- (month unknown)
- A 1873-CC Seated Liberty, No Arrows quarter dollar sells for US$190,000 in a private sale. [87.81]
- July 1
- The GSA begins receiving mail bids for final 54,820 Carson City mint silver dollars; dates are 1880, 1881, and 1885; minimum bid is $180. [174.90] [230.32]
- July 24
- (to July 26) New England Rare Coin Galleries conducts the Boston Jubilee Sale auction of coins. A US $20 Saint-Gaudens gold coin, Ultre High Relief, sells for US$175,000. [177.33] [230.11] [232.61]
- August 14
- (to August 15) In Cincinatti, Ohio, Auction '80 is held. Rarcoa sells an 1894-S dime for US$145,000. [176.99] [208.46] [222.12] [226.3] [230.6] [308]
- August 19
- Leroy C. Van Allen and Pete R. Bishal find a certificate in the Rutherford B. Hayes Library and Museum, documenting the authenticity of the first 1878 Morgan silver dollar, struck March 11 and presented to the President. [206.18]
- September
- Superior Stamp and Coin sells an 1856-O $20 gold coin, choice uncirculated, proof-like, finest of 20-30 known, for $312,500. [206.18] [232.1]
- Gary Young sells an 1894-S dime to Ronald Gillio of California for $160,000. [208.49]
- October 1
- (to October 2) In New York City, Bowers and Ruddy Galleries conduct Part III auction of the Garrett collection. Total sales $4.1 million. Some highlights:
- 1795 $10 gold, BU: $130,000;
- 1798/7 $10, AU: $120,000;
- 1776 Continental silver dollar, unique, VG: $95,000;
- 1652 New England 6 pence, VF: $75,000;
- 1783 Chalmers shilling, rings reverse, VF-EF: $75,000;
- 1737 Higley copper, unique: $75,000.
[207.18] [233.119]
- November 17
- The former New Orleans Mint building re-opens as the Louisiana State Museum. [130.24]
1981
- January 8
- Stack's sells a 1787 Brasher doubloon from Yale University for $650,000 in a private sale to a Florida collector. [150.58] [339.78] (January 9 [179.32])
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- January 16
- Frank Gasparro retires as Chief Engraver of the US Mint. [96.40] [151.80] [209.18] [340.34]
- January 19
- The Copper and Brass Fabricators Council files suit in US District Court in Washington D.C. to prevent the US Treasury and Mint from implementing copper-plated zinc cents. [210.14]
- February 23
- US Mint Director Stella Hackel Sims submits resignation, effective April 1. [210.18]
- March 25
- (to March 26) Bowers and Ruddy Galleries auctions part four of the Garrett coin collection in Beverly Hills, California. Total sales over the four auctions: $25 million. Some highlights:
- 1804 Draped Bust dollar, Class III: $400,000;
- 1792 Birch cent, choice uncirculated: $200,000;
- 1787 Brasher gold doubloon pattern, "EB" punch on shield, unique: $625,000.
