Gold coins among discovery of ancient artifacts
International Business Times
Gold coins were among the relics unearthed from the capital of an ancient Buddhist Kingdom in Northwest Pakistan, according to published reports. Also found in Taxila, the seat of the Kingdom of Gandhara and a learning center, were in excess of 100 seals of ancient Buddhist Kingdom, the rare Red Stone, and sculptures of Buddha, according to People’s Daily online. Officials believe the find dates to a time period between the first century BC and the fifth century AD.
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Collectors Usually Prefer the Proofs
Numismaster
People have been collecting proof sets and proof singles for a long time. Just consider the 1886 sale of the J. Colvin Randall collection offered by W. Elliot Woodward. The proofs included three-piece proof sets of 1878 (10 sets), 1879 (82 sets) and 76 of the 1880. The listing was not clear, but it is thought the 35 additional 1880 sets were full going up to the Trade dollar and the same might have been true of the 32 1882 sets.
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American Palladium Eagle Coins with Silver Mercury Dime Design Approved
Silver Coins Today
Legislation authorizing the US Mint to strike American Palladium Eagle coins was approved Tuesday by the U.S. Senate and has been sent to the desk of President Barack Obama to await his expected signature. The coin legislation was originally introduced by United States House of Representative member Denny Rehberg (R) from Montana to add bullion and collector proof and uncirculated Palladium Eagle coins to the US Mint’s product offerings.
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The Forged Roman Silver Denarius
The E-Sylum
Roman coin discovered by a cleaner was struck at the time of Christ by a forger who couldn’t spell and didn’t know one emperor from another. Experts at the British Museum say the coin is a mystery because it is made from solid silver and probably cost the forger as much to make as he received in profit.
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5 Ounce America the Beautiful Silver Bullion Coins
Coin Update News
Today, the United States Mint provided the release details for the America the Beautiful Silver Bullion Coins. The maximum mintages for these eagerly awaited coins will be lower than expected and numismatic versions will be available. The new bullion program was authorized under Public Law 110-456. This is the same law that authorized the America the Beautiful Quarters series.
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Multi-coloured Lebanese banknote could float to $93,300 in London
Paul Fraser Collectibles
The auctioneer has announced a second day of selling collectible currency next week. As we’ve reported Spink is offering a full private collection, the Pestrello collection, of rare collectible banknotes on December 9, based on banknotes from the Bank of Portugal. There are two 50 million reis notes from 1889 available; each expected to fetch up to €16,000 ($20,900).
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Rare California Bank Notes and 34-Ounce Gold Nugget in Auction
Coin Update News
A collection of more than 100 historic Orange County California bank notes and a 34-ounce gold nugget from the collection of the late William (“Willie”) Pannier will be among the highlights of the pre-Long Beach Expo auction to be conducted by Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins and Collectibles in Beverly Hills, California, January 31 – February 2, 2011.
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The Finest Known Wheat Cent
About.com
Have you ever wondered which Wheat Cent is considered to be the best one in the world? According to the grading service PCGS, the finest known wheatback penny was minted in 1919 by the Philadelphia Mint, and earns the astonishing grade of MS-69 on the 70-point coin grading scale. For a copper coin to merit such an ultra-high grade, several things have to line up just right.
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Rare coins auction journeys from Ancient Greece to Modern Rome
Paul Fraser Collectibles
Two rare and historic items set to star in the next Artemide Aste sale couldn’t be much further apart. The Artemide Aste sale of rare coins and medals on December 18 has two standout lots, with more than 2000 years between them. The highest-priced coin of the auction is a rare Greek Tetradrachm from the city of Agrigentum, dated 464-450 B.C.
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Gold Coin Premiums Begin to Go Higher
Numismaster
Gold is up 1.5 percent, silver 3.5 percent and platinum a paltry 1 percent. Platinum continues to react to oil pricing, which has been weaker on European economic woes from banking problems in Ireland and pending labor strikes in Portugal protesting the austerity needed to dig out of their debt mess. Gold is the safe haven and has reacted to the Korean military situation and news of miners unrest.
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Proofs in demand
Numismatic News
Collectors eagerly grabbed 273,212 proof silver American Eagle coins in the opening two days of sales. The 2010 pieces became available at noon Eastern Standard Time Nov. 19, and as expected, a crush of initial buyers, slowed response times on the U.S. Mint’s website and generated busy signals on the telephone order lines for the first several hours.
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Article Highlights Rare Oxford 1066 Penny
The E-Sylum
A rare coin made in Oxford in or around 1066 – the year of the Battle of Hastings – is set to fetch up to £1,500 at an auction next month. The 1,000 year-old silver penny was made in Oxford by a so-called moneyer named Aelfwig during the 10-month reign (January 5,1066, to October 14 1066) of King Harold II. Harold was killed after being shot in the eye with an arrow at the Battle of Hastings, which was won by William The Conqueror on October 14,1066, and which is recorded on the Bayeux Tapestry.
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Sedwick Treasure auction No. 8 realizes $1.3 million
Coin Values
All prices here reflect the 18 percent buyer’s fee, which is discounted to 15 percent for cash payments. The auction offered shipwreck-recovered coins and bars, as well as Mexican and other Spanish colonial coins, plus English, world, U.S. and ancient coins. The 2,789-lot auction was called the firm’s “biggest yet.” Three hundred thirty-six lots, or 12 percent, did not sell.
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Early coin from China’s first-ever modern mint is estimated at $60,000
Paul Fraser Collectibles
An historic piece of Chinese numismatic history is auctioning in Hong Kong, and online. A late-19th century Chinese coin is expected to sell for the equivalent of tens of thousands of dollars in Hong Kong, tomorrow (December 1), at Champion Hong Kong’s auction. The piece is question is an undated Hina-Kwangtung coin from 1889 from the first set of coins ever made at China’s first modern mint.
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Canadian 2010 Crystal Snowflake Silver Coins Near Sell Out
Silver Coins Today
Two recently released 99.99% pure silver coins featuring a unique crystal snowflake design are almost sold out, the Royal Canadian Mint advised customers late last week. Sales of the Mint’s $20 Blue Crystal Snowflake and $20 Tanzanite Crystal Snowflake have each passed 90% of their maximum mintage, which is 15,000 across both options. The two silver coins were released by the Royal Canadian Mint in October along with its other final 2010 issues.
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CFA Review of 2012 America the Beautiful Quarter Designs
Coin Update News
Although the America the Beautiful Quarters Program just completed its first year of release, design candidates have already been prepared and reviewed for the third year of the series. The 2012 America the Beautiful Quarters will feature El Yunque National Forest in Puerto Rico, Chaco Culture National Historic Park in New Mexico, Acadia National Park in Maine, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park in Hawaii, and Denali National Park in Alaska.
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New Coins from Latvia and France
The E-Sylum
Latvia has issued a coin containing a small piece of amber. The coin was issued on Nov. 15. The coin has a face value of 1 lat. France has issued 100 Euro circulating coin. It is being issued at face value hence it can be truly called a circulation coin. This is the third and last year for an innovative concept: renewing usage of precious metals as circulation coins. This tradition was started in 1960 with the silver 5 Franc coin, and was abandoned with the demise of the Franc.
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Micro Nations Prosper in Coins
Numismaster
Numismatic Guaranty Corporation ancient coin authenticator David Vagi has joked with me about a fictitious country he calls Gurkistan. World coin dealer Allen Berman is well known for promoting the mysterious kingdom of Bermania. There are more places than you might think that exist in someone’s mind, but their physical existence may be limited to fantasy coins or perhaps to some place that may only be visible at low tide.
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