| US Mint Starts April with 1st 2012 Dollar Coin, 2nd 2012 ATB Quarter |
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| April is set to be the most active month so far this year for collector products issued by the United States Mint.  US Mint Chaco Culture Quarter and Chester Arthur Dollar Coin Products Kicking off the first week of the month are U.S. Mint products featuring the first 2012 Presidential dollar coin and the second 2012 America the Beautiful Quarter. |
| Stack's Bowers, Ponterio to Offer 3,100+ Coin and Currency Lots in Hong Kong |
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 Lot 23576 CHINA. 10,000 Yuan, 2002. Lunar Series, Year Of The Horse. Stack's Bowers and Ponterio will present an exceptional selection of more than 3,100 lots of Chinese and East Asian coins and banknotes at The Mira Hong Kong, April 1-4, 2012, HKT. The four-day auction event is estimated to realize more than $10 million USD and offers three catalogs spotlighting a multitude of collections and highlights including the Wa She Wong Collection, Part III, the Frank Robinson Collection, Part II, the Dr. John Abner Snell Collection, Duplicates from the American Numismatic Society Museum Collection, and several others. |
| US Mint Sales: Coin Buying Slows As Collectors Await New Products |
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 During its first full week of availability, sales of the 2012 American Buffalo Gold Proof Coin increased 1,580 to a total of 5,690 Collectors and investors are taking somewhat of a break in buying numismatic and bullion coins from the United States Mint, the latest sales figures from the bureau show. The range of overall activity for collector products was down just a bit with 23 outperforming their prior weekly sales versus 24 from before and, more telling, demand for the more popular products declined significantly. First, take a look at the U.S. Mint's top-ten selling numismatic products: |
| US Mint Likely to Cut Platinum Eagle Price, Keep Gold Coin Prices Unchanged |
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 The U.S. Mint is expected to cut the price of the Platinum Eagle by $100 on Wednesday Collectors most likely will get a $100 break on the price of the 2011-W Proof American Platinum Eagle. The 99.95% pure platinum coin is poised for a decrease Wednesday, per the recent trend of London platinum and the U.S. Mint's numismatic pricing system. The Eagle is expected to go from $1,992.00 down to $1,892.00. The last time the pricing changed for the Platinum Eagle had been on February 29 when it was increased because the PGM metal climbed within the Mint's coin price setting range of $1,650.00 and $1,749.99 an ounce. |
| 2013 Red Book of U.S. Coins Available for Order |
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| There is one reference book that most coin collectors will not do without and the newest edition is now available. The Official Red Book® – A Guide Book of United States Coins appears in its 66th edition with the 2013-dated release which may be ordered directly from the issuer, Whitman Publishing (www.whitmanbooks.com).  The 2013 Red Book of U.S. Coins is available in several different formats. Shown above are the hardcover, hidden spiral, large print and standard spiral formats. |
| Gold Logs Weekly Gain, Silver Falls, US Coin Sales Soften |
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Commodities and precious metals in particular, were squeezed from two sides — global demand worries and trimmed expectations that the Fed would raise inflationary prospects with further monetary easing. |
| Release Dates for US Mint Annual Sets Added to 2012 Product Schedule |
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 Core U.S. Mint annual sets will launch in May and June An updated product schedule published on the U.S. Mint website now includes release dates for some of the bureau's most popular products, including its core annual sets. Additions to the product schedule feature the 2012 Proof Set, 2012 Silver Proof Set, 2012 Mint Set, 2012 Native American $1 Coin and 2012 Presidential $1 Coin products. |
| New 2012 Presidential $1 Coin Products, Arthur Dollar Scheduled |
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 These 2012 Presidential dollars will be available in four newly created U.S. Mint products Confirming a public notice released in January, the United States Mint on Wednesday announced four new Presidential $1 coin products and also revealed an April 5, 2012 release date for rolls of Chester A. Arthur dollars. The product news carries extra weight this year since it is the first in which Presidential coins will not be released into circulation and available from local banks. This is due to an order from the Treasury Department which terminated $1 coin production for all but numismatic purposes. |
