As CoinLink reported on September 19th, NGC had Certified a Unique Russian 1755 Pattern 20 Rouble. That same coin is going to be sold in London Next month. Below is an article written in the Wealth Bulletin previewing that sale.

“The coin world’s answer to Damien Hirst’s art sale at Sotheby’s is set to take place on November 6, when a rare 1755 Russian 20-rouble gold coin goes up for auction at London’s Cavendish Hotel.

The coin was once owned by Grand Duke Georgii Mikhailovich, a 19th century member of the Russian royal family. It is being sold by St James’s Auctions, in association with coin dealer AH Baldwin & Sons.

Baldwin managing director Ian Goldbart said he expects the item to beat the record price for a non-US coin, currently held by a Polish 100 ducat, which fetched $1.48m early this year.

Goldbart said that the soaring price of precious metals is a factor behind a surge in demand for gold coins this year, on the back of growing demand for bullion. The price of gold, currently $879 an ounce has soared following the collapse of investment bank Lehman.

Gold exchange-traded funds have enjoyed record demand, although discriminating wealthy investors, nervous of the covenant of banking custodians, are increasingly keen to put bullion in their own vaults.

But Goldbart said that the key factor behind demand for coins was their scarcity: “Coins of the quality of the Russian 20-rouble almost never become available,” he said. “The coin last changed hands in 1950.” He said rare coins have only recently started to rise in value, adding: “Unlike Hirst’s art, they aren’t increasing in number.”

No reserve price is being quoted for the 20-rouble coin, but Goldbart said it could fetch between $2m and $3m, due to the item’s rarity.”

Get Government Out of Coin Manufacture
By George Selgin, Numismatic News
Coin dealers and collectors are still reeling from the U.S. Mint’s announcement that it had run out of American Eagle gold coins. But what ought to surprise every American isn’t that a government agency came up short. It’s that the U.S. government should be making little metal discs at all. Coin shortages are nothing new. A few months before running out of gold Eagles, the U.S. Mint had to ration silver Eagles. Not long before that, pennies were in very short supply.
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Bank of Latvia releases new ten-lat bills
Baltic Course
Starting October 1 2008, the Bank of Latvia will release new ten-lat bills with improved security features, LETA learned from the Bank of Latvia. According to the Bank of Latvia press secretary Martins Gravitis, the Bank of Latvia supplements the coin and bill stocks to meet the demand for the respective coins and bills, and each time it happens the new bills and coins have improved security.
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Romania Coins Issued Fitfully Under Reign of Carol
By Bob Reis, World Coin News
The Russian claim to be the “protector” of Orthodox Christians in the Ottoman empire was promulgated in the mid-19th century as a pretext for acquisition of territory on Russia’s borders. This national urge to control buffer states is probably a psychological thing: the Chinese built walls, the Russians occupied their neighbors. The results have frequently reshaped the map.
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Where are all the sets?.
By Mark Ferguson - COIN VALUES
Just a few years ago, date sets in a wide assortment were commonly offered by mail-order merchants and at coin shops. Collectors had their pick of Brillant Uncirculated sets such as 1934 to 1958 Lincoln cents, 1938 to date Jefferson 5-cent coins, 1941 to 1964 Washington quarter dollars and the complete set of Kennedy half dollars. Kennedy half dollar sets usually included Proofs.
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The second commemorative golden coin of 100 litas, dedicated to the millennium of the mention of Lithuania”s name was presented at the historical cradle of Lithuania – the Gothic hall of Trakai Castle on Tuesday. The commemorative coin was issued on September 30 and started circulating as valid for making payments.

According to Reinoldijus Sarkinas, chairman of the board of directors of the Bank of Lithuania, it is already a 56th commemorative coin issued by the central bank, which reflects the prosperity of the country and symbolizes the historical and cultural heritage of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania (LDK), reports ELTA.

One side of the coin features the lines of the map of LDK, another side – a stylized Vytis in the background of flames of historical victories and constant renewal. The coin costs 850 litas (249 euros). In total, the bank will issue 10,000 such coins.

The ceremony at the Trakai castle was attended by Liudas Parulskis, author of the graphic design, Giedrius Paulauskis, author of its plaster model, Professor Alfredas Bumblauskas, author of the text of the brochure intended for the coin, collectors, representatives of museums and media.

