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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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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The CoinNews U.S. Inflation Calculator and annual Rate of Inflation Charts have been updated to use the very latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) April figures, as provided by the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics and released yesterday, May 14, 2008.

The Inflation Calculator can be used to measure the change in buying power of the U.S. dollar over any period from 1913-2008. The charts provide a quick snapshot of current and historical annual averages for rate of inflation, and annual percent changes for rate of inflation.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics April CPI inflation figures

According to the latest U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the consumer price index (CPI), a measure of the average price changes for goods and services, slowed to 0.2% in April and was less than the forecasted 0.3%. By comparison, March experienced a 0.3% rise.

The core index, which excludes food and energy prices, climbed 0.1%, but was also below expectations.In other numbers, fruit and vegetable prices rose 2%, beverages climbed 1.7%, and cereal and bakery goods were up 1.4%.

What’s the real world meaning of some of these figures? As always, the CoinNews Inflation Calculator can provide some insights.

Examples of the Inflation Calculator

Using the calculator, anyone can determine the purchasing power of the dollar over time. A few examples after adjusting for inflation:

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With the recently announced and already sold out $2 Dallas note, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) has sent out availability notices of the upcoming 2008 Cleveland $2 Single Notes for June 2, 2008.

Notes in these series typically sellout within hours. With the $2 Dallas BEP note, the BEP threw in an extra hiccup when their online ordering system went down for the day.

With an already fast-paced selling series, the inability to order notes online frustrated collectors further, as some could not get through phone lines. Planning is a must to purchase notes from this series. And, unfortunately, sometimes that is not enough. A touch of luck is helpful.

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A steamship that sank off the Louisiana coast during an 1846 storm has produced a trove of rare gold coins, including some produced at two largely forgotten U.S. Mints in the South, coin experts say.

Last year, four Louisiana residents salvaged hundreds of gold coins and thousands of silver coins from the wreckage of the SS New York in about 60 feet of water in the Gulf of Mexico, said David Bowers, co-chairman of New York-based Stack’s Rare Coins.

“Some of these are in uncirculated or mint condition,” Bowers said, predicting the best could bring $50,000 to $100,000 apiece at auction.

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Last Minute Amendment Could Have Shut Down Precious Metals Coin Dealers

ICTA recently helped defeat an 11th hour proposal that would have put precious metals dealers under the jurisdiction of the CFTC which may also have led to federal licensing and further regulation of the industry.

In late April, during Senate consideration of the 2008 farm bill (HR 2419), a section was added to reauthorize the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and amend the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA).

The House Agriculture Committee marked up similar legislation, so the two CFTC bills were both being considered by the joint Senate/House Conference Committee that would recommend the final bill.

A last minute amendment was introduced at the Conference Committee by Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) that would have expanded the CFTC’s jurisdiction beyond the futures markets to include the cash markets.

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Japan will issue a new colorized Hokkaido commemorative silver coin featuring Japanese red-crowned cranes, a symbol of Hokkaido, flying above Hokkaido’s Lake Toya.

Japan’s Finance Minister, Fukushiro Nukaga, made the announcement Tuesday in a press conference after a cabinet meeting. Mr. Nukaga said a 1,000-yen Hokkaido commemorative coin would be issued this July in time for the Group of Eight summit, which will be held in Hokkaido.

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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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Collectors Universe, Inc. (Nasdaq: CLCT), recently announced their third fiscal quarter financial results for 2008. In year to date comparisons, their revenue totals increased by 6% over the same period of the prior year — $31.7 million for the nine months ended March 31, 2008, compared to $29.8 million.

At March 31, 2008, the Collectors Universe had working capital of $32.7 million and no long-term debt.

Collectors Universe reported net revenues of $10.9 million for the quarter and a loss from continuing operations of $966,000, or $0.11 per diluted share compared to net revenues of $11.1 million and a loss from continuing operations of $68,000 or $0.01 per diluted share for third fiscal quarter in 2007.

While there are many numbers to digest within the financial results, an interesting aspect was the Company reporting of lower coin trade show revenues of approximately $950,000.

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The Austrian Mint celebrates the 100th anniversary of the birth of Herbert von Karajan, a 20th century musical giant, with a new nine-sided silver commemorative coin minted in Special Uncirculated and Circulation quality.

This year Herbert von Karajan would have celebrated his 100th birthday. He was born on 5th April, 1908, in the city of Salzburg. To commemorate this great Austrian conductor the Austrian Mint in Vienna is issuing a 5 Euro silver coin on 7th May, 2008.

On the occasion of his death in 1989 the New York Times characterised Karajan as “probably the world’s best-known conductor and one of the most powerful figures in classical music.”

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