Monthly Archives: December 2011
Chickasaw Quarter Three-Coin Set Available
Tuesday, December 20, 2011 the United States Mint made available the Chickasaw Quarter Three-Coin Set for $14.95.
The numismatic product is the tenth released in the series as each have followed coin launches from the America the Beautiful Quarters® Program which debuted in 2010.
The set's quarters feature the same design since they honor Oklahoma's Chickasaw National Recreation Area -- an American national site that was established on July 1, 1902. The three versions of the coins were produced specifically for collectors with [...]
In The Lead – Instance…Messaging
Gold once again meandered around the $1,600 mark but strayed only about $10 on either side of it and showed a lack of conviction among participants to take a stand in either direction as their ranks palpably thinned ahead of the holiday weekend. Indian physical demand continued on the lackluster side of the ledger, as locals await lower prices as well as the calendar's turning nearer to January 14th; a time until which is it considered inauspicious to buy the yellow metal.
Bullion's recent cave-in has prompted more warnings and more caution to come from the managed money sector. Yesterday gold futures closed below $1,600 per ounce for the fourth consecutive trading session and [...]
US Marshals Service Commemorative Coins Pass House
Gold, silver and clad commemorative coins celebrating the 225th anniversary of the US Marshals Service are one step closer to reality after several previous unsuccessful attempts.
Introduced in March by Rep. Steve Womack [R-AR3], the United States Marshals Service 225th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act easily passed (412-1-20) through the US House of Representatives on Thursday, December 15.
The House bill, H.R. 886, has since been referred to the same Senate committee which has been sitting on a nearly [...]
Gold Nearly Unchanged, Silver Falls 2.7%
Gold prices dipped slightly Monday, marking five losses in six sessions and four straight below $1,600 an ounce -- a closing level the yellow metal gave up Wednesday as prices headed south for what turned out to be a 6.9 percent weekly loss.
Gold prices edged lower $1.20, or 0.1%, to $1,596.70 an ounce in the February futures contract on the Comex in New York. Gold prices ranged between $1,585.50 and $1,611.50. Trading volumes were again [...]
Stack’s Bowers and Ponterio 2012 NYINC Auction Offers 2,900+ Coin,...
Continuing a longstanding tradition, Stack's Bowers and Ponterio will again serve as an official auctioneer at the New York International Numismatic Convention, presenting 2,945 lots of world and ancient coins and paper money during three sessions, January 4-9, 2012.
"It is always a thrill to begin the New Year in New York City at the N.Y.I.N.C. show, which is such an exciting international numismatic event," said Rick Ponterio, president of Stack's Bowers and Ponterio [...]
1820s Era Half Eagles Highlight Heritage’s Orlando FUN US Coin Auction
The magnificent 1829 $5 Large Date Half Eagle PR64 PCGS, CAC, Ex: Garrett is the centerpiece offering of the unmatched Harvey B. Jacobson, Jr. Collection of 1820s era Half Eagles, presented by Heritage Auctions as part of its Thursday, Jan. 5 Platinum Night event during the Jan. 3-8 U.S. Coins & Platinum Night FUN Signature® Auction, in Orlando, FL.
"This is the first Large Diameter Capped Bust half eagle certified as a proof by a major grading service," said Greg Rohan, President of Heritage Auctions.
"Both PCGS and CAC have agreed on this coin's proof status and a grade of PR64. Any Large Date, Large Diameter 1829 half eagle is an extreme rarity [...]
In The Lead – Poll Position
Market action began to slow and participation commenced thinning out in the precious metals' space as the pre-holiday week got started this morning. Gold prices dipped under the $1,600 pivot point once again overnight and then clung to small gains above that same figure as New York trading got underway but neither the direction nor the level of conviction among players were too clear in the initial minutes of trading.
The same lack of energy was manifest in other assets as well however; the dollar meandered around the 80.10 area while the euro held onto the $1.30 figure for the time being. Crude oil gained about two-thirds of a percent but copper slipped about one-third of the same [...]
Gold, Silver Rise Friday but Plunge on Week, US Mint Bullion...
Modestly paring weekly losses, gold and other precious metals rebounded Friday as the U.S. dollar pulled back and investors stepped in to buy on the bargain.
"Some people were taking the opportunity to scoop it (gold) up at lower levels. And, it's still up year to date. So, it wasn't surprising that people wanted to sell it off to raise cash for the year end," Reuters quoted David Lee, metals trader at Heraeus Precious Metals Management in New York.
A stumbling euro had boosted the greenback for most of the week, and that translated into weekly losses of 6.9% for gold -- its biggest weekly fall in nearly three months, 8.0% for silver, 6.5% for platinum and 8.9% for palladium. Palladium's drop was perhaps a bit more stinging having been the only precious metal to rally last week [...]
2012 Star-Spangled Banner Commemorative Coin Designs Revealed
Artwork designs for next year's 2012 Star-Spangled Banner Commemorative Coins were published by the United States Mint this week. These collectibles -- in gold and silver -- will celebrate more than just the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812, the selected designs commemorate the events that led to the writing of "The Star-Spangled Banner," the national anthem, by Francis Scott Key.
The specifications are standard for modern American commemorative coins. The gold coins will weigh 8.359 grams and have a diameter of 0.850 inches. Their composition will be 90 percent gold and 10 percent alloy, and they will be minted at West Point [...]
In The Lead – Tally Whoa
Gold's largest decline since September not only managed to change the price tags on various bullion items by a significant margin, but it has also altered the sentiment among market participants by a notable degree. Whereas just days ago the trading crowd exhibited bullishness levels higher than in more than a month, as of last night the same players and market-makers showed a level of gold-related enthusiasm that has not been as feeble since July.
Albeit nearly half of Bloomberg's weekly surveyed industry individuals feel that gold could rebound next week (which would only be expected following the week that was) the apprehension that the 20% fall [...]