1916, which saw a low production of 52,000 pieces, and the 1927-S.

Collectors pay considerable premiums for examples with strong striking on Liberty’s head.  To qualify for “Full Head” status, the three springs on Liberty’s cap and her earhole must be present, along with her complete hairline.  Coins without the Full Head designation can be picked up at dramatic discounts, offering good values for those examples that have most of the characteristics.  Strong shield rivets are another important collector consideration.

View Available Coins from the Set Here.

From dealer setup Wednesday until Saturday afternoon, trading was incredibly brisk at last week’s 2013 Florida United Numismatic convention.  The total number of booths was an astounding 614, a record for the venue.  The show also hosted a huge array of educational exhibits, spanning 223 cases.  This is a convention in which it is virtually impossible to see every table and exhibit.  Rarely for us, in fact, were there any opportunities to roam the bourse, as dealers and collectors alike kept us at the table doing business.  No other show besides the summer A.N.A. is as well attended and it was one of the busiest shows we have had in the past five years.

Coins of all denominations and price ranges, even a couple of our six-figure items, were generating interest and sales were robust.  We also purchased a tremendous amount of amazing material, many coming from our fastidious clientele.  Thanks to those of you who continue to supply us with some of the finest numismatic material on the marketplace.  Perhaps the most exciting item purchased was the Fox Collection of Standing Liberty Quarters with Major Varieties, Circulated Strikes, ranked as the Number One Finest Set of All Time on the PCGS Registry.  Another highlight of our show acquisitions is a spectacular 1797 50c PCGS XF45.  With over 100 new purchases, we will be continuing to add items to our site throughout the week, so check back often.  We look forward to hearing from you and to a fabulous 2013.

2012 will go down as a monumental year for Pinnacle Rarities. It is amazing how fast this year has flown by. Over the last twelve months we have seen a number of highs and lows, as well as the launch of our new website, which we continue to work diligently to fill with classic rarities. Most important,  we have had the pleasure of assisting hundreds of collectors build their collections and have been lucky enough to manage the sale of thousands of coins, each in their own right incredible numismatic treasures.

One of our 2012 numismatic highlights included the purchase of the San Diego Collection of Twenty Cent pieces. This collection was listed as the number two Registry set for Circulation Strikes (1875-1876). Only lacking the uber-rare 1876-CC (12 est. known) this collection was painstakingly assembled with each piece an exquisite example of this obsolete denomination.

We also handled a number of individual rarities from across the numismatic spectrum, from amazing type examples like the 1794 Flowing Hair Half in PCGS AU58, and 1795 Flowing Hair ‘3 Leaf’ Dollar PCGS AU58 to scarce gold like the near gem 1802/1 $5 PCGS MS64 and the blazing 1931-D $20 Saint PCGS MS65.

Over the summer, we helped master numismatist Gerald Forsythe hone his collection.  He allowed us to trade select specimens from his holdings, including the 1916 Pattern Walking Liberty Half – one of only 3 known. This historic item was the final pattern representation of the Walking Liberty Half design that was eventually put into production.  His duplicates also contained a surprising number of rarities from the Walker and Mercury dime series, many of which were finest known.  One particular favorite was an amazing 1939 50c PCGS MS68+.

The Fall found a long-time client from the Southwest selling us portions of his goldcollection, which had been off the market since the 1990’s. Highlights from this group included the aforementioned 1931-D Saint, but also some amazing gem $2.5, $5 and$10 Indians.

Of course, our favorite numismatic event of 2012 was acquiring the Bruce Scher Collection of All-Time-Finest 144 Piece Silver Commemorative collection.  This PCGS Hall of Fame collection was described by PCGS as “quite simply the finest ever assembled.” They go on to say, “The Scher set stands above all others as the finest silver commemorative set of all-time.” We couldn't agree more!

This high point was unfortunately overshadowed by the unexpected passing of Bruce this month. This sobering reality is difficult to process, especially during this festive season. So let us all remember the things near and dear. May your season be one of giving and thanks and may you enjoy the holidays with those you cherish most. A very big thanks to all of you for your patronage. We look forward to 2013 and many more years sharing in your numismatic endeavors.