Owner Comments:
WORLD ANA MEDAL APPEARANCE/CONDITION:
NGC Limited Edition Label: “Denver Skyline Design with the American Numismatic Association's Lamp Logo”
John M. Mercanti Authentic Signed Label
TOP POP: Perfect 70
*Stunningly handsome design in “perfect” condition. This brilliant white blazer does not even exhibit the smallest of imperfections. — I have seen NGC grade this exact issue in both business strike, as well as reverse proof. It appears the first of those submitted were graded as business (MS-70 seen here). However, shortly thereafter and to-date, all have been graded as reverse proofs. Therefore, the true grade of this coin is PF-70 UC.*
WORLD ANA MEDAL BACKGROUND:
“In 2014, John Mercanti and the Perth Mint were brought together to collaborate on a new coin series. Little did they know then that they’d help lay the groundwork for an international sensation! Honestly, we shouldn't be surprised. The combination of the most prolific designer in United States Mint history along with the heralded, state-of-the-art mint was a perfect match. In 2014, the two collaborated on the creation of the first-ever Australian Wedge-Tailed Eagle — the first time a U.S. Mint chief engraver has designed a coin to be struck by another official world mint.
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Now in its fourth year, the Australia Wedge-Tailed Eagle Silver Dollar, like the partnership between Mercanti and the Perth Mint, is still going strong! The reverse of the coin features Australia's largest eagle perched on a tree branch, while the obverse shows a stately portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Each legal tender one dollar Australian coin is struck in 99.9% pure silver.
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The 2017 Silver Wedge-Tailed Eagle was also issued with these additional features:
Certified by Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC) — showing all features and fields exactly as the engraver and mint intended!
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Since this Silver Wedge-Tailed Eagle was released during the American Numismatic Association's 2017 World's Fair of Money in Denver, Colorado, issues were also certified Denver ANA 2017 by NGC. All Silver Wedge-Tailed Eagle's unique characteristics will be described in detail on the acrylic case’s label, featuring a special Denver skyline design, the American Numismatic Association's lamp logo and an authentic signature from designer John Mercanti!
Finally, issues received a special NGC-authorized numbered fact card, featuring the same skyline design as the coin’s label along with facts about both the Silver Wedge-Tailed Eagle and John Mercanti!
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While the Perth Mint has established an open mintage for the 2017 Silver Wedge-Tailed Eagle, this special John Mercanti-signed Denver show release is limited to only 300 coins.”
Credited Source: GovMint.com
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(John M. Mercanti):
The 12th US Mint Chief Engraver, John M. Mercanti is the most famous US coin engraver of the modern era. He has designed more than 100 US coins and medals, including the reverse of the wildly popular American Silver Eagle. Since his retirement from the US Mint, Mercanti has also designed several world coins, such as the Australian Wedge-tailed Eagle coins from the Perth Mint.
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As with the Chinese Denver ANA commemorative coins from the same year that are now included in this collection, I initially was hesitant about pursuing “any” world coins since they were not minted in the U.S. Were they still relevant to the Colorado set? Upon much thought, I decided they absolutely ‘had’ to be included. The primary goal of this set is as follows: ‘To obtain any numismatic specimen minted in and/or having ‘any’ association with the state of Colorado. Further, to teach people about Colorado's rich history, as well as myself, through the tool of numismatic education.’ Not only did the initial Chinese series hit all the marks, adding related issues from other countries allows viewers to see the history behind a foreign series and how it relates to not just an important event in numismatics (The World’s Fair of Money), but also that it took place right here in Denver, Colorado circa 2017. From a historical perspective, it’s absolutely fascinating and exciting being able to include an international commemorative coin from Australia that’s specific to Denver, Colorado. I learned a great deal throughout the process which circles right back to the original collection goal.
CATALOG NUMBER: N/A
OBVERSE DESIGNER/ENGRAVER: John M. Mercanti
REVERSE DESIGNER/ENGRAVER: Ian Rank-Broadley
RARITY: 300 (Total Denver ANA Varieties Issued)
*TOP POP* NGC POP = 300; NONE Finer [03/2023]
WORLD ANA MEDAL DESCRIPTION:
(Perth, Australia Minted, Reverse Proof Strike, .999 Fine Silver, 31.1 grams, ;0.6, Round, Reeded Edge)
OBVERSE: Australian Wedge-Tailed Eagle / (Image of Associated Eagle) / 2017 1oz 9999 Silver
REVERSE: Elizabeth II - Australia / ,Depiction of Queen Elizabeth) / 1 Dollar
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND:
(2017 ANA WORLD’S FAIR OF MONEY BACKGROUND - DENVER, CO):
“The American Numismatic Association ANA - www.money.org World's Fair of Money (WFOM) 126th Convention was held at the Colorado Convention Center, in Denver, CO on August 01 - 5, 2017. The last ANA WFOM held in Denver was in 2006, and that convention had no official auction and was held in the very back of the convention center This event had two, a Heritage Auctions (www.HA.com) and a Stacks-Bowers (www.stacksbowers.com) Auction. Both of these auctions had thousands of lots which realized tens of millions of dollars in sales. The majority of items in all the sales sold for excellent prices. This World’s Fair of Money was held in the front of the convention center on the second floor.
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The convention had over 500 bourse tables, which included 21 club tables; eight government agencies (which feature the annual World Mint Passport), the U.S. Mint (with a special set of coins which drew large crowds trying to purchase them) and the Bureau of Engraving and Printing – BEP (with their special drawing for the Spider Press Prints), the U. S. Post Office and FEDEX, a fantastic ANA Museum Showcase, a Kids Zone – Treasure Trivia area, dozens of well-done competitive exhibits (kudos’ to Robert Rhue for winning the Howland Wood Best-in-Show award with his exhibit titled, “The Colored-Seal Notes of Colonial Georgia,”) daily Money-Talks educational programs, an important ANA District Representatives meeting, an author’s table, Coin Collecting 101 classes, a Maynard Sundman/Littleton Coin Co.
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Lecture Series, ANA Legacy Series & Reception featuring Barbara Gregory interviewing Tom and Ken Hallenbeck, a Scout Merit Badge Clinic, the official ANA coin and supply dealer Whitman Publishing, the official ANA grading services NGC & PMG, along with many more grading services, numismatic publications – F + W Media - Krause Publications (it is always nice to get the new annual coin show calendar sponsored by Numismatic News and also Amos Press - Coin World, several off-site dinners and meeting by different coin clubs and organizations including PNG, NLG (the NLG Bash – congratulations to Bank Note Reporter and Coins Magazine Editor Robert Van Ryzin for being awarded the NLG CLEMY Award), CONECA, TAMS and others, a well done official program.
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ANA official medals and ANACS provided cloth bags for everyone who attended the convention, The Elongated Collector (TEC) rolling machine and area featuring the special elongate made for this convention, and concession stands which were kept very busy. The Friday night ANA Awards Banquet was also very nice and the Silent Auction was very successful. A special thanks to Prominent numismatist Michael "Miles" Standish who had his head shaved by special guest Rick Harrison of Pawn Stars to raise money for the ANA and the Standish Foundation for Child & Family Centered Healthcare, a nonprofit devoted to helping sick children.”
Credited Source: American Numismatic Association (money.org)