The Austrian Mint has just released the 6th coin in its bi-metallic Silver /Niobium series. The 2008 installment is titled “Fascination Light” in tribute to the 150 anniversary of the birth of the great Austrian chemist and entrepreneur, Dr. Carl Baron Auer von Welsbach (1858-1929).

The use of Niobium makes this coin both unusual and colorful. Niobium is a shiny gray, ductile metal that takes on a bluish tinge when exposed to air at room temperature for extended periods. It can also be “Heat Treated” and oxidized to create a number of different colors as is evidenced on the other five preceding coins in this bimetallic series.

The new € 25 obverse depicts a scene from the late 19th century when Welsbach’s inventions were quite new. The design features a nostalgic gas lamp lighter perched on a ladder, at dusk, in front of the Vienna City Hall, and lighting one of the gas lanterns. This was an everyday occurrence around 1800. This side of the coin also bears the country of issue, “Republik Oesterreich”, Republic of Austria, the face value of 25 euros and the year of issue, 2008.

In the center of reverse of the coin on the niobium core, is depicted a stylised sun, the ultimate source of light. Radiating out from the sun, into the silver ring and starting in the left side of the design field is a three quarter portrait of Carl Auer von Welsbach. (more…)

DALLAS–(BUSINESS WIRE)–DGSE Companies, Inc. (AMEX:DGC), which buys and sells and auctions fine watches, jewelry, diamonds, precious metal and rare coin products via traditional and Internet channels, today announced it has completed the move of all of its Dallas retail and wholesale operations and corporate headquarters to new 20,000 square foot facilities in Dallas, Texas.

The sale of its former facilities, the purchase of the new facilities, the remodeling of all structures and the move were completed by the company on time and on budget with little disruption of operations.

William Oyster, President of DGSE, said, “The move to the new facilities allows us to consolidate our activities in a much larger site with state-of-the-art technology infrastructure… providing opportunities for increased efficiency and effectiveness for our customers. We are very excited about this facility and our customers have responded with equal enthusiasm. Our much larger showroom and headquarters provides capacity to expand our robust precious metals, rare coin, fine watch and jewelry activities. Last year’s introduction of American Gold & Silver Exchange, Superior Estate Buyers and Superior Precious Metals, expanded DGSE’s presence into new operational and geographical areas and these activities and a host of new initiatives promise to make 2008 and exciting year for the Company.” (more…)

A federal judge said Wednesday that he would give Odyssey Marine Exploration and the Spanish government until the end of the week to settle their differences over the documentation the Florida treasure-hunting firm provided on the $500 million in gold and silver coins the company recovered last May.

“I think our position was well-understood by the court,” James Goold, the attorney representing Madrid, told Efe.

He said that Judge Mark A. Pizzo “did not issue any ruling,” but instead warned the parties in the hearing held Wednesday in Tampa that if they do not resolve their differences by Friday he will be obligated to intervene.

Goold said that Tampa-based Odyssey had not “supplied all the information that the court ordered” about the items salvaged from a colonial-era shipwreck code-named Black Swan.

Though the recovery took place in international waters, Madrid contends the company plundered Spanish cultural assets. Full Story

In the 2008 release of the “Insider’s Guide to U.S. Coin Values” Mike Fuljenz, President of Universal Coin & Bullion, once again assisted author Scott A. Travers in placing values on gold coins. This is a leading coin price guide published by Bantam Dell, a division of Random House, Inc. Collectors anxiously await this guide across the country considered “The most up-to-date comprehensive Coin Book in America” to evaluate their collections.

The most prestigious numismatic authorities in America assign the values to the coins covered in this guide. Mr. Travers is often sought by publications such as The Wall Street Journal and Business Week, and has served as a coin valuation consultant to the Federal Trade Commission. He has surrounded himself with other leading experts to provide coin collectors the most accurate coin values available. In his acknowledgements Travers give recognition to those numismatic experts he depends on to give him the values for his publication. His acknowledgement for Mike Fuljenz, read “Michael R Fuljenz” of Universal Coin & Bullion in Beaumont, Texas updated the values for gold eagles through double eagles. He is one of the Nation’s highest profiled and most esteemed gold coin authorities. His contributions, like the metal, itself, glitter.”

In past issues Fuljenz, the President of Universal Coin & Bullion has served as the gold coin price coordinator. Mr. Fuljenz is also a well-known numismatic author who has written numerous books relating to coin collecting, such as “The Collector’s Guide to Indian Head Quarter Eagles” and just recently, “The Collector’s Guide to $10 Indian Head Eagles.” Mike Fuljenz is also the recipient of a 2002 NLG Book of the Year Award for his “Type II Double Eagles: 1866-1876″ book.

The “Insider’s Guide to U.S. Coin Values 2008″ is available on Amazon.com and in most local bookstores.