Not all Noe deals involved criminals; indictment names unwitting partners
Toledo Blade - 02-17-2006
n its indictment of Tom Noe, a Lucas County grand jury identified a business network that it felt had participated in Mr. Noe's alleged crimes. It listed the obvious: Mr. Noe's main business in Monclova Township, the two coin funds he managed for the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation, and most of the funds' subsidiaries..

Coins fall from Brinks truck, blanket street in Doral
Sun Sentinel - 02-17-2006
DORAL -- A Brinks Security truck lost a load of coins Thursday afternoon as it was traveling on Northwest 41st Street in Doral, news aprtner NBC 6 reported. It's unclear how the money ended up falling from the truck, but Miami-Dade police officers closed the road and scrambled to pick up the loose coins..

Gold's worth endures through the ages
The Advocate - 02-17-2006
GUILFORD, Conn. -- Over the next week, the phrase "going for the gold" will play in your head over and over. Yes, Olympians are going for the gold. But who isn't these days? At about $570 an ounce, it's the highest since 1980, when it peaked at about $850 an ounce. .

Can Gold go any Higher?
NZCity - 02-17-2006
Along with the commodity boom, there has also been a gold price boom. Gold has spiked to a 23-year high as investors shun financial assets which are vulnerable to higher interest rates and inflation. - Oil, property, platinum are near historic highs. Gold is next, say some experts. Gold is a storehouse of value. It is an asset, unaffected by what ails the dollar and unlike fiat currencies cannot be printed..

Flip a coin for Jamestown
Daily Press - 02-17-2006
Two federal commissions debate the designs for two coins that could bring in millions of dollars for the 2007 commemoration. - American Indian leader Powhatan and English colonist Capt. John Smith could soon appear on special U.S. legal tender designed for collectors, just in time for the 400th anniversary of the first permanent English settlement in America..

2200-yr-old life in Bengal
The Telegraph - 02-18-2006
Calcutta, Feb. 18: Ten days into digging and two sites in Bengal’s South 24-Parganas district are yielding treasures far beyond the expectation of archaeologists. Two of the greatest finds brought here today for testing from the site at Dhosa and Tilpi in Joynagar, around 50 km away, are a seal and a brick with Brahmi inscriptions..

Three-way fight for world's biggest sunken treasure
The Independant - 02-18-2006
Three nations are fighting overthe world's greatest hoard of sunken treasure. More than 300 years after the warship HMS Sussex sank off Gibraltar carrying gold coins worth £2.4bn, Britain, Spain and the US are claiming the treasure..

Special Report: Fashion sets off a new gold rush
Sunday Times UK - 02-18-2006
Demand has soared while output stayed flat. Angus McCrone explains the driving forces behind the rise and rise of the precious metal - IN the classic 1964 James Bond film Goldfinger, the villain hatches a dastardly plan to corner the world bullion market..

Circulating Silver in Bolivia
NarcoSphere - 02-18-2006
Bolivia’s Wealth - Evo Morales has the opportunity to enrich his people; the citizens of Bolivia, and at the same time make the country a beacon of free enterprise and capitalism. What! Yep, in a course that he is very likely being advised to follow, he can place hard money in the hands of the citizenry from bottom to top. He can advocate the circulation of silver coins in the economy..

Gold coin dealer ripped me off, says pension
South Africa - IOL - 02-18-2006
When Corrie Nel, aged 64, received her pension money, she immediately thought about how to invest it for her children's future. She was enticed by an offer from a coin dealer for coins with a guaranteed minimum 10 percent increase upon resale in a year's time..

Rare La. coin cost $1.5M
Sun Herald - 02-18-2006
BATON ROUGE - A Louisiana businessman has purchased an extremely rare coin minted in 1844 New Orleans for $1.5 million. The coin is a Proof 65 1844-O $10 gold piece - probably made as a gift for someone of importance - and is listed in the "100 Greatest U.S. Coins" at No. 39..

The real gold price - Inflation adjusted gold
Gold Eagle - 02-18-2006
n my last PrudentSquirrel newsletter, I outlined to my subscribers in detail why gold is just not anywhere near a 'stage 2' bull market. The fact of the matter is, at about $560, gold is dirt cheap. The reason is that it has to be adjusted for inflation. There is very little being written about the price of gold adjusted for inflation..

ACCG supports privacy of collectors
ACCG - 02-18-2006
In conjunction with a private legal action in the State of California, The ACCG has issued a declaration of opposition to the release by eBay Inc. of customer names to a foreign government. - ACCG, on behalf of its constituency of ancient coin collectors has submitted a declaration of opposition to the release by eBay Inc. of customer names to an Italian law enforcement agency. .

