12/30/2024
Silver Art Collecting
#1 Genesis of The “Silver Art” Boom of the late 1960s - 1970’s
In the 1950’s through the mid-1960s a lot of dealers and collectors were worried that the end of the classic Silver Art was upon us. The Commemorative half series had come to an end, So-Called-Dollars as well and silver was no longer in circulating Coinage after 1964. With this UNPERFECT storm a virtual hall of fame of numismatists came to the forefront to help save the hobby and business. These historic individuals were such as Harry Foreman (Madison Mint), Gary Fillers (Chattanooga Coins), Larry Lee, (South East Refining), Todd Parker, (United States Silver Corporation), Leon Hendrickson, (SilverTowne Mint), Duane Spellman (The Mint), Will Rossman, (Maritime Mint), Tom Greathouse, (Greathouse Productions), Harlan White, (San Diego Coin Exchange), EJ Aleo, Danny Crabb, Don Casey and the list continues.
In addition, refiners and other striking mints arose and started producing some of the most fantastic themes and amazing die work and made it readily available for purchase to dealers and the public alike. Engelhard Industries, Johnson Matthey, Green Duck Mint, Hamilton Mint, Franklin Mint, Danbury Mint, World Mint, Colonial Mint, World Wide Mint, and Golden State Mint were the main players early in that realm. Some such as Hamilton Mint and Franklin Mint even took the hobby mainstream in TV guides, advertisements to the average American household and with that introduced the public to the world of pressed silver art once again.
With those forward thinking Hall of Famers at the helm the art bar BOOM OF 1973 was underway.
#2 The Hunt Brother Factor and President Ronald Reagan
Silver Thursday was an event that occurred in the United States silver commodity markets on Thursday, March 27, 1980. William Herbert Hunt and Lamar Hunt attempted to corner the silver market. The Hunt brothers finally missed a margin call and the market fell as silver dropped to under $11 from its high of $50.35.
This occurrence made a lot of dealers and people very rich. They had a lot of cash on hand because as the run occurred up to $50 so many pieces were being melted. They were melted by the barrel and that destroyed mintages of the pre-Hunt Silver thus making some very low mintage collectibles even rarer. Most historians estimate only 35-50% of some of the mintages actually survived the Hunt melt.
However, even with many companies and dealers going under just like in other industries consolidation and growth of the businesses, dealers, mints and collectors grew regardless and most with Cash on hand waiting for good investments moving forward.
Silvertowne Mint, Crown Mint, Golden State Mint, Rarities Mint, The Mint (Duane Spellman), The Silver Mine (Harvey Chew) emerged as the cream of the crop during the Post Hunt 1980’s. Engelhard and Johnson Matthey continued and gained market share and PAMP Suisse started to emerge to prominence as well in the mid 1980’s so the Silver Art hobby and business was still strong with a good amount of cash on hand waiting for a rumor called Public Law 99-51.
The Liberty Coin Act (formally Public Law 99-51), was introduced by U.S. Senator James McClure of Idaho, passed in 1985 and signed into law by President Ronald Reagan which brought back “Silver Art” from the United States Mint.
The US Mint’s production made up the difference in production of silver art which is exactly what collectible numismatic issues in silver indeed are. The only difference between non numismatic silver art and numismatic silver art is the United States Mint Mintmark ($) so to speak. That will come to be very important in the years that followed.
These Pioneers in Silver Art had weathered the 1960-1985 era and introduced the World to Silver Art and silver and gold investing on a personal fun numismatic level.
#3 Themes and Dies of Silver Art
Cartoon, political satire, celebrity, history, adult themed, historical events, places, fine arts, commercial, animal, nature, sports, theater, commemorative and every other possible theme you can think of at low to exceedingly high premium pieces have been and are being produced, sold and collected at record levels. The emergence of the Numismatic Collectable Silver Art business and hobby can be seen with countries we didn’t even learn in grade school sponsoring numismatic collectible silver and gold art pieces to help fund their treasuries by providing use and/or producing with their “monetary mint mark) such as ours since the Liberty Coin Act. It’s a very exciting time to see the dream of the founders and framers like Harry Forman, Larry Lee and Duane Spellman almost to it’s maturity.
