Metropolitan Coin Club of Atlanta

We are collectors of coins, paper money, tokens, and medals.

News Release

Omega Penny Finale: Stack’s Bowers Auctions Last Ones-Including U.S. Mint’s 24-K Gold Gem

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2025 Gold Omega Penny OBV
2025 Gold Omega Penny REV
2025-D Omega Penny OBV
2025-D Omega Penny REV
(Left) The obverse and reverse of the 24 karat gold Omega privy mark penny. (Right) The obverse and reverse of the Denver Mint Omega privy mark penny. Rendering courtesy of the United States Mint.

The very last circulating pennies, or “cents,” will be auctioned in a special sale this December by Stack’s Bowers Galleries, the firm selected by the United States Mint for this historic offering. Each of these coins exhibits a small “Ω” privy mark of the final Greek letter Omega, indicating their role as the capstone to a two-centuries long legacy that first began in 1793. These Omega privy mark Lincoln pennies will be offered in three-coin sets featuring one each of the 2025 penny (struck at the Philadelphia Mint), the 2025-D penny (struck at the Denver Mint), and a historic 2025 penny struck in 24 karat gold (produced at the Philadelphia Mint). The 24 karat gold penny is a true modern rarity, representing the first cent officially struck in gold and one of the rarest non-Proof gold coins to ever emerge from the United States Mint.

Only 232 three-coin sets are available for collectors—celebrating the number of years pennies were produced beginning in 1793—and they will be offered exclusively in the Stack’s Bowers Galleries sale on Thursday, December 11, 2025. Each set will be accompanied by a serialized Certificate of Authenticity and set #232 will also include the three sets of canceled original dies used to strike these coins. United States Treasurer Brandon Beach and United States Mint Acting Director Kristie McNally also personally operated the presses to strike the final few Omega coins, in recognition of their historic significance.

Paul Hollis, Lifelong Numismatist, Testifies at Senate Confirmation Hearing for U.S. Mint Director

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Paul Hollis
Paul Hollis, President Trump’s nominee to be the 41st Director of the United States Mint, testifies before the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee on October 30, 2025, sharing his lifelong passion for numismatics and vision for the Mint’s role in America’s 250th anniversary celebrations. (Official U.S. Senate photo)

On October 30, 2025, Paul Hollis — a passionate coin collector, respected dealer, acclaimed author, and former Louisiana state legislator — appeared before the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs as President Trump’s nominee to become the 41st Director of the United States Mint.

If confirmed by the full Senate, the 53-year-old Hollis would be the first longtime professional numismatist to lead the Mint in its 233-year history. Nominated on July 16, 2025, Hollis would serve a five-year term, succeeding Acting Director Kristie McNally, who has guided the bureau since Ventris Gibson stepped down in March 2025 at President Trump’s request.

Hollis brings an extraordinary blend of hobby expertise and public-service experience. A collector since age seven, he shared a moving personal story during the hearing: his grandmother gave him a coin she had safeguarded through the Great Depression. “That small gesture left a lasting impression that quietly steered the course of my life,” Hollis testified. “Today, I keep the coin that she gave me nearly a half-century ago as a tribute to her.” He still carries that same coin in his pocket during life’s major moments.

Professionally, Hollis has more than 30 years of experience as a numismatist and authored the award-winning 2011 book American Numismatist for the American Numismatic Association, tracing the rich parallels between U.S. history and its coinage. From 2012 to 2024 he served in the Louisiana House of Representatives, and at the time of his nomination he was a member of the Louisiana State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.

The hearing touched on several issues of keen interest to collectors:

  • 2026 Semiquincentennial Coin Program – Hollis will oversee the major circulating-coin redesign celebrating America’s 250th anniversary, along with the “Best of the Mint” archival re-issues.
  • Proposed Trump $1 Coin – Senators Christopher Van Hollen (D-MD) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) raised concerns about reports of a possible circulating dollar bearing President Trump’s likeness, noting existing law prohibits living persons on U.S. coinage to avoid any monarchical appearance. Hollis assured the committee he would strictly follow the law and consult appropriate legal authorities.
  • Harriet Tubman $20 Note – When asked, Hollis correctly deferred the matter to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, which handles paper currency.

Throughout the questioning, Hollis emphasized that “our nation’s coinage is far more than just metal — our coins encapsulate America’s history” and expressed confidence in leading the Mint “through this exciting and vital time in our nation’s history.”

