The home of America's first mint served as backdrop for this year's American Numismatic Association's "Worlds Fair of Money."  By all accounts it was a successful show with an incredible array of rarities on the floor and passing over the auction block.  The finest of 5 known 1913 Liberty nickels sold for $4,560,000.  I had the privilege of shepherding a seven-figure collection through grading, consigning and ultimately sold at the show.  A highlight was an 1811/0 Large Cent which last sold for just over $40,000.  At least two eager bidders drove the price to $102,000, surprising nearly everyone in the room and pleasing my consignor! 
      This show provided a fair amount of emotion for me as well.  The Charles O. Browne Memorial Scholarship continues to gather steam and the exhibit at my table attracted more generous donations which will send one young person each year to ANA's Summer Seminar for the next 13 years, representing the time Charlie taught the "Advanced Grading and Problem Coins" class.  I had the great joy and privilege of sharing that task with Charlie over the last 7 seven years.  All who knew him continue to miss his great smile and endless enthusiasm for the field of numismatics.  He was posthumously awarded the Abe Kosoff Founder's Award by the PNG which I accepted in his name and is pictured below, right.  

     The Anti-Counterfeiting Task Force (ACTF), a subdivision of ICTA has made some fabulous inroads since its inception just last year.  The result of the passing of another very close old friend, Alan Kreuzer, ACTF began with a generous contribution from his daughter Chandra.   This year the Al Kreuzer Memorial award went to 3 persons, all of whom were participants in the breakup and arrests of a $48 million counterfeiting scheme involving coins and bullion items.  Rich Weaver of Delaware Valley Rare Coins deserves special praise for his efforts which began when a series of counterfeit silver dollars came into his store.  After months of investigation involving Homeland Security and other agencies, these crooks were stopped in their tracks.  Our industry faces critical challenges in the future and ACTF couldn't have come into existence at a more opportune time! 

        Above are the three award winners, from left to right:  Nicholas Tranchitella, Homeland Security Agent, Rich Weaver, proprietor Delaware Valley Rare Coins, and Doug Davis of Numismatic Crime Information Center (NCIC). 

     The Summer months have surprisingly been quite busy, well beyond expectations for most.  I have been involved in two active Expert Witness cases with one waiting in the wings and am managing a substantial coin collection containing both U.S. and World coins.  On Sunday, I will arrive in Philadelphia for the American Numismatic Association (ANA) convention which is one of the nation's largest and most important coin shows.  Monday will be PNG Day (Professional Numismatists Guild) wherein attendance is by invitation from PNG member-dealers.  I will be at TABLE 912 and if you're in town and didn't get an invitation, call or text me and I'll be glad to bring an invitation to the opening of the show at 11 AM on Monday in Hall D of the Pennsylvania Convention Center.  PNG Day will end at 5 PM giving you 6 hours to get first jump on some of the choicest items available in the numismatic marketplace.
     The ANA Convention itself will open at 1 PM Tuesday, August 14 and continue until 4 PM Saturday.  Stop by TABLE 955 during the show and if time permits, I will be glad to offer FREE APPRAISALS for a small group of coins on the spot OR arrange for a comprehensive appraisal at a substantial discount.   However, YOU MUST MENTION THAT YOU SAW THIS OFFER ON THE WEBSITE!!  This convention promises to one of the biggest and best in recent years, so I hope to see you there!

Amidst all the activity and excitement of the coin business, life often interjects itself.  Last week a close personal friend of mine passed away at the very young age of 68.  Charles (Charlie) O. Browne was a long-time friend and associate and many cliché's are often bandied about when someone passes, but Charlie was truly a gentleman and a scholar.  He had one of the best eyes in the coin business. He and I, along with two other world-class graders, taught the Advanced Grading and Problem Coins class at the ANA Summer Seminar for the last many years.  Going back more than a decade, we both handled a prominent rare coin trading fund and had the privilege of handling many of the world-class rarities in the U.S. coin arena.  A renaissance man, Charlie could carry on a discussion in a multitude of subjects with authority.  Over the decades we interspersed many of those discussions over great dinners and not a few adult beverages!   The shock of the loss is still with me and it's difficult to imagine a coin show without Charlie where we often shared bourse tables and hotel rooms.  He will be missed by many, especially those he tutored and the hundreds of people he helped maximize their bottom line with that incredible eye of his.  He overcame incredible personal challenges with an incessant optimism and crisp smile that was truly inspiring.  I will miss him greatly and it will take a long time for the hole to heal.  Rest in peace, my friend....

The Central States Show in Schaumburg wrapped up almost a month ago and was successful by most accounts, albeit somewhat sparsely attended.  It is always a great wholesale show with major dealers and marketers able to pick up inventory for their clients. Last week I flew to New York to view the lots for the upcoming sale at Sotheby's on May 21.  For the Morgan Dollar collector who is looking for coins that are seen perhaps every other generation, this sale will fit the bill.  Many fabulous rarities, not the least of which is what I call a "fantasy piece:"  1884-S MS-67 PCGS/CAC.   This coin is truly unbelievable and no other coin of this date comes close!  I had the privilege of viewing the lots for a prominent Registry set collector who plans to spend quite a bit in the sale. As I write, I have an early morning flight to a major U.S. city where I will be viewing a 7-figure collection which will be for sale and/or possible public auction.   Spring is usually the busiest part of the year and 2018 is no exception.  Next show on the schedule is the legendary Long Beach Expo June 13-16.  Drop by table 934;  I hope to see you there!!

Whether you've inherited a coin collection and need to have it appraised, want advice on having your coins authenticated by a third-party grading service, need help with the auction process or even an expert witness, Don Ketterling will provide the services you need. Within the numismatic community and to his customers, Don is known for his integrity and his knowledge. With a half-century of professional experience, nobody is better equipped to help you negotiate the tricky numismatic marketplace.
For more information or to schedule an appointment with Don to discuss any coin- or paper money-related topic, we encourage you to use the Contact page or call us at 818-632-2352. ​We hope you'll check back often!









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Just recently, Don was presented with the American Numismatic Association (ANA) Presidential Award for service to the hobby and industry in 2016. In 2017, he was named to the Board of Directors of the Professional Numismatists Guild (PNG), the most prestigious association for coin dealers in the country. And he has served on the board of the Industry Council for Tangible Assets (ICTA) since 2009. Don knows his business, and this fact is well-known to his peers and valued by his clients.
Whether you inherit a coin collection, want to start one, or upgrade the collection you have, chances are you're not dealing with pocket change. Isn't it nice to have the peace of mind that comes from knowing that your coin advisor has your best interest at heart, and the expertise and wherewithal to deliver on his word?
The evidence is clear. Don Ketterling's experience, integrity and professionalism are beyond reproach.