LOOSE CHANGE: MARCH 15, 2026

Archibald Loudon Snowden stood at the center of American coinage for nearly three decades. He mastered Mint operations. He modernized production. And in 1885, he chose principle over power.

His resignation as Superintendent of the Philadelphia Mint marked a decisive moment in U.S. Mint history. The letter reproduced below, discovered in National Archives records in 2026, provides rare insight into the politics of the Mint Bureau during the Cleveland administration. As far as the author is aware, this letter has never before been published.

Archibald Loudon Snowden began his Mint career on May 7, 1857, when he received appointment as Register of Deposits in the Treasurer's Office at the Philadelphia Mint.

He was the nephew of former Mint Director James Ross Snowden and had graduated from Jefferson College the previous year.

He worked alongside future Mint leaders and technical experts, including Henry R. Linderman, Robert Patterson, Die Forger George Eckfeldt, Assayer Fred Eckfeldt, William Steele, Engraver James Longacre, Assistant Engraver Anthony Paquet, and Machinist Robert Jefferson. These associations shaped his technical foundation and administrative skill.

When the Civil War erupted in 1861, Snowden left the Mint to organize a Pennsylvania volunteer regiment. He succeeded and was elected Lieutenant Colonel by the men. However, once federal authorities mustered the regiment into service, officials divided the companies among established units. Snowden received no command.

Mint Director James Pollock soon invited him back to Philadelphia. Snowden returned carrying the honorary title "Colonel," which remained attached to his name thereafter.

To read the complete article, see:
Superintendent Snowden's 1885 Resignation (https://coinweek.com/superintendent-snowdens-1885-resignation/)

 

There are coins that collectors, coin dealers, and numismatic authors know to be rare. Such coins are featured in books, magazine and website articles, and at dealers' booths at coin shows both big and small.

On the other hand, there are coins that have no business being rare, based on their substantial mintages. Collectors, for the most part, are not familiar with such coins. Even dealers are not always aware of the rarity of these issues. Additionally, numismatic authors can be baffled by rare coins that have no business being rare. Among such coins is the 1870-S Seated Liberty half dollar.

In this article, we shall briefly analyze one coin that is rare: the 1870-CC Seated Liberty half dollar (mintage 54,617); and discuss in-depth one that has no business being rare: the 1870-S Seated Liberty half dollar (mintage 1,004,000). How many survivors are there of those coins? Carson City specialist Rusty Goe has determined that there are 145–165 pieces today of the 1870-CC, while Coin World puts the figure at around 200. There is no source that has estimated the survival rate of the 1870-S half dollar. And why should they—with its mintage of 1,004,000?

But here's the rub. We discover something interesting when examining the population reports of PCGS and NGC. In total, the grading services have authenticated and graded 302 examples of the 1870-CC half dollar. However, examining the 1870-S half dollar, we see that the services have graded 296 of them. There are six more graded examples of the 1870-CC than the 1870-S. So, a coin with over 18 times the mintage has less graded pieces than an issue that Ron Guth writes (in PCGS Coinfacts), "the 1870-CC Half Dollar is one of the toughest of all the dates" of the Carson City half dollar series, and that "it remains a great rarity today."

To read the complete article, see:
A Rare Coin that has No Business Being Rare (https://www.greysheet.com/news/story/a-rare-coin-that-has-no-business-being-rare)

 
1557 Gold Bracteate of Herluf Trolle and Birgitte Gøye

At Bruun Rasmussen, we are currently focusing on "Fantastic Women" in the world of art. In numismatics, too, one finds significant women – among them Birgitte Gøye. In the Danish Ministry of Culture's new report "More Women in Art in Public Spaces," she is included on the list of 100 Danish women who deserve a statue — and with good reason.

Birgitte Gøye was one of the wealthiest and most influential women during a turbulent period in 16th-century Denmark. Together with her husband, the naval hero Herluf Trolle, she founded the school Herlufsholm and became its first headmistress.

Her home served as a natural gathering place for Danish noblewomen, whom she educated according to her steadfast worldview — Christian humanism.

Birgitte Gøye's motto was "Fear God and do right," and these words, along with her initials, were immortalized on gold medals that today exist in only a few specimens, but which can now be purchased at auction.

To read the complete lot descriptions, see:
https://bruun-rasmussen.dk/m/collections/BirgitteGoye?status=sold&utm_campaign=Coins_2611_BirgitteG%C3%B8ye_EN_15032026

 

A senior general of Hungary's National Tax and Customs Administration (NAV) was reportedly found dead after attending an exclusive celebration on the same night authorities seized a Ukrainian cash-transport convoy, which he was a key figure of, according to investigative journalist Szabolcs Panyi.

The event was held at the Zselicvölgy Leisure Farm and reportedly had an exclusive guest list of more than one hundred invitees. Around eighty people are said to have attended, including senior NAV officials, generals, state secretaries and at least one member of parliament from the ruling Fidesz party.

Security cameras reportedly captured the deceased general shortly before midnight. His body was later recovered from a lake on the property, and reports say head injuries were found. Sources cited by the journalist claim authorities consider the incident a tragic accident following a night of celebrations, with no other explanations currently under consideration.

In case you missed the operation: Ukrainian bank staff detained in Hungary, Kyiv alleges "hostage-taking", Budapest launches money-laundering probe. The Ukrainian bank demands return of millions of dollars, euros and gold seized by Hungary. Also, there's a huge controversy regarding the cash convoy, since Orbán ally's firm transported billions to Ukraine for years.

To read the complete article, see:
Senior general found dead in Hungary the same day the Ukrainian cash convoy was seized (https://dailynewshungary.com/general-found-dead-hungary-ukraine-convoy/)

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