Coin Collecting News

Fallbrook, CA (PRWEB) September 24, 2007 — Investors are urged to become knowledgeable before purchasing gold bullion coins as a financial investment. The consumer education and protection advice is from the Professional Numismatists Guild (www.PNGdealers.com), a nonprofit organization composed of the country’s top rare dealers and experts.

“If you don’t know your bullion coins, you’d better know your bullion coin dealer to help you make responsible decisions,” advises Gary Adkins of Edina, Minnesota, PNG President. “To make an informed purchase about gold, silver or platinum, investors need to be aware of three crucial marketplace factors: The actual cost per ounce of precious metals; bullion value versus collector value; and timely delivery of merchandise.” Continued

Vatican, Sep. 21, 2007 (CNA/CWNews.com) - On September 25 the new Philatelic and Numismatic (Stamp and Coin) Museum on the Vatican Hill will be inaugurated as part of the Vatican Museums. The announcement was made by the Governatorate of the Vatican city-state.

The Museum showcases the entire Vatican philatelic and numismatic production from 1929 to date, including a wide selection of postmarks, sketches, typographic plates, plasters, bronze casts, and other items illustrating the different stages in the productions of stamps and coins. There is also a collection of philatelic material and postal history (1852-1870) relating to the Papal State. The paintings on display in the Museum are all original artist sketches used to create stamps, postcards and aerograms.

Elliott Levy was a man on a mission Sept. 15. The executive director of the Aiken County Historical Museum stopped briefly at Stephen James CSRA Coin Club of Aiken’s annual club show to purchase one item.

“This is going to be on display at the museum,” Mr. Levy said after buying a $5 bank note.

The rare bank note was signed by Henry Schultz, who founded the town of Hamburg, near present-day North Augusta, in 1821. What made the bill particularly appealing was the drawing of the bridge that connected Augusta and Hamburg. Schultz charged a toll for use of the bridge.

Collectors from Georgia and South Carolina attended the coin club show at H. Odell Weeks Activity Center in Aiken.

If you’re looking to secure your status as a Bond villain, now would be a profitable time to knock over Fort Knox.
Gold hit $745 an ounce last week, a 28-year high, as the dollar’s value slid, and Annapolis Coin Exchange owner Bob Hambleton already has seen more buyers and sellers looking to cash in. “Even a one-day spike we see an increase of business,” he said. “You can plot it.”

In the frenzy 28 years ago, Mr. Hambleton said dozens of people would be lined up in front of his Old Solomons Island Road business waiting to buy or sell gold in the hopes of turning a fast buck, forcing him to hire additional security.

“It was pretty exciting,” he said. “But we’re starting to feel that again.”

The gold medal presented to Commodore Matthew C. Perry by merchants of Boston “…in token of their appreciation of his services in negotiating the treaty with Japan signed at Yoku-Hama, March 31, and with Lew Chew at Napa, July 11, 1854…” sold with its raggedy original case for $165,000 (including buyer’s premium) to one of ten phone bidders at Bruce Gamage’s auction in Rockland, Maine, on Monday, August 27.

The medal was struck in 1856 at the U.S. Mint on request and paid for by the Boston merchants. There was this one gold medal struck along with 20 silver medals and 104 bronze medals.

The price far exceeded the most ambitious presale estimate of $30,000/40,000 posited by serious buyers. According to auctioneer Gamage, the buyer was a collector from New York City who wishes to remain anonymous. The underbidder on the floor was New York City coin and medals dealer Anthony Terranova. Continued