The front cover, back cover, and spine of the 1920–2020 Manila Mint special edition distinguish it from the regular-edition Red Book. 260 copies were printed; 48 were damaged in transit, leaving 212 for sale to collectors. The issue sold out within six weeks. Hover to zoom.

(Pelham, AL) — The 74th edition of the coin-collecting hobby’s annual Guide Book of United States Coins (popularly known as the “Red Book”) debuted in April 2020. A special limited edition of 212 copies was released with a custom goldfoil-stamped cover and a tip-in sheet celebrating the 100th anniversary of the opening of the Manila Mint. The limited print run sold out within six weeks. Sales of the special edition support the educational mission of the Philippine Collectors Forum.

The so-called Wilson dollar of 1920, struck to commemorate the opening of the Manila Mint. Its reverse design is featured on the front cover of the Manila Mint special-edition Red Book. (Photos courtesy of Stack’s Bowers Galleries).

The front cover of the Manila Mint Centennial special edition features the reverse design of the so-called Wilson Dollar (HK-449/450), which was struck at the Mint of the Philippine Islands when it opened in Manila in 1920.

The so-called Wilson dollar of 1920, struck to commemorate the opening of the Manila Mint. Its reverse design is featured on the front cover of the Manila Mint special-edition Red Book. (Photos courtesy of Stack’s Bowers Galleries).

The Philippine Collectors Forum was established in August 2003 at the American Numismatic Association’s World’s Fair of Money in Baltimore, Maryland. The group was founded by Raymond Czahor and Ken Seymore with the active support of ANA President John Wilson. 75 collectors attended the first meeting — the annual convention’s largest club attendance that year except for the Boy Scouts of America. The Philippine Collectors Forum is a nonprofit group and an official member club of the ANA. It holds annual meetings at the World’s Fair of Money. The Forum’s mission is to promote education about U.S./Philippine coinage, medals, tokens, paper money, scrip, and other numismatic items.

The Manila Mint traces its history back to the colonial era of the Philippine Islands. In April 1899, as a condition of the treaty ending the Spanish-American War, Spain transferred control of the Philippines to the United States. One of the government’s early tasks was to sponsor a new territorial coinage. The resulting coins, introduced in 1903, were designed by Filipino silversmith, sculptor, engraver, and art professor Melecio Figueroa. They bear the names of both the Philippines (FILIPINAS, the Spanish name for the islands) and of the United States of America. The silver coins feature a female personification of the Philippines before the volcanic Mount Mayon (northeast of the capital city of Manila). The minor coinage shows a young Filipino man, bare-chested and seated at an anvil with a hammer.

A 1925 centavo minted in Manila; note the legends identifying both the Philippines (“Filipinas”) and the United States of America. (Photos courtesy of NGC).

In the early years, most of the coins were produced at the San Francisco Mint and then shipped to the islands. On February 18, 1918, the Philippine Legislature passed an appropriations bill for the construction of machinery for a new mint in Manila. The Great War was interfering with shipments from the United States. A local mint was seen as being more expedient and economical. In addition, a local mint would support the United States’ goal of moving the Philippines toward its own governance and infrastructure.

A 1925 centavo minted in Manila; note the legends identifying both the Philippines (“Filipinas”) and the United States of America. (Photos courtesy of NGC).

The mint was built in Manila in the Intendencia Building, which housed the offices and hall of the Senate, and the offices and vaults of the Philippine Treasury. Its machinery was designed and built in Philadelphia under the supervision of U.S. Mint chief mechanical engineer Clifford Hewitt, who also oversaw its installation in Manila. The facility was opened, with formalities and machine demonstrations, on July 15, 1920. The fanfare included the production of an official commemorative medal in gold, silver, and bronze. The first specimen of these medals was struck by Speaker of the House of Representatives Sergio Osmeña (later president of the Commonwealth in the final years of World War II).

A silver 20-centavos coin struck at the Manila Mint in 1941, before Japanese forces overtook the islands and stopped the mint’s production.

The Manila Mint produced coins for the Philippines from 1920 until Japanese forces invaded the islands in 1941, at which time it ceased operation. (The Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco mints would strike coins for the Philippines in 1944 and 1945.) Filipino and Filipino-American military service members, guerrillas, civilians, and leaders were vitally important in the Allied victory in World War II.

A silver 20-centavos coin struck at the Manila Mint in 1941, before Japanese forces overtook the islands and stopped the mint’s production.

The mint’s buildings were largely destroyed by bombing during the liberation of the Philippines later in the war.

The Commonwealth of the Philippines became an independent republic on July 4, 1946. Today the Philippine coins of 1903 to 1945, including those struck at the mint in Manila, are important mementos of a significant chapter in U.S. history and numismatics. They are a testament to the close ties and special relationship between the United States and the republic and people of the Philippines.

