RCC/PNCs Come Back Into the Mainstream

PNCs Come Back Into the Mainstream

Though they don’t get much ink in the numismatic press, PNCs, in my estimation, are currently more popular and more avidly collected in the US than at almost any other time in history. Why? Credit belongs to the US Mint and the Statehood Quarters program.

What are PNCs? The Coin World glossary of numismatic terms defines PNC as “Abbreviation of philatelic-numismatic combination (or cover). A combination of a coin, medal, token or other numismatic item inserted into an envelope that is postmarked on a special occasion, such as the release of a new postage stamp. The numismatic item (or numis) is generally visible through a window in the envelope.”

With the release of each statehood quarter, the US Mint produces a PNC that features a pair of uncirculated quarters — one each from the Philadelphia and Denver mints. The covers also feature a current first-class stamp cancelled on the day of first release of the quarter to the Federal Reserve and the public. The design of the Mint’s PNCs is simple but well executed and makes for an attractive collectible for the fan of the statehood quarters program. (Figure 1 illustrates the PNC for the North Carolina statehood quarter.) The covers sell for $19.95.

2001 North Carolina Commemorative Statehood Quarter PNC

Each of the issues, not including the 2002 releases, has sold at least 40,000 units. The covers from Pennsylvania (95,512), Delaware (94,866) and New Jersey (85,741) are the current sales leaders. These are huge volumes when one considers that many non-US Mint PNCs are often produced in quantities of less than 1000 if not less than 100.

As was stated in the definition above, PNCs can feature a coin, token or medal. I’m not a dedicated collector of PNCs, but I have purchased a few that include commemorative medals in which I have a specific interest. A few of the US Mint produced national commemorative medals that I collect have been featured in PNCs and I have gone to great lengths to track them down and acquire them — I bought one from a collector in The Netherlands! I have also purchased some PNCs that feature commemorative medals produced outside of the US Mint, most often by the Medallic Art Company (MACO). These private issues are typically well-designed and are often one of several “official” products of an historical group trying to raise funds to celebrate and commemorate an important person, place or event in US history. (Figure 2 presents a PNC that includes a MACO medal commemorating the expedition of John Wesley Powell.)

1969 100th Anniversary Powell Expedition PNC with MACO medal

PNCs are just one of many numismatic collectibles that live on the periphery of the numismatic mainstream and only occasionally make it into the spotlight. If you’re a philatelist as well as a numismatist, PNCs may offer the perfect bridge between your two hobbies.

Until next month, Happy Collecting!

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