Sour Grapes
By Wayne Sayles - Ancient Coin Collecting Blog
My previous blog post heralded the appointment of Brent R. Benjamin to the Cultural Property Advisory Committee (CPAC) as a positive step in fulfilling the intent of the Convention on Cultural Property Implementation Act. Specifically, that is to provide a balanced perspective when evaluating requests from other nations for the imposition of import restrictions on cultural property. The eleven presidential appointments to CPAC come from diverse segments of society that are mandated by law—so that the work of the committee will reflect the views and interests of society, not just of a favored special interest.
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The Economy, the Auction Market, and Heritage
Heritage Galleries Press Release
Dallas-based coin, collectible and fine art auctioneer addresses the safety of its business, of the collectibles market and the fluctuations of a wild economy In a letter sent via email to clients on Friday, Oct. 10, Heritage Auction Galleries reassured its consignors and buyers about the safety of the company’s business, the liquidity of its assets and the steady hand of its forward-thinking model.
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Economic Turmoil Leads to Cautious Buying
By Allen Mincho, Bank Note Reporter
This is perhaps the most difficult column to compose that this correspondent has encountered in more than a decade of publishing each month in the pages of Bank Note Reporter. The uncertainty, trepidation and just plain fear that is prevalent in the economy at large as these words are being written make any market observations suspect, as conditions within the financial markets have changed dramatically within the past 14 days and are likely to change again by the time this column reaches its readers.
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Odd and curious money comes in many forms, styles
By Cindy Brake - COIN WORLD
Some may call it odd and curious, but in the Congo during the 19th century, 600 to 700 elephant tail hairs were worth one slave, writes Charles J. Opitz in An Ethnographic Study of Traditional Money. “Hair was thought to prevent disease. In Durant Lopy’s book Kingdom of Congo (1881), he described how natives drive elephants down narrow trails where the elephant would have trouble turning around. Then the natives would creep up behind the elephant, cut off the tail and run before the elephant could turn around,” Opitz writes.
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Last Chance to Order Bald Eagle Commemorative Coins
US Mint
Dec. 12 Set as Deadline to Order Coins Honoring Recovery of Our National Emblem WASHINGTON - Time is running out to order Bald Eagle Commemorative Coins. The United States Mint announced today that it will stop sales of the coins struck to celebrate the recovery of our national emblem, the American Bald Eagle, on Dec. 12, 2008, at 5 p.m. (ET). Surcharges collected from the sale of these coins are authorized to be paid to the American Eagle Foundation of Tennessee to further its work.
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Collectors Universe Settles Miller Case for Zero Damages and Mutual Release
Earth Times
Collectors Universe, Inc. reported that effective as of October 14, 2008, William Miller and the Company executed a settlement and release agreement which provides for a complete release by each party of all known and unknown claims it has or may have against the other relating to or arising out of the subject matter of the lawsuit that Miller had brought against the Company in 2004 in which he sought alleged statutory damages from the Company of up to approximately $10.5 million based on a claim that the Company had used his name, allegedly without his consent.
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MAS launches 2008 Heritage Orchids of Singapore coin set
Asia One News
In tribute to Singapore’s national flower, MAS has launched the 2008 Heritage Orchids of Singapore coin set. The set consists of two coins. The coins feature the yellow Oncidium Goldiana, better known as the ‘Golden Shower’ or ‘Dancing Lady’, and the Aranda Tay Swee Eng, a purple hybrid which is a local favourite for cut flowers. The coins will be sold by the Singapore Mint from Tuesday, October 28.
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Hamilton was Right in Creating U.S. Mint
By Scott Barman, Numismatic News
As numismatists study the coins and the condition surrounding their creation, there are economists that attempt to convince us the market in which we live needs change. Rather than looking at sound policy, economists approach the issue with a single agenda and try to use the emotion of current events to make their points. When I read, “Get government out of the coin manufacture” by George Selgin (NN, Oct. 7, 2008), I felt that Selgin was using emotion to justify his views on economic policy.
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