CoinNews

US Mint sales of 1/2 oz uncirculated 2008-W American Eagles gold coins surged from the last report, rising an impressive 104.5 percent. The coin was the final remaining 2008-dated gold eagle from the Mint until it sold out Wednesday.

49,788 Ultra High Relief Gold coins have been sold. Sales increased 3.7 percent since the prior report, but the pace has slowed somewhat. 1,789 were purchased by collectors compared to the previous 2,579.

Lincoln Silver Dollars jumped again. Proof versions went up to 159,634 while the uncirculated option hit 75,614. The US Mint first offered the commemoratives on Thursday, Feb. 12.

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The United States Mint on Wednesday sent e-mail updates to customers who purchased a 2009 Ultra High Relief Double Eagle Gold (UHR) coin. The e-mail expands on the Mint's shipment notice recently placed on its online store, and includes additional information such as return details.

The Mint has been under considerable heat from customers wondering when their coins will be shipped. The problem was compounded when the Mint sent out several notices with differing delivery dates. And of course, is worsened by a long delay between ordering and receiving.

To add to the Mint's woes, apparently some orders may have been shipped ahead of others. If reality, and the Mint has not verified the possibility, production problems with UHR companion books may account for the disparity.

Here is the Mint e-mail in its entirety: Read the rest of this numismatic news article »

Wednesday marked the conclusion of 2008-W American Eagle Gold coin sales from the US Mint. The last uncirculated 1/2 ounce version sold out in the morning, and just before gold coin prices increased.

The Mint decided last year that the half-ounce collector coin will not be minted again so it could shift its focus to, among other things, delivering annual collectible coins earlier in the year. Read the rest of this numismatic news article »

Coinworks has just sold the Proof 1923 Halfpenny for a world record price of $500,000. The only proof example of Australia's rarest halfpenny available to collectors, the iconic copper was quickly snapped up by a prominent Sydney family.

The family's story is not merely one of Australian history, but how a passion for collecting can comfortably co-exist with informed investment.

One member of the family spearheads the interest in rare coins, that interest commencing at the age of seven when the grandmother died, leaving a small tin of sovereigns. The grandmother's gift seeded a collecting spirit that endures to this day; the sovereigns still part of the family's holding.

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