The United States Mint launched John Quincy Adam $1 coins into circulation yesterday, May 15. The dollar coin marks the sixth released since the Presidential $1 Coin Program began in 2007, and the second for this year.

United States Mint Acting Deputy Director Dan Shaver commented,

"$1 coins are great for use in everyday transactions, and the John Quincy Adams Presidential $1 Coin is also an educational tool. As Americans use the coin in commerce, we hope it prompts them to learn about this President’s contributions to our great Nation.”

John Quincy Adam’s life was one of distinction and commitment to public service.

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The National Stroke Association has announced it will join the U.S. Mint in celebrating the launch of the new John Quincy Adams Presidential $1 coin on Thursday, May 15.

One of the great values in coin series with ongoing themes and multi-year designs, like the Presidential $1 coins, is the educational value they can provide.

The release of the John Quincy Adams coin this month honors his life, and just as importantly, is a learning opportunity. Like now. What many people may not know is that John Quincy Adams suffered a stroke on the floor of the House of Representatives in 1848. He died from that stroke two days later.

How many people knew or remembered that from their day’s in high school? Likely, few. But now more can.

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The United States Mint 2008 New Mexico Official First Day Covers went on sale Thursday, May 8. The coin cover is 47th in the series released.

The limited edition covers include two New Mexico state quarters that were minted on the first day of production.

Each quarter has the state’s "Zia sun symbol” design with one manufactured from the Mint’s facility in Denver while the other from Philadelphia. The respective mint marks of "D" and "P" are on each.

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The United States Mint has announced the upcoming arrival of new Presidential $1 dollar coin products in May.

For some collectors, the announced offerings may come as a bit of a surprise since the Mint is pushing out an additional product as well as the next scheduled coin honoring U.S. Presidents.

They have, in fact, extended their Presidential product line and are spotlighting already released coins in new ways.

Presidential $1 Coin Historical Signature Set™

The U.S. Mint had somewhat quietly released a new collection in April called the Presidential $1 Coin Historical Signature Set. It featured George Washington.

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Today the United States Mint made their official announcement for the release of 2008 American Eagle Platinum Proof coins.

This year’s coins mark the last"Judicial Branch" design within the three-year platinum coin series entitled “The Foundations of American Democracy.” Starting in 2006, each year celebrated one of the three branches of government.

Along with pricing and design descriptions, which has already been discussed in last week’s CoinNews article entitled "2008 American Eagle Platinum Proof Coins and Pricing," the Mint also listed the mintage and product limits for the one-ounce, one-half ounce, one-quarter ounce, one-tenth ounce and four-coin platinum set.

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The United States Mint announced on Friday that Secretary of the Treasury Henry Paulson has authorized the issuance of a 2009 version of the 1907 ultra-high relief Augustus Saint-Gaudens $20 Double Eagle coin.

According to the U.S. Mint, the 2009 legal tender Saint-Gaudens’ designed coin will be:

• Made of 24-karate gold,
• have an unlimited mintage for one year,
• released in only a one-ounce version,
• produced with a business-strike finish, and
• minted only in 2009

The 1907 Augustus Saint-Gaudens $20 Double Eagle is considered by many to be one of the most beautiful gold coins made in the history of U.S. coinage.

United States Mint Director Ed Moy has announced plans to bring back the Saint-Gaudens’ design in March of 2008. At the time he commented,

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The United States Mint has provided their coin and medal release schedule to the end of November of 2008.

The Mint has been relatively conservative in its listings this year by normally showcasing just a handful of upcoming products set for release.

No longer. The new schedule nearly closes out the calendar year.

Taking a glance at the quantity of products and release dates shown heightens the awareness of the volume of collector coins and medals the Mint produces. It is rather impressive when considering each type and series along with the hundreds of millions of circulating coins the Mint releases each year.

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The United States Mint has set the release date and prices for the 2008 series of American Eagle Platinum Proof coins that are the final design in the three-year series entitled, “The Foundations of American Democracy.” This year’s collector proof coins are available on Monday, May 5, 2008 and feature a Judicial Branch design.

The limited mintage coins will be available in four sizes with the following weights: One-ounce, one-half ounce, one-quarter ounce, one-tenth ounce. There is also a four-coin set containing one coin in each denomination. The one ounce proof coin is priced at $2,299.95.

The Foundation of American Democracy designs

2006 began the new platinum three-year coin series entitled “The Foundation of American Democracy,” which celebrates the branches of government with a new reverse or tails design every year.

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As precious metal prices fall, United States Mint bullion coin premiums rise. The differences make the proposition of purchasing the latest US Mint American Eagle bullion coins nearly overwhelming.

The United States Mint appears to be happy to accept higher premiums in many of their bullion coin sales.

While the Mint was quick to suspend and then readjust bullion coin prices upward when precious metal prices increased, the same quick but reverse adjustment has not been seen with key Mint bullion coins as precious metals decline.

As one example highlights, the Mint announced the pricing of 2008 American Eagle Gold Uncirculated coins on March 19, 2008. The one ounce eagle coin was set at $1,119.95. The day of that announcement London gold closed at $958.50 an ounce.

Six weeks later London gold on Thursday is at $853 an ounce. The premium differences between the two dates for the one ounce 2008 American Eagle Gold Uncirculated coin are:

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The United States Mint has officially announced the sale of 2008 Sacagawea Golden Dollar coins. Coin bags and coin rolls of Sacagawea’s will be made available at 12:00 noon (ET) on April 28, 2008.

Each roll of Sacagawea Golden Dollars contains 25 coins wrapped in distinctive packaging. The canvas bags contain 250 coins. Both options bear either the “P” or the “D” mint mark denoting their originating Mint facility in Philadelphia or Denver.

Mint previously announced the sale of 2008 Sacagawea coins, but pulls the plug

The Mint first announced the sale of 2008 Sacagawea dollars in a product update to the public back in mid January. However, they quickly pulled them.

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