China Commemorates First Spacewalk with Silver and Gold Coins
China will commemorate their historic first spacewalk with legal tender silver and gold coins, The People’s Bank of China (PBOC) announced on Monday. The Central Bank said 60,000 one-ounce silver and 30,000 one-third ounce gold coins would be minted by the Shenyang Mint and issued on October 8, 2008.
The obverse (heads side) of each coin bears a decorative solar system map design while the colorized reverse portrays a taikonaut conducting a spacewalk below the Chinese words ‘To commemorate the success of China’s first spacewalk’.
(…)
Read the rest of China Commemorates First Spacewalk with Silver and Gold Coins (131 words)
© CoinNews.net for Coin News, 2008. |
Permalink |
No comment |
Want more on these topics? Browse the archive of posts filed under Coin or Numismatic News, New Coin Releases, World Coins.
Exciting Block Island Collection of Certified Collector Coins Closes for Bidding This Thursday
Over 315 DGS‐graded Coins Available for Bidding
Virginia Beach, VA – The numismatic staff of DLRC Auctions is excited to announce the current sale of the Block Island Collection – an assembly of 432 certified coins and paper money items from a life‐long collector.
317 of the coins were submitted to Dominion Grading Service (DGS) prior to their sale in this auction as part of the new campaign by DLRC and DGS to give customers the full service experience when the time comes to sell their collections.
According to Win Callender, DLRC Vice President, who handled this consignment,
"the Block Island Coin and Currency Collection hails from a long-time client who began collecting as a child and represents an assemblage 60 years in the making. As a young boy, he saw a 1901‐S quarter in a strong XF grade and wondered why the retail price, $40, was so much higher than the others.
That experience helped launch a lifetime of interest in numismatics. There are many wonderful collector coins in this collection that seldom come to market. For example, two 1901‐S quarters, great runs of Liberty Seated halves and Barbers and loads of key dates. He also amassed a wonderful collection of currency, all graded by CGA or PMG, ranging from large size type, to nationals, to small size silver certificates. There are over 90 fresh notes and are all reserved at great prices."
(…)
Read the rest of Exciting Block Island Collection of Certified Collector Coins Closes for Bidding This Thursday (251 words)
© DLRC Auctions for Coin News, 2008. |
Permalink |
No comment |
Want more on these topics? Browse the archive of posts filed under Auctions, Coin Shows and Numismatic Events, Coin or Numismatic News, Press Releases and Announcements.
Army Infantry Silver Dollar Commemorative Passed in Congress
Two commemorative silver dollar bills, which were introduced and passed in the House months ago, finally received a senatorial thumbs up on Saturday.
Congress burned the proverbial midnight oil and, on top of the commemorate silver dollar for Boy Scouts, passed legislation to honor the U.S. Army Infantry and the National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center.
The bill, named the National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center Commemorative Coin Act or H.R. 3229 for short, would have the U.S. Mint issue 350,000 silver $1 coins in the year 2012.
With the President’s very likely signature, the bill will become law. The resulting commemorative coin would then get designed to be:
(…)
Read the rest of Army Infantry Silver Dollar Commemorative Passed in Congress (194 words)
© CoinNews.net for Coin News, 2008. |
Permalink |
No comment |
Want more on these topics? Browse the archive of posts filed under Coin or Numismatic News, Proposed or Recent Coinage Legislation.
Boy Scouts Silver Dollar Coin Legislation Passes in House and Senate
The Senate on Saturday joined the House in passing legislation that seeks to commemorate the centennial of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) with 350,000 silver dollar coins in 2010.
The bill, named the Boy Scouts of America Centennial Commemorative Coin Act or H.R. 5872, has overwhelming support and now moves to its next step — congressional packaging for the President, who is expected to sign it into law.
Congressman Pete Sessions [R-TX] introduced the legislation in April and said,
"Boy Scouts are a significant part of American culture, shaping the values, citizenship, and skills of millions of young men," Sessions stated. "As an Eagle Scout with four generations of Boy Scouts in my family, I strongly value the Boy Scouts’ history of instilling a sense of duty to God, country, and self."
(…)
Read the rest of Boy Scouts Silver Dollar Coin Legislation Passes in House and Senate (367 words)
© CoinNews.net for Coin News, 2008. |
Permalink |
No comment |
Want more on these topics? Browse the archive of posts filed under Coin or Numismatic News, Proposed or Recent Coinage Legislation.