[43.125] [179.32] [211.14] [235.68]
- April 1
- US Mint Director Stella Hackel Sims resigns. [210.14]
- May 7
- US Treasurer Angela Buchanan announces in a congressional hearing a reversal in Treasury policy, removing the government's objections to the production of U.S. commemorative coins. [86.14]
- July 14
- US Senate confirms Donna Pope as US Mint director. [86.15] [116.22] ([213.20])
- July 20
- The missing Willis DuPont 1804 Draped Bust dollar re-appears at ANACS for certification. [41.58] [244.1]
- (month unknown)
- At the ANA convention in New Orleans, Louisiana, Bowers and Ruddy Galleries conducts the coin auction. a 1907 $20 Indian Head pattern piece sells for $475,000, a record for a US Mint coin. [181.26]
- September 10
- Donna Pope is sworn in a Director of the Mint. [214.20]
- September 11
- US District Judge John H. Pratt rules the Copper and Brass Fabricators Council does not have standing to bring suit against the US Mint switching cent to copper-plated zinc. [214.20]
- September 29
- US Senate confirms Elizabeth Jones as chief engraver of the US Mint. [118.40] [138.22]
- October 27
- Elizabeth Jones is sworn in as 11th Chief Engraver at the US Mint. [91.4] [96.40] (September 10 [133.36])
- December 17
- The West Point Bullion Depository strikes first 97.5 percent zinc Lincoln cents for circulation. [86.98] [180.42]
1982
- January 6
- The West Point Bullion Depository begins issuing new Lincoln copper-plated zinc cents. [82.32] [338.40]
- January
- The US Mint releases first batch of copper-plated zinc Lincoln cents in Chicago, Illinois. [86.98]
- January 18
- The San Francisco Assay Office begins striking bronze-plated zinc cents for circulation. [243.1]
- March 16
- The Linderman specimen 1804 silver dollar, stolen in 1967, is returned to the du Pont family, in Denver, Colorado. [244.1]
- October 27
- (to October 29) In New York City, Bowers and Ruddy Galleries conducts The United States Gold Coin Sale, known as the Eliasberg Sale. Total auction sales: $12.4 million, a record for a single coin auction session. Some highlights:
- 1870-S $3, believed unique: $687,500, highest amount paid for a single regular-issue US Mint coin;
- 1875 $3, Proof: $110,000;
- 1880 $4, coiled hair: $99,000;
- 1879 $4, coiled hair: $101,750;
- 1822 $5, VF-30, one of three known: $687,500;
- 1825/4 $5, PR-60: $220,000;
- 1854-S $5, one of three known, AU-50: $187,000;
- 1839 $10, PR-65, head of 1838, large letters, one of three known: $121,000;
- 1875 $10, PR-65: $104,500;
- 1933 $10, MS-65: $93,500;
- 1907 $20, ultra-high relief, roman numerals: $242,000;
- 1841 $2.50, Proof 63: $82,500;
- 1798 $5, small eagle: $77,000;
- 1829 $5, large planchet: $82,500;
- 1927-D $20, MS-65: $176,000.
[94.84] [181.24] [186.48] [248.1] [286.44] [329.72] [419.80] [471.8] [476.111]
1983
- April 17
- First National Coin Week begins. [6]
1984
- January
- Stack's auctions the Adams-Carter specimen of the Class III 1804 Draped Bust dollar for US$198,000 to John Nelson Rowe III. [99.18]
- January 26
- Mint Director Donna Pope changes name of Bureau of the Mint to U.S. Mint. [341.92]
- (month unknown)
- Krause Publications announces winners of the Coin of the Year 1982 contest. Coin of the Year is the US Washington half dollar. [304.30]
- June 1
- Heritage Capital launches the Numismatic Certification Institute coin grading service. [86.108]
- June
- Stack's auctions a 1793 Flowing Hair, Wreath, Strawberry Leaf cent graded G-4 for US$51,700. A second example graded Fair-2 sells for $50,600. [85.60]
- (month unknown)
- Stack's of New York conducts an auction of the Amon Carter collection. An 1875 $3 gold Proof sells for $121,000. [182.25]
- July 2
- The book The U.S. Branch Mint at Dahlonega, Georgia is published, written by Clair Mallery Birdsall. [39.56]
- (month unknown)
- The Learning Channel debuts a weekly 30-minute TV show Rare Coin Magazine, hosted by David Lisot. [303.20]
- October
- US coin dealer Alan Hager launches the Accugrade coin grading service, introducing a clear, hard plastic, tamperproof holder containing the coin and a photograph of the coin. [86.107]
1985
- January 28
- Superior Galleries conducts the auction of The Dr. Jerry Buss Collection Sale. Some highlights:
- Aubrey and Adeline Bebee acquire the Idler specimen of the Class III 1804 Draped Bust dollar (MS-60+) for US$308,000;
- Reed Hawn acquires the Olsen specimen of the 1913 Liberty Head nickel (PR-63) for $385,000.
