https://www.coinnews.net/2026/07/13/proof-1824-1-half-dollar-auction/

I know I'm a bit behind on posting this, but I wanted to properly document my week at ANA Summer Seminar Session 2, because it was honestly one of the best weeks I've had in a while. Here's the full rundown. I drove into George Bush Intercontinental Airport (Houston Texas) at around 6:30 am on Saturday. My flight departed at 9:30, so there was enough time to catch a brief breakfast and chill before boarding. The flight into Denver International Airport took around 2 hours and 3 minutes — and wow, that place is massive. If you've never been, it's worth seeing just for how sprawling it is. From there it was about an hour's drive down to my hotel in Colorado Springs, which gave me a little time to decompress and get excited for the week ahead. I stayed at a joint about five minutes from the venue, which made the daily commute easy. Colorado Springs is a fairly small-ish town, so no stressing about traffic or getting up extra early to make it to class on time. Food and Campus Life: Meals were at the dining hall, and I have to say, the food was pretty solid. There was a ton of variety, and something for everybody. There was pizza, drink stations, salad bars, ice cream, and different main dishes each day. It's a small thing, but when you're spending a full week somewhere for a class, having good food available really does make a difference. Hallenbeck's Coin Gallery and the Money Museum: One of the highlights of the week was heading over to Hallenbeck's Coin Gallery. They have a massive selection of everything from raw coins, both US and world, to modern bullion and coin books. I ended up spending a ton of time there, and also made my way through the Money Museum for the first time. Before, I'd only seen it in photos and it definitely didn't disappoint. I saw my first ever 1804 dollar, 1913 nickel, and 1792 half disme, among many others! Seeing that much numismatic history in one place, in person, hits different than looking at photos online. There's a level of detail and context you just can't get any other way. The Class: Grading US Coins Pt 2: The main event of the week was taking Grading US Coins Pt 2. A bunch of former attendees recommended the class, and it certainly lived up to expectations — informative, hands-on, and genuinely fun the whole way through. It was nice to see a mix of all age groups. There were young numismatists, seasoned veterans, and people from all different places! A few things that stood out: Grading fundamentals — going deeper into the technical side of assigning grades, beyond just "looks good/looks bad" Counterfeit detection — learning the tells and techniques used to identify counterfeit coins, which is a skill I think will stick with me long after the class ended Matte and Roman proofs — learning how to distinguish these proof types was something I hadn't gotten into before, and it opened my eyes to a whole subcategory of coins I want to explore more Wild coins — we got to see some incredible pieces during the class, many of which I had never seen in person (or sometimes even in photos) before. Pictures are included in the next post for anyone curious. Overall, I walked away from the class with a noticeably sharper eye and a lot more confidence in evaluating coins critically instead of just going off gut instinct. The People: Beyond the coins themselves, honestly one of the best parts of the week was the people. I got to talk with a ton of other attendees who were just as into numismatics as I am. I saw some amazing collections, talked coins, swapped stories, and shared meals together. It's rare to be in a room full of people who get excited about the same things you do, and Summer Seminar delivers that in spades. Thank You: I want to say a genuine thank you to the ANA and everyone who puts Summer Seminar together: the organization, the instructors, the donors, kitchen staff, and everyone behind the scenes made the week run smoothly and made it easy to just focus on learning and enjoying myself. Thanks also to my fellow attendees for making the week as fun as it was; the conversations and camaraderie were truly a unique experience. I'm really grateful I had the opportunity to attend. It was a fantastic week, I learned a ton, and I'd recommend it to anyone interested in numismatics looking to level up their knowledge. P.S. I can't upload many photos here but, you can check out my other post on another forum which has more pics! https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/1124224/ana-summer-seminar-session-2-writeup-june-27-july-2-lots-of-pics

I've just added a set [set:2204a292-7cbc-11f1-97ed-0660ea78a99b].

