Wizard Coin Supply, a global provider of coin supplies and coin collecting accessories, is proud to announce the launch of its New Book Advisory. The Advisory is a free service where subscribers are made aware through periodic email notices of newly released coin books as they are added to Wizard’s inventory. The Advisory is available as an option as a seamless part of the user registration process on Wizard’s website.

“At Wizard, we are determined to be the number one retailer of current release numismatic books,” says Lady Karin Herndon (Wizard eschews traditional titles in favor of thematic ones). “Our new Advisory service, along with our broad selection and deeply discounted price structure, make Wizard the best choice for buyers of coin, currency and related hobby books.”

“The Advisory is the perfect response to feedback we’ve received from our customers looking for an effortless way to keep track of the many new books that are released each year,” adds Wizard’s Fair Maiden Traci Poole. “There are no membership cards to return and no minimum number of books to purchase.”

Wizard currently offers nearly 300 coin book titles and is actively seeking to grow this list, giving Wizard the broadest selection of any in-print numismatic book and supply dealer in the industry. “Wizard’s inventory goes beyond the popular, name brand publisher titles carried by our competitors to also include less well known books from smaller publishers and self-publishing authors. While our focus is primarily on bringing our customers in-print books at the best possible price, we also stock out-of-print books when we can obtain mint copies in quantity,” says Sir Wayne Herndon who handles product selection for Wizard. (more…)

Record gas prices and climbing food costs combined with the eroding the value of the dollar, have pushed the American Silver Eagle $1 bullion coin to more than $20.

Demand for the Silver Eagle, which is one ounce of 99 percent-pure silver, has become such a popular option for investors that the U.S. Mint can’t keep up with demand and has limited sales.

The mint has already sold about 7.6 million of the ASE coins in the first quarter of 2008 alone. Typically the annual mintage is between 8 million and 9 million coins per year.

“I think the 2008 Silver Eagles aren’t going to be scarce, they’re just going to be expensive because everyone wants one,” said one bullion dealer.

Despite the large number of silver coins in the market, the mint, a bureau of the U.S. Treasury, sent a memo to dealers last month stating that it would limit allocations to distributors.

The letter said: “The unprecedented demand for American Eagle Silver Bullion Coins necessitates our allocating these coins on a weekly basis until we are able to meet demand.”

Silver closed Wednesday down 45 cents to $17.38 per ounce on the New York Mercantile Exchange. But prices have doubled in three years and a case of 500 coins now sells for close to $10,000.

The mint has authorized only 13 buyers worldwide who can directly purchase the coins. The mint charges the going price of silver, plus a small premium, to this select number of brokerage companies, wholesalers, precious-metals firms, coin dealers and banks. One of those buyers, Coins ‘N Things Inc. in Bridgewater, Mass., said it has seen demand double compared to last year. (more…)

By Doug Winter - www.raregoldcoins.com

When the Immovable Object met the Irrestible Force in the Battle of the 1878-CC Half Eagle who won? Read today’s blog to see what happened when two won’t-be-denied collectors jousted over a rare coin and (maybe) failed to do their due diligence.

The 1878-CC half eagle is one of my favorite issues. It is among the scarcest gold coins struck at the Carson City mint. There are an estimated 75 or so known in all grades with the majority in the Fine to Very Fine range. It is clearly a rare date in Extremely Fine and it is very rare in About Uncirculated with probably no more than ten to twelve accurately graded examples currently known. In the higher AU grades it is extremely rare and I know of no more than three or so true AU58’s.

So this means that when a nice example of the 1878-CC half eagle becomes available, it sends off shock waves in the Carson City gold collecting community. This is exactly what happened back in May of 2007 when a really nice PCGS AU58 was offered as Lot 2303 in Heritage’s Platinum Night session of the Central States auction.

After strong floor bidding, the coin in question brought $41,400 to a phone bidder. I can remember sitting in the audience at the time of the sale and thinking, “hmmm…that sure seems like a strong price for an 1878-CC half eagle.” My thinking, at the time, was that the coin was worth around $32,500 to $35,000 and maybe, at a stretch, it might bring as much as $37,500.

A lot has happened in the Carson City gold market since then, it appears. There are now a couple of new collectors who are very strong buyers, especially if a coin is in a PCGS holder and either the finest graded or close to it. This has meant some very strong prices for appropriate coins in the last year or two. (more…)

Gold and silver coins featuring the late Sir Edmund Hillary against a backdrop of Mount Everest were released in New Zealand on Thursday, the 55th anniversary of his historic ascent of the world’s highest peak with Sherpa Tenzing Norgay.

New Zealand Post, which issued the commemorative coins, said part of the proceeds of their sale would go to the Himalayan Trust that Hillary established for the Sherpa people of Nepal.

One of New Zealand’s best loved national heroes, Sir Edmund Hillary’s life was filled with many great achievements that earned him worldwide fame.

The first man to conquer Mount Everest in 1953, Sir Edmund Hillary went on to devote much of his life to improving those of others, especially the people of his beloved Nepal.

Following his passing in January 2008, and with the exclusive support of Sir Edmund Hillary’s family, this very special New Zealand coin release pays tribute to this extraordinary but humble man who will be remembered for ever. (more…)