Monthly Archives: December 2010
WikiLeaks Cables: State Department Against Odyssey in Black Swan Shipwreck Case
Sunken treasure and diplomatic back channel maneuvering are disparate topics one thinks of only in the fictional world of books or movies. However, those seemingly unrelated points have recently been focused on an American company that specializes in exploration and recovery of deep-ocean shipwrecks.
Odyssey Marine Exploration, based in Tampa, Florida, announced in May 2007 the discovery of the "Black Swan," a site located in the Atlantic Ocean which yielded over 500,000 colonial-era silver coins [...]
Gold Prices Fall for Second Day, Silver Follows
Gold prices declined for a second straight day Thursday, driven lower by the common culprits of late -- a stronger dollar, profit-taking and year-end book-squaring.
Gold prices fell to a two-week low and retreated 1.1 percent for the day. The yellow metal is up 25.1 percent in [...]
Lucky Money Collection: BEP Launches $1 Year of the Rabbit; $10...
The U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) on Wednesday launched two new Lucky Money Collection products featuring "Year of the Rabbit" and "Lucky Lion" notes.
The year 2011 is the Year of the Rabbit. In celebration of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, the BEP released its $1 Year of the Rabbit product which features a crisp, uncirculated $1 Federal Reserve Note with a serial number beginning with "8888." [...]
US Mint Sales: 2010 Proof Sets Top 1 Million, Quarters Coin...
New US Mint sales figures include two debuting products and a milestone for 2010 Proof Sets.
The Mint's most popular set offering posted a weekly advance of 22,086 and topped the 1 million marker in sales. It has been available since July 22, 2010 -- less than five months, which makes the achievement impressive. Yet, the [...]
Thursday Kitcommentary From Kitco Metals Inc. – India, Indeed
Gold prices meandered within a fairly tight range overnight as fewer buyers or sellers were visible on the scene in the absence of substantial market news developments and amid the emergent trend among participants to square their books and head away from trading desks in search of holiday presents.
Spot gold dealings opened with muted (50-cent) gains this morning, quoted at $1,379.90 per ounce as [...]
Exceptional Notes Headline Heritage Tampa FUN Currency Auction
Heritage Auctions, the official auctioneer of the Florida United Numismatists (FUN) Show, will present a substantial number of rare and exceptional notes as part of its Signature® Currency Auction, Jan. 6-10, in Tampa FL.
A total of 5970 lots will be offered in four floor sessions that will take place Jan. 6-8, and two online-only sessions that will take place Jan. 9-10 in Dallas [...]
Gold, Silver and Other Precious Metals Prices Retreat
Precious metals futures declined in unison Wednesday. Gold and silver prices fell the most, registering respective losses of 1.3 and 1.8 percent.
Weighing down gold, opined analysts, were gains in the dollar, profit taking, and US inflation data which showed consumer prices rose only 0.1 percent in November [...]
Treasurer Rios to Sign Notes at BEP in Washington
Treasurer of the United States Rosie Rios will be at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) to autograph notes in a public event held between 10:00 a.m. and 11:45 a.m. on Thursday, December 16, 2010.
Attendees can bring up to two notes to sign, or exchange old bills for new ones and have those autographed. The event is free, but the time is limited to the hours above [...]
Wednesday Kitcommentary From Kitco Metals Inc. – Value Judgements
Boring (read: predictable) as the Fed meeting results turned out to be, the expected dollar free-fall and corresponding gold spike did not materialize in their wake last night.
Bullion fell to an overnight low of $1,385.30 on the bid side of spot prices as the greenback gained ground on the rising conviction that the US economy is indeed on the mend, and as it was also helped by the on-going 'review' of Spain's debt rating by Moody's Investor Service [...]
75,000 America the Beautiful Silver Bullion Coins Sold
The US Mint has reported opening sales figures of 75,000 for the 2010 America the Beautiful Silver Bullion Coins.
That is the amount Authorized Purchasers (AP's) ordered when the three-inch, five ounce bullion coins re-launched on Friday, December 10. A total of 165,000 are made available this year, which leaves 90,000 left [...]