Dealer Bulletin

We have had a lot of questions about the impact of Chinese trade tariffs on coin supplies.  The good news is that of the over 100 brands we stock, only 4 have meaningful production in China.  The rest are primarily US or European made.  We have stayed in touch with these four manufacturers since early summer 2018 to understand their planned response to the tariffs.  The first rounds of tariffs on washing machines, steel and aluminum and then $50 billion of assorted Chinese imports had little impact on the coin/stamp supply industry.  But, the expansion last fall of the 10% tariff to an additional $200 billion of Chinese imports did include some items in our industry.  These initial 10% tariffs were for the most part absorbed by the manufacturers to extent their produts were impacted (and in many cases they were not).  The 10% rate was scheduled to increase to 25% on January 1.  This was postponed to March 1 per an agreement between Trump and Xi in late 2018.  Recent news reports are some what positive about a trade deal between the two contries that will avoid the increase to 25% on March 1.  In any event, all of the suppliers have been adamant that they would not be able to absorb 25% tariffs even temporarily.  In our discussions with these suppliers, here is how they plan to handle the issue:

Whitman -- Whitman plans to increase prices on their Chinese made products by about 25% no matter what happens.  Per Whitman, it has been several years since they increased prices and cost pressures of many types (including the tariffs) are necessitating a price increase.  Prices on their Chinese made products are set to go up and will stay at these new levels even if the trade conflict is resolved and tariffs go away.  Not impacted are publishing (books), tubes, Cowens 2x2 flips, Cowens pages, clear snaplock holders and other US made products.  We will adjust our MSRP on these products shortly after Whitman does and the wholesale discount will remain the same but be based on the new MSRP.  See supplier update section below for more details on Whitman's price increase.

Lighthouse -- If tariffs go to 25%, Lighthouse plans to address the issue by reducing the distributor discount on impacted products.  Their catalogs go to press during the summer for a November release and that is the only time they plan to adjust MSRP.  So, their immediate and short term response would be to leave MSRP the same and adjust the price they charge us for the impacted products.  If the dispute is resolved and the tariffs go away, they would return to the normal discount.  If it appears the tariffs would remain in place long term, they would adjust MSRP at the next catalog printing and then return to the normal discount when those price levels go into effect (November).  If Lighthouse reduces the discount to us, we will in turn reduce to discount to our customers.  When they adjust MSRP and return to the standard discount, we will do the same.

BCW -- BCW plans to increase prices on impacted products at the time of impact.  They say they will endeavor to give at least 30 days notice of the price increase but reserve the option to increase prices on shorter notice if necessary.  Prices would be reduced again when tariffs are reduced or go away.  As BCW adjusts their MSRP up or down, we will as well but anticipate maintaining the same wholesale discount.

Transline/Guardhouse -- Transline Guardhouse branded products are almost all made in China.  They plan to increase prices on impacted products as the impact occurs without prior notice.  Prices would be reduced again when tariffs are reduced or go away.  As Guardhouse adjusts their MSRP up or down, we will as well but anticipate maintaining the same wholesale discount.

Now we will move on to some new products we have added since our last Dealer Bulletin.

New Products:

New Coin and Currency Supplies:

