Coin Collecting News

The Royal Mint has issued a special limited-edition set of coins cast in platinum to commemorate the historic redesign of UK coinage set for 2008.

For the first time since decimalisation the legal tender coins of the United Kingdom will undergo a major design change. In the late spring of 2008 the nation will see new designs on the coinage, from the 1p to the £1, reflecting a more modern twenty-first century Britain.

To mark this watershed in numismatic history, and to commemorate the reverse designs that have served Britain well for almost 40 years, the Royal Mint is producing a limited-edition platinum Proof collection.

* This is the first time that these seven definitive coins have been struck in platinum

* Extremely low issue limit of 250 collections to be priced at £4995.00 Continued

Coin trader and auctioneer NOBLE INVESTMENTS (UK) PLC is eyeing further expansion after lifting annual profits 80 per cent to £1.8 million.

The company comprises a group of Professional Numismatists of long standing with some 100 years of combined experience. They are the only Numismatic trading and investment company listed in the stock market in the UK.

The Manchester-based company, which became a leading coin dealer by buying the 135 year-old Baldwin group nearly two years ago, increased turnover 42 per cent to £10.6 million in the year to August.

Steered by managing director and ex-stockbroker Ian Goldbart, the AIM-quoted company, which is debt-free and has more than £5 million in the bank, says it is contemplating moving into new areas, such as banknotes. The decision comes after Noble won backing in August from property tycoon Vincent Tchenguiz for a £2.8 million placing at 185p to expand into stamp trading. Continued

A small southern Ohio company and a freshman congressman say the lowly penny, ignored by many or simply tossed into drawers and jars, could mean big bucks and good jobs for a struggling region.

So when Rep. Zack Space amended a coin-composition bill to allow Jackson Metals of Jackson to melt down pre-1982 pennies, which contain more valuable copper than the current copper-plated zinc cents, the Dover Democrat proclaimed a major victory. He said it could create more than 30 jobs and save taxpayers money.

But victory is still a ways away. Opponents of the idea say that although the company might profit by selling the copper, taxpayers would be big losers.

The bill, which would authorize the U.S. Mint to change the metal composition of coins to make them cheaper to produce, is no longer on a fast track. It was to have been approved Wednesday in the House Financial Services Committee, with the blessing of bill co-author and committee Chairman Barney Frank, D-Mass. Read Full Story

The American Numismatic Association is accepting applications for two summer internships at ANA headquarters in Colorado Springs. Experienced young collectors, college or graduate students and numismatic professionals are encouraged to apply.

One individual selected for The Harry W. Bass, Jr. Numismatic Internship will conduct original numismatic research using ANA resources in conjunction with the renowned Harry W. Bass, Jr. numismatic collection and related resources.

Another individual will be selected for the ANA Numismatic Internship, and will work with the professional staff of the Edward C. Rochette Money Museum and Dwight N. Manley Numismatic Library, the Publication and Education departments, and help with Summer Seminar and the World’s Fair of Money. Continued