NGC Announces Winners of First Numismatic Triathlon

A total of 200 contestants participated in the first NGC Numismatic Triathlon, hosted by Numismatic Guaranty Company® (NGC®) at the American Numismatic Association’s World’s Fair of Money in Rosemont, Illinois, held August 5-10, 2024. This is by far the highest number of participants in any NGC grading contest.

The Triathlon differed from past NGC Grading contests in that, instead of simply grading 15 coins in 10 minutes, contestants participated in three different numismatic exercises, which included the following sections for a total of 100 possible points.

1. General Numismatic Knowledge – 6 multiple-choice questions; 30 points total
2. World Coin Attribution – 8 multiple-choice questions; 40 points total
3. Authentication and Grading – 6 multiple-choice questions; 30 points total

The prizes

Contestants competed in three age categories for prizes. For both the Adult (age 26 and up) and Young Adult (18-25) categories, the first prize was an all-expenses-paid trip to NGC headquarters in Sarasota, Florida, along with $300 NGC grading credit. This contest was the first to offer a trip to NGC headquarters as a prize. The second prize was a $200 NGC grading credit, and the third prize was a $100 NGC grading credit. The Young Numismatist (13-17) category prizes were cash — $300 for first place, $200 for second place and $100 for third place.

The top 5 finishers in the three categories also received a unique NGC “Sample Slab” containing a 2003 Silver Proof Illinois Quarter. Additionally, all 200 participants received one of two special NGC “Sample Slabs” with either a 2003 Clad Proof Illinois Quarter or a 1991 Djibouti 5 Francs.

The winners

In the adult category, dealer Tom H. led the way, with a 95% score. In both the attribution and grading sections, he provided the correct answer for all the coins. His only miss was one of the six trivia questions. Fantastic!

Behind Tom in the adult category was Joe P. in second place with a 91% score and Tyler J. in third place with an 89% score.

In the Young Adult category, Will H., 24, narrowly prevailed with a 94% score. He aced the trivia and attribution sections, correctly graded three coins and missed the grade on three others by only one point apiece. Finishing close behind him was Max B., 18, in second place with a 93% score, and Curt G., 19, with a 91% score.

The Young Numismatists category was won by Nate L., 16, who earned a 74% score. Ben K., 17, took second with a 66% score, while JP C. took third with a 56%.

Below, you can find the questions and answers from the 2024 NGC Numismatic Triathlon.

Section #1: General Numismatic Knowledge

6 multiple-choice questions

1. What is the name of the denomination that was the etymological precursor to the English word "Dollar?"
• Correct answer: Thaler
  The first coin called a "Thaler" was minted in Joachimsthal, Bohemia in 1518. The name "Thaler" is a shortened version of "Joachimsthaler", which comes from the German words "Joachim" and "thal" meaning "Joachim's valley". Eventually, this morphed into the word daler in English by 1550, and finally to dollar by about the beginning of the 17th century.
• Most common wrong answer: 8 Reales
  While it is true that 8 Reales were commonly accepted in the US as currency in the beginning of the nation’s history, the question was asking for the etymological origin of the word Dollar.
2. What is the name for a concentrated patch of hairlines on the surface of a coin caused by a coin counting machine?
• Correct answer: Wheel Mark
  Many counting machines have a spinning wheel to move the coins through the counting process. Occasionally, a coin will become stuck in this wheel, and the movement of the metal wheel will cause damage to the surface of the coin that resembles a small cleaned area, which is known as a wheel mark.
• Most common wrong answer: Countermark
  Counterstamped coins are coins that have been struck with an additional set of (usually smaller) dies that feature a different design. There are various reasons for counterstamping coins, but one of the more intriguing is when a government counterstamps foreign coins to designate their legal tender status and denomination within its own country. This practice was often employed when a government lacked the resources to mint its own coins, leading to the substitution of foreign currency. For more information on counterstamped coinage, see this article.
3. Who invented the 70-point grading scale used by NGC and other grading services to evaluate coins?
• Correct answer: William Herbert Sheldon
  Dr. William Herbert Sheldon developed his coin grading scale in the late 1940s as a way to more accurately describe the condition of the Large Cents he specialized in. Previously, numerical values were not utilized, but instead it was more of an adjectival grading system. This brought in a fair amount of ambiguity, which his system helped to alleviate.
• Most common wrong answer: Sheldon Cooper
  Born on February 26, 1980, Sheldon Cooper is a Cal Tech American physicist who won the Nobel Prize for Physics in 2019. He also happens to be fictional, and the main protagonist of the hit TV show “The Big Bang Theory.” So, we’re very sorry, but he did not invent the Sheldon Grading scale. Bazinga!
4. In what city were US coins with a "D" mintmark struck between 1838 and 1861?
• Correct answer: Dahlonega, Georgia
  The Dahlonega Mint was a short-lived branch of the United States Mint established during the Georgia Gold Rush to provide miners with a local facility for assaying and minting their gold, eliminating the need to travel or ship their gold to the Philadelphia Mint. Coins produced at the Dahlonega Mint feature the "D" mintmark. This same mintmark is now used by the Denver Mint, which began operations in 1906, more than 40 years after the Dahlonega Mint closed. All Dahlonega Mint coins are gold, available in $1, $2.50, $3, and $5 denominations, and were minted between 1838 and 1861.
• Most common wrong answer: Denver Mint
  The Denver Mint, a branch of the United States Mint, began producing coins on February 1, 1906. It continues to operate today, striking coins for circulation, mint sets, and commemorative issues. Coins produced at the Denver Mint carry a "D" mintmark, the same mintmark once used by the Dahlonega Mint before it closed.
5. What general term describes a coin struck on a cut square or rectangular planchet from dies made to strike round coins?
• Correct answer: Klippe
  A klippe is a square coin minted on more easily produced square planchets, using either round or square dies. These coins were typically issued under adverse circumstances, such as during a city siege. Round coin blanks were typically harder to produce, so during trying times, mints often turned to these square coins.
• Most common wrong answer: Square Planchet Error
  Nearly as many contestants chose this incorrect answer as the correct one!
6. Which of the following modern bullion (gold or silver) coinage series began first?
• Correct answer: Canadian Maple Leaf
  While the extremely popular Silver Maples Leaf coins weren’t struck until 1988, the first gold examples were produced all the way back in 1979!
• Most common wrong answer: Mexico Libertad
  The first gold Libertads were struck in 1981, and the first gold examples were produced the following year in 1982.