• Lighthouse Black Velour Airbox -- six different sizes holding 1-6 2x2 holders
• Lighthouse Challenge Coin Display Boxes -- one piece and twenty piece display boxes for challenge coins.
• Lighthouse Glass Top Slab Boxes -- two, three, four and five slab models join the one-slab model that has been available for some time
• Lighthouse Quattro Presentation Cases -- 4 tray cases with variants for 32 slabs, 80 2x2s or 40 38mm capsules (such as for large dollars)
• Lighthouse Solid Wood Rustika Presentation Cases -- rustic looking presentation cases for 1 or 20 2x2s plus a general "treasure chest" model
• Lighthouse Presentation Case for Australian Kangaroos and Lighthouse Presentation Case for Somalia African Wildlife Elephants -- two more entries in this series of presentation cases for modern world silver bullion coins.
• Dansco Replacement Page 8182-3: American Eagle Silver Dollars w/ Proof (2013-W Enhanced to 2015-W Proof) -- A new update page for the Silver Eagle with Proofs Dansco album.
• Classic Coin Conditioner -- Marketed as a direct replacement for Harco Blue Ribbon by the manufacturere.  Should be interesting to see how this works....
• Red NGC Slab Box -- Made for China but would be useful for those who want to keep certain inventory separate or otherwise be diffferent.
• Whitman Morgan Dollar Folders -- Four new classic Whitman blue folders for Morgan Dollars.
• Littleton Folder LCF48: Jefferson Nickels No. 4, 2017-Date -- Number four folder to continue this series for 2017 and beyond.
• Dansco update pages for Jefferson Nickels with Proof, Kennedy Half Dollars with Proof, and Kennedy Half Dollars without Proof.
• The line of Edgar Marcus Koin and Duraclear round tubes.
• Capital Holder - Canada Maple Leaf Gold (1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/10, 1/20) -- Five-hole version of this holder (we previously had only the 4-hole version).
• HECO Mylar Cardboard Flips - 2x2 - Bust Half Dollar Size -- A tweener size between Half Dollar and Large Dollar that is perfect for Bust Halves and also useful for foreign coins.

New Stamp Supplies:

• Lighthouse Vario Professional Packs -- These 25 packs cost less per page and are great for volume users of Vario Pages
• JBM Open End Glassines -- 10 sizes of open end (short side) glassine envelopes join our existing selection of open side (long side) envelopes
• Prinz Stamp Mounts in six new sizes: 29, 37, 42 and 43 by 215mm length and 185 and 207 by 265 length
• Lighthouse Cardboard Approval Cards: 5 Strips 
• Scott National and Minuteman 2018 supplements are now available but not yet on the website.  We'll try to get them there soon.  In the meantime, we can add them to your orders manually.

New Gaming Supplies:

• Yellow and Gray Z-folios -- Two new colors make a total of 12 for this BCW series.
• Double Matte Deck Guards in 12 colors also from BCW.

Newly Released Books Now in Stock:

• Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700 -- 7th Edition
• Standard Catalog of World Paper Money, Modern Issues 1961-Present -- 24th Edition
• 2019 Scott Standard Postage Stamp Catalogue, Volume 1 (US, UN, Countries A-B)
• 2019 Scott Standard Postage Stamp Catalogue, Volume 2 (Countries C-F)
• 2019 Scott Standard Postage Stamp Catalogue, Volume 3 (Countries G-I)
• 2019 Scott Standard Postage Stamp Catalogue, Volume 4 (Countries J-M)
• 2019 Scott Standard Postage Stamp Catalogue, Volume 5 (Countries N-Sam)
• 2018 Scott Standard Postage Stamp Catalogue, Volume 6 (Countries San-Z)
• 2019 Scott Standard Postage Stamp Catalogue, US Specialized
• 2019 Scott Standard Postage Stamp Catalogue, Classic World Wide 1840-1940
• The Catalog and Guidebook of Southeast Asian Coins and Currency, Volume I, France -- new third edition
• Money Time, 70 Years of Currency in Israel -- by Yigal Arkin
• Lighthouse Euro Catalog -- new 2018 edition
• Goldmine 45 RPM Records Price Guide -- new 8th edition
• Rise of the Superheroes: Greatest Silver Age Comic Books and Characters
• 2019 U.S. Coin Digest -- new 2019 edition
• The Official Red Book: A Guide Book of Franklin & Kennedy Half Dollars -- New 3rd Edition.
• Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000 -- 2019, 46th Edition
• Standard Catalog of World Coins, 2001-Date -- 2019, 13th Edition
• United States Proof Coins -- Volume IV: Gold -- First in new 4-volume series on proofs.
• Treasure Hunting The Top 20th and 21st Century U.S. Coins -- Kevin Flynn
• Photographs of Thomas Jefferson Nickels: Die Varieties and Minting Errors -- Richard Bousquet
• Obsolete Paper Money, A Guide With Prices -- New from Don Kelly with real market pricing
• The Standard Handbook of $1 Web-Fed Notes -- 1988A, 1993, 1995
• Leather Edition Redbooks for 2017, 2018 and 2019.
• North American Coins & Prices 2019 
• Magic - The Gathering Cards: The Unofficial Ultimate Collector's Guide
• The Ultimate Guide to G.I. Joe 1982-1994 -- 3rd Edition
• The Official Overstreet Indian Arrowheads Identification and Price Guide -- 15th Edition
• 2019 Scott United States Pocket Stamp Catalogue
• Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Government Paper Money -- New 31st Edition for 2019
• The 2019 Charlton Coin Guide
• Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Bank Notes
• 2019 US / BNA Postage Stamp Catalog
• The Official Red Book: A Guide Book of Civil War Tokens -- New Third Edition.
• Forgotten Colorado Silver: Joseph Lesher's Defiant Coins -- Bob Leonard, Ken Hallenbeck and Adna Wilde
• Murder in Visalia: The Coin Dealer Killer -- Ronn Couillard
• The Curious Life of Nevada's LaVere Redfield: The Silver Dollar King -- Jack Harpster
• The United States Mint in Philadelphia -- Joshua McMorrow-Hernandez