New Money Museum Exhibit, "A House Divided: Money of the Civil War," to Open Oct. 9
The American Civil War evokes many strong thoughts and emotions to this day – the end of slavery in our country, the great and terrible battles that saw more that 600,000 men perish, and the secession – and eventual reunion – of 11 states. Amid brilliant and incompetent generals, vast military campaigns and political turmoil, the impact of money on the war often gets overlooked.
"A House Divided: Money of the Civil War," a new exhibit opening Oct. 9 at the American Numismatic Association’s Edward C. Rochette Money Museum, takes a unique look at this epic, bloody time in United States history, while showcasing the era’s coins, paper money, medals, and new ideas in war financing that helped lead to the North’s victory. Visitors will be immersed in the sights and sounds of the war and the era.
The Civil War changed the country forever, including its monetary and economic system: a system based on bullion coinage and privately issued paper money was replaced by a central system based on National Bank notes, and coins and paper money produced and backed by the federal government.
(…)
Read the rest of New Money Museum Exhibit, "A House Divided: Money of the Civil War," to Open Oct. 9 (549 words)
© American Numismatic Association for Coin News, 2008. |
Permalink |
No comment |
Want more on these topics? Browse the archive of posts filed under Auctions, Coin Shows and Numismatic Events, Banknotes or Currency Articles, Coin or Numismatic News, Press Releases and Announcements.
An Underrated Buffalo: The 1918-S
September 30, 2008 by admin
Filed under US Coin news
To collectors unfamiliar with the Buffalo nickel series, the 1918-S Buffalo issue might appear as “just another mintmarked date” from fairly early in the series. But in truth, the 1918-S is among the most challenging S-mint emissions from the teens.
In the PCGS Registry Set Composition which provides a numeric point value between 1 and 10 for each Buffalo issue, the 1918-S has a value of eight points, the second highest of any regular issue in the series.
Other issues in the series given an eight-point value include the 1919-S, the 1923-S, 1924-S, and 1927-S; in other words, some of the most difficult issues in the series (and not entirely coincidentally, all S-mints.) The only Buffalo nickel issues given a higher nine-point rating by PCGS are the 1920-S and 1926-S. By way of comparison, the 1913-S Type Two–generally acknowledged as a key issue but occasionally found in nice high Mint State, is given a six-point rating.
The elusive nature of high-grade 1918-S Buffalo nickels is the product of a confluence of factors. Produced during the last year of World War I, the 1918-S was the victim of economic measures, in more ways than one. In order to save dies and prolong their life, the dies were, for the most part, set too far apart to deliver strong blows to the coins. As David Lange explains in his Complete Guide to Buffalo Nickels (third edition, 2006):
“This was done as a economy measure to reduce wear on both the dies and press and to thus extend their useful life. Such economy was practiced even more vigorously during the 1920s, as the budgets of most governmental departments were slashed by the parsimonious Harding and Coolidge administrations.
“The Buffalo Nickel was a coin of relatively high relief, and it did take quite a toll on the dies. These wore rapidly, and such erosion is often evident on the actual coins. The reverse dies in particular were used too long, as they didn’t need to be discarded at the end of each calendar year. The combination of increased die-set distances and worn dies produced the mushy, disappointing coins so often seen in this series.”
The Coin Pictured here ( 1918-S 5C MS66 
) will be avaialble at Heritage’s Dallas Auction on October 23-25
1980-D&S Lincoln Cent Debunked!
September 30, 2008 by admin
Filed under US Coin news
by Ken Potter – NLG
The 1980-D&S Lincoln cent variety has bit the dust! Referred to by some as a Dual Mint Mark and by others as an Over Mint Mark (OMM), it had been one of the most hotly debated varieties amongst specialists for over a decade. James Wiles, 20th Century Variety Coin Attributer for CONECA provided an image of a specimen submitted by collector, Gary Darlington. Wiles distributed the image via email and it took a panel of prominent variety coin examiners that he sent to image to less than 24 hours to reach consensus that it debunked what was previously thought to be a D&S.
