February 3, 2012

2011 Commemorative Coin Programs Generated $5.5 Million in Surcharges

United States Army Commemorative Coins

Based on the last available sales figures, the United States Mint’s 2011 commemorative coin programs generated around $5.5 million in surcharges for the designated recipient organizations. Commemorative coin programs are authorized by acts of Congress to celebrate and honor American peoples, places, events, or institutions. The authorizing legislation dictates the specific denominations to be issued, [...]

Perth Mint Black and Red Colored 2012 Year of the Dragon Silver Coin

feature

The Perth Mint of Australia has created a special 2012 Year of the Dragon Silver Coin for the World Money Fair held in Berlin. The coin has a limited mintage and features a water dragon reverse design. People born between the dates of January 13, 2012 and February 9, 2013 are said to be born [...]

Senate Bill Seeks to Replace $1 Bills with $1 Coins

Dollar Coins

On January 31, 2012, a bipartisan group of Senators introduced a bill which seeks to transition from $1 bills to $1 coins in order to save taxpayer money. The bill S. 2049 was introduced by Senators Tom Harkin and John McCain, and cosponsored by Senators Tom Coburn and Mike Enzi. The Treasury Department recently implemented [...]

Silver Eagle Bullion Coin Sales Top 6 Million

2012 Silver Eagle Bullion Coin

After two slower months, sales of the United States Mint’s American Silver Eagle bullion coins rocketed higher in January 2012 to more than 6 million ounces. Sales of American Gold Eagles also jumped, reaching 127,000 ounces. The month of January has traditionally been one of the strongest for US Mint bullion sales. This is driven [...]

US Mint Sales: ATB 5 Ounce Silver Coins Sell Faster

Vicksburg

As the market price of silver moved higher, some collectors shifted their focus to the United States Mint’s numismatic silver products, particularly those which recently had their prices decreased. This was evidenced by the numbers in the latest weekly US Mint numismatic product sales report. The United States Mint offers numismatic versions of the America [...]

Senate Bill Seeks Baseball Hall of Fame Commemorative Coins

Baseball Hall of Fame Coins

On January 26, 2012, a bill was introduced in the Senate seeking to require commemorative coins to be minted and issued in recognition and celebration of the National Baseball Hall of Fame. A similar bill had been introduced in the House of Representatives on July 14, 2011. This previous bill has 296 cosponsors and passed [...]

Interview with Chris Salmon, Chief Cashier of the Bank of England

Chris Salmon

On the occasion of the Bank of England’s launch of the new £50 banknote in November 2011, Michael Alexander of the London Banknote and Monetary Research Centre speaks to Chris Salmon, Chief Cashier, about the process of adding a second note to the “F” series. “I Promise to pay the Bearer on demand the Sum [...]

2011 America the Beautiful Quarters Mintages

Chickasaw Quarter

The America the Beautiful Quarters Program recently completed its second year of release, with five different designs representing National Parks or sites of America. The total mintage across the five designs rose compared to the previous year, although the increase was only attributable to a jump in production for the final design of the year. [...]

US Mint Sales: 2012 Quarters Proof Sets Debut

2011 Proof Platinum Eagle

The latest weekly report of United States Mint numismatic product sales includes the debut figures for the recently released 2012 America the Beautiful Quarters Proof Set. Other areas of focus include the 2011 Proof Platinum Eagle and the America the Beautiful Five Ounce Silver Uncirculated Coins. On January 17, the US Mint began sales of [...]

2012-S Uncirculated Silver Eagle Planned, Additional Special Set Possible

2012-S Uncirculated Silver Eagle

The United States Mint plans to expand the number of numismatic product offerings for the American Silver Eagle in 2012. This will include an uncirculated version of the coin struck at the San Francisco Mint and potentially two other collector coins only available within a special set. The American Silver Eagle was introduced in 1986, [...]