August 2010

Mint Coin CalendarJames Buchanan related products dominate United States Mint releases during the month of September.

Buchanan Presidential dollars were issued last month (August 19), but Buchanan was the only U.S. President never to marry and, therefore, his image will also be featured on the next two proof and uncirculated First Spouse Gold Coins as well as the companion bronze medal.

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U.S. gold prices topped $1,250 an ounce on Tuesday, capping an August rally of 5.6 percent and registering their biggest monthly gain since April. Precious metals were mixed as group. Silver hit its highest price since mid-May on Tuesday, soaring 7.9 percent in August. Palladium edged slightly higher on Tuesday and for the month, while [...]

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United States Mint 2010 Silver Proof SetU.S. Mint 2010 Silver Proof Set sales opened solid but they were also softer than the opening performances from the prior two years, according to newly released figures from the United States Mint.

From their Thursday, August 26, launch through to Sunday, buyers ordered 241,656 sets at $56.95 each, bringing the Mint more than $13.7 million dollars in revenue during the four-day period.

Annual silver proof sets are always popular with coin collectors, as the following table of past sales shows:

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Good Morning, Crisis-oriented mentality remains pervasive on this last day of August and it will be interesting to see how the gloomy emotional state of global investors will reflect in the markets when full participation resumes in them in about one week’s time following summer’s holidays. More of the same was on tap during the [...]

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Good Morning, Marginal declines were noted in gold prices as the new trading week got underway overseas last night. Mild profit-taking and an emerging modicum of risk appetite for equity assets arose in the wake of the Bernanke pledge on Friday to "do whatever it takes" to ensure continued US economic progress." Normally, such "whatever [...]

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The Bullock Specimen of the famous 1856-O double eagle, recently discovered in Ohio and graded XF45+ by NGC, is the main attraction in Heritage Auctions’ September 2010 U.S. Coin Auction, Sept. 22-25, in Long Beach, CA.

1856-O Double Eagle Gold Coin

 "The 1856-O double eagle is a very rare date," said Greg Rohan, President of Heritage. "No more than two dozen are known, and the real number is probably smaller. Any example is a real treasure, and this piece made a remarkable debut. The announcement of its discovery was front-page news in Coin World, a sign of how important the 1856-O double eagle is to numismatists."

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The American Numismatic Association presented 60 competitive exhibit awards at the 2010 World’s Fair of Money in Boston. Winners were announced at the Exhibit Awards Presentation and Reception on Aug. 14. Forty-eight ANA members, showing 68 exhibits, competed in this year’s Collector Exhibits program. There also were 6 non-competitive exhibits. Brett Irick received the Howland [...]

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U.S. gold prices edged 20 cents higher on Friday, capping a string of four consecutive weekly gains. Gold continued to ride on the back of safe-haven buying driven by recovery concerns. But it was silver that shined the brightest, soaring 5.8 percent for the week and hitting a two-month high above $19 an ounce. Palladium [...]

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Following on the heels of a $8.57 million World Coin auction at the Boston ANA World’s Fair of Money, Heritage Auctions has announced the promotion of Warren Tucker to Vice President of the World Coins division. "Warren is one of the best known numismatists in the business and his reputation is second to none," said [...]

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ANAThe American Numismatic Association urges its members to contact their members of Congress and ask to repeal a law that could significantly increase the paperwork burden on dealers and increase the risk of identity theft for all collectors who buy and sell numismatic material.

Under Section 9006 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, commonly known as health care reform legislation, businesses will be required to report all goods and services purchased in excess of $600 with an IRS 1099 form.

As written, the law would, beginning in 2012, require all coin dealers to report on IRS form 1099 all goods and services (totaled across a taxable year) they purchase from other dealers and customers in excess of $600.

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