Section 2: World Coin Attribution

8 multiple-choice questions

Coin #1

1. From what country is the above coin?
• Correct answer: Chile
2. What is the denomination of the above coin?
• Correct answer: 8 Reales
3. At which mint was the above coin struck?
• Correct answer: Santiago, Chile

Coin #2

1. From what country is the above coin?
• Correct answer: Saudi Arabia
2. What is the date of the above coin?
• Correct answer: AH1354
3. What is the denomination of the above coin?
• Correct answer: 1 Riyal

Coin #3

1. From what country is the above coin?
• Correct answer: Argentina
2. What is the denomination of the above coin?
• Correct answer: 4 Reales

Section 3: Authentication and Grading

6 multiple-choice questions

Coin #1 – USA - 1914-D Lincoln Cent

Not Genuine or Altered – The two coins utilized in each of the contests were both examples of a common alteration. While the Denver Mint struck only 1.2 million or so Lincoln Cents in 1914, in 1944, they struck a whopping 430,000,000! Therefore, it is very common to see a 1944-D Lincoln cent that has had the left side of the first 4 removed, making it appear to be a 1914. However, the large gap to the right of the 9 is a tell-tale sign of this alteration.

Coin #2 – Germany - 1866 Frankfurt 3 Kreuzer

NGC MS 67 – The two coins used in the contest have clearly been together since they were struck in 1866. They both have the same booming luster and distinct lack of marks that allows them to reach such a lofty grade.

Coin # 3 – USA - Barber Quarter

NGC AG 3 – While the dates on the two coins in the two tests differed, the condition did not. They both had decent rims left on the obverse, but the wear on the coins entered into the fields of the coins on the reverse. Because of this, they are not eligible for the Good 4 grade, and max out at AG 3, the correct grade for these two pieces.

Coin #4 – USA - Morgan Dollar

NGC MS 62 – Like Coin #3, both versions of this test had a Morgan Dollar, but they were two different dates. However, they were extremely similar, with many tick marks and abrasions in the fields, as well as slightly subdued luster. This holds both coins back from Choice Uncirculated, and they are both graded NGC MS 62.

Coin #5 – Great Britain - Conder Token

NGC MS 64 BN – These two tokens are clearly different, but both are not quite nice enough for the Gem Uncirculated grade. However, there is no wear to be found on them, and they are both at least Choice Uncirculated, equivalent to MS 63. However, their glossy surfaces and strong strike allow them to earn the MS 64 BN grade.

Coin # 6 – USA - 1938 Oregon Trail Half Dollar

NGC MS 68 – These are clearly the highest-grade coins in the contest. There is barely a mark to be seen on either coin, and they both exhibit matching rainbow toning that was imparted on the coins from the original packaging they were kept together in for decades. Only a bit of mottling in the toning keeps them back from an even loftier grade.

Related Links:

• 2024 FUN Show Grading Contest Winners
• 2023 World's Fair of Money Grading Contest Winners
• 2023 FUN Show Grading Contest Winners