NGC
registry lists early gold coins Numismatic
News - April 13, 2010
The
Numismatic Guaranty Corporation has formed a new category
in its registry to allow collectors to list their early American
gold coins.
Along with the opening of this new category at NGC Registry
is the inclusion of an early gold collection named the American
Independence Collection. It contains early U.S. gold coins,
as well as coins that circulated through the colonies and
were struck by the various states prior to the opening of
the first federal mint in 1792.
"The newly-created early gold sets in the
NGC Registry are definitely among the most difficult to complete,"
said Scott Schechter, NGC vice president, sales and marketing.
"To attempt them is to undertake a long and serious pursuit.
This underscores the achievement of the American Independence
Collection, which consists of high-grade and attractive examples
of these challenging coins. As it continues to grow, it should
be a milestone Registry collection."
This American Independence Collection has been
entered by dealer Tom Pilitowski, owner of U.S. Rare Coin
Investments in Port Charlotte, Fla.
Some
highlights of the collection are are a 1795 half eagle graded
Choice About Uncirculated by PCGS; a 1795 Eagle graded MS-60
by NGC, which was minted when George Washington was still
president; a 1796 Eagle in Choice About Uncirculated AU-55
also by NGC and an 1804 Eagle graded MS-63 by NGC. Gold Eagles
and half Eagles were designed by Chief Engraver Robert Scot
and feature the national Eagle on one side and a woman depicting
Liberty wearing a cloth cap with the legend LIBERTY on the
other.
One of the most interesting silver coins from
the American Independence collec¬tion is a Massachusetts Pine
Tree Schilling from 1652, the pre-Federal era before the government
mint was established and U.S. colonies produced their own
money. This schilling is from the famous John Jay Ford collection
and is graded MS-63.
"American Independence is proving to be
a high-quality collection that contains some of the most valuable
early U.S. gold and silver rarities that were struck at the
Philadelphia mint, as well as Colonial coins that circulated
in the 13 colonies at a much earlier time," Pilitowski
explained. "These coins are true Americana."
The NGC Registry is the largest coin registry
of its kind, widely recognized as the definitive showcase
of the world's most valuable and important coins.
"American Independence is an impor¬tant collection that
will take years to build and ultimately be worth millions
of dollars," Pilitowski said. "It will add increased
exposure and recognition for early American gold coinage,
a very special time in our county's numismatic history."