Canadian Highway of Heroes Silver Commemorative Coin Available

The Royal Canadian Mint has issued the 2011 Highway of Heroes Silver Commemorative Coin which celebrates a grassroots movement responsible for honoring Canada's fallen servicemen and servicewomen known as the Highway of Heroes. A $20 surcharge on the sale of each commemorative coin will be forwarded to the Afghanistan Repatriation Memorial and the Military Families Fund.
Each coin is struck from 99.99% pure silver and features a face value of $10. The Mint indicates that the maximum mintage of the strike will be limited to only 25,000 coins.

The somber yet heartening story of the Highway of Heroes goes back almost a decade. It started in 2002 when crowds of Canadians gathered at the overpasses of a section of Highway 401. They joined together to honor the first of Canada's fallen soldiers whose bodies were being returned from the conflict in Afghanistan.

This tradition has continued to this day with crowds still lining the overpasses to pay their respects to the fallen individuals as well as their families as they pass underneath. The bodies of the soldiers are being taken from Canadian Forces Base Trenton to Toronto.

"This silver coin commemorates the spontaneous outpouring of emotion by thousands of Canadians who have gathered along the roadway and overpasses of the Highway of Heroes to pay tribute to the brave Canadian men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice," said Ian E. Bennett, President and CEO of the Royal Canadian Mint. "The Highway of Heroes commemorative coin also continues the proud Mint tradition of issuing coins that honor Canada's veterans and the theme of Remembrance."

Shown on the reverse of the commemorative coin is a design by Royal Canadian Mint engraver Stan Witten, in collaboration with Major Carl Gauthier. It shows one of the overpasses of the Highway of Heroes filled with individuals who have come of their own accord to honor the fallen soldiers and their families. Many Canadian flags are shown draped over the side of the overpass indicative of the strong pride the gathered have for their country. Behind them, a large maple leaf is depicted.
A Memorial Cross is shown to the upper left. Reverse inscriptions include "CANADA," "10 DOLLARS" and "2011."

The commemorative coin is struck as legal tender of Canada and features an image of Queen Elizabeth II of England, as designed by Susanna Blunt. Obverse inscriptions include "ELIZABETH II" and "D G REGINA."

Each 34mm Highway of Heroes strike weighs 15.87 grams. The commemorative coin is available now directly from the Royal Canadian Mint with additional information available at www.mint.ca/heroes.

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ROYAL CANADIAN MINT'S "MILLION DOLLAR COIN" AND $100,000 COIN IN METRO TORONTO

$1-million face value, 100 kg Gold Maple Leaf Bullion coin made of the purest gold in the world on display as Royal Canadian Mint distributor Canadian PMX introduces new ways
to invest in precious metals and coins.
Also just released: $100,000 face value, 10 kg .99999 gold collector coin
on display and available to purchase.

RICHMOND HILL, ON, Nov. 3, 2011 /CNW/ - Royal Canadian Mint distributor, Canadian PMX Corp., one of the country's leading precious metals distributors, today launched its world-class public showroom in Richmond Hill, Ontario. In an economic environment where gold and silver fluctuations and record prices have been mainstream news, many investors have still not had any easy place in Canada to participate in this market. As part of its vision to make gold and silver purchasing easy and accessible to all levels of investors, Canadian PMX now offers its customers the opportunity to buy and sell precious metals and coins through the company's highly secure retail store and new web environment, making the process "as easy as buying groceries."

For the grand opening celebrations, the Royal Canadian Mint's $1-million face value, 100 kg Gold Maple Leaf Bullion coin, valued at more than $5 million and made of the purest gold in the world, is available for public viewing in the Canadian PMX showroom today only. Also on display is the 10 kg, .99999 gold collector coin, which has an exclusive low mintage of only 15 pieces (approximate value $675,000) — two of which are currently available for purchase through Canadian PMX.

Steven Bromberg, President and CEO of Canadian PMX, recognized a significant disparity between efficient access to precious metals in the United States and Canada, and he sought to change this. Bromberg explains, "We have established a company where consumers can buy and sell any amount of gold or silver quickly, easily and securely, without the complexities or fees involved in cross-border shipping or dealing with 'big' financial institutions." With the launch of a new online store and the grand opening of the new precious metals and numismatic showroom, Bromberg has now brought his vision to the Canadian public.