Some examples on the lower premium side are the Hamilton Mint America the Beautiful 50 piece set of 1 Troy oz 999 Silver Art Bars with an original mintage of 10,000 to the middle end pieces like the sports bars of Diane Spellman of The Mint. Many of these fall into a mintage 10-200 range depending on variants and can hit 300-$1500 per oz for a 1 troy oz art bar.
Also, on the private mint from Engelhard and Johnson Matthey continued to produce and their clients often commercial along with Leon from Silvertowne and Golden State Mint.
Bill Beck of BEX Engraving in Fullerton, CA was instrumental in much of the vintage silver art as a die maker. He produced some of the most detailed and historical private dies of all time for Golden State Mint and hundreds of other producers and striking mints. He was the King of the Western United States as far as Die work. Mr. Beck’s children followed in his footsteps and are still in business currently and are producing some of the best die work and Art Silver around today. Bex Engraving now consists of Mr. Beck’s adult children Andrea, Chris and Tom whom are lifetime members of IASAC TheSilverBugle.org as well as being one of the top private die makers and striking mints around today. Their talent and love for the hobby and history can be seen and is a beautiful sight.
His Southeastern counterpart would be none other than the late H. Alvin Sharpe the inventor and Father of the Mardi Gras doubloon and that genre of “Silver Art”. He did die work for various Mardi Gras Krewes, Doyle’s Coin Palace, Silvertowne’s Old Grandpa Pipe Dreamer, Hamilton Mint’s 24 piece Profiles of the West set of 1 Troy oz 999 silver art bars with individual obverses and individual reverses along with many other notable dies.
#4 Silver Art Guides
The only reason that private mint vintage silver art medallions/rounds aren’t as popular is due to the unfortunate fact proper valuations cannot be made on a majority as the records were lost. William Cassin’s research and documentation on which he was working on a guidebook was apparently misplaced when he passed. Contrasty, with the Rectangles (Silver Art Bars, the Tom Greathouse - Archie Kidd Guidebook series was and is published and even with no current pricing guides available it’s easy, with the given data, to track and form pricing channels which hold true like with other hobbies involving collectibles. There are outliers on the under and over performance lists due to hype, or the cabbage patch doll effect like with any collectibles.
The main reference guidebooks for pressed silver art bars are below with the general range of year’s coverage within each. The earlier editions are collected as earlier editions and hold high value as book collectibles. Also, the Steve Rood - Nancy Yee 1993 Supplement Guide and the earlier Wilson White Guide and the Red F&F guide with some tidbits of historical information and some variant information not in newer editions make them highly sought after as collectibles in their own right.
The 5th, 6th and 7th editions are now being printed and produced by the late Archie Kidd’s son Stephen Kidd with the assistance of Micheal Kabrin (IASAC Lifetime Member) owner/operator of MKBarz and bullion and MK Coins and More in Granada Hills California. Mr. Kabrin purchased SilverArtCollector.com from Tony Crouch and with many more additions to the database and the assistance of Stephen “Steve” Austin, current President of IASAC International Association of Silver Art Collectors, Nancy Yee, former President of IASAC and Manny Montez
Indexed Guide Book to Silver Art Bars 5th Edition 1967-1991
6th Edition 1991-2007
7th Edition 2007-2020
Official Website Sales of 5th, 6th and 7th editions:
MKBarzandBullion.com
Also, the Coca-Cola Bottler’s 75th Anniversary Ingot and Round Guide Book 1975 to 1988 3rd Edition, October 2014 by Tom Mock is a must as it cover the historic series in which Gary Fillers of Chattanooga Coin and Coca-Cola partnered to create that wonderful series. Some within the series hit $1500-3000 per oz such as Amarillo, TX, Clarksville, TN and Youngstown, OH. Plus, always check any Coca-Cola Ingot’s rims because if it says Sterling Silver Filled on rim instead of 1 Troy Oz 999 Fine Silver, has no serial number or has PROOF it’s a rare variant worth at least $500 per oz regardless of which city or bottler is depicted.
As previously mentioned multiple times commercial themed pieces have always been popular. With that “The “Bullion Bar Book - A Guide to Modern one-ounce commercial silver ingots” was written and published by Gerald P. Cestkowski in 2014. It covers commercial silver art bars from vintage to modern spanning almost 250 pages. It’s a wonderful resource for collectors and dealers alike.
#5 International Association of Silver Art Collectors
The International Association of Silver Art Collectors (IASAC) is dedicated to the silver round and rectangle hobbyist, collector, dealer and producer. Anyone interested in this unique hobby is invited to join and participate in the available benefits.
