By Patrick A. Heller for Numismaster 

On Dec. 6, 2007, the Gold Anti-Trust Action Committee, Inc., (GATA) filed Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests with both the Federal Reserve and the U.S. Treasury. GATA sought information about possible gold swaps that the U.S. government may have handled and any related information about policies for such swaps.

In mid-April, the Federal Reserve responded, releasing part or all of hundreds of pages of worthless information, but also claiming that it was withholding all or part of the information of about 400 pages of documents. The status of the withheld documents is currently under appeal.

From the Federal Reserve response, it has already been established that there is substantial discussion in the federal government about gold swaps, at least theoretically if not in actual practice. This contradicts the previous position of the Fed and Treasury that gold swaps were never even discussed.

On June 18, the Treasury Department sent its response to GATA. The Treasury denied having any documents for five of the eight categories of the FOIA request. It stated that it was withholding a single document covering two categories because it referred to procedures for gold swaps that “may take place in the future.” It released a single one-page e-mail for the other category. The May 11, 2007, document released was a notice to various Treasury officials that weekly reporting of reserves data was changing slightly to conform to the template specified by the International Monetary Fund. This document emphasized that the reported data did not change.

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Finding the value of your coins has never been easier, faster or cheaper.

NumisMaster, the online price guide from Krause Publications, is now offered to coin collectors for $79.95 per year or $9.95 a month. The guide to the entire listing of coin values can be accessed at numismaster.com

“With more than 1 million price listings and 500,000 images, identifying and valuing your coins has never been easier,” said Dean Listle, Krause numismatic publisher.

NumisMaster is powered by more than 55 years of collected coin data and analysis, with up-to-date pricing provided by Krause’s experienced staff of market analysts, the same experts who have given you the Standard Catalog of World Coins series for more than half a century.

“We have refined the search function to make it faster and easier to use, we’ve lowered the price and we’ve added more pricing,” Listle said. “Now is a great time for collectors to see all that NumisMaster has to offer.”

Log on to NumisMaster.com and experience:

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A new variety of the proof 1938 Jefferson nickel has been announced by Michael S. Fey, Ironia, N.J.

The coin has a serif at the lower end of the “S” in TRUST as compared to no serif on the previously known examples.

Fey made the announcement after researching the coin first shown to him by an unidentified collector Dec. 1, 2007, at the Bay State show in Boston.

“I never forgot the collector, or the two 1938 proof Jefferson nickels that he showed me. When I found the differences he pointed out to me on two coins in my inventory, I decided it was too important a discovery not to pursue further.”

There were several other differences in the look and thickness of the serifs and on the numerals in the date to make me believe that this was significant enough to seek other expert opinions, Fey said.

“After comparing these 1938 proof coins to business strikes of 1938 and 1939 nickels, my first thought was that the coin without the extra serif on the ‘S’ was more closely related to an obverse of 1938, and that the one with the extra serif was more closely related to an obverse of 1939″

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David Koble, owner and operator of Mid American Currency in Bartlesville, Okla., is joining Lyn Knight Currency Auctions as senior vice president of client services.

Koble will work directly with customers, assisting them with their collecting needs, and will represent Lyn Knight Currency Auctions at paper money shows and major coin events.

Koble has been involved in the paper money business for more than 28 years. His expertise centers on U.S. large-size and small-size type notes and National Bank Notes. His grading knowledge is also highly regarded.

The fixed-price list Koble published from 1980 to 1998 was highly detailed and informative and helped establish his expertise in the field of small-size type. He has handled many small-size rarities, including the Series 1933 $10 Silver Certificate star note and the Series 1934 $10 North Africa star note. Notes from the collections of famous collectors Amon Carter, Tom Bain, Jim Thompson and others have been owned by him at one time or another.

In the last 10 years, Koble has concentrated on special services to private clients.

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By Doug Andrews, World Coin News

Remaining competitive internationally, leveraging off technology and exploiting opportunities as world metal prices continue to rise will be the objectives of the Royal Canadian Mint, says its president and chief executive officer, Ian Bennett.

The Mint recently announced a record C$30.1 million profit for 2007.

“Our target had been growth, now it is growth and profit,” Bennett said. “We doubled our profit last year, which was a great achievement,” Bennett noted in an exclusive interview with World Coin News.

The mint’s use of its multi-ply plating process for circulating coinage is essential to attracting contracts from foreign governments.

“This allows us to produce coins at much lower cost than other mints, and it is part of our medium term plan, to exploit our competitive advantage as much as we can. Our goals are tough to achieve in this economy and with the rising Canadian dollar, but it’s something that we have to strive to do,” Bennett said.

Part of the RCM strategy is to invest in replacement of all the presses in its Winnipeg production facility with higher speed equipment, and to expand plating capacity. Since 2005 the plant has doubled its plating volume and has licensed its patented technology to leading suppliers, including Jarden Zinc Products Inc. of Greeneville, Tenn. The Canadian Mint is aggressively pursuing other partnerships in its quest for more foreign business.

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