Last Mary Todd Lincoln First Spouse Gold Coin Sells Out
Last week the United States Mint stopped selling the 24-karat proof version of the Mary Todd Lincoln First Spouse Gold Coin. Sales were scheduled to continue until December 1, 2011, but the Mint apparently sold the entire inventory. The coin's information page, similar to the uncirculated version some time ago, is now located on the "No Longer Available'" area of the bureau's website.
The United States Mint began selling both the proof and the uncirculated versions on December 2, 2010. Their original published mintage limit was set at 20,000 across both options, with the ratio determined on buying trends of customers [...]
In The Lead – The Euro Pit and the Chinese Pendulum
Gold staged an attempted recovery this morning following Thursday's washout in prices that brought it to within striking distance of the pivotal $1,700 level. As things stood early this morning, the yellow metal was on course to record its largest weekly decline in circa two months' time. Ironically, the vast majority of participants in various weekly price surveys were bullish on bullion's prospects for this week last Friday.
However, this week's near total eurozone meltdown and erosion in the common currency derailed the bullish track for precious metals and ended up bolstering the dollar instead. The greenback [...]
Gold Falls 3%, Silver Prices Tumble 6.9%
Gold tumbled 3.0 percent Thursday, its biggest single day loss in nearly two months. Other metals dived further, however, as silver prices sank 6.9 percent and palladium plummeted 7.8 percent. Platinum's percentage loss was near gold at 3.1
"Apparent liquidation from fear of possible contagion from the European crisis has commodities, including gold, under continued pressure," Miguel Perez-Santalla, a sales vice president at Heraeus Precious Metals Management in New York, said in telephone interview that was cited on Bloomberg. "This is a big collapse."
Gold prices fell $54.10 to $1,720.20 an ounce in the December futures contract on the Comex in [...]
James Garfield Presidential $1 Coin Released, Rolls on Sale
Another new $1 coin was released into circulation today, November 17, 2011. This one honors James A. Garfield, the 20th President. In addition, the United States Mint's launch of the James Garfield Presidential dollar rolls began at noon Eastern Time.
U.S. Mint-wrapped $25 Garfield Presidential rolls are $39.95 each, plus $4.95 for shipping and handling. Buyers have the choice of dollars struck at either Denver or Philadelphia. Information for each is available at the Mint's online store located at http://www.usmint.gov/catalog [...]
US Mint Sales: American Eagle Proof Coins Outperform
Buying activity eased a bit for United States Mint numismatic products. The latest Mint sales figures show that 35 products outperformed their previous weekly gains as compared to the 53 noted just one report earlier.
Collectors did focus more of their attention on American Eagle gold and silver proof coins. All of the individually sold Eagles were among the Mint's overachievers, albeit in a mostly modest way. American Silver Eagle proof coins actually led all numismatic product sales with a weekly spurt of 18,011 versus the prior 17,701 [...]
Gold Declines on Dollar Strength and Easing Inflation
Strength in the U.S. dollar again curbed the appeal of bullion as investors chose the greenback over the traditional safe-haven of gold. Declining U.S. inflation was also bearish for the yellow metal.
"Cautionary selling in gold continued after more euro zone headlines negatively affected the outlook for economic recovery and reform there. More portfolio managers are opting for cash and not entering into any risk," Reuters quoted George Gero, vice president of RBC Capital Markets.
Gold prices declined $7.90, or 0.4 percent, to $1,774.30 an ounce in the December futures contract [...]
BEP Releases $1 Year of the Dragon Note
The Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) on Wednesday, November 16, released a new $1 Year of the Dragon Note.
The banknote is the latest BEP product within its Lucky Money Collection which features uncirculated notes in denominations that capture the "significance of the numbers '8888' and '168', as well as the Zodiac celebrated for the specific Lunar Year."
Each of the dollar bills has a serial number beginning with "8888." [...]
Final Days for Zachary Taylor Presidential Dollar Rolls
Buyers have until the end of this week to purchase Zachary Taylor Presidential dollar rolls directly from the United States Mint. As previously described in a last opportunity announcement involving several products, the Mint will stop selling the rolls on Friday, November 18, at 12:00 noon ET.
Zachary Taylor Presidential dollars were released within rolls by the United States Mint way back on November 19, 2009 -- the same day they entered circulation via Federal Reserve Banks. Buyers then had an option to purchase Philadelphia or Denver minted [...]
In The Lead – Achoo! I think I’m coming down with...
Albeit bullion appears to remain confined to the $1,750-$1,800 value zone the possibility of sharp moves in either direction is on the rise given the apparent increase in the number and decibel level of various market alarms that are ringing this morning.
The head-scratcher of the day/week/month is what gold is doing under the $1,900 or even the $1,800 levels with the crisis in Europe undergoing its most intense phase and with the Old World facing what Angela Merkel has called its "biggest challenge since WWII." Hint: look no further perhaps than them dollar bills in your pocket, as they now remain the "lesser of all evils" for some -- make that: for many [...]
Gold Edges Higher, Silver Gains 1.3%
Gold edged higher Tuesday as its safe-haven appeal won out over a stronger U.S. dollar. Gold prices rose $3.80, or 0.2 percent, to $1,782.20 an ounce in the December futures contract on the Comex in New York. Gold ranged from an intraday low of $1,760.90 to a high of $1,787.80. The yellow metal retreated $9.70 on Monday.
"We do see very active physical and safe-haven buying on dips. Even though we do see pressure from a stronger dollar, dips are seen as buying opportunity and key support levels have held," Reuters quoted David Meger, director of metals trading of futures broker Vision Financial Markets.
Silver prices for December delivery advanced [...]
