The Fairmont Collection Reserve+…a Subset of High Quality Coins from One of the Largest Gold Hoards Ever!

The Fairmont Collection is one of the largest hoards of vintage American pre-1933 gold coins ever found. A special subset, known as the Fairmont Collection Reserve+, exists within this significant hoard. Each coin in the Fairmont Collection Reserve+ has earned the coveted PCGS "+" designation—which means it has exceptional eye appeal and ranks in the top 30% of its respective grade.

A Pivotal Time in America’s History

The coins in the Fairmont Collection Reserve+ collection were struck around the turn of the 20th century when growth and changes were transforming the nation. Such coinage would have seen the height of the Wild West, two presidential assassinations, the dedication of the Statue of Liberty, and the first successful flight in North Carolina, for instance.

Classic American Coinage Designed by Numismatic Legends

The first two releases of the Fairmont Collection Reserve+, which included high-quality examples of $5, $10, and $20 Gold Liberty coins, sold quickly and are nearly gone. The third release featured stunning examples of the iconic Saint-Gaudens $10 Gold Indian Head Coins, and the fourth and most recent release, featured gorgeous $20 Saint-Gauden Double Eagles.

$5 and $10 Gold Liberty Coins

Designed by the third Chief Engraver of the U.S. Mint, Christian Gobrecht, $5 and $10 Gold Liberty coins were struck for seven decades, from 1839 to 1908 and from 1838 to 1907, respectively.

$20 Gold Liberty Double Eagle Coins

Designed by the fourth Chief Engraver of the U.S. Mint, James Longacre, $20 Gold Liberty Double Eagle coins were struck for six decades from 1850 to 1907.

$10 Gold Indian Head Coins

Designed by famed Sculptor and coin designer Augustus Saint-Gaudens, $10 Gold Indian Head coins were struck from 1907 to 1933. The design was created at the behest of President Teddy Roosevelt, who demanded an upgrade to previous American coinage that he thought was “artistically of hideous atrociousness.”

$20 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagles

Also designed by Augustus Saint-Gaudens, $20 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle coins were struck from 1907 to 1933. Their design was also borne of President Roosevelt’s initiative to update American coinage to be beautiful, modern expressions of American national identity.

Highly Coveted + Designation, Top 30% of Grade!

Each coin within the Fairmont Reserve+ Collection has been professionally authenticated, graded, and encapsulated by Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS), one of the most trusted third-party grading services in the world. They also earned PCGS’s coveted “+” designation— which means they have exceptional eye appeal and rank in the top 30% of their respective grades! Based on the most recent numbers from PCGS, only 1.4% of all coins submitted, regardless of type, have earned a + designation.

These Coins Escaped the Gold Recall of 1933

Millions of circulating American gold coins were melted in 1933 after President Franklin D. Roosevelt recalled them from the public. Millions more were lost to international business transactions, where they were often melted or hidden away and forgotten in foreign bank vaults.

Vintage Treasures Selling Fast

It’s not every day that you come across an extraordinary hoard of classic U.S. gold coinage. Look for yourself to see why these classic American coins are generating a ton of excitement and are disappearing quickly. Call 800-506-6468 or click here to learn more and own a piece of the historic Fairmont Collection Reserve+ today.

Over 2,400-Year-Old Ancient Coin Hoard Unearthed in Turkey According to the NYtimes.com

An Ancient coin hoard, estimated to be 2,400 years old, was discovered in the ruins of Notion, an ancient city-state that today would be located in Turkey. It was unearthed by an archeologist from the University of Michigan, Christopher Ratté, and his research team, who found the “pot of gold” while exploring the remains of a 3rd-century dwelling and older ruins beneath it.

 A hoard of this type has yet to be found in Asia Minor. According to archeologist Andrew Meadows, who was not part of the dig, “This is a find of the highest importance. The archeological contest for the hoard will help us fine-tune the chronology of Achaemenid gold coinage.”

The coins within the Notion Hoard are primarily Darics, which were used as payment to soldiers of fortune. The loss of these coins is believed to have happened during a period of warfare and border disputes in a contested area.

The site at Notion is located in western Anatolia, the borderlands between Asia and Europe. Over its long history, Notion played a role in the Peloponnesian Wars and other significant military skirmishes. Whether the gold coin hoard has ties to historic military battles or was “…simply the savings of a veteran mercenary soldier…” remains to be seen.

Excavations at Notion last year. While digging beneath the courtyard of a house dating to the third century B.C., researchers found the remains of an earlier dwelling and a cache buried there. Credit: Notion Archaeological Project/University of Michigan

Christopher Ratté believes that since the coins were never found by their owner or anyone else until the modern day, that disaster must have struck. “No one ever buries a hoard of coins, especially precious metal coins, without intending to retrieve it. So only the gravest misfortune can explain the preservation of such a treasure.”