The club was conceived by Ed Lantz in January of 1985. With the assistance of Mike Jordan and Will Rossman (IASAC’s 2nd President, Maritime Mint, one of the original ANACS graders and designer of the white first generation slab) along with the encouragement of Ivan Rash, I.A.S.B.C. was formed with Ed as “Charter” President. The club was originally named International Association of Silver Bar Collectors (I.A.S.B.C.), however the name was changed at the first meeting of the organization in August 1985 to include round collectors as well. I.A.S.A.C. encompasses pressed art bars, pressed art rounds, medallions, Mardi Gras doubloons, old pours, new pours, collector plates and figures such as the Franklin Mint issues. Also, castings in 925, 958, 999 and even some numismatic collectable issues such as those from Perth Mint, New Zealand Mint and even the collectable issues of the United States Mint etc.
Cris Drugan, son of the first secretary-treasurer Judy Drugan designed the club logo. It incorporates both the round and rectangle with the globe signifying the international aspect of the club and the larger S at the center for “silver”. Two olive branches on either side unify the design and symbolize the peaceful existence of both bars and rounds.
IASAC produces either a silver ingot or round for its members annually, alternating between shapes. A design contest is held for members, in which artwork relates to either the location of the annual convention or a significant historical event. The clubs’ officers and trustees select the winning design and the winner is formally presented with the first strike of the issue, serial numbered “00”, at the annual convention. These meetings are typically held in the late summer/early fall in conjunction with a major coin show. Locations vary so that regional members have an opportunity to attend.
The design for all .999 fine silver convention pieces may be seen in the 5th, 6th and 7th editions of “An Indexed Guide Book of Silver Art Bars”, last published in 2020. The foremost reference guides for silver art, these books were published by Archie Kidd and later Michael Kabrin and Stephen Kidd.
By accepting membership, IASAC members agree to abide by the Bylaws of the organization and act with integrity in all personnel and business transactions.
IASAC Website
TheSilverBugle.org
IASAC Email
[email protected]
The current all volunteer IASAC 2023 Board:
Steve Austin, President
Randy Rush, Vice President
Michael Gilberg, Treasurer
Chris Geiner, Historian
Diane Austin, Trustee/Newsletter Editor
Lacy Enderson, Trustee
Jordan Kaplan, Trustee
Josh Martin, Trustee
Charles Miller, Trustee
#6 Modern Resurgence
The DT Mint (DTMint.com) became an LLC in the Great State of Florida. Tommy Granados of Florida and Dave DeGregory of Michigan came together in 2007 and decided to attempt the design and distribution of our own Silver Art Bars because of the Love for the Silver Art Hobby. In 2007 Dave designed DT-1 The Lion with Cub and DT-2 The Bengal Tiger. In 2008 Tommy designed the beginning of the 5 bar Death Dealer Royal Flush Series with DT-3 The Ace of Spades. After the 3rd bar was released Dave decided to go into another direction and left the joint venture. After which time DT Mint was Tommy and his wife Linda Granados.
They are both experts in the field and wonderful people and always willing to assist and mentor people whenever asked. Tommy (IASAC Lifetime Member) has stated
“I enjoy the " Hobby " and not rushing to produce the Silver Art bars makes it even better for us ~ We'll get to them as soon as we can.”
Fast forward a few years to 2011 when William “Bill” Doty Charter IASAC Member at around 70 years old at the time starts Crafts by Doty Mint and series of bars including Wake Up America Series and the Chapman Mazda Silver Bar set which is one of the rarest sets of all time.
One year later enter a younger collector of coins, silver and gold from Toledo, OH. Chris Geiner while interacting with Steve Austin and the late coin dealer, silver bar dealer, artist and enameler Ivan L. Rash and enjoying the wonderful hobby decided
he wanted to pursue silver art design and production as a hobby and hopefully a career. Chris produced his first silver art bar in April of 2012 and CMG Mint (CMGMint.com) was born.
His first issue was struck for him by Leon at Silvertowne and named Good vs Evil and had a mintage of 75 proof, 1 troy oz 999 silver art bars, 20 obverse hand enameled 1 troy oz 999 silver art bars, 5 double sided obverse/reverse hand enameled 1 troy oz 999 silver art bars and one lead trial proof hand enameled obverse and reverse for die proof before hardening die for striking.
