Monthly Archives: August 2008
Gold Futures Drop 50 Cents, Platinum Gains Nearly $18
2008 U.S. Mint Silver Proof Sets Arrive August 26
Coin Treasure Claim from Peru Over "Black Swan" Shipwreck
Ancient Coin Collectors Guild Benefit Auction Nets $45.8K
Platinum Dives Lower Still, Gold and Silver Rise
50-Heller Coin Eliminated by Czech National Bank
PCGS Returns First Strike® Inserts to Collector Club Members
Steel Cents and Nickels Dead in the Water?
Legislation to change the metallic composition of the penny and nickel to a less expensive copper-colored steel passed in the U.S. House of Representatives on May 8, 2008.
However, the plunge in base metal prices since could very well end the legislation's chances of moving forward in the Senate.
The goal of the bill, which it titled Coin Modernization and Taxpayer Savings Act of 2008 - H.R. 5512, was directed toward saving money after high copper prices pushed production costs of the penny up to about 1.26 cents and the nickel to about 7.7 cents.
Since May, copper prices have fallen to where the melt value of a penny is now under a half cent and the nickel is just slightly higher than 5 cents — the U.S. Mint now makes money issuing pennies and almost breaks even with nickels.
Royal Australian Mint Launches Three New Websites, Two News Coins
The Royal Australian Mint has launched three new websites with each sporting a different theme and coin products. The offerings range from commemorative coins honoring the centenary of Sir Donald Bradman's birth and the 25th anniversary of Australia II's win in the American's Cup, to an exclusive club membership with product discounts.
U.S. Mint Suspends Non-Collector American Eagle Gold Coin Sales
The Gold Anti-Trust Action Committee (GATA) reported Friday that the United States Mint has suspended sales of American Eagle gold coins to their network of Authorized Purchasers.
The suspended coins are bullion coins (non collector versions) the Mint will not sell directly to the public, but instead to Authorized Purchasers who can then sell to the public.
At the time of this writing, fractional collector proof and uncirculated American Eagle gold coins are still available through the Mint's website, although the sharp drop in gold prices without a similar reduction in coin prices has resulted in much higher premiums for collectors to assume.