The increasing demand for gold and silver within many investment portfolios had left an underserved market for precious metals. "Growing investor interest in precious metals is hardly a surprise," says Bromberg, an expert in precious metals and numismatic collectibles. "Gold tends to be secure when the dollar is not. As national economies, particularly in Europe and the United States, are struggling with heavy debt and out-of-control spending, perceptions regarding the security of paper-based and digital currencies are weakening."

ARE WE HEADING BACK TO THE GOLD STANDARD?

"The history of precious metals being used as currency dates back more than 3,000 years, and gold is recognized for its ability to maintain intrinsic value through all economic cycles," says Bromberg. Security and preservation of wealth are the primary reasons why many financial advisors are now recommending that 10 to 25 per cent of their clients' investment portfolios should be in precious metals. He adds, "until the major economies of the world regain their fiscal balance and strength, gold and silver are likely to remain in demand as an insurance policy and store of wealth for investors."

ROYAL CANADIAN MINT'S "MILLION DOLLAR COIN" AND $100,000 COIN IN METRO TORONTO

The Royal Canadian Mint's 100 kg Gold Maple Leaf bullion $1-million coin, making its first appearance in Metro Toronto, was deemed the world's largest gold coin by the Guinness World Records in October 2007. Valued at more than $5 million, it represents the highest achievement in gold purity in today's bullion market. The Mint is proud to bring this exclusive showpiece to the headquarters of one of its most important Canadian distributors.

"We congratulate Canadian PMX and Canadian Coin & Currency for showing their leadership and innovation in collector coin and precious metal retailing and for putting the customer first by making investing and collecting easier and more enjoyable," says Beverley Lepine, Chief Operating Officer, Royal Canadian Mint. "The Royal Canadian Mint values partners who are committed to excellence, and the world-class showrooms and on-line store launched by Canadian Coin & Currency and Canadian PMX are exceptional platforms for the Mint's industry-leading collector and bullion products."

This 100 kg .99999 pure gold bullion coin was first introduced in May 2007 to showcase the Royal Canadian Mint's line of .99999 pure one-ounce Gold Maple Leaf bullion coins. The reverse of the coin features an elegant maple leaf designed by the Royal Canadian Mint artist and senior engraver, Stan Witten. The coin's opposite side portrays an effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II designed by celebrated Canadian portrait artist, Susanna Blunt.

Just newly released and on display will be the 10 kg .99999 pure gold collector coin with a face value of $100,000. Introduced on October 21, 2011, this coin is the world's first 10 kg gold coin crafted of 99.99% pure gold. The reverse features Bill Reid's The Spirit of Haida Gwaii, while the opposite face portrays Susanna Blunt's portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The exclusive mintage of 15 pieces makes this a unique collector piece, and two of them will be available for purchase through Canadian PMX.

PUBLIC VIEWING: THE ROYAL CANADIAN MINT'S GOLD MAPLE LEAF BULLION COIN

For the Canadian PMX grand opening celebrations, the Royal Canadian Mint's Gold Maple Leaf bullion coin is available for public viewing today at the Canadian PMX showroom, located at 10355 Yonge Street (former Bank of Nova Scotia building), Richmond Hill, between 9:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. ET. The event marks the coin's first appearance in Metro Toronto.

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United States Mint to Celebrate the Release of the Chickasaw National Recreation Area Quarter on November 16

WASHINGTON, Nov. 7, 2011 -- /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Officials from the United States Mint, the National Park Service and the Oklahoma state legislature — along with scores of local schoolchildren — will celebrate the release of the Chickasaw National Recreation Area Quarter on November 16, 2011. The ceremony will take place 11:00 a.m. Central Time (CT), in Flower Park on the grounds of the Chickasaw National Recreation Area. Highlights of the free event will include a coin exchange where the public can swap their cash for $10 coin rolls containing the new Chickasaw National Recreation Area Quarter.

WHAT: Presentation of the Chickasaw National Recreation Area Quarter and Coin Exchange

WHO: B.B. Craig, Associate Director, Sales and Marketing, United States MintWes Hilliard, State Representative, Oklahoma Bruce Noble, Superintendent, Chickasaw National Recreation AreaDr. Amanda Cobb-Greetham, Administrator, Chickasaw Nation History and CultureColin Campbell, Deputy Regional Director, Intermountain Region, National Park Service

WHEN: Wednesday, November 16, 2011, 11:00 a.m. (CT)

WHERE: Chickasaw National Recreation AreaFlower ParkSulphur, OK 73086
The evening before the launch ceremony — Tuesday, November 15, at 7:00 p.m. — the United States Mint will host a coin forum at the Travertine Nature Center Auditorium in the Chickasaw National Recreation Area. The Coin Forum is an opportunity for the public to express their views about future coinage and to learn about upcoming United States Mint coin programs and initiatives.