The Philippine Collectors Forum is proud to honor the legacy of the Mint of the Philippine Islands with the 1920–2020 commemorative limited edition of the Guide Book of United States Coins.

About the Guide Book of United States Coins

A Guide Book of United States Coins is the world’s most popular annual retail price guide for U.S. coins, tokens, and other numismatic items. 24 million copies have been purchased since 1946, making it one of the best-selling nonfiction titles in the history of U.S. publishing.

For the 74th edition, more than 100 professional coin dealers, scholars, and other numismatic experts contributed their knowledge under the direction of Senior Editor Jeff Garrett, Research Editor Q. David Bowers, and Editor Emeritus Kenneth Bressett.

The 74th edition of the Red Book is available online and at bookstores and hobby shops nationwide. Whitman Publishing offers a Large Print Edition and several formats of the regular edition (hardcover; spiralbound softcover; and spiralbound hardcover). For more information and to order, visit the website of Whitman Publishing.

About Whitman Publishing

Whitman Publishing is the world’s leading producer of numismatic reference books, supplies, and products to display and store coins and paper money. The company’s high-quality books educate readers in the rich, colorful history of American and world coinage and currency, and teach how to build great collections. Archival-quality Whitman folders, albums, cases, and other holders keep collectibles safe and allow them to be shown off to friends and family.

Whitman Publishing is the Official Supplier of the American Numismatic Association. As a benefit of membership in the ANA, members can borrow the Red Book (and other Whitman books) for free from the Association’s Dwight N. Manley Numismatic Library, and also receive 10% off all Whitman purchases. Details are on the website of the ANA.

A Guide Book of United States Coins, 74th edition

464 pages, full color.

By R.S. Yeoman; senior editor Jeff Garrett; research editor Q. David Bowers;

editor emeritus Kenneth Bressett.

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The Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC) will hold a public meeting by teleconference on Tuesday, June 23, 2020, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (EDT).

Agenda (subject to change): 

• Review and discussion of candidate designs for the 2021 Christa McAuliffe silver dollar commemorative coin.

• Review and discussion of candidate designs for the American Gold Eagle and American Silver Eagle coins.

• Review and discussion of candidate designs for the Larry Doby Congressional Gold Medal.

• Review and discussion of candidate designs for the United States Marine Corps silver medal.

• Review and discussion of candidate designs for the Secretary Mnuchin Secretary of the Treasury medal.

• Review and discussion of candidate designs for the President Trump Presidential medal.

Who: Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC)

          Pursuant to 31 U.S.C. § 5135, the CCAC was established to:

• Advise the Secretary of the Treasury on any theme or design proposals relating to circulating coinage, bullion coinage, commemorative coins, Congressional gold medals, and national and other medals produced by the Secretary;
• Advise the Secretary of the Treasury with regard to the events, persons, or places that the Committee recommends to be commemorated; and

• Advise the Secretary of the Treasury with respect to the mintage level for any commemorative coin recommended.

When: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (EDT) on Tuesday, June 23, 2020.

Where: By teleconference — The meeting is open to interested members of the public and news media.  Interested members of the public may dial in to listen to the meeting at 888-330-1716, access code 1137147.

Note: Dial-in access is listen only; phones must be muted to not disturb discussion.

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Hover to zoom.

This U.S. Mint numismatic sales report covers the week ending June 14, 2020. The Mint’s best-selling product this week was the 2020-S U.S. Mint Proof Set (plus 2020-W Proof nickel) (20RG), which sold 8,195 units. In second place was the 2020-S U.S. Mint Silver Proof Set (plus 2020-W Reverse Proof nickel) (20RH) with 7,343 sold. The third best-selling item this week was the 2020-P Basketball Hall of Fame $1 silver Proof coin (20CC), with 5,801 individual units sold. It’s followed by the 2020-S Basketball Hall of Fame clad 50c Proof coin (20CE), with 1,856 sold; and the 2020-P Basketball Hall of Fame $1 silver coin (20CD), with 1,561 sold.

This week saw a downward adjustment of -56 for the 2019-P Frank Church River Wilderness silver five-ounce Uncirculated coin (19AN), -10 for the 2020 America the Beautiful American Samoa 100-Coin Bag (P) (20ABA), and -5 for the 2020-W one-ounce American Silver Eagle $1 Proof coin (20EA).

The following are the U.S. Mint’s cumulative sales figures for the reporting period ending Sunday, June 14. “LKS” indicates that the number given is the last known sales figure for a sold-out item. Mintage and product limits are indicated, where applicable; if a coin is in stock but is nearing sold-out status, a link to the Mint’s product page is provided. Items in italics either are scheduled for release or have been released too recently to appear on the report; items in bold are appearing on the report for the first time.