FUN, paper market live up to expectations
Bank Note Reporter - 02-18-2006
As I write this I have just returned from the Florida United Numismatists show in sunny Orlando, which this year lived up to its reputation by offering six days of uninterrupted beautiful weather along with a coin and currency venue that lived up to everyone’s most optimistic pre-show desires..

NYINC a record-breaking show
World Coin News - 02-18-2006
The numbers tell the story of the success of the 2006 New York International Numismatic Convention, held Jan. 12-15 at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City: A 34.5-percent increase in attendance from the previous year..

Mint State 1871-CC Dime to be Offered by Heritage!
Press Release - 02-19-2006
Dallas, Texas: Although the Carson City Mint produced gold and silver coinage for only a few short years, between 1870 and 1893, it is one of the most storied Mints in numismatic history. "The story of the Carson City Mint is the story of the Old West," said Greg Rohan, President of Heritage Auction Galleries. "When one sees that 'CC' mint mark - the only dual character mint mark in U.S. history - it conjures up romantic imagery of cowboys and prospectors and the men and women that tamed the vast expanse West of the Mississippi.".

North' Korea Counterfeiting
Korea Times - 02-19-2006
Kim Jong-il's Eldest Son Seen as Main Culprit - The dispute between Pyongyang and Washington over the North’s alleged counterfeiting of U.S. banknotes has developed a new twist with a report that Kim Jong-il’s eldest son was responsible for distributing fake American bills in Macau. The revelation, made by an official at the nation’s spy agency on Sunday on condition of anonymity, is expected to further drive North Korea into a corner in its confrontation with the United States over its counterfeiting of mostly $100 U.S. notes.

Planners seek $100 million for Lincoln bicentennial
State Journal Register - 02-19-2006
WASHINGTON - Planners of the bicentennial celebration of Abraham Lincoln’s birth in 2009 want to raise $100 million for what they hope will be an unforgettable commemoration of the nation’s 16th president that will go far beyond fireworks at the Lincoln Memorial..

Making sense out cents: American coins can cause confusion
Gainsville.com - 02-19-2006
In the eight months she has been in the United States, Kim Salil Gokhale of India says, she has learned a lot about its people and culture. One thing that has perplexed her about a country "so advanced and people-friendly," however, is its not-so-friendly monetary system. Specifically its coins. .

Pre-1800 half cents often valuable even in poor condition
Columbus Dispatch - 02-19-2006
I have a pair of half-cent pieces. One is dated 1794, the other 1806 — the same date as the one mentioned Jan. 15 in The Dispatch. Both were found on my farm while scouring the fields for Indian relics. Consequently, they aren’t in the best of condition after being exposed to the elements for so many .

Dates set for Nebraska quarter
Numismatic News - 02-19-2006
Dates and locations have been set for the first-strike ceremony and the official launch of the Nebraska state quarter. The first striking is scheduled to take place March 13 at the Denver Mint. At press time, no more information was available regarding the event..

For Hawai'i's quarter, best design is no design
Honolulu Advertiser - 02-19-2006
We should learn from the mistakes of other states — California, with the messy mix of a little hiker man, a bird and some rocks; Tennessee, with a trio of musicianless musical instruments; Wisconsin and their uninterested cow. Just leave the back blank already. Nevada's quarter is a good example of how it's impossible to come up with a 1-inch design to symbolize the history and culture of a state. The U.S. Mint Web site has this description: .

Huntoon tops CPMX events
Bank Note Reporter - 02-19-2006
Researcher and author Peter Huntoon will give three public talks on National Bank Notes and related topics to highlight activities at the 12th annual Chicago Paper Money Expo March 9-12 at the Crowne Plaza Chicago O’Hare in Rosemont, Ill. The first will be at 1 p.m. on March 10. It is called, “$5 Brown Back Title Layouts.” .

Bills Soar in Value When Misprinted
Korea Times - 02-19-2006
Kim Yong-sam, a teenager in Seoul, found there was something wrong with the new 5,000 won bill he got from a relative on lunar New Year’s Day: It didn’t have the hologram that the new note is supposed to carry to prevent counterfeiting. Yet, Kim doesn’t have to be disappointed. The bill might bring him millions of won if put up for auction..

De La Rue sees profit well ahead of last year
Reuters UK - 02-19-2006
LONDON (Reuters) - Bank-note printer De La Rue (DLAR.L: Quote, Profile, Research) said on Thursday its trading had been strong since its half-year results and it expected full-year underlying profits to be significantly ahead of last year. De La Rue, the world's biggest non-government printer of banknotes.

SA gold-output slump raises concern
Mining Weekly - 02-19-2006
The marriage between gold-mining in South Africa and delirious profit taking is long past the honeymoon phase. Since the golden years of the 1960s and 1970s, the marriage between the two has been in steady decline..