Collectors across the country are watching the confirmation process with great interest. A Senate vote has not yet been scheduled, but many in the hobby are hopeful that a fellow numismatist deeply committed to both history and the law will soon take the helm at the United States Mint.

Sources:
Paul Gilkes, “Mint Director nominee Hollis appears at hearing,” Coin World, November 19, 2025
Olivia McCommons, “Hollis’s Hearing,” The Reading Room, November 11, 2025

New Whitman Red Book Releases for Fall 2025

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Whitman Brands is rolling out three exciting additions to its iconic Red Book Series this fall, perfect for coin collectors of all levels. From type coins to pioneer gold and classic cents, these books are packed with trusted numismatic insights. Here’s what’s coming to shelves in September and October!

Redbook Series Books Banner

United States Type Coins, 4th Edition

Release: Early September 2025
Dive into the world of type-coin collecting with this updated guide, covering over 250 unique U.S. coin designs—from 1792 half dimes to modern American Innovation dollars. With mintages, grading guides, values in up to nine grades, hundreds of color photos, and GSID catalog numbers, it’s a comprehensive resource for building a type collection. As Jeff Garrett, Senior Editor, puts it, “Each coin tells a story… forming a panoramic view of our nation’s coinage history.”

Private & Pioneer Gold Coins of the United States

Release: Mid-September 2025
For the first time, the Red Book Series explores private and territorial gold coinage in this new volume by Donald H. Kagin, Ph.D., and David J. McCarthy. Discover gold coins minted outside federal authority from 1786 to 1862, including Brasher doubloons and $50 slugs from the gold-rush era. This book offers rich history, pricing in up to nine grades, Kagin and GSID numbers, and vibrant photos.

Flying Eagle & Indian Head Cents, 4th Edition

Release: October 2025
A collector favorite, this expanded edition by Richard Snow covers America’s first small cents (1857–1858) and the beloved Indian Head cents (1859–1909). It includes detailed mintages, grading, die varieties, errors, exonumia, counterfeit detection, and values in up to nine grades (Brown, Red-Brown, and Red), plus over 400 full-color images.

These new releases are must-haves for any numismatist looking to deepen their knowledge and enhance their collection. Grab your copies and share your thoughts at our next coin club meeting!

New Collector’s Edition Guide Celebrates 40 Years of the American Silver Eagle

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American Silver Eagles Guide Book cover

Whitman has released the fifth edition of American Silver Eagles: A Guide to the U.S. Bullion Coin Program, a must-have for coin enthusiasts, available exclusively in a special Collector’s Edition at govmint.com. This fully revised guide celebrates the 40th anniversary of the American Silver Eagle, the world’s most collected silver bullion coin with over 673 million struck since 1986, and honors the 50-year career of coauthor John Mercanti, the 12th Chief Engraver of the U.S. Mint.

Coauthored with David J. Ryder, 34th and 39th U.S. Mint Director, the book offers deep insights into the coin’s history, artistry, and appeal. It includes a new foreword by Ryder, the history of the U.S. Bullion Coin Program, coverage of the 2021 Type II redesign featuring Emily Damstra’s Flying Eagle reverse, updated mintage figures, coin-by-coin analysis for 2021–2025 releases, an illustrated appendix of Mercanti’s design portfolio, and tips for building your Silver Eagle collection. Notable coins include the 2023-W Proof, 2024-Star Privy Uncirculated, and the collectible 2025 250th Anniversary Military Proofs with the Army privy.

Introduced under the Liberty Coin Act of 1985, the American Silver Eagle, struck in one troy ounce of .999 fine silver, pairs Adolph A. Weinman’s Walking Liberty obverse with Mercanti’s original heraldic eagle reverse (updated in 2021). These coins are both legal tender and a favorite among collectors for their beauty and symbolism.

Published by Whitman, the trusted name in numismatic literature, this guide is available in large (8.5×11) and small (6×9) formats. Pre-order the Collector’s Edition now at govmint.com or find it at Whitman.com, Amazon, Walmart, and other retailers starting September 2025. Don’t miss this tribute to an American icon, perfect for collectors of all levels!

2025 United States Mint Silver Proof Set Goes on Sale

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The United States Mint is set to release its highly anticipated 2025 Silver Proof Set (product code 25RH) on August 7 at noon EDT. Priced at $150.00, this exquisite collection features 10 coins struck at the San Francisco Mint, including the final five coins of the American Women Quarters™ Program. This four-year program honors women who have profoundly shaped U.S. history and inspired future generations.