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ANA Board of Governors to Consider Alternate Options

The American Numismatic Association (ANA) announced today the suspension of the 2020 World’s Fair of Money. The show, originally scheduled for August 4-8 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is the largest annual coin and paper-currency event in the United States.

The ANA Board of Governors has been deliberating the impact of COVID-19 restrictions on the show and whether aggressive mitigation requirements to ensure the safety of attendees made continuing with the Pittsburgh event feasible. Current State of Pennsylvania guidelines restrict indoor gatherings to a maximum of 250 people at any one time. The World’s Fair of Money typically attracts upward of 10,000 people during its five-day smorgasbord of educational offerings, live auctions, affiliated club meetings, and a bourse floor with nearly a thousand dealers and government mints from around the world.

The Board resolved in a vote on June 16 to postpone the show and to consider alternate sites and/or dates for the 2020 World’s Fair of Money.

According to Jennifer Ackerman, ANA conventions director, because of Pennsylvania’s restrictions on indoor gatherings, “none of the usual World’s Fair of Money offerings would be possible at the Pittsburgh show. No exhibits, no educational programming, no Kids Zone, no club meetings, no banquet, and a significantly reduced bourse. Our team has been in nearly daily conversations with the convention center, but it’s become evident that they are unable to fulfill their contractual obligations.”

Pittsburgh World’s Fair of Money Committee Chair Tom Uram noted the Pennsylvania Association of Numismatists (PAN) had “anticipated a convention that would showcase the ANA and the city of Pittsburgh. But based on our analysis and review of all relevant information — the diminished show experience for attendees, health and safety issues, security, financial impact and the significant unknown outside variables — the host committee recommended that the ANA Board not hold the Pittsburgh World’s Fair of Money,” he says.

Since 1891, the American Numismatic Association’s convention has only been canceled twice; in 1918 during the flu pandemic and again in 1945 because of World War II.

“The decision to postpone the World’s Fair of Money was very emotional and extremely difficult,” says ANA President Steve Ellsworth. “The convention staff and the Pittsburgh organizing committee worked hard to make the show a reality. PAN went beyond all expectations to deliver what would have been a fantastic event, and I’m deeply disappointed that the collecting community won’t be able to experience the results of their efforts. I know we will return to Pittsburgh in the not-so-distant future. In the meantime, we will pursue opportunities to host the event in another city in the weeks ahead.” Options briefly discussed include The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and the Mountain America Expo Center and Salt Palace Convention Center, both of which are located in Salt Lake City, Utah.

“During these trying and socially-isolated times, we were looking forward to reconnecting with our fellow numismatists,” says ANA Executive Director Kim Kiick. “We’re disappointed we won’t be seeing everyone in Pittsburgh but are working hard to create other opportunities to connect.”

“The ANA and PAN recognize that dealers, clubs, and many individuals may have already made plans and reservations in Pittsburgh for August,” says Ackerman. Hotel room reservations within the reserved block in the Omni William Penn, Embassy Suites by Hilton, Courtyard, or Westin Convention Center that were made through VisitPittsburgh Housing Services automatically will be canceled within 48 hours; do not contact the hotel directly. For those that made lodging accommodations directly with a hotel, cancellation will need to be made directly with those entities. Lodging questions should be directed to housing@visitpittsburgh.com.

Dealers will be contacted directly by the ANA convention team. “To mitigate the influx of calls and emails, dealers will be contacted by phone within the next week to discuss the option of a future credit towards an ANA show or a refund,” Ackerman says. “The ANA convention staff will be reaching out to every dealer who reserved a table at Pittsburgh. Your patience is much appreciated.”

The American Numismatic Association is a congressionally chartered, non-profit educational organization dedicated to encouraging the study and collection of coins and related items. The ANA helps its 28,000 members and the public discover and explore the world of money through its vast array of educational and outreach programs, as well as its museum, library, publications, and conventions. For more information, call (719) 632-2646 or click here.

Press release courtesy of the American Numismatic Association.

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By Q. David Bowers

It was 23 years ago in 1997 when my American Coin Treasures and Hoards book was published. Treasure ships, gold coins, and other elements combined to make this a very popular title.

That narrative began with accounts of early issues including Massachusetts silver coins, 1773-dated Virginia copper halfpence, 1786-1788 coppers of New Jersey, 1787 Fugio cents, Indian Peace medals, 1820 North West Company tokens, and many other early issues produced in or for the United States.

Today in 2020 I am revisiting the subject. If any readers have knowledge of treasures and hoards found in the past two decades or so, I invite correspondence. These would include hoards found after the marvelous S.S. Central America coins (about which I wrote a book in 2002).

There is also the more recent Lost and Found Coin Hoards and Treasures.

Let me know! Meanwhile, stay safe.

If you wish to contact me or send any inquiries, you may direct them to my e-mail qdbarchive@metrocast.net.

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