| US Mint Sales: Birth Sets, Buffalo Gold Debuts Fail to Ignite Overall Interest |
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 5,670 Birth Sets were purchased from the U.S. Mint during the first few days of its sales Two new products debuted on the U.S. Mint's lineup last week but they failed to spark any significant buying across other offerings according to the latest sales stats from the bureau. 24 numismatic products outperformed their previous weekly sales as compared to the 48 noted in the prior sales report. As one of the Mint's debuting products was composed of more expensive gold and the other designed singularly for newborns, it makes sense that overall sales were weaker compared to the previous week when the Star-Spangled Banner commemorative coins made their first sales appearance. |
| 2012 American Buffalo Gold Proof Coin Sales Debut at $8 Million |
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| 2012 American Buffalo Gold Proof Coin The United States Mint began selling the 2012-W $50 American Buffalo Gold Proof Coin on Thursday, March 15. By Monday, March 19, its sales debut hit $8,055,600 as collectors ordered 4,110 coins. Fewer of this year's Buffalos were purchased during its opening sales days than in past years, but that could be the result of collectors staying on the sidelines. |
| 2012 Canadian Moose Silver Bullion Coin Released |
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| The Royal Canadian Mint continues its extremely popular Canadian Wildlife silver bullion series with the recent release of the 2012 Moose Silver Bullion Coin. |
| US Marshals Service Commemorative Coins Approved in Senate |
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 United States Marshals Service Badge Commemorative coins honoring the 225th Anniversary of the U.S. Marshals Service are likely after legislation proposing them was approved in the U.S. Senate on Thursday, March 15, 2012. |
| 2012-W Proof American Silver Eagle Price Trimmed |
| March 15, 2012 at 11:12 AM |
 Last year's Proof American Silver Eagle debuted at a price of $59.95. The U.S. Mint plans to release this year's Eagle at the same price.. Last week the United Stated Mint published a release date of April 12 for this year's 2012-W Proof American Silver Eagle. This week a new notice from the bureau announced the price of the coin. It is a tad lower than stated in a previous U.S. Mint announcement but also a bit higher than the price of last year's 2011-W Proof American Silver Eagle when it sold out. [...] |
| 2012-W Proof Buffalo Gold Debut Price Set, Other US Coin Prices Unchanged |
 The 2012-W Proof Buffalo Gold Coin will go on sale Thursday at an opening price of $1,960.00 Although gold prices dived Wednesday, the weekly London Fix average for the yellow metal remained high enough to keep U.S. Mint numismatic gold coin prices unchanged and set the $1,960.00 opening price for the 2012-W Proof Buffalo Gold Coin which launches Thursday at 12:00 noon ET. |
| Strong Sales Debut for Star-Spangled Banner Commemorative Coins |
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 Proof Gold and Silver 2012 Star-Spangled Banner Commemorative Coins Debut sales for the collectible gold and silver Star-Spangled Banner Commemorative Coins have been released by the United States Mint. These figures, issued Monday, March 12, 2012, indicate strong demand for both the gold and the silver coins with a sizable percentage of their respective maximum mintages already sold. Perhaps more interesting, albeit not particularly surprising to many, is that sales of the two-coin proof set has outpaced the individual gold coins. |
| 2012 Proof American Buffalo Gold Coin Release |
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| The United States Mint announced that the collector 2012 Proof American Buffalo Gold Coin will go on sale Thursday, March 15, 2012 at 12 PM (noon) Eastern Time (ET). Due to the .9999 pure gold composition, the price for the coin will be made available the day before its launch.  2012 Proof American Buffalo Gold Coin The U.S. Mint has been offering the American Buffalo Gold Coin since 2006. The proof issue undergoes a special minting process with custom cut dies to produce the highly detailed images that seem to float on the surface. |
