Over the weekend four suspected counterfeiters were arrested by Columbian police along with $4 million dollars in fake U.S. currency.
Authorities had reportedly been searching for the suspects for six years and they were on the U.S. most wanted list.
When you’re pulling out a few bills or loose change to pay for something, it just happens. There’s little if any consideration to how the US monetary system came to be or how it works. It just happens.
Numismatists will typically have a better grasp of information, but it’s easier to get caught into the history and dynamics of certain coins or banknotes and not take the time to study the origins of all US money, its centralized structure and why it was needed and created.
Take the new two-click poll on the CoinNews website asking that very question (found in the upper right). Surprisingly, at least so far, results have been close to evenly mixed.
Compared to the U.S., interesting and different dynamics are in play with other countries and their small change. Several countries are actually suffering through serious coinage shortages due to hoarding.
Two countries in particular, Argentine and China, have experienced an up tick in entrepreneur-like activity where people find and resell small change - for a profit - to businesses or individuals who are experiencing shortages.
Buying a box of Cheerios® in January of 2000 bought you more than a good breakfast. You were given one shot at a very special Sacagawea golden coin.
Just a dollar you say? Not quite. These Cheerios dollars are now being sold for several thousand dollars each.
You likely remember the introduction of the Sacagawea golden dollars back in 2000. It’s hard not to remember. The U.S. Mint spent $53,000,000 that year on marketing and advertising just to get your attention.
The Utah quarter is ready. It’s the final state quarter for 2007, the fifth released this year and the 45th coin in the United States Mint’s 50 State Quarters® Program.
The quarters are fresh off the presses and available in special U.S. Mint rolls and bags.
The two-roll set is priced at $32.95 and includes a roll of 40 Utah quarters minted in Philadelphia and a roll of 40 quarters from Denver. The coins will bear the "P" and "D" mint marks respectively.
Gold climbed to its newest 28 year high Monday, November 5. It reached $814.20 on the New York Mercantile Exchange and finally settled to $810.80 an ounce.
In reaction and as CoinNews.net analyzed and then predicted Friday, Nov. 2, the United States Mint halted Uncirculated Gold American Eagles sales once again.
Similar to their very first suspension on September 13, the U.S. Mint listed below each of their American Eagle Gold uncirculated products (one ounce, one-half ounce, one-quarter ounce, one-tenth ounce and four-coin set) the following statement:
"Due to the increasing market value of gold, the American Eagle Gold Uncirculated Coins are temporarily unavailable while pricing for this option can be adjusted; therefore, no orders can be taken at this time."
So says Democrat Congressman Zack Space of Ohio who’s trying to help a company within his district. The company, Jackson Metals, would melt pennies for their copper content.
Helping businesses is hard to fault. But is newly proposed legislation that would benefit companies like Jackson Metals and change coinage laws the right thing to do? What would Jackson Metals, Rep. Space, the government and taxpayers really get from it?
First, some history…
Gold hit two thresholds today, November 2, making it a popular topic of interest across major news outlets.
One threshold was closing above $800. The other was a new 28 year high. For a time, gold actually hit $810.70 on the New York Mercantile Exchange. It finally closed at $808.50 an ounce.
New United States Mint products have emerged for sale following the announcement of the Mint’s holiday and gift catalog.
The 2007 American Legacy Collection is the standout. Legacy sets are now in their third year of production and this year’s collection is sharp to the eye.
The collection includes available U.S. Mint coins and sets that are also sold separately, but not with the fine, all-together packaging. The downside is you’ll pay extra for it and they won’t be ready for shipping until 12/03/2007.
The festive holiday season is fast approaching and the U.S. Mint is ready with their latest coin and product catalog.
The Mint has announced that the new catalog will be available Thursday, October 25. In a statement, United States Mint Director Ed Moy said:
“Our catalog features beautifully crafted products that embody the spirit of America. The women and men of the United States Mint are proud to offer them to the public.”
The first sentence you could expect from any Mint Director. The second sentence, however, is rather refreshing.
