ARTICLE PROFILES ERROR DEALER FRED WEINBERG

Fred Weinberg is easily one of the most well-known people in coin collecting. He is a specialist in error coins, the coins which result from mistakes and mishaps during the coin minting process. Chances are, if you've seen a handsome, bearded coin expert on television, it was Fred Weinberg, as he is probably one of the most consulted coin experts in the country. He has appeared on numerous TV news and radio shows, from the major networks to local affiliates, explaining the way the coins are made in his engaging and easy-going fashion. So, who is Fred Weinberg and how did he get to where he is today?

Fred has been collecting coins since the age of 12. He is fascinated with the things that go wrong when coins are made, and loves trying to figure out why a coin turned out the way it did. As a result of a lifetime analyzing the way coins are struck, Fred is the go-to guy for important entities like PCGS, for which he is the official authenticator for major minting errors.

As a result of Fred's unceasing efforts to learn more and more about how things work at the places where coins are made, Fred has enjoyed tours of official government mint facilities the world over, including several tours of the Shanghai Mint in China. In fact, Fred is one of an exceedingly small number of civilians who have been allowed behind the doors of the U.S. Mint at West Point, an extremely secure facility where the Gold and Platinum U.S. Eagles and other bullion coins are struck.

Of course, to rate a tour of the West Point Mint, one has probably been of assistance to the government in the past. This is evident in Fred's numismatic consulting work. During the famous GSA sales of Morgan Dollars during the 1980's, Fred was the only professional coin dealer who assisted the GSA in checking the Morgan Dollars for varieties! Other government consulting Fred has done includes providing his expertise to the FDIC, the FTC, the U.S. Secret Service, and law enforcement agencies in locations nationwide. He has also consulted on numismatic matters for banks and insurance companies across the U.S. and Europe.

Fred is one of those amazing coin dealers that always seem to have time to help the newbies. The next time you're at a major coin show, stop by his table to say hello and spend a few minutes gawking at his stunning inventory of major mint error coins!

To read the complete article, see: Meet Fred Weinberg - Error Coin and Minting Process Expert (coins.about.com/od/errorcoinsdievarieties/qt/fred_weinberg.htm)

Wayne Homren, Editor

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