| El Yunque National Forest Quarter Coin Launch Event |
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| Albeit the coin is already in circulation, the United States Mint is conducting an official El Yunque National Forest Quarter Coin ceremony on Wednesday, March 14, 2012 at 10 AM Atlantic Standard Time (AT). The festivities will take place at the El Portal Rain Forest Visitor Center, Rio Grande, Puerto Rico.  2012 El Yunque National Forest Quarter United States Treasurer Rosie Rios, the Resident Commissioner Pedro Pierluisi, and Governor Luis Fortuno plus other dignitaries will be present to speak and celebrate the U.S. legal tender quarter dollar honoring their rainforest with fellow Puerto Ricans. |
| 2012 Birth Set Description and Release Date |
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| When the United States Mint added the 2012 Birth Set to its product schedule, it was somewhat of a surprise because it is the first of its type to what looks to be an annual offering. The U.S. Mint will begin selling it on Tuesday, March 13, 2012 at 12 PM (noon) Eastern Time (ET) per the latest press release.  U.S. Mint image of the new 2012 Birth Set The 2012 Birth Set is designed as a keepsake product for a newborn baby. Like other collector U.S. Coins, the clad coins in the set will be struck in proof quality from the San Francisco mint facility and include this year's... |
| 2012 Star-Spangled Banner Bicentennial Silver Dollar Set Details |
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| A limited-edition Star-Spangled Banner Bicentennial Silver Dollar Set is "coming soon," according to the United States Mint. First mentioned along with a series of product pricing cuts in February but not released with the other commemorativesthis past Monday, the 50,000 limited edition collectible set will include one silver dollar and materials related to the bicentennial writing of the Star-Spangled Banner.  A portion of the 2012 Star-Spangled Banner product brochure sent out by the U.S. Mint. An inside panel offers information about an upcoming bicentennial silver dollar set. |
| First Time Ever! The United States Mint 2012 Birth Set is available March 13! |
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| Mark the arrival of that special newborn with the United States Mint 2012 Birth Set. Be sure to order this lovely gift on March 13! |
| Titanic Remembered in Canadian Commemorative Coins |
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| The Royal Canadian Mint on Monday unveiled a series of commemorative coins that pay tribute to the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the RMS Titanic.  Royal Canadian Mint images of its 2012 Titanic Commemorative Coins ($10 Proof Silver Coin, 50-Cent Proof Silver-Plated Colored Coin, and 25-Cent Colored Coin) Read the rest of Titanic Remembered in Canadian Commemorative Coins |
| US Mint Adds 2012 Proof Silver Eagle, Gold Eagles to Product Schedule |
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| Last year's Proof Silver Eagle was released on June 30. This year the Eagle is scheduled for release in April. Newly dated proof Gold Eagles, the proof Silver Eagle and the proof Gold Buffalo are the latest additions to the U.S. Mint's numismatic product schedule for 2012. The popular proof coins were added Monday to the Mint's schedule. As it stands now, all but the proof Gold Eagles would launch earlier in the year as compared to their 2011-dated counterparts. The proof Buffalo coin is set for release on March 15 versus last year's release date of May 19. |
| Gold and Silver 2012 Star-Spangled Banner Commemorative Coins Launch |
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| On Monday, March 5, 2012, the United States Mint released collectible gold and silver Star-Spangled Banner Commemorative Coins following an official launch ceremony in Baltimore, Maryland. Proof Gold and Silver 2012 Star-Spangled Banner Commemorative Coins Authorized by the Star-Spangled Banner Commemorative Coin Act, or Public Law 111-232, the U.S. Mint released four commemorative coins and a two-coin proof set. Specific product types include a proof and uncirculated silver dollar, a proof and uncirculated $5 gold coin, and a two-coin set which contains one proof of each denomination. (Jump to coin prices ororder details.) |
| One-Half Ounce 2011 Proof American Gold Eagle Sold Out |