Chris was one of if not the first modern producer to enter the social media scene with a Facebook group that was CMG Mint collectors and enthusiasts currently with an almost 850 active CMG Mint collector community.
Facebook.com/groups/CMGMINT
At about that same time Steve Austin of Alabama and current President of the International Association of Silver Art Collectors decided to start a Facebook Silver Art Collector community to serve the masses for information, history and the free flow of information.
Silver Bars and Art Collectibles
Facebook.com/groups/SBAAC
Steve was mentored by the late Archie Kidd, Ed Lantz, Clarence Criswell, and Ken Potter along with anyone he could ask for help learning and sharing the history and information. He and his wife Diane Austin (IASAC trustee and newsletter editor) are both active in the community, business and clubs and try to volunteer their time to anyone and everyone that asks and sometimes unsolicited because it’s such a great hobby everyone should enjoy it. Steve and Diane are both IASAC lifetime members and Duane Spellman Distinguished Service Award Winners.
The above events lead to a an explosion of producers, pseudo mints and the modern art bar BOOM was underway. Chris Geiner as well
as Tommy and Linda Granados were and are alway willing to assist others and all are IASAC Members.
Actually, Chris Geiner is currently International Association of Silver Art Collectors Historian. Many have followed Chris Geiner’s lead and have very strong social media presences.
Some have almost cult followings but in a honorable good for community and society way.
The information and knowledge that has come and continues from Steve and Diane Austin through social
Media, IASAC Club, attending coin shows, presentations, interviews etc has helped the entire hobby and caused massive expansion in the last decade.
From the new numismatic collectibles that hold government mint marks along with the private mints and then the community pseudo mints that utilize striking mints to coin their pieces all have and continue to grow through all the sub genres of silver art.
“This has even spread to the novelty bullion issues, government collectible issues, private collectibles silver art issues and we still haven’t reached full potential by a long shot” states Steve Austin affectionately known as SilverSteveAustin or the BarFather, so nicknamed on a tribute bar by Colby Brewer of Postal Express Mint.
Steve Austin is considered the foremost authority in the world on silver art collectibles. There are many free resources on SilverSteveAustin.com.
As, Steve Austin and a few other researchers and historians such as Ken Conaway, Chris Mendola (AllEngelhard.com) and others kept researching and urging others to do so that aspect of research and learning became the hip and cool thing to do and a byproduct was you could cherry pick bars for $20-$50 per oz that were often worth $75-500 per oz with study and legwork.
Another aspect and genre of Silver Art that has experience a resurgence heading towards it 1989 heights is the vintage commemorative 1892-1954 art silver pieces.
This is mainly due to a handful of historians such as Michael Gilberg (IASAC lifetime member), co creator of the Facebook Commemorative Coin Club and art bar collector. Michael is currently Treasurer of the International Association of Silver Art Collectors and administrator of the Facebook Community Commemorative Coin Club.
Facebook.com/groups/CommemorativeCoinClub
#7 State of the Hobby 2023
With the free flow of information, history and even sharing minting and technical knowledge between artists and mint collaborations with the numismatic silver art, private mint issues as well as a pour and art bar community that produce art bars, rounds, Hobo techniques, scrimshaw, pours, castings, figurines and other amazing silver art in micro mintages, low mintage, medium low, medium, medium high, high and even very high there is something available for almost anyone that likes silver with any premium range and boundless themes.
With mintage, occurrence rates, themes, eye appeal and other driving factors such as mint popularity of remaining intact (non melted) pieces of vintage silver collectibles. Also, as 2007-2023 and future pieces become available on the secondary market and hobby expansion occurs the popular pieces, mints etc have shown to sell below issue pricing and at varying degrees of premium ranges upward of $2500 per oz. That does not mean the mintage would sell for that amount but a piece of the mintage did. As time passes and if you as a collector does due vigilance and track pricing of sold pieces you can make a sound judgment on valuations of mint issues based on all the factors that drive collectibles. A market value is what a collector would pay for a piece not what a dealer, flipper, business would pay obviously. If you are in the business of silver you will have to determine yourself what percentage of your valuation is right for your business model. It is always nice to get a good deal but always remember if you devalue people’s collections you are devaluing your items and the hobby. Simply speaking the market will set itself but always be mindful that you are not in precious metals you are an art collector that happens to have a medium of silver.
