Don’t Pay More Than Three Bucks for a Presidential Dollar
Market Watch
Yet with market conditions making investors look at virtually any investment opportunity — and look for things they are comfortable holding — companies like the Danbury Mint are repackaging the new “presidential dollars” that the U.S. Mint started issuing three years ago, and are turning them into the Stupid Investment of the Week. Stupid Investment of the Week highlights the concerns and conditions that make an investment less than ideal for the average consumer, and is written in the hope that spotlighting concerns in one case will allow readers to avoid trouble elsewhere. The column is not intended as an automatic sell signal; the good news for buyers of the presidential dollars is their coins will retain their face value, even if we all know that a dollar doesn’t go quite as far these days.
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Sweden Royal Wedding Stamps and Coins Issued
The Local
The Riksbank will issue two commemorative coins for the wedding: a 300 kronor ($40) silver coin and a 4,000 kronor gold coin. The designer is Ernst Nordin. The front of the coin shows a portrait of the bride and groom and the text “KRONPRINSESSAN VICTORIA PRINS DANIEL” (Crown Princess Victoria Prince Daniel) as well as the date of the wedding, June 19th, 2010. The back carries the princess’ coat of arms. Below this appears the text “SVERIGE” (Sweden), the denomination of the coin, the initials of Riksbank Governor Stefan Ingves and the first letter of the place of issue, Stockholm. Butterflies are also depicted, an image that represents joy and happiness, as well as the bridal couple’s future home, Haga Palace.
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Gold Confederate Cent Restrikes Warning
The E-Sylum
Tom Delorey very correctly expressed his view of how the making of restrikes can get out-of-hand. He presented a letter from Robert Bashlow concerning 2nd restrikes of the Confederate cent. Adding to this problem, there seems to be little if anything that can be done about the counterfeits that are being created. I have seen two thin planchet gold Confederate cent 2nd restrikes and a gold reverse hub impression, along with a host of other recently made junk. A word of warning; if what you have or see is a gold Confederate cent 2nd restrike piece, it is fake. David Laties, Bashlow’s business partner, has stated to me, in no uncertain terms, that they struck three (3) thick planchet gold pieces – and that is it! No other gold pieces were struck!
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Open and Close Date 1873 $3 Gold Coins
Heritage Blog
At the start of 1873, the U.S. Mint used a four-digit date punch, or logotype, that had the two ends of the 3 in 1873 nearly touching the center. The 3 looked like an 8 at first glance, and it didn’t take long for this to come to the attention of the then-Chief Coiner of the Mint. A new logotype, this time with the ends of the “3″ well apart, went into service and was used for most of the year. Two dimes in the upcoming June Long Beach U.S. Coin Auction show the difference between the two logotypes: the last digit goes from ambiguous on the Closed “3″ coin to obvious on the Open “3″ piece. Now there’s a funny wrinkle to that 1873 three dollar coin I showed to the tour. According to official Mint records, it shouldn’t exist. There are no records of three dollar gold coins being struck for circulation in 1873. So what gives? There are multiple possibilities, none conclusively proven.
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Ancient and Modern Coins Offered in May Sale
Numismaster
Coins from ancient, medieval and modern times will hit the block at auction firm Astarte Ltd.’s 22nd Sale May 15 at the hotel Splendide Royal in Lugano, Switzerland. Italy – starting with ancient coins up to the early 20th century – is the specialty of Astarte and will be the focus of this sale. After three coins from the Celtic world, a small series of Italian cast coinage will follow. Among them is a Roma wheel series piece graded EF with an estimate of 7,500 Swiss francs (CHF). Three golden octodrachms from the Ptolemaic Empire with estimates of 12,500, 10,000 and 15,000 CHF highlight the Greek section. Nearly 100 coins of the Roman Republic will be for sale, many of which are struck bronze coins.
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The Debate on Changing The Composition of U.S. Coins
The Wall Street Journal
It costs the federal government up to nine cents to mint a nickel and almost two cents to make a penny. So, in addition to overhauling Big Finance, President Barack Obama wants to tinker with America’s small change. The president’s plan to save money by making coins from cheaper stuff seems simple on its face. But history shows it would rekindle an emotional debate among Americans who fear changing the composition of their currency will hurt its value. On top of that, trade groups from the coin-laundry owners to the Zinc Association have lobbied for years to keep small change just the way it is.
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Related posts:

1. Coin News for June 30, 2010
2. Coin News for February 20, 2010
3. Coin News for April 20, 2010
4. Coin News for April 22, 2010
5. Coin News for April 29, 2010
6. More News at a Glance – August 9, 2010
7. Coin News for February 16, 2010
8. Coin News for March 12, 2010
9. Coin News for May 25, 2010
10. Coin News for March 10, 2010