For a long time, coins were my main focus as a collector. There’s something special about holding a coin in your hand. Building a collection taught me patience, attention to detail, and how to appreciate small differences that make an item unique. Lately, though, my collecting journey has started to expand. I’ve been transitioning into stamps and Pokémon cards alongside coins, and it’s been surprisingly refreshing. Stamps bring a different kind of perspective. Pokémon adds another layer entirely: nostalgia, artwork, and the excitement of completing sets and hunting specific cards. What I’ve realized is that collecting isn’t really about sticking to one category — it’s about curiosity and the enjoyment of learning something new. Frankly, I've been quite surprised about how rewarding Pokemon cards, especially, have been. Still collecting coins, just widening the horizon. Curious if anyone else here has made a similar transition or collects across multiple hobbies? Would love to hear some stories! Soli deo gloria, pcgsregistrycollector

Hi everyone, I’m posting for a friend who is planning to attend the YN Summer Seminar this year. He’s already heard great things about the program and is excited about going, but we were hoping to get some additional feedback from those who have attended. For those who’ve participated, what stood out most to you? Were there particular sessions, speakers, or activities that you found especially valuable? Any tips for getting the most out of the experience? Also, is there anything you wish you had known beforehand? He’s looking forward to it and wants to be as prepared as possible. Any insights would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance! pcgsregistrycollector

Hi everyone, I know I’ve been pretty absent from collecting — and from MyCollect — for quite a while. Life got busy with travel, a new job, and a few other things, so I had to step away from the hobby for a bit. That said, I’m really looking forward to getting back into it. I’ve missed the hunt, the learning, and the conversations here. Hoping to ease back in, start picking up a few pieces again, and reconnect with everyone. Glad to be back, and I’m excited to see what everyone’s been working on!

I attended the PNNA (Pacific Northwest Numismatic Association) Fall Coin Show on Saturday, October 4th, and spent around three hours there. The show ran from October 3–5, but Saturday was the only day I could make it — and I’m so glad I went. I woke up at 6:30 a.m. to drive down from my hotel in Seattle, and the traffic through downtown was horrendous. Between the construction zones and weekend congestion, it felt like every stoplight was red. Once I finally got down to the show, though, the energy made up for it immediately. The parking lot was absolutely packed, which was a great sign — clearly a strong turnout. You could tell right away that this show draws serious collectors, dealers, and families alike. This was my first-ever coin show, and it completely lived up to expectations. The PNNA put on a very well-organized and professional event — friendly dealers, a wide range of material from ancient coins to modern bullion, and a welcoming atmosphere for collectors at all levels. I started off with the scavenger hunt, which was a great way to walk the entire floor and strike up conversations with different dealers. Here’s what I ended up with: Washington tax token – aluminum, about the size of a quarter, with a hole in the center. Washington Centennial commemorative coin Illinois tax token – square-shaped aluminum type. Missouri tax token – the red plastic version. Elongated cent Bahamas star cent Sample slab with a 2009-D Lincoln cent (Formative Years reverse) For purchases, I brought home a nice variety of coins that really caught my eye: 1924 Buffalo nickel – VF-35 (approx.): great strike and natural color. 1915-D Barber quarter – G: tougher date, nice honest wear. 1856 Seated Liberty quarter – AG: heavily circulated but full of character. 1863 Indian Head cent – F: solid mid-grade piece from the Civil War era. 1902-O Barber half dollar – G: attractive old silver toning. 1901 Barber quarter – G: smooth, original surfaces. 1946-S Lincoln cent – MS-63 BN: clean example with nice luster. And wow — some of the coins on display were incredible. I saw an 1897 Morgan dollar in Proof 68 CAM, an 1895 Proof Morgan in PF-63, several proof gold coins, and tons of Carson City material. There was also a 1796 quarter in F-12, four 1916 Standing Liberty quarters, a number of early Draped Bust dollars, and even some 1793 large cents. Unfortunately, photos weren’t allowed on the bourse floor, but those coins were absolutely breathtaking in person. Overall, the show was fantastic — a great first experience. The PNNA really did a wonderful job running things smoothly, and there was a strong buzz of activity the whole time I was there. I met a lot of friendly dealers, dug through a ton of cool coins, and learned a lot along the way. I’m already looking forward to going to more shows in the future and continuing to grow my collection. (Attached photo shows my pickups, scavenger hunt finds, and the PNNA show bag!)

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