Daily Archives: August 31, 2009
2010 Australian Kangaroo Gold Coins Feature Boxing Design
The Perth Mint today launched the 2010 Australian Kangaroo Gold Coin Series, continuing its tradition of producing gold bullion coins with an image of Australia's famous marsupial. This basic kangaroo concept started in 1990, with design variations changing yearly on most of the coins.
Considered legal tender under the Australian Currency Act of 1965, these coins are all 99.99% pure gold, guaranteed by the Australian government for weight and purity.
The Kangaroo series is available in five different sizes: a $15 face value 1/10 oz coin, a $25 1/4 oz coin, a $50 1/2 oz, a $100 1 oz and a $3000 face value 1 kilogram coin. The four smallest sizes feature a new design of two kangaroos 'boxing' in the outback with the inscription 'Australian Kangaroo' across the top and '2010,' the size and '9999 Gold' across the bottom.
Motions to Dismiss Filed in Brasher Doubloon Lawsuit
Armen R. Vartian, the attorney for Steven L. Contursi and Donald H. Kagin, has filed a Motion to Dismiss a lawsuit filed against them by William Swoger who seeks damages in the amount of $465,000 over a Brasher Doubloon.
Swoger's lawsuit claims he is owed money for information he provided Contursi and Kagin that would increase the value of the legendary American gold coin owned by the pair.
Struck in 1787 by Ephraim Brasher, a New York City silversmith and goldsmith, the Brasher Doubloons are "among the rarest and most desirable of all United States coins," according to CoinFacts.com. Seven are known to exist. One is most unique, featuring the "EB" countermark punched over the shield on the eagle's breast instead of atop the eagle's wings as in the other six coins.
It is this exceptionally rare coin and its pedigree that is a focal point for the lawsuit. The coin had a value of some $15 at the time of issue. Contursi and Kagin purchased it for $2.99 million during the Heritage Auction Galleries Gold Rush Collection auction on Jan. 12, 2005. In today's market, its value is likely much, much more.