The United States Mint announced today the release date for 24-karate fractional American Buffalo Gold coins. Since 2006, the Mint has only issued proof, one-ounce coins in fine .9999 gold.
On Tuesday, July 22, the Mint will offer Buffalo proof and uncirculated coins in fractional weights of one ounce, one-half ounce, one-quarter ounce and one-tenth ounce.
The will also offer a set including all four coins. In affect, the new offerings follow the Mint’s American Eagle Gold coins program.
Gold Coin Sizes/Weight, Face Value and Prices
The following table provides a list of the Mint’s upcoming American Buffalo coin sizes and prices.
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The European Central Bank (ECB) reported an increase in counterfeit activity for the first half of 2008, which is on the heals of 2007’s latter half increase. 312,000 fake banknotes were removed from circulation representing an increase of 5.4 percent.
The ECB noted counterfeit banknotes increased since the second half of 2007 by 5.7 percent. However, they went on to say:
"When the figures…are compared with the number of genuine euro banknotes in circulation (on average 11.5 billion during the first half of 2008), the quantity of counterfeits is very small indeed.
Excluding 2007, the trend has been a reduction in fake notes during a year’s second half. Should that happen, total counterfeits in 2008 could decreased compared to previous years. However, that would appear unlikely given this year’s already high numbers.
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