‘What’s In the News’ with Bob Van Ryzin starts off this week’s episode of Coin Chat Radio with information on the upcoming Lincoln Presidency Cent release from the US Mint. Details about the ceremony, to be held in Washington D.C. on the U.S. Capitol grounds, are given along with the locations of the two additional penny exchanges being offered by the Mint.
Coin design is up next on the program. Numismatic News Editor Dave Harper interviews the newest member of the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC), Michael A. Olson. Olson is a bank president from Pella, Iowa and an active coin collector.
"I started collecting coins back in Waterloo, Iowa as a small boy with the Waterloo Coin Club," replied Olson when he was asked how long he has been a coin collector. "I remember saving my allowance every week. I believe those meetings were once a month and my dad would take me down to the meeting and whatever money I had I spent on coins."
Read the rest of this entry »
The Government of the British Virgin Islands has approved the release of a new coin to celebrate the Centenary of Naval Aviation.
CLICK TO ENLARGE: British Virgin Islands 2009 Centenary of Naval Aviation Coin
On 7 May 1909, the Admiralty placed the first order for an aircraft specifically for use in military and naval operations. Little did they know that this single action would ultimately lead to them being one of the key players in the development of military and naval aviation around the world and to the eventual foundation of the Royal Air Force.
Despite initially trying to dissuade officers from following an aviation career, it was soon realised that those that took to the skies in those early days were not only adventurous and brave men but also pioneers in this new form of warfare. Read the rest of this entry »
Class Is Now In Session 
Good Day,
Speculation early this morning was that U.S. employers likely have cut only 150,000 jobs in the month of October, a figure which would be the lowest in more than a year. The worst labor-market slump since the 1930s is now seen as possibly bottoming out, and the possibility of future consumer spending is now seen as adding to US and global economic growth.
The actual numbers, however showed a bit of a different reality, as the U.S. economy shed 190,000 jobs last month, lifting the unemployment rate above the 10% mark (to 10.2%) for the first time in 26 years, the Labor Department said. Economists were looking for the unemployment rate to rise to 9.9%
Following yesterday’s brief pause and minuscule retracement, gold prices remained within striking distance of the $1100 level early this morning, as speculative interest was banking on Friday’s US jobs report to yield further fuel for what has now become a routine spec fund-driven play. That is, when/if economic news is good, the dollar sinks and risk appetite reignites on the perception that such good news will drive the Fed to keep handing out essentially free money with which to go out and buy… stuff. Read the rest of this entry »
The Lincoln Coin and Chronicles Set was issued by the US Mint on Oct. 15 and 50,000 promptly sold out within 30 hours.
While many collectors on release day experienced anguishing moments due to ordering hiccups at the hands of the Mint, they are smiling more these days.
The Lincoln coins are desirable, the set packaging attractive, and Mint came through with rapid shipping.
Better, and this never hurts, the sets are commanding more than double their $55.95 issue price in the secondary market.
An analysis (see chart below) of over 1,000 eBay auctions from Oct. 14 through Nov. 2 indicate that the quantity of sets sold is increasing, yet their premiums are remaining strong. The continuing demand has been a boon for sellers. Read the rest of this entry »
