NGC has just certified a gold medal flown aboard the Apollo 16 moon mission. This Robbins Medal is pedigreed to Apollo 16 lunar module pilot, Charles M. Duke, Jr., the tenth man to have walked on the moon. While a number of medals have been flown on space missions, this is one of only two Apollo 16 gold medals, documented thus far, to have gone in the lunar module to the moon’s surface. It has been graded MS 65 by NGC.

The Robbins Company privately struck medals as mementos for the astronauts to take aboard their missions into space and they were not originally intended for a wider audience. Robbins began this medal series, often simply referred to as “Robbins Space Medals” in 1968 to commemorate Apollo 7, the first manned Apollo mission. Since then, they have been issued for all manned space missions without interruption. The medals have been struck for all Apollo, Skylab, Soyuz, Space Shuttle, International Space Station stints and long duration space stays. Most were struck in high relief, and depict the mission emblem and crew member names on the obverse and launch, landed and return dates on the reverse. Read Full Story

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., Nov. 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Collectors Universe, Inc. , a leading provider of value-added authentication and grading services to dealers and collectors of high-value collectibles, diamonds and colored gemstones, today announced financial results for its first fiscal quarter of 2008 ended September 30, 2007.

For the first fiscal quarter of 2008, the company reported net revenues of $10.8 million and a loss from continuing operations of $100,000, or $0.01 per diluted share. This compares to net revenues of $9.9 million and income from continuing operations of $383,000, or $0.04 per diluted share, for the first fiscal quarter of 2007. (more…)

By excavation work in medieval fortress Markely near Karnobat (Eastern Bulgaria), archeologists found very valuable golden treasure. That was announced by the local museum’s director Dimcho Momchilov.

The treasury consist of 37 golden coins of three Byzantine emperors, golden ring and five gilt loops. They were found in a clay pot.

Treasures like this are rare for Bulgaria, explained Dr. Dochka Aladjova, science assistant in charge to Archaeological Institute of Bulgarian Science Academy, who arrived immediately to survey the find. According to her the treasure could be valued to dozens thousands EUR.

31 of the coins wear the face of Nikifor III Votaniat, 1078- 1081, 4 are with Aleksii I Komnin , 1092-1118, and another 2- Joan II Komnin, 1118-1143 year. The most valuable, according to specialists are the coins of emperor Aleksii I Komnin.

Dallas, TX. Heritage Auction Galleries is presenting its inaugural Signature Auction at the Money Show of the Southwest, taking place in Houston, November 29-30, 2007. Descriptions and images of all lots are currently posted at HA.com, and are available for bidding. Combining the Signature and Final Session catalogs, nearly 4,000 lots covering a broad range of coinage will be auctioned.

According to Heritage President Greg Rohan, “Our year-end events continue to be very successful, with buyers and sellers seeking the last major auctions before the New Year. Heritage’s schedule includes two November Signature events - the first in Dallas, and the second in Houston. The Houston catalogs include hundreds of Registry-leading coins.”

“The November Houston catalog is anchored by several important collections,” continued Rohan. “The Michael Fuller Registry Collection Of Washington Quarters greatly extends Heritage’s leadership in auctioning Registry collections. Fuller has assembled a world-class collection that has captured six different #1 Current/#1 All-Time rankings in different categories, as well as additional Registry honors. The Nick-A-Jack Collection was assembled by an astute investor who started collecting back in the 1970s, in addition to investing in many other areas; at the age of 92, he is still actively and successfully trading options. (more…)

Gold futures rallied Tuesday to trade near a fresh 28-year high, propelled by the dollar’s tumble to yet another record low against the euro and by surging crude-oil prices.

Gold for December delivery rose $14.20 at $825 an ounce on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Earlier, the contract reached an intraday high of $826. The record high for Nymex gold was $875 set on Jan. 21, 1980, and the record settle was $825.50 set on the same date.

“The surging oil price is an important factor and investors are using gold as an inflation hedge,” said Mark O’Byrne, director of Gold and Silver Investments Ltd., in a research note. “But of more importance is the dollar falling to new all time record lows against the euro and a basket of currencies again this morning.”

“Morgan Stanley analysts have warned that the dollar could experience a more “violent correction” and their managing director in Asia Stephen Roach has said that gold will likely remain a safe haven given what is happening in the financial markets,” O’Byrne said. Read Full Story