| 2012 Canadian Cougar Silver Bullion Coin Announced |
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| The Royal Canadian Mint's six-coin, three-year Canadian Wildlife silver bullion series will feature its third release next month when the 2012 Silver Cougar Bullion Coin is issued.  2012 Canadian Cougar Silver Bullion Coin - Click to Enlarge Details of the strike were recently announced by the Mint, including its expected September 2011 release and 1,000,000 limited mintage. |
| Vicksburg National Military Park Quarter Available in Bags and Rolls |
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 Vicksburg National Military Park Quarter Bags and Rolls The United States Mint began selling bags and rolls of Vicksburg National Military Park Quarters at noon Eastern Time Monday, August 29. The reverse design featured on the quarter honors the national military park located in the state of Mississippi.
The Vicksburg quarter is the fourth of five issues this year, and the ninth released since theAmerica the Beautiful Quarters Program began in 2010. |
| 2011 Proof American Silver Eagle Price Increase, Uncirculated Price Set |
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 The 2011-W Proof American Silver Eagle price goes up from $59.95 to $68.45. A total of 716,328 have sold between its June 30 release and August 22. The United States Mint is increasing the 2011 Proof American Silver Eagle price as it readies to rollout the 2011 Uncirculated American Silver Eagle earlier than anticipated and with a higher than expected price. Launched on June 30 at $59.95, the United States Mint has announced that the 2011 Proof American Silver Eagle will climb $8.50 higher to $68.45. Originally scheduled for release on September 29, the 2011 Uncirculated American Silver Eagle is expected to launch on September 15 for $60.45. |
| 5,600+ Rare Currency Lots Featured in Heritage September Long Beach Auction |
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| Heritage Auctions, the official auctioneer of the September Long Beach Coin and Currency Exposition, will be presenting more than 5,600 lots of rare and collectible currency as part of its Signature® Currency Auction, Sept. 7-9 and Sept. 11-12.  This Salt Lake City, UT- California & Salt Lake Mail Line $50 1863 is one of the more than 100 Obsolete Banks Notes offered in the Heritage September Long Beach Auction which will feature more than 5,600 currency lots. The lots will be offered in four floor sessions at the Long Beach Exposition and two additional sessions presented online. |
| Stack's Bowers Chicago ANA World's Fair of Money Auction Tops $40 Million |
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| Stack's Bowers Galleries (www.stacksbowers.com) proved the current strength of the coin and currency market last week by realizing an astounding $40,084,165 at the Official Auction of the ANA World's Fair of Money (worldsfairofmoney.com), with U.S. coins realizing over $29.9 million of the total.  This 1975 S-Less Proof Roosevelt Dime realized $349,600 at Stack's Bowers Chicago ANA World's Fair of Money Auction. The only official ANA auction in Chicago presented more than 9,000 lots of U.S. and world coins, paper money, medals and tokens over 11 sessions, August 13-20, 2011, at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. |
| US Mint Commemorative Gold Coins, Silver Sets Return from Suspensions |
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 The United States Mint is again offering commemorative gold coins, but at higher prices. The United States Mint is again selling commemorative gold coins after a thirteen-day suspension. The Mint on Thursday also brought back two suspended silver sets following six days of absence. Volatile and surging precious metals prices were the designated culprits for triggering the product suspensions. And although gold and silver have fallen from their heights in mere days — ironically, the two metals are lower now than when the products were first suspended — the commemorative gold coins return on sale at higher prices (+$79.35 each) while prices for the silver sets are unchanged. |
| In The Lead – A New (G)old Standard? It's…Academic |
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However, yesterday, the yellow metal at one point came within just $5 of recording a full $100 drop from the most recent high water mark it achieved just hours prior to yesterday's rout (1,917 versus 1,822). |
| Shireman Collection of Barber Halves, URC at Sept. 2011 Long Beach Coin Expo |
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 This 1894-O Barber half dollar, graded PCGS Secure Plus MS66+, is one of the spectacular coins in the Shireman Collection that will be displayed by PCGS at the September 8 - 10, Long Beach Expo. (Photo credit: PCGS TrueView image.) The number one collection in the PCGS Set Registry(SM) of Barber half dollars with major varieties (circulation strikes, 1892 – 1915) will be displayed by Professional Coin Grading Service at the Long Beach Coin, Stamp & Collectibles Expo, Thursday to Saturday, September 8 – 10, 2011.
