Numismatic News – September 22, 2026

Summary

Deceptive counterfeits, the World's Fair of Money and the true cost of cleaning coins lead the September 22, 2026 issue of Numismatic News (Vol. 75 No. 24, $7.99) — with the cover asking collectors whether cleaning a coin cuts its value more than they realise.

The issue features Deceptive Counterfeits (page 23) examining modern forgery techniques that fool even experienced dealers. World's Fair of Money Smashing Success (page 16) reports on the ANA's annual convention. The Price of Cleaned Coins (page 8) argues that improper cleaning can destroy 50 percent or more of a coin's numismatic value. CC Seated Liberty Dimes (page 14) offers a specialist survey of Carson City-minted dimes. U.S. Wins Best Gold (page 48) reports on American gold coin designs taking top honours in the 2026 Coin of the Year competition, where the China 2025 1oz 510Y Chinese Dragon MS 70 was also a contender. The issue carries extensive dealer price lists including a 1793 Half Cent PCGS VF-20 at $16,500, a 1921-S PCGS MS-66 at $28,750, and a 1937-D 3 Legs PCGS MS-65 at $34,500.

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Content Guide

▸ Features

p.08 · The Price of Cleaned Coins
Improper cleaning can destroy 50 percent or more of a coin's numismatic value, according to the dealers and graders quoted in this feature. The article explains which cleaning methods cause permanent damage (abrasive polishes, acid dips) and which conservation techniques are acceptable to grading services. Never use metal polish on a collectible coin — even once.

p.14 · CC Seated Liberty Dimes
A specialist survey of Carson City-minted Seated Liberty dimes, one of the most challenging series for 19th-century US coin collectors. The article identifies the key dates, mintages and condition rarities within the series, with estimated values for each grade.

p.16 · World's Fair of Money — Smashing Success
Report from the ANA's annual World's Fair of Money convention, covering attendance figures, notable exhibits and the market sentiment among dealers and collectors who attended.

p.23 · Deceptive Counterfeits
Modern forgery techniques that fool even experienced dealers are the focus of this feature, which examines specific counterfeit coins that have appeared at major shows and the diagnostic tools — from weight-and-measure checks to X-ray fluorescence spectrometry — that can identify them. Invest in a calibrated scale and a 10x loupe before your next major purchase.

p.48 · U.S. Wins Best Gold
American gold coin designs take top honours in the 2026 Coin of the Year competition. The article names the winning coins and the designers behind them.

▸ Market & Prices

p.XX · Dealer Price Lists
Extensive retail listings from major dealers across the US, including: 1793 Half Cent PCGS VF-20 at $16,500; 1835 Half Cent PCGS MS-65 BN at $3,500; 1858 Large Letters PCGS MS-65 at $4,825; 1909-S Lincoln Cent PCGS MS-66 RD at $3,995; 1924-D PCGS MS-65 RD at $13,750; 1914 Buffalo Nickel PCGS PR-68 at $16,875; 1921-S PCGS MS-66 at $28,750; 1937-D 3 Legs PCGS MS-65 at $34,500.

▸ Regulars

p.XX · News
Coin-industry developments including Mint production figures, legislative updates and upcoming show dates.

p.XX · Letters
Reader questions and comments on recent features, cleaning controversies and market trends.

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Editor's Take

This is a workhorse issue rather than a standout. The Deceptive Counterfeits piece (page 23) and The Price of Cleaned Coins (page 8) are the two features that every collector should read — both provide practical advice that can save a buyer from costly mistakes. The World's Fair of Money report (page 16) is solid but conventional show coverage. The CC Seated Liberty Dimes feature (page 14) is well-researched but narrow in appeal — Carson City dime collectors will love it, general readers will skip it. The dealer price lists occupy roughly half the issue's page count and are the real reason most subscribers buy the magazine: the $16,500 1793 Half Cent and $34,500 1937-D 3 Legs provide market-reference data that no online price guide matches for granularity. The weakness is editorial depth — the feature articles average two pages each, which leaves no room for the kind of long-form research that distinguishes serious numismatic journalism from a classified-ad vehicle. The advertising density is extreme but expected for a title that survives on dealer listings. This issue suits the active collector who uses Numismatic News as a price-discovery tool; readers looking for narrative history should wait for a feature-heavy issue.

Strengths
• Deceptive Counterfeits and Cleaned Coins both offer practical buyer protection
• Dealer price lists with specific auction-grade reference prices ($34,500 1937-D 3 Legs)
• World's Fair of Money provides convention-market sentiment

Weaknesses
• Feature articles average two pages — too short for serious research
• Editorial-to-advertising ratio is heavily tilted toward dealer listings

Verdict: Selective read — Essential for the price lists if you are buying or selling this quarter; the two practical features are a bonus, not the main attraction.