[66.73] [146.22] [257.18] [342.52] [386.13] [401.629] [451.40]
- (month unknown)
- Krause Publications announces winners of the Coin of the Year 1983 contest. Coin of the Year is the US Olympic silver dollar. [304.30]
1986
- February 3
- Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) is founded in the USA. [86.108] [187.80]
- February 7
- The Secret Service replies to a collector who submitted a 1959-D Lincoln/Wheat cent for authentication, saying they consider it genuine. [250.14]
- (month unknown)
- A unique 1870-S half dime sells at auction for $253,000. [186.48] [329.70]
1987
- February 25
- Teletrade introduces sight-unseen third-party graded auctions. [91.56]
- (month unknown)
- Bowers and Merena conduct an auction of the Norweb Collection. Some highlights:
- 1894-S dime, Proof 65: $77,000;
- 1797 half dollar, MS-63-65: $227,000;
- 1821 $5 gold: $198,000;
- 1829 $5 gold, small planchet, one of three known: $352,000.
[182.25] [303.65,84]
- August 10
- Numismatic Guaranty Corporation of America launches its coin grading service. [86.109] [250.56]
- September 21
- A bill is introduced in the House of Representatives calling for the modernizing of circulating coinage designs. [86.90]
- September 25
- A bill, S. 1776, is introduced in the US Senate calling for the modernizing of circulating coinage designs. [86.90]
1988
- March 4
- The West Point Bullion Depository is redesignated as the West Point Mint. [92.62] [289.70] (March 31 [313.32] [428.5])
- March
- Stack's auctions the Halperin collection. A 1793 cent, "AMERI.", graded MS-60, second-finest known, sells for US$71,500. [309.54]
- March 31
- An act of Congress restores the mint status of the San Francisco Assay Office facility. [78.22] [228.15] [313.32] [348.92] [428.5]
- June 6
- The book Walter Breen's Complete Encyclopedia of U.S. and Colonial Coins is published. [45.42]
- July 16
- (to July 17) Auction '88 is held in Cincinnati, Ohio. Total auction sales: $12.8 million. Some highlights:
- US $10 1908, with motto, MS-68: $88,000;
- US $3 1863, MS-67: $82,500;
- US 1896 proof set, MS65+ to MS-67: $275,000;
- US $5 1894-S, MS-69 NGC: $115,500.
[387.1603] [390.445]
- November
- At St. Moritz-on-the-Park Hotel in New York City, Bowers and Merena conduct the Norweb Collection Part III auction. Some highlights:
- 1861 $20 gold, Paquet Reverse, one of two known, MS-67: US$660,000;
- 1893-S $1 silver, MS-65: $357,500, record price for any Morgan dollar.
[156.46] [186.50] [217.10] [303.59] [304.24] [456.28]
1989
- January
- Stack's auctions the Adams-Carter specimen of the Class III 1804 Draped Bust dollar for US$242,000 to Rarities Group. [99.18]
- Superior Galleries auctions a 1879 goloid $20 pattern for $155,000. [303.67]
- February 2
- The ANA debuts its ANACS Cache, graded coins encased in a hard plastic capsule. [86.109]
- March 2
- At the ANA's 11th Midwinter Convention in Colorado Springs, Aubrey and Adeline Bebee donate their 1913 Liberty Head 5-cent coin to the American Numismatic Association Museum. The coin is appraised at $1 million. [66.72] [391.700]
- March
- Bowers and Merena auctions a 1825/4 Capped Head, Evenly Spaced Date gold half eagle, for US$148,500. [94.85]
- July
- Leon Hendrickson sells the Dexter specimen of the 1804 silver $1 Class I coin to Blanchard and Company and American Rare Coin Fund for $990,000, a world record price for a rare coin. [10.24] [124.78] [186.49] [392.1598]
- (month unknown)
- Auction '89 highlights:
- 1-cent 1793, chain, MS-63: $88,000;
- $1 1854, gold, Type 2, MS-67: $88,000;
- $2.50 1796, with stars, MS-63: $176,000;
- $2.50 1808, MS-64: $231,000;
- $2.50 1831, Proof-66: $231,000;
- $10 1907, rolled edge. MS-66: $121,000;
- $20 1907, flat edge, high relief, MS-67: $121,000;
- $20 1926-D, MS-65+: $93,500.
[393.1999]
- NHL hockey team Los Angeles Kings' owner Bruce McNall gives Wayne Gretzky 1851 1/2-ounce gold American Eagle bullion coins, for breaking Gordie Howe's NHL career scoring record of 1850 points. McNall also gives Howe 1850 silver American Eagles in pre-game ceremonies. [303.20]
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