Money matters
Mumbai Newsline - 02-19-2006
Some coins minted during the reign of Emperor Jehangir were so small, people used trays with holes to sort and count them. Intrigued? There’s a lot more trivia up for grabs at the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Monetary Museum at Fort—the only such museum in the country. .

North Korean counterfeits prompt new $100 bill
UPI - 02-20-2006
WASHINGTON -- Concerned about reports of North Korea counterfeiting U.S. currency the Treasury Department says it will introduce new $100 bills in 2007. The Treasury Department's announcement -- in the president's 2007 budget request released last week -- follows the 2003 redesign of the $20 bill, the 2004 reworking of $50 notes and the issuing of new $10 bills last year. .

Government plans new coins to commemorate religious anniversary
Lanka Buisiness On-line - 02-21-2006
Sri Lanka's Central Bank is preparing to issue two new coins commemorating the 2550th 'Bhuddha Jayanthi', a top official of the Religious Affairs Ministry said Tuesday. The ministry of religious affairs says one coin would be high value commemorative coin while the other would be released into circulation. .

Time capsule brings 1845 church to life
- 02-21-2006
A chance discovery in the foundations of a forgotten building has delighted archaeologists in Hull. Alexandra Wood takes a glimpse into history. IT was the city's finest Victorian church, with a spire that dominated the skyline and was visible to thousands of train passengers arriving every day at Hull's Paragon station, who would set their watches by its clock..

Widespread market values race higher, faster
Coin Values - 02-21-2006
he recent auctions before the February Long Beach Coin, Stamp & Collectibles Expo, the official Long Beach Expo auction and the show itself, conducted in California, were excellent indicators of the current across-the-board market. Firsthand observations at the auction sessions revealed dealers, right along with collectors, routinely paying full Coin Values retail prices to acquire the coins they wanted. Prices are still advancing solidly in virtually all areas of the coin market. This means that buyers must pay ahead of the market, or higher than published values, in order to make purchases, or they'll go home with nothing new. .

Azerbaijan re-denominates national currency
RIA Novosti - 02-21-2006
MOSCOW, February 20 (RIA Novosti) - Azerbaijan re-denominated its national currency, the manat, the press office of the Central Bank of Russia said Monday, referring to a statement made by the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Russia on February 15. The new manat is worth 5,000 old manats. The new currency consists of 1-, 5-, 10-, 20-, 50- and 100-manat banknotes and coins of lesser denomination, the bank said. .

Governor Seeks Input On Design of Hawaii State Quarter
KHNL - 02-21-2006
There's good news for coin collectors. The final state quarter representing Hawaii will soon be minted and you can have a say in how this special quarter will be designed. The Hawaii Commemorative Quarter Commision will work to get a coin that s just 'money'..

RBI is minting money in crores
Ecomomic Times - 02-21-2006
MUMBAI: Mints are on an overdrive, spewing out coins like never before. In December ’05, coins worth around Rs 1,100 crore rolled out of the state-owned mints. This is a curiously high figure — more than twice the amount that mints produce in a year. A quick look at the past numbers shows that the value of coins churned out in December is the highest in recent years. .

Forgery is ancient!
Hindustan Times - 02-21-2006
“Forgery in epigraphic records is not a modern development, it existed in ancient India also”, said former Director of Indian Museum (Kolkata), Dr. Shyamalkanti Chakravarti, here on Monday. “One full chapter of Kautilya’s ‘Arthashastra’ is dedicated to the checking of coins by the authorities from time to time and the punishments for such crimes are also prescribed.

Turkmen ruler coins lasting memento for 66th birthday
Guardian - 02-21-2006
The despotic president of Turkmenistan, known as Turkmenbashi, has celebrated his 66th birthday by creating a new set of gold and silver coins in honour of poetry he has written. Last year, to celebrate his 65th birthday, Saparmurat Niyazov issued coins featuring his family tree. This year, it was the turn of four collections of poetry and two volumes of his Book of the Soul, known as the Rukhnama..

Gold May Make Another Run At $570 This Year
Yahoo News - 02-21-2006
TOKYO (Dow Jones)--Japanese athletes competing in Turin, Italy, have yet to strike Olympic gold, but an increasing number of Japanese investors have been buying up the metal - just one factor that may push the bullion price back over $570 later this year, said an official with Japan's largest gold producer. "When there is a steep price rise like we have seen, there is usually a good correction. Just when that correction will be is hard to tell," said Toru Nakasatomi, the general manager of the Precious Metals Department at Sumitomo Metal Mining Co. (5713.TO). .

Red Book now 60 years old
Numismatic News - 02-21-2006
Having first appeared in 1946, with the inaugural edition of R.S. Yeoman’s A Guide Book of United States Coins, the Red Book is turning 60. This April, at the American Numismatic Association National Money Show in Atlanta, Whitman Publishing will release the 60th-anniversary edition of the hobby guide..

