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.

WASHINGTON - The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool Plaza was the backdrop today for the unveiling, by United States Mint Director Ed Moy, of four new designs for the circulating 2009 Lincoln Bicentennial One Cent Coins. Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission Co-Chairman Harold Holzer joined Director Moy for the unveiling.

Authorized by Public Law 109-145, the four new designs celebrate the bicentennial of President Abraham Lincoln’s birth, as well as the 100th anniversary of the production of the Lincoln cent (penny). The new designs will be issued in approximately three-month intervals throughout the year. The first redesigned penny, which will honor Lincoln’s birth and early childhood, will be put into circulation on February 12, 2009.

“This is a momentous occasion in the history of our Nation’s coinage because these designs represent the first change in the Lincoln cent in half a century,” said Director Moy. “These coins are a tribute to one of our greatest Presidents whose legacy has had a lasting impact on our country. He believed all men were created equal, and his life was a model for accomplishing the American dream through honesty, integrity, loyalty, and a lifetime of education.”

The four designs to be featured on the reverse of the Lincoln pennies represent four major aspects of President Lincoln’s life: his birth and childhood in Kentucky, his formative years in Indiana, his professional life in Illinois and his Presidency in Washington, D.C. The inscriptions on the reverse of the coins will be “United States of America,” “E Pluribus Unum” and “One Cent.” (more…)

Auburn, Washington, September 19, 2008 — Northwest Territorial Mint today announced it has reached a settlement with the office of the Washington State Attorney General with regard to a lawsuit brought earlier this year.

“We are happy to announce that we have settled with the Attorney General after the state had made numerous allegations, many of which had no basis in fact,” said Ross Hansen, President.

As part of the agreement, Northwest Territorial Mint agreed to clarify the language of its web site to more clearly state its delivery policies — policies that remain substantially unchanged from those which have been in place since the company went into business in 1984.

Assistant Attorney General Paula Selis said that “this Consent Decree should not reflect adversely on Defendant’s business practices.” (Page 2, lines 17&18 of the Decree).

A small settlement and related costs were paid to the Attorney General’s office in order to resolve the matter to allow the Company to return its attention to the servicing of its clients.

Northwest Territorial Mint admitted no wrongdoing in the settlement, which was acceptable to the Attorney General’s office.

About Northwest Territorial Mint

Northwest Territorial Mint, one of the last few remaining private, full-service mints in the US, employs 140 people, has two facilities in the State of Washington, and has been recognized by the State of Washington for its work in mainstreaming marginal workers when possible. In 2007, it was named Medium Private Employer of the Year by the Governor’s Committee on Disability Issues and Employment. The company has been lauded for its work for the U.S. military, police departments, and fire departments around the nation. Its custom clients include Washington State’s Secretary of State and the U.S. Department of Defense.

Although the U.S. Mint has been listening and communicating better this past couple of years, I think they’re getting way too greedy in their product mark-ups. Take, for example, the Jackson First Spouse half-ounce gold coin: the Mint is selling the Proof version for $619.95. (The Uncirculated version is $20 less.) On August 28, 2008, the day the Jackson First Spouse coin went on sale, NY gold closed at $833.70 per ounce. This makes the NY spot price of a half-ounce of gold $416.85 on that day. The Mint’s mark-up on the Jackson First Spouse coin is more than fifty percent over bullion value! This is a $203.10 profit on a $619.95 coin! This is absurd!

Of course, part of the problem for the Mint is the way it must do its pricing. It uses a system where it must fix the pricing for the coins ahead of time, hoping to account for upward bullion market fluctuations that might occur during the time frame the coin is on sale. In other words, the Mint sets a “worst case scenario” price and that’s what we’re stuck with. I don’t know what they need to do to bring their ecommerce systems into the 21st century, maybe congress has to pass a bill or something, but the Mint really needs to change its pricing model so that prices fluctuate based on the actual bullion market.

Read Susan’s Full Article Here