One of the pleasant side affects of the Coin Modernization and Taxpayer Savings Act of 2008, which would change the metallic composition of pennies and nickels to steel, is the revelation of current and past costs in minting coins.

Figures of coin production expenses are interesting in themselves, but charting their trends is another reminder of the volatility of metals within coins, like that of copper, zinc and nickel.

The cost of minting each penny and nickel today are:

• Penny at 1.26 cents
• Nickel at 7.7 cents

As a side note, the U.S. Mint also provided recent costs to mint the dime, which is 4 cents, the quarter at 10 cents and $1 coins at 16 cents each.

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The United States Mint 2008 New Mexico Official First Day Covers went on sale Thursday, May 8. The coin cover is 47th in the series released.

The limited edition covers include two New Mexico state quarters that were minted on the first day of production.

Each quarter has the state’s "Zia sun symbol” design with one manufactured from the Mint’s facility in Denver while the other from Philadelphia. The respective mint marks of "D" and "P" are on each.

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The Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) has announced that the new 2008 Dallas $2 Single Notes are available today, May 12, 2008.

The Dallas banknotes are the fifth $2 collector bill released in 2008. The Atlanta $2 single notes were first off printing presses in January followed by the New York $2 notes in February, the San Francisco $2 notes in March and the Chicago $2 notes in April.

Interested collectors should purchase early since previous $2 notes sold out almost within hours of their availability.

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