Notion was eventually conquered by Alexander the Great in 334 B.C., which led to the cessation of Daric production, with many being melted down and re-struck as coins bearing the likeness of Alexander and his successors. The result is that surviving intact darics are considered to be rare. The Notion Hoard is currently being stored at the Ephesus Archeological Museum in Turkey, in addition to other relics, like Athenian pottery, found at the same dig site.

Scarce & Unique™

GovMint’s Scarce & Unique division offers you an exclusive opportunity to purchase coins that may not always be available on our website or catalogs due to high demand and/or low availability.

Our knowledgeable staff is highly trained and ready to meet the needs of your growing collection.

Whether you’re looking for that ancient coin made one at a time by hand or a beautifully crafted high-relief coin only made possible with modern minting technology, our dedicated team can help you locate and acquire it for your collection.

1-800-506-6468

Masters of Coin Design: Beth Zaiken

Before coins can make it into the hands of the public or eager numismatists, they must first start at the drawing board. One particular coin designer responsible for several recent popular designs is Beth Zaiken.

Who Is Beth Zaiken?

From a young age, Beth Zaiken was particularly interested in all things animal-related, both real and imaginary. Her skills in drawing and painting led her to graduate from the Rhode Island School of Design with a B.F.A. in Illustration. From there, her love of animals and landscapes drew her to work at Blue Rhino Studio in Minnesota and partner with many museums and zoos to create large murals. Beth Zaiken’s art is notable for its ties with nature, biology, realistic animals, and immersive landscapes.

In 2019, Beth Zaiken chose to apply her skills to the United States Mint’s Artistic Infusion Program (AIP), where she became an official United States Mint coin artist and designer. With her muralist work aimed at helping professionals and conservationists communicate their message to the public, Zaiken felt she could use this same goal as a coin designer.

In an interview about her role, Zaiken said, “I see coins as miniature exhibits you carry in your pocket—all are intended to communicate and educate.” That inspiration has guided her through creating several notable US coin designs.

What Is the U.S. Mint’s Artistic Infusion Program?

The Artistic Infusion Program (AIP) was established by the United States Mint in 2003 to incorporate a wide variety of artists from different backgrounds, experiences, and specialties into the minting process. One of the celebrated features of the program is the invitation for artists of different mediums to apply. Applicants do not necessarily need to be experienced coin designers to join.

For example, Beth Zaiken has been a part of the program since 2019, but her previous experience more heavily involved painting, illustrating, and murals.

When the AIP opens for applications, artists of all backgrounds are encouraged to apply. Both master and associate designers can join this prestigious program. Once selected, artists enter into a one-year contract, during which they can submit coin designs to a review committee throughout the year. Participating artists can elect to renew their contract at the end of the year.

Notable Coin Designs from Beth Zaiken

Beth Zaiken's art and murals primarily feature animals and nature. As a coin artist, she has taken these same themes and interests and applied them to her designs. One such example is her innovative 2021 American Liberty High Relief $100 Gold Coin design that features a Bucking Bronco and would go on to win the prestigious Best Gold Coin Design at the Coin of the Year (COTY) Award Ceremony in 2022. However, branching beyond her usual interests, Zaiken has also created images featuring people, such as the 2024 Harriet Tubman $1 Silver Commemorative Coin.

Beth Zaiken is a talented artist and innovative coin designer with a bright future in the world of numismatics. 

Discover more artists as part of our new Masters of Coin Design series and start your search for Beth Zaiken’s coin designs here at GovMint.

Perfect Gold and Silver American Bison Dollar Proofs Created by Artist Beth Zaiken Stunning Design with BOTH Ultra-High Relief and Super Incuse Together!

Extremely difficult to produce and rarely seen, the obverse design of these 2024 American Bison Dollar Proofs features both Ultra-High Relief (UHR) and Super Incuse strikes together as part of the same spectacular design! Celebrating an American icon, the top half of the obverse features a highly detailed walking Bison struck in Ultra-High Relief, while the bottom half, showing a pond featuring the Bison’s shadow, is produced with a Super Incuse strike method.

Each coin’s reverse includes the official crest of the Mesa Grande Sovereign Nation along with the coin’s denomination and specifications.

Legal Tender, Struck in 99.9% Gold and Silver

These Beth Zaiken American Bison Proofs are available struck in one ounce of 99.9% gold, or five ounces or two ounces of 99.9% fine silver. Or you can select the 3-Pc. Set consisting of all three coins. 

Each coin is denominated in dollars and legal tender of the Mesa Grande Sovereign Nation. The Mesa Grande Band of Diegueño Mission Native Americans is a federally recognized tribe located in northern San Diego County, about 75 miles northeast of San Diego, California. Positioned 3,500 feet above Black Canyon on a high plateau adjacent to the Cleveland National Forest, the beautiful Mesa Grande Tribal reservation is a remote location, and a quiet, scenic community just outside the busy streets of San Diego, California.