The image was of an early-mid-die-state, (EMDS), a stage earlier than previously seen. Specialist, Billy Crawford created overlay images of two different stages demonstrating that they were from the same die. The EMDS specimen shows an irregular pattern of probable die damage as being the source of what looks every bit like the lower two-thirds of an S on mid-die-state (MDS) examples. Later stages are less convincing but the presence of the deceptive MDS seemed to legitimize the LDS.
George Allegado first discovered the variation in late-die-state (LDS) and reported it to Alan Herbert in early February of 1981. Herbert later reported upon it in Numismatic News. CONECA member, John Wexler, published a story on another LDS specimen in the May 1981 Error-Variety News, its image splashed on the front cover. This piece became the plate-coin in Wexler and Tom Miller’s, The RPM Book published in 1983 which kept the coin in the limelight for a number of years.
However, not all observers including this writer were sure the coin displayed a D&S. The coin was LDS and the outline of an S was questionable. It was eventually removed from the RPM Book files (then owned by me and later by CONECA after Wexler sold them in the late 1980s) at which point the variation became hotly debated. (more…)
Gold Coin Demand Met by Royal Canadian Mint
The Royal Canadian Mint has been able to sustain its inventory of gold coins, unlike the U.S.Mint, as physical demand for gold has surged in September due to volatile markets and financial uncertainty.
The U.S. Mint suspended one-ounce Buffalo gold coin sales to authorized dealers Thursday when demand exceeded supply. For the same reason in August, the Mint had to suspend and then resumed one-ounce American Eagle gold coin sales to dealers on an allocated basis.
The Royal Canadian Mint has not turned away buyers this year. Nor has it plans to do so — to the contrary of reported market talk.
(…)
Read the rest of Gold Coin Demand Met by Royal Canadian Mint (179 words)
© CoinNews.net for Coin News, 2008. |
Permalink |
One comment |
Want more on these topics? Browse the archive of posts filed under Bullion Articles and Precious Metal Reports, Canadian Coins, Coin or Numismatic News, Royal Canadian Mint, United States Mint News and Information.
Bullion & Business Weekend Report – Sept 27
Gold gained about 20 percent since Sept. 11 as safe-haven demand drove physical demand to such a level that the U.S. Mint suspended Buffalo gold coin sales Thursday due to depleted inventories.
Gold profit-taking snatched several percentage point gains on Friday, but the yellow metal ended the day and week up. London gold and silver prices rose 1.5 percent and 3.3 percent, respectively. Platinum dropped 4.4 percent.
November crude-oil on Nymex lost $1.13 Friday, and settled to $106.89 per barrel. It lost 4 percent for the week.
London silver closed to $13.18 an ounce — a gain of 20 cents on the week, or $1.03 from last Friday.
London platinum fell to $1,140 an ounce — a loss of $53 for the week, or $15 from last Friday.
London gold climbed to $902 an ounce, rising $29 for the week and $33 from last Friday.
"The indecision and infighting on Capitol Hill continued to keep a frozen lid over investors and traders alike. No one was willing to do a whole lot today, and for good reason; the potential outcomes from a concrete decision by US lawmakers on the rescue package are either quite wide-ranging, or unknown for now," said senior analyst Jon Nadler at Kitco Bullion Dealers on Friday.
James Moore, analyst at TheBullionDesk, said, “We could see further inflows of investment demand in the coming sessions, potentially giving gold the momentum to challenge overhead resistance at $925-$938.”
Gold generally follows oil and moves opposite to the greenback, as a weakened dollar encourages investors to buy gold, also considered a hedge during times of high inflation and economic uncertainty.
Silver, gold and platinum performance charts and tables follow as well as a Reuters weekly business recap video and four related precious metal articles.
(…)
Read the rest of Bullion & Business Weekend Report – Sept 27 (608 words)
© CoinNews.net for Coin News, 2008. |
Permalink |
No comment |
Want more on these topics? Browse the archive of posts filed under Bullion Articles and Precious Metal Reports, Business News.
American Indian Coins
September 28, 2008 by admin
Filed under Collecting
Native Americans may be very interested in American Indian coins to commemorate the amazing work and lives of such historical figures as Crazy Horse, Chief Joseph, Sitting Bull, Geronimo, Cochise and many more.
Some specialty coins and medallions reflect American Indian art and symbols such as a weaving woman, an otter, and the mighty thunderbird. These [...]