The first coin from this series was issued in September, last year, and the third coin, which will be the last one, will appear in 2009.

China to issue commemorative coins for maiden spacewalk success
The Star.com
The People’s Bank of China, the central bank, said on Monday that it would issue a set of gold and silver coins on Oct. 8 to commemorate the success of the country’s maiden spacewalk. The issuance comprises 30,000 gold coins, with a face value of 150 yuan (22 U.S. dollars) each, and 60,000 silver coins, with a face value of 10 yuan each.
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May this celebration be the U.S. penny’s last
HeraldNet
Just in time to coincide with our economic crisis, the U.S. Mint last week unveiled four new designs for the penny, the first changes to the 1-cent coin in 50 years. Congress might as well vote to uphold our eternal commitment to the U.S. Standard Measurement system while we’re at it. (You know, “feet,” “inches” etc.) Since we are so determined to help our children compete in a “global economy” against math whizzes from other countries. But we digress.
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Race against time to save ancient Portuguese shipwreck
Submitted by AFP
Archaeologists are racing against the little time left to salvage a fortune in coins and items from a 500-year-old Portuguese shipwreck found recently off Namibia’s rough southern coast. Despite its importance, the project, in a restricted diamond mining area, is itself costing a fortune in sea-walling that cannot be sustained after October 10.
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Kingdom of Atlantis 2009 issue Offered by W.P.N.A.
By Numismatic News
KINGDOM OF ATLANTIS coin issues was developed and produced by the World Proof Numismatic Association. The newest release is the 2009 issue which consists of 5 pieces in .999 fine gold, 50 .999 fine silver, 50 pieces in silver-nickel and 100 pieces in golden brass. All coins are in proof condition and 39 mm in silver. Crowns are encapsulated, encased with certificate of guarantee.
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U.S. Mint suspends sale of gold buffalo coins
The Star.com
The U.S. Mint has temporarily halted distribution of its one-ounce American buffalo gold coins a month after placing limits on the sale of American eagle gold coins. Coin dealers from the U.S. to Canada have reported a surge in buying of bullion coins and other gold products as troubles in the financial markets prompt people to seek a safe haven in precious metals.
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Gold steadies, eyes on future of US bailout plan
Reuters
Gold steadied on Friday after three days of losses, but uncertainty about the future of a deal to rescue the U.S. financial system, which had appeared close to an agreement, drove investors to the sidelines.
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Shipwreck found in Namibia: “a heritage for the world”
Submitted by Sahil Nagpal
The archeologists are into raptures about the close to 500-year-old shipwreck currently being removed from the seabed off Namibia’s southern coast. “This is a world heritage that needs to be carefully preserved,” says Bruno Werz, the archeologist leading the excavation. His colleague, Francisco Alves agrees, saying the find provides a window into bygone times of seafarers and discoverers.
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Legislation Proposes New Half Dime
By Numismatic News
Legislation calling for the return of the half dime to replace the nickel was introduced Sept. 18 in the U.S. House of Representatives by Rep. Frank Lucas, R-Okla. In H.R. 6942 Lucas calls for a “clad half dime that is based on the size and shape of the half dime or 5-cent coin produced in the 1870s.”
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‘Lowly’ penny
News Dispatch Editorial
Pennies get no respect. People don’t want them in their change and they won’t bend over to pick them up. There even have been aborted efforts to get the U.S. Mint to stop producing pennies. The penny today isn’t what a penny was back in 1982. Then, pennies were made of 95 percent copper and 5 percent zinc. Those pennies are worth 2.22 cents today, based on the market rate of copper.
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Coin Portfolio Outpaces Stock Performance
By David L. Ganz, Numismatic News
For some 30 years, this is the season to look back on a market basket that gave important, symbolic meaning to the rare coin market and set coin investment aside as a growth industry. In the process, it attracted Wall Street to rare coins as an alternative investment vehicle.
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The Only Safe Investment in the Market
By Byron King - HoweStreet
Why are precious metals moving upwards? After all, the market smashed them down all summer as the dollar strengthened. The short answer is that right now gold and silver are the only decent game in town. Yes, there are a few other asset and income plays as well in the market. After all, there’s still an economy to run out there.
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