The United States Mint 2008 Arizona Official First Day Cover went on sale today, June 30.

The 35,000 limited edition covers are the 48th in the series and include two shiny Arizona state quarters featuring an image of the Grand Canyon with a Saguaro cactus in the foreground. 

The quarter-dollars were collected from the first day of their production — May 8, 2008. One quarter is from the Mint’s Denver facility while the other is minted from Philadelphia.

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The Royal Canadian Mint has proudly produced over 20,000 commemorative finisher medals for the upcoming HBC Run for Canada. This event, aimed at supporting Canadian athletes, includes a 10 km run, 3 km walk and 1 km kids run. It will take place in fifteen communities across Canada on July 1st.

"The Mint is delighted to be taking part in this initiative and we encourage Canadians from coast to coast to participate in the HBC Run for Canada on Canada Day", said Ian E. Bennett, President and CEO of the Royal Canadian Mint.

"Each participant will receive one of these skilfully crafted medals, which will signify their support for Canadian athletes".

For the HBC Run for Canada commemorative finisher medals, which were designed in collaboration with HBC, the Mint cut each blank – which is a medal without a design – from long strips of alloy. A hole was then punched through the blanks, in order to eventually thread the distinctive race ribbons.

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The finest known U.S. territorial gold coin, the 1854 Kellogg & Co. $20, graded PCGS SP-69, will return to Baltimore for a public exhibit for the first time since it was sold by The John Hopkins University as part of the legendary Garrett Collection more than a quarter century ago.

"This is a homecoming.  It’s the first time it will be publicly showcased in Baltimore in 28 years," said Steven L. Contursi, President of Rare Coin Wholesalers of Dana Point, California (www.RCW1.com), the coin’s owner. 

He is bringing it to Baltimore for an educational exhibit during the first four days of the American Numismatic Association World’s Fair of Money® in the Baltimore Convention Center, July 30 – August 3, 2008.

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PBS’ History Detectives is dedicated to exploring historical mysteries that will, on Monday, investigate whether a 1853 French Napoleon coin was split by sharpshooter Annie Oakley.

Annie Oakley was a superstar attraction in Buffalo Bill Cody’s Wild West Show who became famous by performing daring shooting feats.

Annie’s marksmanship skills dazzled audiences by edge-splitting playing cards, snuffing out candles, and, of course, shooting coins.

Legendary Native American and Sioux warrior Sitting Bull, also in Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show in the 1880’s, called Annie "Little Sure Shot."

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Precious metals were mixed this week after an active gold market was favored by a weakening US dollar, losing Dow and record-breaking oil prices. London silver and gold enjoyed Monday through Friday profits, rising 1.2 percent and 1.6 percent respectively. Platinum dropped slightly by -0.3 percent.

Silver closed to $17.40 an ounce, a loss of 4 cents compared to last Friday’s close.

London Platinum closed the week to $2,053, which was down $15 compared to its previous Friday close.

Gold closed Friday to $920 an ounce, gaining $12 from last Friday.

"Current speculative focus revolves around $925 but $936 to $945 remains the more significant value zone to overcome," said Jon Nadler, senior analyst with Kitco Bullion Dealers.

"Such an achievement depends in large part on whether crude oil heads for $150 prior to (ahemmm…)Independence Day or not."

The silver, gold and platinum weekly charts and comparisons from last week are below. The weekly business recap video from Reuters and three related precious metal articles are listed as well.

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The American Numismatic Association’s 2008 World’s Fair of Money® will give visitors a chance to see millions of dollars in rare coins, learn from the world’s top numismatists, and explore the history of Baltimore.

The event, held July 30 to August 3 at the Baltimore Convention Center, will feature over 1,100 dealers and numismatic vendors, world-class exhibits, 15 mints from five continents and a variety of educational presentations for every age and level of interest.

"Money is history you can hold in your hands," said ANA President Barry Stuppler. "We’ll have thousands of collectors and dealers from around the country buying and selling items ranging in value from a few cents each to $1 million. You can see everything from a half cent to a $100,000 bill, and it’s free."

United States Mint Director Edmund Moy will unveil a new, pure gold coin – the much anticipated 2009-dated Ultra High Relief Double Eagle – immediately after opening ceremonies on July 30. It’s a modern, 24-karat version of what many call the most beautiful American coin ever created, the famous Augustus Saint-Gaudens double eagle.

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U.S. Representative Jack Kingston introduced coin legislation Thursday, June 26, seeking a silver dollar coin commemorating "the centennial of the establishment of the Girl Scouts of the United States of America."

The coin bill is officially named H.R. 6404. It’s so freshly new that the Government Printing Office (GPO) has not yet had the chance to enter the text of the legislation into their system.

It does, however, have an impressive cosponsor list of 41 other members in the House. That’s strong showing for the initial stage of this bill.

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The official announcement is in… V.I. Beauty wins the commemorative quarter design contest. It’s been selected by residents and Governor. John P. deJongh, Jr. to represent the Virgin Islands. Public voting for three designs ended Friday, June 13. “V.I. Beauty” received 6,882 votes. The “First in Freedom” and “Three Queens” designs garnered 4,553 and 1,887 votes respectively.

The quarter designs and original narrative descriptions for each, as provided to the United States Mint to create artist renderings/drawings, were provided to Virgin Islands residents by Governor deJongh for public voting on May 29. The “V.I. Beauty” quarter design won handily with 52 percent of the vote.

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New York gold surged Thursday, hitting a one-month high. It was up by nearly 4 percent as the U.S. dollar faltered against the euro, oil soared to a new record high, and the Dow industrials plunged to its lowest level in nearly two years.

Gold closed up $32.80 at $915.10 an ounce. At one point, it reached a high of $916.50.

Silver followed, up 61 cents to $17.22 an ounce.

"Today’s move is a combination of dollar weakness, higher crude oil, and palpable stock market fear and weakness," said Amaury Conti, head trader at Austin, Calvert & Flavin, an investment management firm based in San Antonio, Texas.

"I would look for some follow-through above $930 in the next few days," Conti said. "If that holds, I think a retest of the previous highs is possible."

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Federal Mint Swissmint has launched a new Swiss commemorative gold coin entitled "International Year of Planet Earth 2008." The 11.29 gram coin is sold in proof quality only, limited in issuance to 6,000 and is priced at CHF 440.00 (~$423.00 US).

The 60th United Nations General Assembly in New York proclaimed this year to be the United Nations International Year of Planet Earth, with a goal "to show, in a unique and inspiring manner, how earth sciences can help future generations measure up to the challenge of creating a safer and more prosperous world." The new Swiss coin is dedicated to these actions.

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