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 The One-Half Ounce 2011 Proof American Gold Eagle coin sold out on Feb. 27, 2012 2011 Proof American Gold Eagle Coins went on sale over ten months ago, and the one-half ounce strike sold out on Monday, February 27, 2012. At this time, only the one-tenth ounce size and the Four-Coin Set are still being offered. Although the United States Mint published a mintage limit of 55,000 strikes, the actual number produced was much lower. As of Monday, the US Mint sold 8,066 of the half ounce coins individually and another 16,202 in the Four-Coin Set. Halting sales before the limit is reached, however, is pretty common. For the Mint, when demand begins to slow earlier in a collector coin's, it strikes fewer and adjusts production output accordingly. |
| Gold and Silver Mark Weekly Losses, US Mint Coin Demand Improves |
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Many analysts had a bullish attitude toward the yellow metal when closing up shop last week. But sentiment — at least short term — quickly changed Wednesday when Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke testified before Congress without signaling another round of monetary easing. Gold plunged 4.3% on that day, recovered a modest 0.6% Thursday and then backed down 0.7% on Friday. |
| Bill Seeks Pro Football Hall of Fame Commemorative Coins |
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 Pro Football Hall of Fame A bill introduced in the US House of Representatives on Tuesday, February 28, seeks to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Pro Football Hall of Fame with clad, silver and gold commemorative coins during calendar year 2016. Introduced by Rep. Jim Renacci [R-OH16] as the Pro Football Hall of Fame Commemorative Coin Act and numberedH.R. 4104, the bill calls for the U.S. Mint to produce up to 50,000 $5 gold coins, 400,000 silver dollars and 750,000 clad half dollars in collector qualities of uncirculated and proof.
Designs of the coins would be "emblematic of the game of professional football," with each coin bearing its denomination and inscriptions of the year '2016′, 'LIBERTY', 'IN GOD WE TRUST', 'UNITED STATES OF AMERICA' and 'E PLURIBUS UNUM'. Coin specifications, including size, weight and metal composition, would be identical to other modern commemorative coinsstruck by the U.S. Mint. The Football Hall of Fame (www.profootballhof.com) opened in Canton, Ohio, on September 7, 1963. Since then, the museum has grown from its original 19,000 square-foot size to 85,000. It houses the world's largest collection on professional football with 20 million pages of documents including nearly 3,000,000 photographic images. The museum is currently undergoing another expansion that will take it to 118,000 square feet by year 2013.
Should H.R. 4104 become law — it must pass in the House, Senate and get signed by the President for that to happen, it would support the museum as sales prices for each coin would include surcharges paid to the Football Hall of Fame in the amounts of $35 per $5 gold coin, $10 for each silver dollar and $5 per half dollar. H.R. 4104 has been referred to the House Committee on Financial Services. Similar legislation (H.R. 2527) seeking tocommemorate the Baseball Hall of Fame passed in the US House of Representatives on October 26, 2011. |
| Canadian $20 Polar Bear Silver Coin for $20 Sells Out |
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| 2012 Canadian $20 Polar Bear Silver Coins are no longer available from the Royal Canadian Mint, having sold out just like the previous two issues in the "$20 for $20" commemorative series.  Royal Canadian Mint image of the $20 Polar Bear Silver Coin |
| US Mint Sales: Silver Products Lead while Gold Coins Outperform |
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 Nearly every U.S. Mint gold coin product showed improved weekly sales According to the latest U.S. Mint sales figures, silver products were easily the bureau's best sellers but it was platinum and gold coins which outperformed their prior weekly gains — the same coins that went up in price this week. Demand climbed across the board for each of the First Spouse Gold Coins. Their combined weekly sales settled at 236 for a 168% increase over the previous week. In units, the American Gold Buffalo was 99 higher than before at 280. |
Gold advanced nearly $20 Friday which placed it $6.60, or 0.4%, higher for the week. The metal had seemed poised for a weekly loss just one day earlier based on weak economic news out of China and Germany which contrasted against improved US data.