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Showing posts from October, 2017

Congressmen press the U.S Mint for action on counterfeit gold and silver coins

Washington, DC (October 29, 2017) — Congressmen Alex Mooney (R-WV) and Frank Lucas (R-OK) delivered a formal letter to the United States Mint and the Secret Service on Friday, urging aggressive action on the growing problem of high-quality counterfeits of U.S. precious-metals coins entering the country from China and elsewhere. “Enclosed herewith is a 1995 1-ounce gold American eagle coin, carrying a face value $50 and ostensibly minted by the U.S. Mint,” Mooney and Lucas wrote. “You are free to keep it, as it’s a worthless tungsten fake.” As members of the House Financial Services subcommittee, which oversees the U.S. Mint, Congressmen Mooney and Lucas are seeking information from the government institution responsible for the production of coinage for the United States, such as “the nature and quantity of complaints — and resulting investigations — regarding counterfeit U.S. gold, silver, and platinum coins within the last two years,” and “what anti-counterfeiting programs, if any

Filipino veterans of World War II receive Congressional Gold Medal

WASHINGTON – Filipino veterans of World War II received a Congressional Gold Medal today during a ceremony in Emancipation Hall of the U.S. Capitol.  It was awarded collectively to those who served honorably in an active-duty status between July 26, 1941, and December 31, 1946, under the command of the United States Army Forces in the Far East (USAFFE) within the Philippine Commonwealth Army, the Philippine Scouts, the Philippine Constabulary, recognized guerrilla units, the New Philippine Scouts, the First Filipino Infantry Regiment, the Second Filipino Infantry Battalion (Separate), or the First Reconnaissance Battalion, including those commanding or serving as U.S. military officers or enlisted soldiers. Filipino, Filipino-American, and American soldiers defended U.S. sovereign territory under USAFFE command after President Roosevelt’s call-to-arms in July 1941 to address rising tensions with Japan in the Pacific. Their valiant service was an integral part of the Allied victory ov

United States Mint Unveils Designs for Breast Cancer Awareness Commemorative Coins

NEW YORK – The United States Mint today unveiled the winning designs in the Breast Cancer Awareness Commemorative Coin Design Competition. The event took place at the Breast Cancer Research Foundation’s headquarters in New York. The designs were created by Emily Damstra, a member of the United States Mint’s Artistic Infusion Program, and will be featured on a clad coin, a silver coin, and the nation’s first-ever pink-hued gold coin. The three-coin program is authorized by Public Law 114-148, the Breast Cancer Awareness Commemorative Coin Act, in recognition of America’s fight against breast cancer. Hover to zoom. Damstra’s common obverse design features two women. The older woman has her hands on her chest and a relieved expression on her face. The younger woman, with a scarf on her head, holds one hand over her chest and the other raised in a fist as if she is ready to fight. A butterfly flies above the two women. Inscriptions are LIBERTY , 2018 , and IN GOD WE TRUST . United St

Gadoury sale features rare gold

Collectors of world gold will likely want to get their hands on the latest catalog from the Monaco auction house of Éditions V. Gadoury. While 1,384 gold lots will dominate the Dec. 2 Prestige Sale, other coins will also be offered. Together, these span the globe and range from ancients to a modern $10,000 Australian issue. Rarities are commonplace. In brief, the sale includes: 150 Greek, Roman, Byzantine and Celtic ancients; 500 lots from France, commencing with a 9th century issue of Charles the Bald; 200 lots from Italy; 90 lots from Russia; and 60 lots from the United States, plus more than 1,200 other world coins and medals ranging from Afghanistan to Zaire. Among the ancients, a superb aureus of Commodus struck in Rome is sure to attract attention. On the reverse, Castor leads a high-stepping horse. The estimate is €25,000. Its desirability may be challenged by an aureus of Pertinax in EF that carries a €30,000 estimate. Several French rarities are led by a pattern 100 francs

Action against counterfeiting sorely needed

Just how bad is the counterfeiting problem in the U.S. coin and bullion industry? We just don’t know. That is part of our current problem. We know it is bad enough that the Industry Council for Tangible Assets created a special task force at the beginning of the year. We know that David J. Ryder, the nominee to be U.S. Mint director, was asked about it at his Senate confirmation hearing Oct. 24. We know it is bad enough that two members of Congress wrote a joint letter Oct. 27 to the current head of the U.S. Mint, Acting Principal Deputy Director David Motl, and to Randolf D. Alles, director of the Secret Service. The questions posed by Rep. Alex X. Mooney and Rep. Frank Lucas in the letter are revealing. The letter first off says it is accompanying a tungsten fake one-ounce American Eagle gold coin dated 1995. It notes that the Secret Service is not inclined to investigate such fake American Eagles. So it asks for information regarding: “1. The nature and quantity of complai

Scary collectible for Halloween

The Royal Canadian Mint has created two unique coins they call “Nocturnal by Nature” that would fit the theme of Halloween. What makes them interesting is that the fields and some of the devices are plated with black rhodium to create a darkened look. The first coin’s reverse, which is sold out, features a barn […]

Newly discovered 1934 FRN tops offerings

A newly discovered Dallas 1934 $5,000 Federal Reserve Note is sure to star in the Nov. 9 sale by Stack’s Bowers Galleries. The Fr. 2221-K, in PCGS Very Fine 35, is expected to bring between $70,000 and $90,000 as part of the firm’s Official Auction for the Whitman Coin & Collectibles Expo at the Baltimore Convention Center. This Fr. 2221-K 1934 $5,000 FRN, in PCGS VF-35, should draw top honors. The print run for this note was 2,400. “This banknote features the serial number K00000085A, which is a number new to census information,” according to the lot description. It has “excellent margins and terrific centering appeal as top priority qualities among collectors. Both the face and back impressions are registered nearly perfectly and give the picture frame appearance which is so actively sought.” Thought to be worth $60,000 to $80,000 is a Philadelphia District 1918 $1,000 Federal Reserve Note described as “A highlight within this session and a newly discovered serial number wh

Perth Mint Introduces Australian 1oz Gold Swan Bullion Coin

The Perth Mint of Australia introduced a bullion product this month, the 2017 $100 Australian 1oz Gold Swan Coin. The new bullion coin arrives on the heels of the inaugural silver edition which... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

Congressmen press the U.S Mint for action on counterfeit gold and silver coins

Washington, DC (October 29, 2017) — Congressmen Alex Mooney (R-WV) and Frank Lucas (R-OK) delivered a formal letter to the United States Mint and the Secret Service on Friday, urging aggressive action on the growing problem of high-quality counterfeits of U.S. precious-metals coins entering the country from China and elsewhere. “Enclosed herewith is a 1995 1-ounce gold American eagle coin, carrying a face value $50 and ostensibly minted by the U.S. Mint,” Mooney and Lucas wrote. “You are free to keep it, as it’s a worthless tungsten fake.” As members of the House Financial Services subcommittee, which oversees the U.S. Mint, Congressmen Mooney and Lucas are seeking information from the government institution responsible for the production of coinage for the United States, such as “the nature and quantity of complaints — and resulting investigations — regarding counterfeit U.S. gold, silver, and platinum coins within the last two years,” and “what anti-counterfeiting programs, if any