Numismatic legend Q. David Bowers looks back at what was going on in the hobby in 1955 when the ANA convention was being held in Omaha.

Gene Gardner was a world-class numismatist, but he was also a world-class gentleman and a world-class friend who will be sorely missed.

Horizontal die movements can cause the newly struck coin design to be repositioned, smeared, scraped or even completely erased.

Within the galleries of David Owsley Museum of Art in Muncie, Ind., are dozens of ties to numismatics. The same is likely true of similar museums elsewhere.

It’s time to catch up on the week that was in numismatic insights and news. Coin World is looking back at its five most-read stories of the week.

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Several notable gold medals are crossing the auction block at Stack’s Bowers Galleries’ Aug. 9 evening session at the ANA World’s Fair of Money in Anaheim.

The coin has a great amount of detail, but it is missing the usual “frosted” look of a Proof coin.

If you could write with your change in Columbus, Ohio, you knew were the coins came from — the Ohio Penitentiary.

The winner of the ANA's award honoring a numismatist who has demonstrated long-term leadership is a longtime Coin World columnist.

The half dime’s especially rich provenance goes back to the Richard B. Winsor Collection and then to the Chapman Brothers in 1895.

As we wrap up our series of 'Ugly Duckling' coins that we've seen from the U.S. Mint, lets examine what steps are being taken to avoid them.

This particular example had beautiful sky-blue and lilac toning that is deeper at the edges and softer at the centers.

The U.S. Mint begins accepting applications Aug. 1 from artists interested in being considered to design the three 2018 Breast Cancer Awareness coins.

Heritage described the beautifully toned Trade dollar as an ideal type coin since it is a common date within the series, even in Mint State grades.

Chet was a “people person” par excellence, modest, and always willing to share his intelligence, wisdom and knowledge.

A 1796 Draped Bust quarter and two 1794 Flowing Hair dollars are among the highlights of the Stack's Bowers and Heritage World's Fair of Money sales.

In uncertain times, people buy gold to protect assets. No surprise, gold’s value is up 28 percent this year. Some modern gold commems are valued near melt.

The story of American presidential elections offers fascinating also-rans, candidates defeated in hard-fought elections who then receded from public memory.

Several bills recently introduced in Congress call for congressional gold medals, while an earlier bill is a step closer to becoming law.

The quality of this counterfeit is good, but this type of fake is not extremely deceptive once you know what to look for.

Also this week, readers enjoyed a post about what coins numismatists think are the ugliest in U.S. history.

With billions of State quarters circulating across the country, collectors with discriminating tastes can't avoid seeing the series' ugliest designs.

Mr. Gardner's amazing U.S. coins collection brought $52.8 million across several auctions in 2014 and 2015.

A number of U.S. commemorative coins, classic and modern, were among the issues that frequently came up in our ugly coins survey.

Between 1949 and 1966, St. Louis collector Eric P. Newman and New York dealer John J. Ford Jr. carried on an active and lively correspondence.

Collectors of Draped Bust and Capped Bust half dollars will have dozens to vie for in Sheridan Downey's Aug. 10 mail-bid sale.

Just 424 pieces struck, and many were melted in 1980 and again more recently as gold reached record highs. Still, they sell near spot value.

The hammer die is ordinarily locked into its assembly by a clamp. But any locking mechanism can come loose or break, allowing the die to shift to one side.

The U.S. coins that collectors consider classics today are what got the most mixed responses in our survey seeking to determine the United States' ugliest coin.

PCGS has graded as Mint State 66 what is now the 15th known example of the State quarter dollar obverse-Sacagawea dollar reverse double denomination mule error.

Educational opportunities are on the schedule for the ANA World’s Fair of Money in Anaheim, Calif., including the annual Money Talks presentations.

From the heights of Saint-Gaudens’ 1907 High Relief double eagle, to the lowly Anthony dollar, the U.S. Mint's centuries' worth of work has seen highs and lows.

Both Stack’s Bowers Galleries and Heritage Auctions will be official auctioneers for the massive coin show. And there are several notable lots to keep track of.

The American Numismatic Association heads west to California for its annual World's Fair of Money, scheduled for Anaheim Aug. 9 to 13.

The summer of 2016 could have been my 64th anniversary as a member of the American Numismatic Association.

A 30-ounce gold medal presented in 1852 by the citizens of New York to statesman Henry Clay will be offered at auction Sept. 17.

Also this week we reported on major Mint releases that are still TBD, and the stockpiles of silver bullion that the Mint's authorized purchasers are sitting on.

The U.S. Mint has released official issue dates for the five 2017 America the Beautiful quarter dollars.

Women In Numismatics formed 25 years ago, when women were increasingly visible in participation and leadership in the numismatic community in the United States.

Contact marks are expected for the 1857-S Coronet gold $20 double eagle and an absence should provide cause for suspicion.

The 1892-S Morgan silver dollar attracts skilled attempts at surface improvements and ‘doctoring.’ The light cleaning applied to this one cut its value in half.

Coronet type Brilliant Proof U.S. gold coins are among the most likely candidates for an Altered Surfaces designation because of their easily marred fields.

Reader Andrew Rowell II emailed us images of a much-abused Lincoln cent of uncertain date with a question as to what caused it.

In 1920 and 1921 the Philadelphia Mint struck half dollars celebrating 300 years since Plymouth Colony's founding. Could another anniversary be celebrated?

The Ronald Reagan Coin & Chronicles set, Proof 2016-W American Eagle silver dollar, and American Liberty, High Relief silver medals are among the TBD items.

The American Numismatic Society was homeless for the first 50 years of its existence, meeting here and there in various rooms around New York City. Not anymore.

Also this week, the secondary market for the 2016-W Proof American Eagle platinum coin, which sold out in less than an hour, saw an immediate premium boost.

Changes in the designs of coins and paper currency are well-chronicled today, but not much was written to explain some Colonial coinage changes.

During most of the period that Morgan dollars were produced, four-digit gang punches were used to sink the respective dates into individual working dies.

The 2016 Ronald Reagan Presidential $1 Coin & First Spouse Medal Set released July 5. It will be the last such set issued by the U.S. Mint. Here's why.

Civil War tokens were struck to help meet the needs of commerce during a coin shortage. More than 10,000 types have been documented, some of which are rare.

U.S. Mint officials have been considering how the bureau will resell the unsold coins, which are available due to canceled orders and returns.

Among the most famous Hard Times tokens are those that address slavery, as they directly relate to the era’s politics and have resonance to viewers today.

When foreign matter ends up embedded in a coin, one expects the embedded matter to take and hold an image when struck. There are exceptions.

Sales of the Uncirculated 2016-P Harpers Ferry National Park 5-ounce silver quarter dollar were scheduled to begin at noon Eastern Time July 14.

The U.S. Mint will open sales for the 2016 America the Beautiful Quarters Three-Coin Set – Harpers Ferry National Historical Park on July 11 at noon ET.

The error is among the most visually arresting coins offered in Heritage’s auctions held at the Summer Florida United Numismatists show in Orlando.

The 1804 Dexter $1 has a history that many are unclear about. European photography techniques and preferences added intrigue in 1884.

Secondary market prices for the Proof 2016-W American Eagle platinum $100 coin rose more than 30 percent above issue price within hours of release.

ANA founder George Heath suggested that since his candidate for secretary was Plain Talk’s coin columnist, that paper should be the ANA’s “official organ.”

Established in New York City in March 1858, the American Numismatic Society is now more dynamic than ever.