New York gold and silver fell Tuesday following a decline in oil prices and strength from the U.S. dollar. Platinum recovered some of its Monday losses.

Oil lost more than $2 to close to $118 a barrel. Reuters’ Jan Harvey wrote that traders "focused on rising OPEC supply and easing demand in the United States and Europe."

Silver plunged 57 cents to close to $16.57 an ounce.

Platinum bucked the general commodities sell off and finally posted positive ground, gaining $21.50 to end at $1,584.50 an ounce.

Gold lost $21.80 to end the day at $886.10 an ounce. Its intraday high was $903.90.

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2008 Annual Uncirculated Dollar Coin Sets will be available for purchase on Thursday, August 7 at 12:00 noon ET.

The United States Mint today announced that each set is priced at $37.95, and will include this year’s four Presidential $1 Coins minted in Philadelphia with the "P" mint mark.

• James Monroe $1 coin,
• John Quincy Adams $1 coin,
• Andrew Jackson $1 coin, and the
• Martin Van Buren $1 coin

Plus, the two remaining 2008 denominated dollar coins:

• Sacagawea Golden Dollar, and an
• American Eagle uncirculated silver dollar

The Sacagawea $1 is minted in Denver with a "D" mint mark while the American Eagle Silver dollar bears the mint mark "W" indicating it was minted at West Point.

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Top Coin and Currency Honors from the Baltimore Rarities Sale Prior to ANA World’s Fair of Money Go to 1918/7-D Buffalo Nickel in PCGS MS-64 at $155,250, and 1928 $500 PMG Gem 65EPQ Uncirculated Gold Certificate at $97,750

IRVINE, Calif. – Bowers and Merena Auctions, America’s leading rare coin auction house, hosted their Baltimore Rarities Sale on July 26, 2008, at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront, just prior to the ANA World’s Fair of Money. The auction presented approximately 1,100 coin and 200 currency lots and realized a total of $4,427,243.

Earning top dollar was Lot 384, a 1918/7-D Buffalo Nickel, FS-016.5, graded MS-64 by PCGS that realized $155,250. A major condition rarity, this near-Gem is easily among the finest-known survivors of the variety, with a PCGS Population of 31 and a mere three finer in MS-65.  Lot 1093, a 1795 Capped Bust Right Half Eagle, Small Eagle, BD-8, HBCC-3041, Miller-10, Rarity-5+, graded MS-63 PL by NGC, realized $146,625.

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Dallas, TX. Heritage Auction Galleries has set the record for the most valuable ANA Auction ever! Significant and classic rarities from all series in American numismatics, most of them offered in the Platinum Night catalogs, smashed the previous record of $27.7 million set last year at the Milwaukee ANA event.

The auction was held in Baltimore July 30 - Aug. 3, in conjunction with the World’s Fair of Money summer convention of the American Numismatic Association. Total prices realized for the American coins are currently $41,022,713, and will rise further when the post auction buys are finalized.

“This was Heritage’s 38th Official ANA Auction, a record in itself!” enthused Heritage C.E.O. Steve Ivy.

“We were very pleased with our results in Milwaukee last year, and we think Baltimore has demonstrated the absolute strength of the market for important and high quality coins. Such high prices realized also mean a record-setting check will be provided to the ANA to support their educational and membership programs.

We also take great pride that our total was 50% higher than our previous ANA record, and double that accomplished by any other ANA auctioneer. Heritage delivered for the ANA.”

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