Read the rest of Shireman Collection of Barber Halves, URC at Sept. 2011 Long Beach Coin Expo |
| US Mint Halts Gold Coin Sales Again, Prices Poised for Increases |
 The United States Mint gold coins above are just 3 of the 15 to have their sales halted as gold prices race toward new highs. The United States Mint on Monday halted sales of its collector gold coins for an extended period after gold prices soared toward $1,900 an ounce. The suspensions are expected to last until Wednesday when coin prices are poised for increases (jump to table of likely prices). 15 of the Mint's gold coin products are now off sale. The action, as conveyed in a previous article published on Friday, was not completely unexpected based on gold's explosive jump — the yellow metal in New York has surged nearly $150 in six days. |
| US Mint Suspends Silver Sets, Raises Gold Collector Coin Prices |
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 The three United States Mint coins above were among those to have prices raised in four of the last five weeks. The near ballistic rise in gold has resulted in another series of United States Mint price increases for its gold collector coins. On Wednesday, the Mint pulled the trigger on the latest round of hikes — the fourth in five weeks. Coin prices since July have been raised on a per coin basis from as little as $25 to as high as $462.50. On Friday, the Mint suspended two of its older silver sets as silver topped $42 an ounce. Current gold prices should hold until Wednesday morning, although with gold soaring to successive all-time record highs — at $1,848.60 an ounce as of this writing — a preemptivesuspension like last week could potentially be in play. |
| American Eagle 25th Anniversary Silver Coin Set |
 2011 American Silver Eagle Proof Coin This year marks the 25th anniversary of the American Silver Eagle and to celebrate the United States Mint announced it will commemorate it with an American Eagle 25th Anniversary Silver Coin Set. The news came from US Mint Deputy Director Richard A. Peterson on Friday during a coin forum held at the American Numismatic Association's World's Fair of Money® near Chicago. The set is sure to be a popular hit and will launch sometime in October. Its price will not be known until shortly before the release, which is most likely due to this year's volitle prices of the precious metals market. |
| Glacier National Park Quarter Three-Coin Set Availability |
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| The United States Mint on August 23, 2011 will make the Glacier National Park Quarter Three-Coin Set available at noon Eastern Time. It is the seventh release in the America the Beautiful Quarters Three-Coin Set™ series.  Mint image of the Glacier National Park Quarter Three-Coin Set For $14.95, the three-coin set is a collector product featuring three Glacier Quarters: a proof 2011-S, an uncirculated 2011-P, and an uncirculated 2011-D. The mint marks of 'S', 'P', and 'D' signals where the coins were produced -- San Francisco, Philadelphia and Denver. |
| Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee Seeks New Members |
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 WASHINGTON - The United States Mint is seeking applicants for appointment to the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC). There are two open positions - one who is specially qualified by virtue of his or her education, training, or experience in numismatic curation and one representing the interests of the general public in the coinage of the United States. The application deadline is September 15, 2011. The United States Mint will review all applications and forward recommendations to the Secretary of the Treasury for consideration and appointment. |
| ANA, PNG Announce Improvements for 2012 Official Pre-Show in Philadelphia |
Promptly responding to dealers' comments about the first Official ANA-PNG Pre-Show in Chicago, leaders of the American Numismatic Association (www.money.org) and the Professional Numismatists Guild (www.PNGdealers.com) have announced significant changes for next year's event in Philadelphia.
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| NGC Coin Explorer Provides Free Online Reference for US Coins |
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 Image of the online NGC Coin Explorer for US coins Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC) announced the release of the most comprehensive online reference for US coins today. The new NGC Coin Explorer is a free research tool designed as a resource for both dealers and collectors, whether buying or selling coins. Read the rest of NGC Coin Explorer Provides Free Online Reference for US Coins |
| PNG 2011 Award Winners Announced |
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| The Professional Numismatists Guild (www.PNGdealers.com) announced winners of the organization's 2011 awards at the PNG Day summer banquet, August 15, 2011, on the eve of the American Numismatic Association World's Fair of Money in the Chicago suburb of Rosemont, Illinois.  PNG 2011 award winners. Read the rest of PNG 2011 Award Winners Announced |
| Commemorative Gold Coin Sales Halted |
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| The United States Mint on Friday halted sales of every commemorative gold coin as it intends to re-price them as a result of soaring gold prices. The move comes just a few days after the Mint took similar steps in suspending gold collector coins.  United States Mint 2011 Commemorative Gold Coins Going forward, all commemorative gold coins will also have prices that could change once a week as the United States Mint intends to implement a new pricing policy which is similar to the one used on its other precious metals coins. |
| Free Trial of PCGS Mobile CoinFacts Available |
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 PCGS Mobile CoinFacts on a smart phone. (Click image to enlarge it.) PCGS Mobile CoinFacts (m.pcgscoinfacts.com), a new application that lets smart phone users instantly access all the historical numismatic information and crystal-clear coin images from the extensive PCGS CoinFacts™ database, will be available free to everyone for a ten-day trial period, August 12 – 20, 2011. After that, this indispensable app will then be available free only for those with a PCGS CoinFacts subscription. |
| US Mint Sales: American Gold Eagles and Gold Commemorative Coins Shine |
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| According to the latest round of United States Mint sales figures, silver coins were in higher demand but it was gold products that outperformed, including American Gold Eagles and gold commemorative coins. The United States Mint reported higher sales for nearly every gold coin it offers, including each of the 2011 proof coins shown above ($50 American Gold Eagle, U.S. Army $5 Gold Commemorative and Medal of Honor $5 Gold Commemorative). Gold has soared with several strings of record highs. It was the only precious metal to advance last week. These conditions translated well for United States Mint gold coins — both bullion and collector issues, as their sales pace quickened. |
| Anacapa Collection Offered in GreatCollections August 2011 U.S. Gold Coins Auction |
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 The 1876-CC Liberty Double Eagle (left) and the 1905 Liberty Quarter Eagle (right) are among the Anacapa Collection of U.S. gold coins that will be auctioned by GreatCollections on August 21, 2011. (Click image to enlarge.) GreatCollections is proud to auction a collection of U.S. gold coins called the Anacapa Collection.
