Bowers and Merena Auctions was the Official Auctioneer in the recent Baltimore Coin and Currency Convention. It proved to be an exciting show realizing more than $9.5M and having over 3,000 coin and over 1,000 currency lots.
Some exceptionally exquisite coins were auctioned, including a $368,000 1854-O Liberty Double Eagle graded AU-50 by PCGS and a 1916 Buffalo Nickel Doubled Die Obverse in PCGS MS-64 that realized $316,250. The truly fine coins - the best at the auction - were only two from a strong list of excellent coin offerings at the Baltimore event.
Included is the Bowers and Merena Auctions release with their record breaking results. Also shown are excellent, must see photos of the two already mentioned coins.
BOWERS AND MERENA’S BALTIMORE AUCTION REALIZES MORE THAN $9.4 MILLION
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The U.S. Mint’s front website splashes attractive product offerings hoping to catch the eager shopper’s eye.
In a very small twist of irony this afternoon, the first one presented was the "W" 2007 American Eagle Silver Uncirculated coin, but it’s no longer available. Anyone who sees the ad and clicks will be disappointed with: "Product is not available".
Is it gone for good? It would appear so. There’s no temporary disclaimer, like other coins who’s sales have been suspended for pricing adjustments.
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A coin-like piece of gold was discovered on Overton farm land in Wrexham (North Wales), UK. Although circular and golden like many old coins, it wasn’t used for spending.
Only historians and archaeologists would likely recognize its intended use. Believe it or not, over 300 years ago it was used for "curing" diseases.
Although similar finds have been referred to as coins or medallions, they’re really known as ‘touch pieces’. In times of old, they were believed to cure diseases, bring good luck or perform other magical-like actions.
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Reflecting on inflation numbers can be interesting and many times surprising. As an example, one dollar in 1915 has the same buying power as $20.69 today.
More recently, a dollar in 2000 has the same buying power as $1.21 today. Given that, could you… would you… believe a 2000 box of Cheerios® is now worth a few hundred bucks?
There’s obviously more than inflation in play here. This particular Cheerios box may… just may… have a Sacagawea golden dollar worth ten grand.
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Readers of CoinNews have already noticed several significant changes and improvements to the site. Our goal is to make everything quicker and even easier to read while adding more content and free collector tools.
Any change - even when it’s much improved - requires some adjustments and relearning. We’d like to thank you for your patience during this time. We’ll continue to make the major design and tweak adjustments late in the night (early AM would be more accurate) so your daily reading is not affected.
Most of the significant additions are expected to be completed within the next 10 days. We’ll do our best to keep you updated.
If you have any comments or suggestions, please let us know.
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This morning, November 19, the United States Mint unveiled artist renderings of the First Spouse Gold coin designs for 2008. Each will be 24-karat (.9999-fine), 1/2-ounce in weight and are a continuation of this year’s spousal coins that have sold out within hours of their release.
The forth coin in this series, the Dolley Madison First Spouse Gold coin, went on sale today at 12 noon (ET).
Two of the 2008 coins will commemorate Elizabeth Monroe and Louisa Adams. In addition, there will be two symbolic Lady Liberty designs for Andrew Jackson and Martin Van Buren, who did not have spouses while in office.
The Washington, Adams and Jefferson gold spousal coins were ignited with buying pressure and sold out blazingly fast.
Minutes ago, the Dolley Madison First Spouse Gold coins went on sale by the U.S. Mint. Will they experience the same heat as their sister coins and sell out in hours?
The Madison presidential spouse coins are the forth in the new series and the final ones for release this year.
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There was no real excitement in silver or platinum this week when you consider their London Fix movements from beginning to end. However, gold had a bit of excitement.
Precious metals dropped across the board from last week with gold experiencing some volatility. It took the largest negative hit. Silver was down $0.70, gold down $41.74, and platinum experienced a loss of $5.
Although gold declined, the U.S. Mint hasn’t yet resumed sales for their Uncirculated Gold American Eagle coins.
Above is the CoinNews.net chart showing this week’s London Fix prices for silver, gold and platinum.
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In a sad twist of irony, newer import policy has stopped or severely restricted a number of ancient coins from entering the U.S., but at the same time lead-coated toys and dog-killing food entered too easily.
No one questions that the latter should never happen again. And certainly, safeguards should be implemented to help prevent looting in archaeological sites and the selling of stolen property into other countries.
But still and always, policy needs to be clearly stated, documented and balanced to allow and enable legitimate international exchange.
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The Coin of the Year (COTY) event is in its remarkable 25th year of honoring mints from around the world that produce coins of beauty with meaning.
For the first time ever, observers of the contest can also vote. An entirely new category, the "People’s Choice" Award, is open to coin collectors or, for that matter, anyone in the public who cares to vote.
The COTY and the "People’s Choice" Award is a World Coin News sponsored event. Its editor, David C. Harper, remarked in the announcement,
"For the first time ever, thanks to the Internet, we are opening up the Coin of the Year decision-making process to public participation… We have always cared about what average collectors think about new coin issues, and we here at World Coin News believe this added public element will augment the prestige of the COTY Award"
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