The Mint will be doing a few different program in 2026 to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States, including new circulating coin design! The design candidates for the cent and nickel have been announced and can be viewed here: https://www.usmint.gov/news/ccac-meetings/2026-semiquincentennial-circulating-coin-program-penny-nickel

Breaking news! In Kentucky, ALL coins, bullion, and paper money are now exempt from sales tax. All of these items were previously taxed, so this is a huge shift in the state’s policy. Great news for Kentucky collectors! This exemption will go into effect later this year.

The first quarter of 2024 saw the lowest circulating coin mintages from the US Mint since 2010. What could this mean for the future value of modern coins? Only time will tell, but you can learn more about the mintage numbers here: https://www.coinnews.net/2024/04/19/first-quarter-2024-sees-u-s-mints-coin-production-plummet-to-1-73-billion-lowest-since-2010/

The ACEF, the Anti-Counterfeiting Educational Foundation, has approved a $377,000 budget for a new public education program! You can learn more about it on our website at https://www.pngdealers.org/blog_home.asp?Display=26

Three of our members will be presenting at the NNP Symposium this week at Central States. Elizabeth Coggan (PNG member #802) will be presenting on behalf of Women of Numismatics on “Lady Liberty, Real or Ideal?”; Greg Rohan (PNG member #449), President of Heritage Auctions, will be speaking about the current numismatic market; and Pierre Fricke (PNG member #708) will be presenting on contemporary counterfeit Confederate paper money. All three of their talks can be watched at Central States or livestreamed for free through nnpsymposium.org. We hope to see you there, supporting these great PNG members!

Our Summer Seminar scholarship winner, Donivan Floyd, grew up in a coin shop, DJ's Coins & Collectables owned by his father David J. Floyd, and is now a participant in our nexGen mentorship program to assist young and future dealers. He has been mentored by PNG Board of Directors member James Sego of JMS Coins (www.JMScoins.com), and Floyd launched his own online coin business three years ago, Modern Coin King. You can learn more about him on our website. We can’t wait to see what he will accomplish!

We’ve talked about PNG Dealer Day coming up at Central States this May, but there will be plenty of exciting activities throughout the rest of the show as well. Check out a great display from the Higgins Museum of National Banknotes, bid in Heritage’s coordinating auction, and check out the educational talks at the show!

Gallagher is our insurance sponsor. Gallagher is a global leader in insurance, risk management, and consulting services. Much more than simply an insurance broker, they are an international group of partners that provide cost-effective, client-centric, and expertise-driven risk management solutions.

PNG member Aaron Berk runs the Ancient Coin Podcast! You can listen wherever you prefer to get your podcasts, or watch the video version on YouTube.

In Wisconsin, coins and bullion are now exempt from state sales tax! As stated by NCBA, “This landmark decision makes Wisconsin the 43rd state to enact either a full or partial sales-tax exemption on the sales of coins, paper money, and precious-metal bullion. Wisconsin’s exemption encompasses coins, bars, rounds, or sheets containing at least 35% gold, silver, copper, platinum, or palladium marked with weight, purity, and content, or minted by a government authority.”

The deadline for our YN Summer Seminar Scholarship is almost here! Be sure to get everything turned in by March 29th if you’re interested in applying.

PNG Dealer Day is approaching! This is a dealer-only event on Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in conjunction with the annual Central States Numismatic Society convention. This event will be open to all PNG and CSNS member-dealers. Follow this link to learn more: https://www.pngdealers.org/png-events

Many of our members work for Stack’s Bowers, so we’re happy to highlight their Spring Showcase Auction, starting on March 25th. As stated by President Brian Kendrella, “This is one of the most diverse and historically interesting Spring Showcase Auctions we have put together.” You can browse the catalog on their website, stacksbowers.com.

PNG nexGen is set up at table 856 at the Whitman show this week – stop by to say hi!

“America's Paper Money” is the first in-depth study of the imagery of the country's paper currency before 1900. Because paper money circulated everywhere, it was the country's most widely distributed iconography. Art historian William L. Pressly examines how for two centuries American creativity and technical ingenuity generated images that helped establish and enhance the nation's imagined self. This new publication from the Smithsonian is available to download for free to anyone interested. Check out our most recent blog post for more info! https://www.pngdealers.org/blog_home.asp?Display=24