Learning about coins in school

From time to time I have complained about the lack of numismatic education in our schools.  I am pleased to report on a school that has decided to include at least some numismatics in their curriculum.

I met an eighth grader named Evie in Kingston, Pensylvxxxx (for her privacy, I have x'd out portions of her address).  During a brief interview, Evie told me that in school she was learning about the portrait on each coin and note.  She even learned that Salmon Chase was on the $10,000 bill (You will recall that Salmon Chase was involved in the origin of In God We Trust on our coins).

Of course, I would like to see much more numismatics taught in the schools.  At least the portrait information is a start.

North Shore Coins Suddenly closed for remodeling after allegedly buying stolen goods

I just checked the North Shore Coins website which states that "NSC is Closed for Remodeling."

There's no reason to check the website at http://www.northshorecoins.com/ (but many of you will anyway)
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The sudden remodeling took place after the dealer was arrested and charged with buying thousands of dollars worth of  stolen goods.   The sellers of the goods were undercover police officers.

There are two comments of note here:

1. It is always sad to see coin dealers whose lack of scruples allows them to purchase goods that they know were stolen.
2. Why are the police selling stolen goods?

Please feel free to comment.  I am especially interested in readers opinions on the second point.

One million dollars for a 1943 S Bronze Lincoln Cent!

A 1943S copper Lincoln Cent has sold for a whopping one million dollars as a single collector, Bob Simpson, has virtually cornered the tiny market on the 1943 coppers.

I'm sure this is old hat to most of you, but in 1943, the US mint produced Lincoln cents out of steel to conserve copper for the World War II effort.  By error, a small number of copper coins were produced at each mint.

The value of the coin is based on several factors.  First the off metal error is rare, with only a small handful of San Francisco minted coins known.  Second, the copper 1943 error cents have been well hyped since 1943.  A third reason is the condition.  The particular 1943 S copper cent was graded as MS62BN making it the finest known.  A fourth reason is Bob Simpson himself.  Simpson now has the best known copper coin from each mint in 1943.  His AU version of the 1943 S is now on the trading block.  He has the only known 1943 S copper cent.  Had Simpson not had the goal of assembling this collection, the coin would not be worth as much.

In 1944, the mint returned to producing Lincoln cents out of copper.  A small number of steel coins were struck in error.  Simpson has an example of each of these as well.

And So, Dr. Peter Planchet tips his hat to Bob Simpson on the tremendous accomplishment of assembling the finest collection of the 1943 coppers.  Congratulations!