New York silver, gold and platinum increased Thursday, moving inline with higher crude oil prices. Gold performed at its best upward pace since last week and was helped further by a weaker US dollar.

Silver gained 14 cents to close at $18.32 an ounce.

Platinum increased sharply to $2,000.90, gaining $26.40 for the day. Reports of stronger buying from China were sited as a catalyst.

Gold was boisterous as well, climbing $13.40 to $942 an ounce and reaching a high of $945.40 earlier in the day.

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America’s Beautiful National Parks Quarter Dollar Coin Act of 2008 (H.R. 6184) sailed through the House easily yesterday with 419 members voting "Yes", and 0 voting "No".

H.R. 6184 would authorize the United States Mint to make changes to the design of the quarter-dollar coin to feature one national park or other national site in each state, the District of Columbia, and each territory beginning in 2010.

During this period, designs for each national park or other national site would replace the eagle design on the reverse side of the George Washington quarter that is scheduled to be used again in 2010 (after the conclusion of the D.C. and U.S. Territories Quarter Program).

Collector proof, uncirculated and silver park quarter coins are also authorized under the measure.

With a rate of issuance set to five quarter-dollars each year, and a clause granting the Treasury Secretary — the ultimate authority over the United States Mint — the discretion to mint a "second round," the American public may see rotating quarter designs for 20 years, or until almost 2030.

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