Monthly Archives: January 2012

Throw out the debuting 2012 America the Beautiful Quarters Proof Set from the latest United States Mint weekly sales figures and there are only a few interesting items of note left.

Numismatic (and bullion) product sales are significantly slower in this round. Specifically, 29 U.S. Mint products improved over their prior weekly sales versus the 48 out-performers noted in the previous sales report. Two-dozen of the overachievers were lower priced products. In the $50+ category of mint offerings, only a handful of week-over-week gains were realized. Those included the 2011-W Proof Platinum Eagle and four First Spouse Gold Coins [...]

Momentum players pulled the "buy" trigger on precious and base metals, along with crude oil and equities, yesterday afternoon, after they concluded that the Fed's offer to not hike interest rates until late 2014 was tantamount to a fresh QE program.

Lost in the euphoric buying spree (and again we draw your attention to the fact that this was a new display of the "buy everything" syndrome which is anything but healthy for one or another asset in the long-run) was the other side of the Fed announcement [...]

Gold prices had been pressured by strength in the U.S. dollar during most of Wednesday until the Fed released forecasts indicating it is likely to maintain "a highly accommodative stance for monetary policy" and that U.S. economic conditions are "likely to warrant exceptionally low levels for the federal funds rate at least through late 2014." The news was taken as inflationary long-term, and drove gold and other precious metals sharply higher.

Gold prices rallied $35.60, or 2.1%, to $1,700.10 an ounce in the February futures contract on the Comex in New York [...]

The Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) on Tuesday, January 24, 2012, made available Series 2009 $10 Uncut Currency Sheets.

Uncut Currency Sheets are "hot off the press" and are a "must-have in any collection and make wonderful gifts for those 'hard to buy for' people on your holiday shopping list," the Bureau of Engraving and Printing promotes on its website.

Currency sheet prices vary by the amount of $10 bills. BEP options include a [...]

Gold prices fell for a second session on Wednesday as physical demand remained muted and as the US dollar picked up additional strength against the euro. Market participants were focused on upcoming Fed and Davos World Economic Forum statements before making any substantial bets in the precious and base metals' spaces.

Gold's decline was partially attributable to the fact that Greek debt instrument holders failed to come to an agreement with that country as regards a debt-swap plan. The impasse prompted a "risk-off" day on Tuesday and the same sentiment spilled over into this morning's trading action [...]

Per the recent trend of gold on the London Fix, a series of price increases is very likely for several United States Mint collector gold coins.

Numismatic gold and platinum coin prices are re-evaluated each week on Wednesday. Last week the proof Platinum Eagle rose but the gold coins remained the same. This week it looks like a reversal, with the gold coins rising and the Platinum Eagle remaining unchanged [...]

Gold fell Tuesday from a six-week high and broke a two-session winning streak as a stronger U.S. dollar cut into precious metal demand. The greenback rose as the euro fell following the lack of expected progress in restructuring Greek debt.

Gold prices declined $13.80, or 0.8%, to $1,664.50 an ounce in the February futures contract on the Comex in New York. Gold traded between [...]

This year the United States Mint is planning to release a San Francisco "S" minted uncirculated American Silver Eagle for collectors and is paving the way for a series of "special" annual sets beginning in 2012 that could include Silver Eagles with varying "S", "D" and "W" mint marks, special reverse proofs and ultra-high reliefs.

The United States Mint revealed the possibilities for new annual sets in a survey conducted by National Analysts Worldwide. Plans for the 2012-S Uncirculated American Silver Eagle were announced in the United States Mint 2011 Annual Report [...]