U.S. Mint 2025 Silver Proof Set

A Celebration of Trailblazing Women

The 2025 American Women Quarters highlight five remarkable figures, each coin crafted in 99.9% fine silver with stunning reverse designs:

  • Ida B. Wells: A fearless investigative journalist, suffragist, educator, and civil rights leader.
  • Juliette Gordon Low: Founder of Girl Scouts of the USA, empowering girls through leadership and service.
  • Dr. Vera Rubin: Astronomer whose groundbreaking work on galaxy rotation provided key evidence for dark matter.
  • Stacey Park Milbern: A visionary disability justice activist.
  • Althea Gibson: The first Black athlete to break the color barrier in tennis and professional golf at the highest levels.

The obverse of each quarter features a portrait of George Washington, designed by Laura Gardin Fraser for the 1932 quarter competition commemorating Washington’s bicentennial. Inscriptions include “LIBERTY,” “IN GOD WE TRUST,” and “2025.”

Additional Coins in the Set

The 2025 Silver Proof Set also includes:

  • Native American $1 Coin: The reverse showcases Mary Kawena Pukui, adorned with a hibiscus flower, kukui nut lei, and muʻumuʻu with an aloha print, set against stylized water. Inscriptions include “United States of America,” “$1,” and “Nānā I Ke Kumu” (“Look to the Source”). The obverse features the “Sacagawea” design from 2000, with “LIBERTY” and “IN GOD WE TRUST,” and edge inscriptions for the year, mint mark, and “E PLURIBUS UNUM.”
  • Kennedy Half Dollar: Struck in 99.9% fine silver.
  • Roosevelt Dime: Also in 99.9% fine silver.
  • Jefferson Nickel: A classic design in the set.
  • Lincoln Penny: Completing the collection.

Premium Packaging and Authenticity

Encased in protective capsules, the coins are presented in striking red packaging with a black checkerboard pattern, accented by icons symbolizing the honorees’ achievements. The back of the carton features photographs of the women with the tagline “Profiles of Change,” reflecting their transformative impact and their presence on the coins. A certificate of authenticity accompanies each set.

How to Purchase

The 2025 Silver Proof Set will be available starting August 7 at noon EDT through the United States Mint’s website, with a “Remind Me” alert option on the product page (25RH). Collectors can also enroll in the Product Subscription Program for automatic delivery of future releases in the series. The set is available through the Authorized Bulk Purchase Program (ABPP) with early release options for Authorized Bulk members, marked by an AB suffix and possible premium.

In-person purchases can be made at the Mint’s sales centers in Philadelphia (151 N. Independence Mall East), Denver (320 West Colfax Avenue), and Washington, D.C. (801 9th St. NW). To ensure fair access, orders placed before the official on-sale date will not be accepted.

Don’t miss this opportunity to own a piece of history celebrating the legacy of extraordinary women and the artistry of the United States Mint.

Father Goose’s Kids Love Coins! Sparks Young Collectors’ Imaginations

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On August 5, 2025, Whitman Brands will release Kids Love Coins!, a vibrant picture book introducing young readers to coin collecting. Written by Charles Ghigna (Father Goose®) and Andi Martin, with illustrations by Jacqueline East, this 32-page book for ages 3+ combines rhymes, vivid artwork, and fun facts to inspire a lifelong passion for numismatics.

Kids Love Coins book interior

Whitman aims to nurture young collectors as the U.S. nears its 250th anniversary in 2026. “Kids Love Coins! is the ideal way to get children excited about coins,” said John Feigenbaum, Whitman’s President and CEO. The book explores U.S. coins—Lincoln cents to Kennedy half dollars—covering their materials, designs, minting, and use, plus coin terminology and collecting tips. East’s whimsical illustrations capture the joy of discovery.

“It was fun and refreshing to help bring this project to life,” said Matt Jeffirs, Whitman’s Creative Director. “The artwork is beautiful, reflecting the wonder at the heart of the hobby.”

Charles Ghigna, author of over 5,000 poems and 250 books, including The Father Goose Treasury of Poetry, brings warmth to this project. His prior Whitman book, Alabama My Sweet Home (2018), celebrated Alabama’s bicentennial.

Building on Whitman’s children’s publishing legacy, Kids Love Coins! is perfect for budding collectors. Pre-order now at Whitman.com or Amazon, with availability at Whitman’s eBay Store, Walmart.com, bookstores, and hobby shops starting August 5, 2025. This charming book is set to delight young readers and collectors alike.