Coin Collecting News

After unveiling its own “currency” bearing Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul’s likeness this year, The Liberty Dollar of Evansville, Ind., an “alternative” mint that has tried to print its own money to compete with the U.S. dollar, has now minted coins that advocate an end to the war in Iraq.

The Liberty Dollar made its name minting coins pegged to commodity prices. It has now released the 2008 Peace Dollar, with a face value of 10 Liberty Dollars and containing a half-ounce of pure silver.

The $20 Ron Paul Dollar was minted in support of the Republican presidential candidate, who has ridden a wave of Internet buzz to increased prominence. Also available are $1,000 gold denominations. Read Full Story

The Collectors Society has won The Web Marketing Association’s Standard of Excellence WebAward in the category of On-line Community. Now in its 11th year, the Web Marketing Association’s WebAwards are the premier annual website awards competition, naming the best Web sites across 96 industries.

Entries in the competition go head to head with other sites in their industry category, and are judged on seven criteria including design, innovation, content, technology, interactivity, copywriting and ease of use. Sites are ranked for each criterion on a scale of 0-10 points.

For scoring above the average in their category at 55 total points, Collectors Society was awarded a 2007 WebAward Standard of Excellence, taking their place in the winner’s circle. Contest judges noted “Good use of color to create a clean environment. Interesting use of navigation menus with several horizontal menus stacked near the top of the page. Information is suitable for the target audience. Solid site.” Continued

By Jack Branswell, CanWest News Service

OTTAWA — It took Canadians a while to get used to having loonies and toonies weighing down pockets and purses, but now they might have to get used to a $5 coin in the not-too-distant future.

In documents obtained by CanWest News Service, the federal government has studied the introduction of a new $5 coin to replace the bill. The Bank of Canada prepared an “optimal denomination structure” report in 2005 and, as part of it, used two theoretical financial models to analyze our coin and bank note system.

One model, called the D-metric, concluded that the elimination of the penny was warranted and recommended the introduction of a $5 coin and a $200 bill some time between 2005 and 2021. Another model, called Boeschoten, concluded that a $5 coin would be needed between 2009 and 2020, “given the price level and other factors would be consistent with the historical shift from notes to coins at other denominations.” Read Full Story

By Ken Potter on Numismatic News

A Spiked Head die crack on a proof 2007-S Thomas Jefferson Presidential dollar has been reported by a San Francisco Bay area collector. It was found in a four-piece 2007 Presidential dollar proof set. The coin exhibits a significant die crack on the reverse running from the second ray from the right in Miss Liberty’s crown up into the field, through the “E” of AMERICA continuing on through the rim. It is the first significant die crack reported on a proof Presidential dollar that runs from a portion of the design all the way through the rim.

The piece also represents the very first major die crack reported on any proof coin dated 2007. The owner (who wishes to remain anonymous) said that he ordered several sets directly from the Mint on June 21 and received them on July 5. Read Full Story