Yearly Archives: 2010
Gold Climbs as Dollar Falls, Silver Advances
Final US Mint 2009 UHR $20 Gold Coin Sales at 115K
The 2009 Ultra High Relief (UHR) Double Eagle Gold coin was launched by the United States Mint on Jan. 22, 2009. It was the most talked about gold coin of the year.
The 24-karat, .9999 fine gold piece was digitally reproduced from Augustus Saint-Gaudens' original ultra high relief 1907 Double Eagle. The modern versions equaled the beauty of the original strikes, and elicited buying action from those who could justify the expense.
Coin collectors were given until 3 PM ET on Dec. 31, 2009 to place an order for the one-year-only issue. How many were sold through 2009 is now known. A US Mint spokesperson confirmed on Tuesday that the final sales number is 115,178.
The UHR $20s were originally offered on January 22, 2009. They were white-hot in their first day, with a blazing 28,173 sold. What makes that number more astonishing is the fact that the Mint had a household order limit of one in place. And at the $1,189 price upon their introduction, representing a premium of over $300 above the melt value of the gold within each coin, the picture of demand becomes more impressive.
Final 2009 Lincoln Cent Mintages, Presidency Cent Most Scarce
The last of the four redesigned 2009 Lincoln Cents is by far the most scarce, final production figures from the United States Mint reveal.
The Denver and Philadelphia Mints struck 198,000,000 and 129,600,000 Presidency cents, respectively, for a total run of 327,600,00. The level is nearly half that of the second least minted penny, the Lincoln Birthplace bearing the log cabin design.
2009-P Lincoln Presidency cents rank as the most scarce of the group, directly followed by the 2009-Ds, as the following table illustrates:
Gold Falls Nearly 2%, Silver Plunges
US Mint 2009 Silver Eagles Sell Out
2009 American Silver Eagle Bullion coins have sold out, the United States Mint announced late Tuesday morning. The remaining inventory was depleted earlier in the day, leaving Silver Eagles on the sidelines until Jan. 19.
The US Mint reconfirmed today that the 19th is still the scheduled launch time for 2010 American Eagle gold and silver one ounce bullion coins.
Unprecedented demand delayed the new year dated coins, which are usually minted in late November, sold to Mint authorized purchasers in late December and made available to an eagerly awaiting public in early January.
The enormous demand was also responsible for the cancellations of the 2009-dated proof an uncirculated versions, which extremely upset the collecting community.
Read the rest of this numismatic news article »
1913 Liberty Nickel Brings $3.73M at Heritage FUN US Coin...
An awed hush fell over the Platinum Night bidding floor of Heritage Auctions' Orlando FL FUN U.S. Coin Auction on Thursday, Jan. 7, as "The Olsen Specimen" 1913 Liberty Nickel, PR 64 NGC, lived up to its billing as the most famous American coin by bringing a jaw-dropping $3,737,500. This figure is tied for the third-largest sum ever paid at auction for a single U.S. coin.
1913 Liberty nickel, PR64 NGC, CAC realized $3.73 million - Click image to visit Heritage Auction page for additional information
With the 1913 nickel, Heritage sold three $1 million+ U.S. coins in the auction, only the third time this has ever been done in a single event, all by Heritage, and this auction is the first time that all three coins hammered above the $1,000,000 mark.
The most famous of the five known Liberty Nickels was the principal highlight in Heritage's $36.5 million+ U.S. Coin Auction, which itself is the principal component of Heritage's $53 million January 2010 numismatic auctions, collectively composed of U.S. Coins and Currency at Orlando FUN and the NYINC World Coins Auction, which realized $11 million+ over the first weekend of the new year. All prices include 15% Buyer's Premium.