Smythe coin auction March 7
Numismatic News - 02-21-2006
Highlighted by a 1907 Saint Gaudens $20 gold piece, Smythe’s Winter Coin Auction will be held March 7 at Smythe’s auction gallery in New York City. The Saint Gaudens piece is graded Choice Brilliant Uncirculated by the cataloger. It’s the same grade given to a 1795 Flowing Hair dollar in the sale. .

Central Bank presents new RD$10, RD$25 coins
Dominican Today - 02-21-2006
Santo Domingo.- The Central Bank presented the new RD$10 and RD$25 coins that it will officially circulate during the upcoming days. Hector Valdez Albizu explained that with this decision, the Monetary Board seeks to improve exchange and to promote a reduction in costs of generating currrency. .

Pan-Pac tops Heritage sale
Numismatic News - 02-21-2006
Selling for $92,000, a 1915-S Panama-Pacific octagonal $50 gold piece in Professional Coin Grading Service MS-64 condition, helped Heritage Auction Galleries eclipse $10 million in sales at the firm’s 2006 Long Beach Signature Auction Feb. 9-11..

'Rupee magic' row erupts in India
BBC - 02-21-2006
A magic trick by an Indian politician involving the perceived burning of a banknote has sparked controversy. K Keshav Rao of the Congress party performed the trick with a 100-rupee note at a gathering of magicians in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh. .

British Museum buys gold penny
World Coin News - 02-21-2006
The 15-month odyssey of the most expensive British coin ended Feb. 7 with the announcement that the British Museum will pay Minnesota dealer Allan Davisson £357,832 (U.S.$633,000) for the coin. Davisson originally paid U.S. $409,000 on Oct. 6, 2004, for the Anglo-Saxon Coenwulf gold penny, which was a record at the time for a British coin..

GOLD & SILVER: EXPLOSION AHEAD
Financial Sense - 02-21-2006
When the gold price hit his all-time-low of $252,50 on 25. August 1999, the price jumped explosively on the 20. September from $254,50 to $327,50 on the 5th of October. Many saw the 20-year bear market of the gold price as being finished, however, the price went into a down-trend for another 20 months. On the 20. February and 1. April 2001the gold price marked a double bottom at $255, where after the new up-trend began. .

Nepal Commemorative coin issued
Nepal Rastra Bank - 02-21-2006
KATHMANDU, Feb. 19: A 'Silver Jubilee' coin has been brought into use from today on the occasion of the silver jubilee of the World Hindu Federation and the the 56th auspicious birthday of Her Majesty Queen Komal Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah. The coin minted by Nepal Rastra Bank, Department of Mint, is of Rs. 25 denomination. .

Market conditions react to money in jeans
Numismatic News - 02-21-2006
Are you as optimistic about the hobby as I am? I am an optimist by nature. Sure, as an editor, I can also be cynical, but sooner or later my native optimism wins. Economic optimism seems ready to pop out all over. I hear employment ads on local radio stations. I watch employment ads on local television. As I drive around Iola and surrounding communities, I see help wanted signs in windows..

New coin set just out
Times of Malta - 02-22-2006
The Central Bank has issued a new decimal coin set dated 2006. The set consists of the seven current Maltese coins of the Second Series (Lm1, 50c, 25c, 10c, 5c, 2c and 1c) together with a three mils coin of the First Series. The coins were struck at the Royal Mint, UK and are being sold in an attractive wallet..

Audit reveals $13.6 million missing from coin fund
Columbus Dispatch - 02-22-2006
Coin dealer Thomas W. Noe used state money for work on his homes in Florida and Ohio, appliances, golf outings and other personal items and covered up the improper expenditures through phantom transactions, according to a new state report released today. In all, $13.6 million is missing from the $50 million rare-coin investment that Noe managed for the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation from 1998-2005, Auditor Betty D. Montgomery concluded in a special audit..

BOK to Sell ‘Siamese’ W10,000 Bills for Good Cause
Digital Chosunilbo - 02-22-2006
he Bank of Korea will sell twin W10,000 banknotes joined at the sides as a collector’s item. A limited edition of 100,000 Siamese bills will be available at W26,300 (US$27) each including face value and postage. The banknotes are available at the Bank of Korea Museum’s souvenir shop or can be ordered online at www.seowonbok.co.kr..

Royal Canadian Mint to take another shot at making troublesome coloured coins
Canada.com - 02-22-2006
OTTAWA (CP) - The Royal Canadian Mint is planning another foray into the troublesome - and sometimes controversial - business of producing coloured coins for general circulation. The last time the mint added a splash of colour to a circulating coin, numerous technical glitches plagued the production runs and its president was hauled before a House of Commons committee. .