US Mint Director Ed Moy revealed the design and a prototype of the commemorative Louis Braille Bicentennial coin at the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) annual convention in Dallas, TX on July 2.
Local Dallas NBC5 News was on hand to report on the ceremony and has released their video coverage, which is included below.
The 1 minute and 22 second video is short, but offers a unique perspective with a few comments from leaders and the public in addition to several Braille coin design close ups.
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A heavy vault door wasn’t enough to stop thieves from stealing more than $200,000 in rare coins from a local Benbrook, Texas coin shop. Neither was steel rebar and 8 inches of concrete.
The theft happened in the middle of the night and it must have taken several hours to complete.
The thieves bypassed an impenetrable looking vault door, and instead dropped into the vault through the ceiling after meticulously drilling through 8-inches of concrete and rebar.
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Katie Couric, CBS Evening News anchor, today discussed in her "Notebook" commentary the costs to mint pennies and nickel, and the recently passed House legislation to make these coins from steel.
Although nothing new was offered in her commentary that hasn’t already been discussed in similar numismatic articles, like
Couric also very briefly broached the subject of eliminating the penny completely. Again, while not new, it’s nevertheless interesting to hear perspectives from the mainstream media.
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Five people were arrested in Southern California earlier this week for allegedly counterfeiting between $5 and $6 million in phony $20s and $100s over the past two years.
Laserjet printers were apparently used to make the money, and it all happened within a residential home in Lawndale, California.
According to an Associated Press article, those arrested in included:
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Earlier in the day the American Numismatic Association (ANA) sent out an e-mail notice letting members know ANA Money Museum Curator Douglas Mudd would be discussing the history, design and current use of the $1 bill on the Fox Business Network.
Unfortunately, the odds would have it that many likely read the e-mail only after the interview took place, which occurred at 12:45 p.m. (ET). Or, the daily business routine made it impossible to watch.
The good news is that the Fox Business video entitled, Decoding The Dollar, is now available online and embedded below.
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The infamous skyjacker D.B. Cooper case is making headlines once again. This year the FBI was notified about the discovery of nearly three dozen D.B. Cooper serial numbers from stolen banknotes. Now the FBI has a possible D.B. Cooper torn and tangled parachute that was found buried by children in southwest Washington.
Cooper hijacked a Northwest Orient Airlines 727 flight from Portland to Seattle in 1971. During the flight to Seattle, Cooper said he had a bomb and demanded $200,000 and parachutes. When the plane landed, he released the passengers in exchange for the money and ordered the pilot to Mexico. While in flight, he jumped from the rear stairway.
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The newly redesigned $5 bill entered circulation March 13, 2008. While it will take time for everyone to receive their first $5, those that have seen it love it. Well, that’s what the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) is saying at least.
Based on their latest video showing consumer reactions to the $5, it’s a smash-hit.
For a new note that is promoted as being “safer, smarter and more secure,” building public acceptance and knowledge for the $5 is an absolute must. Hundreds of millions of the new notes will pass through people’s hands each year (1.4 billion $5s were produced in 2007). Reducing confusion during money transactions is better for everyone.
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Platinum took third chair this week with silver and gold making record-breaking strides. The weakening U.S. dollar made its presence felt, pushing investors toward commodities.
On the New York Mercantile Exchange, gold for April made $978.50 and inched closer to $1,000 an ounce. The London Fix Monday through Friday gold was up $24 or 2.5% and closed to $972 Friday.
Silver also made headlines in approaching $20 an ounce. It was up a very impressive $1.56 for the five day week on the London Fix and closed at $19.62 an ounce.
“Investment demand for gold and the rest of the precious metals looks set to remain strong in the coming sessions as investors look to offset rising oil prices and continued dollar weakness,” TheBullionDesk.com analyst James Moore said in a research note.
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Platinum did not experience a blowout performance compared to last week. However, Friday’s London close of $2,155 represents a respectable Monday through Friday gain of 3.21%. It closed the previous Friday at $2,060.
Silver and gold out shined platinum with percentage gains of 5.47% and 4.20% respectively. Gold, in fact, hit a fresh record on Thursday of $958.40 an ounce on the New York Mercantile Exchange.
The silver, gold and platinum weekly charts are below as well as the Reuters business week wrap up video and four related articles.
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There is no enjoyment in paying taxes. But since they must be paid, why not make the best of the moment with a slight touch of protest? That was the apparent thinking of a Tennessee couple at least.
Instead of sending their property tax payment through the mail, the Tennessee couple paid the bill using 1,700 Sacagawea Golden Dollars. It wasn’t all bad. At least the clerks at the Knox County Trustee’s Office didn’t have to sort the coins. They were already in $25 coin rolls.
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