Previously Published Books Now in Our Inventory:

• John J. Ford, Jr. and the "Franklin Hoard" -- Karl Moulton
• Henry Voigt and Others Involved with America's Early Coinage -- also by Karl Moulton
• Medallic Washington -- Neil Musante
• Two Dates Are Better Than One - A Collector's Guide to Misplaced Dates -- Kevin Flynn

Key Supplier Update:

Whitman -- Effective February 18, Whitman will increase prices on about 350 items.  The increases range from very little to in some cases doubling.  On average, this is about a 25% increase.  Included in the increase are the coin album line (including albums, pages, and blank binders), folders and maps (including the small blue Whitman and comparable Harris folder lines), currency albums, Harris 2x2 color coded snaplocks, Frosty Edge coin holders, a small number of philatelic items, and a range of accessories (magnifiers, wallets, poly bags).  Not impacted are Cowens flips and pages, Harris/Whitman tubes, books, cardboard storage boxes (slab, 2x2, etc.), Whitman clear 2x2 snaplocks (and multi-hole for year sets, etc.), and most philatellic items.  Normally, we try to stock up and delay our price increase.  However, given the breadth of this increase and the high turn of many of the products we are not able to overstock meaningfully.  As a result, our prices for these items will increase on March 1.  Here is a link to the complete list of price changes showing old MSRP, new MSRP and percent increase.  If you'd like to stock up on Whitman items in advance of the increase, place your orders before March 1 when we adjust our prices.  Whitman is cancelling all of our open backorders on items with price increases.  Thus, any backorders we will after March 1 will be at the new pricing levels.

Dansco -- Dansco continues to under perform.  On our most recent order, we received 44% of what we ordered.  They did, however, release update pages for the Jefferson and Kennedy albums (see new products list above).

Prinz -- Prinz stamp mount prices increased on January 1.  The Scott brand (which is identical except for the branding) did not increase.  As a result we have not passed through this increase.  We will continue to evaluate it and may switch to Scott brand.

Washington Press/White Ace -- Washington Press shut down at the end of 2018.  They only realeased some of the 2017 supplements.  The others will not be printed and there will be no more White Ace production going forward.  Older supplements and existing stock of album parts, pages, binders, etc. may continue to be available for some time.  We have a decent inventory of the older releases available and will continue to try replace it as your orders warrant while they are still available.

Show Schedule:

We will be at one show in February/March:

• Whitman Expo, Baltimore, MD (Feb 28-Mar 3)

Wayne will have a coin booth at Baltimore.  Let us know if you’d like to place orders for supplies to be delivered to the show.


Up Next:

March will see the start of Redbook pre-orders.  We'll see some additional stamp supplement releases from Scott and Minkus during the coming month.  Volume 1 of the Scott catalog will release around the first of April.  Until then...

...Best Regards,

Wayne, Karin, Gregg, Robin and Doug