The collection was amassed over the past ten years and includes coins such as the 1876-CC Liberty Double Eagle graded PCGS MS-61 CAC and the 1905 Liberty Quarter Eagle graded NGC Proof-65 CAMEO CAC. |
| US Mint Suspends Sales of Gold Collector Coins |
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As gold prices surged as high as $1,782 an ounce on Tuesday, the United States Mint suspended sales of most of its gold collector coins. The suspension happened late this morning and effected twelve products. The US Mint online store shows a hold on all its gold collector coins with the statement, "This product is temporarily unavailable for product re-pricing." The affected coins include... |
| 1910 Chinese Yunnan Spring Dollar Featured in Heritage Long Beach Coin Auction |
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| The legendary 1910 Chinese Dragon Dollar, called the Yunnan Spring Dollar in reference to the four Chinese characters that translate to "Spring 1910" on its reverse, could bring in excess of $1,000,000 as part of Heritage Auctions Sept. 8-9 Long Beach Signature® World & Ancient Coins Auction, at the Long Beach Convention Center.  1910 Chinese Yunnan Spring Dollar |
Gold in USD terms is 2.5% higher after the weekend U.S. downgrade and is higher against all currencies and trading at USD 1,706.40 , EUR 1,195.90 , GBP 1,039.20, CHF 1,039.20 per ounce and 132,549.00 JPY. Gold's London AM fix was USD 1,709.75, EUR 1195.21, GBP 1,040.94.
View full post on The Market Oracle
| 2011 Uncirculated Silver Eagle Scheduled for September Release |
Following two years of silence, the 2011 uncirculated Silver Eagle is set to make a comeback next month, according to an updated product schedule from the United States Mint. The Mint's online schedule indicates that the newest American Silver Eagle is ready for a September 29, 2011 release at a yet to be determined price. The release date is not set in stone, as the Mint's schedule has been tweaked before after a coin addition. But changes this late into the year are less common. |
| US Mint Sales: Mount Hood 5 Oz Silver Coins Start Slower |
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Buyers ordered 14,759, or 54.7 percent of the maximum 27,000 Mount Hood silver coinsbetween their launch on Thursday, July 28, through to Tuesday, August 2. |
| July 2011 Sales of American Gold Eagle Bullion Coins Rise |
More ounces of American Gold Eagle bullion coins left United States Mint doors in July 2011 than during the previous month, owing to a greater exodus of the largest one-ounce version. Last month was one of the better July's in the 22-karat gold coins' history. However, and to the negatives with a backdrop kept in mind in which gold prices surged 8.5 percent in July to hit several records, Gold Eagle sales were not superb when compared against other recent months. |
| US Mint Eliminates Credit Card Purchases in $1 Coin Direct Ship Program |
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The United States Mint has once again altered its circulating $1 Coin Direct Ship Program in response to continued "abuses" of the system. Effective as of July 22, 2011 the Mint no longer accepts credit and debit cards for any transactions relating to the Direct Ship Program. Consumers prefer to use paper money over heavier coins in daily transactions, which has stunted $1 coin circulation. (In related news, read about legislation seeking to end dollar coins.) The United States Mint established the Direct Ship Program over three years ago as a method of seeding $1 coins into circulation. |
| Rare Proof and Experimental Coins Lead Heritage's U.S. Coin & Platinum Night Auction |
Early U.S. coinage experiments and rare proof strikings are among the top highlights of Heritage Auctions' Aug. 11-12 Chicago Signature® U.S. Coins & Platinum Night Auction, at the Chicago Marriott O'Hare.  This 1814 E50C Half Dollar in platinum is one of the rarities to be offered in Heritage's Chicago Signature U.S. Coin & Platinum Night Auction |
Peter Krauth writes:
I’m an avowed gold bull, and I truly believe that gold investors will end up benefiting from the biggest bull market of our time.
But we have to be honest: Investor psychology plays a crucial role in shorter-term investment results. And recent trading patterns clearly demonstrate that most of the recent increase in the price of gold is due to the debt-ceiling debate in Washington, as well as the European sovereign-debt crisis that continues to lurk in the background.
This week debut sales figures were released for two new United States Mint products, the 2010-P Mount Hood National Forest Five Ounce Silver Uncirculated Coin and the Gettysburg Quarter Three-Coin Set. Both products enjoyed solid starts, but the Mount Hood five ouncer is moving slower as compared against previous designs in the series.
