By: Silver Institute

Unprecedented investor demand has caused a market shortage for American Eagle Silver Bullion Coins, and the Silver Institute has called on the U.S. Mint to take immediate steps to increase production of this popular physical precious metal investment vehicle.

Today, the Silver Institute has written to the Director of the U.S. Mint expressing its concern over published reports that the coins are essentially being rationed to thirteen authorized dealers, reflecting a major kink in the supply chain, thereby making it difficult in many cases for consumers to purchase them. Silver Institute Executive Director Michael DiRienzo said, “It’s clear that the Mint misjudged the strength of the current silver market, and we are encouraging the Mint to take immediate steps to increase its production of these popular investment coins and plan accordingly for the balance of 2008 and for 2009. The trend line is clear, silver investment is on the rise, so the Mint should position itself to take advantage of this market momentum.”

Congressionally authorized American Eagle Silver Bullion Coins provide investors with a convenient and cost-effective way to add physical silver to their investment portfolios. Since their launch in 1986, American Eagles have become a leading silver bullion coin investment product and have produced over 165 million one-ounce coins, with 9.8 million sold in 2007, and already over 7.2 million have been sold in just the first 5 months of 2008.

Understanding that demand for the extremely popular coins is strong, the Silver Institute is urging the Director of the U.S. Mint to consider methods for streamlining the silver Eagles’ production process.

“We are very concerned about interruptions in this market and have requested a meeting with the Mint Director to seek stability for this important silver coinage program,” DiRienzo added.

A copy of the letter from the Silver Institute to the U.S. Mint can be viewed at http://www.silverinstitute.org/news/DirectorMoyMay29.pdf. (more…)

Are you yearning to see the panoramic vistas of the Grand Canyon but cannot make the trip? Do the next best thing and get shiny new Arizona commemorative quarter-dollar coins, available in bags and rolls beginning June 2 at 12 noon (ET). Customers may order as many of these options as they like. There is no order limit.

The Arizona quarter is the 48th coin in the United States Mint’s 50 State Quarters® Program. The coin’s reverse features an image of the Grand Canyon with a Saguaro cactus in the foreground. A banner reading “Grand Canyon State” separates the two images to signify that the Saguaro cactus does not grow in the Grand Canyon. The coin also bears the inscriptions “Arizona” and “1912.”

The coins contained in the bags and rolls were struck at United States Mint facilities at Denver and Philadelphia for use in general circulation. The two-roll sets, offered at $32.95, include one roll each of 40 coins bearing the “D” and “P” mintmarks. The coins are wrapped in distinctive packaging bearing the 50 State Quarters logo, the mint of origin, the official state abbreviation and the dollar value of the contents. The 100- and 1,000-coin bags are offered at $32.95 and $309.95, respectively. Each canvas bag has a tag with the mint of origin and the state abbreviation. (more…)

Tampa, FL - May 29, 2008 - Odyssey Marine Exploration, Inc. (NasdaqCM: OMEX), the world leader in the field of deep-ocean shipwreck exploration, today filed Admiralty Arrest Complaints in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida on two separate shipwreck sites recently discovered by the Company.

Both sites lie within the general area of the English Channel but are outside the territorial waters or contiguous zone of any sovereign nation. The sites both contain cannon and other artifacts which are believed to date from the Colonial period. Odyssey has conducted preliminary surveys but has not yet been able to confirm the identity of either site. The Company’s archaeological and conservation teams are currently developing archaeological excavation and conservation plans for both sites.

As with other shipwreck sites that the Company discovers, if either site can be identified, any potential claimants will be notified through appropriate private or public notices.

Odyssey’s core business is shipwreck exploration and archaeological excavation, so filing arrests on shipwreck sites to protect the Company’s legal interests occurs in the normal course of business. For security reasons, no additional information about these sites is being released at this time.

By Bank Note Reporter

In a June online auction and a July 11 public auction, Downies will be conducting sales of current Australian 2007-dated bank notes, the latest to be issued by the Reserve Bank of Australia. The auction follows the success of last year’s sale of 2006-dated bank notes.

In 2007, the Reserve Bank ceased its sales arrangement with the Royal Australian Mint in favor of selling first and last prefix bank notes via an annual auction. Consequently, Downies public auction of July 11 and Internet auction from June 18-25 July now provide the only opportunities for collectors and dealers to obtain uncirculated 2007 bank notes direct from the RBA.

The notes will consist of the first and last prefix bank notes dated 2007, e.g., $10 AA07 and GL07, respectively. A major attraction for collectors is that these will bear the new signature combination, Stevens/Henry.

At the July 11 sale these first and last prefixes will include special serial number combinations and complete sets of four notes - $5, $10, $20, $50 - in which the last four serial digits match. The special serials include radar and solid numbers. The bank note sets come as singles, consecutive pairs, trios, quartets, quintets and decades.

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