When pricing collector pieces of silver or gold you must think of them as you would Numismatic Collectibles, Trading Cards, Collectable Toys, Paintings, Sports Collectibles, Comic Books etc. They are collectable pieces of varying premiums that actually have a base intrinsic value. There is something for everyone from the collector that wants a spot valued range piece to the connoisseur that likes the one off special edition custom pieces. Truly a hobby for everyone.
The Modern Silver, Gold and Platinum Art of our current time has progressed to have die work that is rivaling some of the great die cutters mentioned like Bill Beck and H. Alvin Sharpe. Some of the enameling is reaching and exceeding the vintage capabilities. Some modern techniques have added additional levels we couldn’t imagine in years past. However, always remember, without the artist, die cutters, producers and enamelers and the sheer talent within the industry there would be nothing to collect. Due to the layers of history, art and intrinsic value one is going to enjoy the hobby and have a wonderful selection at any budget. And, if you enjoy the history then even in the lean times when you don’t find a new treasure for awhile you can enjoy the hobby while learning, sharing and with community level and International Association of Silver Art Collector events and get togethers.
From Crown Mint to CMG Mint. From Normark Mint to The Locker Mint. From Johnson Matthey to DT Mint. Nudes, pirates and commercial issues from vintage to the new designs of present mints. History continues to be made within the hobby by the continuation of like minded enthusiastic people who have such great imaginations and captures their ideas in silver miniature works of art. Some designs push the envelope to the limit such as the Americas Most Wanted Series and some revisit the political scene like EJ Aleo did in the vintage years such as Crafts by Doty and The Locker Mint. If mermaids are you thing you can match your vintage Sailor’s Dream and Maritime Mint bars up with newer issues like those from CMG Mint and St Louis Mint’s mermaids. Animals... Match up Lisa Parker and DT Mint Animals with your United States Silver Corporation vintage animals. There is truly something for everyone within any budget within the hobby.
When looking at some differences between how the hobby has changed from vintage to modern art pieces one must notice varieties. For example, The Mint, and most vintage issues that were issued with enamel had low mintages at 100-200 range for proof and enamel. Within the mintage there was often numerous color varieties yet all were considered the same mintage. With modern art pieces the enamel varieties often have a standard enamel variety and then special edition or editions of different colors or double enamel which have separate mintages. This enables the mints to keep mintages in micro mintage ranges while being able to maximize the use of the dies to keep the prices of the standard varieties in a range that most collectors can afford. The special editions are often a different story as some have sold for $500-2500 in primary market auctions. These issues are the rarest of the rare and are so sought after the specialized varieties collectors start salivating at the site of them. Reverse-Reverse issues using reverse dies of the same mint or collaborations between mints has become a collectable niche within the modern era. This was not really explored in the vintage art era.
In this hobby the community is strong. From the vintage days with Archie Kidd, Duane Spellman, Steve Rood, Ed Lantz and Tom Greathouse to the transition period of the 1990-2000s with Nancy Yee, Tom Mock and Garrett and Michelle Burke to the modern era such as Chris Outlaw, Sean Page, Chris Geiner, Ryszard Brzostek, Rich Kowalsky and Donna Leiber. Now, as the tourch is once again passed forward the work of Michael Kabrin (co-owmer of SAC and 7th edition guidebook co-author), Manny Montez (7th edition guidebook co-author), Theo Foscolo 7th edition guidebook collaborator. But, we cannot forget to mention and give thanks to Stephen Kidd (7th edition guidebook publisher - son of the late great Archie Kidd), Nancy Yee (7th edition guidebook editor, 6th edition guidebook editor and former IASAC President) and Garrett Burke (5th, 6th, Vol 1 Price Guide and 7th edition guidebook cover design and art. Historians like John Williams ([email protected]) who learned from Michelle and Garrett Burke and later Tom Mock, Steve and Diane Austin and is considered one of the foremost Coca-Cola ingot and round experts in the world right behind one of his teachers and mentors the King of Coke Bars and Coca-Cola Guidebook author Tom Mock. Without many people, including many that we will have to search the guidebooks and history, to read about putting their time into the hobby we would not have reached this point where we are today with such a fantastic hobby and community.
The end for now
More history to be made,
Big things coming
Steve Austin
You can use all as reference
Many people don’t understand the history.