The Chickasaw National Recreation Area Quarter is the 10th coin in the United States Mint America the Beautiful Quarters® Program, a 12-year initiative to honor 56 national parks and other national sites authorized by Public Law 110-456. Each year, the public will see five new national sites depicted on the reverse (tails side) of the America the Beautiful Quarters. The United States Mint will issue these quarters in the order in which the honored site was first established as a national site.

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Read more: http://www.sacbee.com/2011/11/07/4036521/united-states-mint-to-celebrate.html#ixzz1d4bNWfaH

Call to adopt Cornwall currency

A Cornwall charity chief has suggested the county considers adopting its own currency.

Ian Jones, chief executive of Volunteer Cornwall, said the county should be considering "radical ideas" to protect its economy in the economic downturn.

He said the currency could be modelled on local currencies such as the Totnes and Lewes pounds which were created by the Transition Network movement.

The currencies are accepted in local shops to keep money in the communities.

Mr Jones said: "Communities create wealth but too often it is siphoned out.

"We have to keep wealth local."

He said authorities should "plan for the kind of Cornwall we want for ourselves and our children".

Mr Jones said: "It's no good if we endlessly talk about our problems, we need to start doing something positive now if we are to avoid being at the mercy of the global storm which is currently raging."

Several Cornish mining areas in the 19th Century set up their own banks and issued their own banknotes.

In 1974 banknotes were issued by pressure group the Cornish Stannary Parliament partly to "raise money to aid it in the restitution of Cornwall's legal right to partially govern itself".

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Source; http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-15612321

The U.S. Mint's presidential dollar coin series

The U.S. Mint's presidential dollar coin series is all the way up to Rutherford B. Hayes, the Republican who served as our 19^th president from 1877-81. Most Americans haven't even seen the George Washington coin yet, and don't want to.

Three out of four voters responding to a recent poll said they opposed the latest effort to switch from paper currency to dollar coins. That explains why the coins, 1.2 billion of them and counting, are stacking up in Federal Reserve vaults instead of finding their way in and out of our pockets.

But the mint keeps stamping them out, in accordance with a 2005 law that requires it to issue dollar coins bearing the likeness of all the dead presidents. That means the pile will keep growing until at least 2016 unless something changes. But what?

Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., is sponsoring a bill that would halt production of dollar coins whenever there's a surplus. (Sorry, Chester A. Arthur!) Massachusetts is home to Crane & Co., which makes the paper that's used to print dollar bills. Kerry's measure is supported by paper and ink manufacturers, the armored car industry, and the Mount Vernon Ladies Association.

Rep. David Schweikert, R-Ariz., meanwhile, is pushing a bill that would phase out paper currency, forcing Americans to use those dollar coins, which are made mostly of copper, one of his state's biggest resources. His bill is supported by mining interests, transit agencies and the coin vending industry.

For the general public, you'd think it would be a matter of heads or tails. In daily use, the advantages and disadvantages of paper vs. metal are slight. Coins weigh more than bills, but they're not oppressively heavy, and how many do you really need to carry around? If you want to purchase a soda from a vending machine, a dollar coin is less hassle than either a bill or a handful of smaller change, but again, what's the big deal?

But the dollar bill isn't going to go away by itself. Witness the lack of enthusiasm for Susan B. Anthony, Sacagawea and all those U.S. presidents. Canadians, though, love their "loonie." Canada phased out paper dollars over two years after introducing the coin in 1987. Commerce was not upended.

Americans are funny about their money. A full 63 percent of those responding to the coin versus paper poll said they'd be less likely to support a candidate who favored replacing dollar bills with coins. Yet in poll after poll, they oppose getting rid of the penny, even though it costs nearly 2 cents to make and ends up left next to the cash register or dropped in a jar. Change is hard.

But this one's overdue. Printing paper dollars is a waste of money we don't have. Schweikert's bill has found support among members of the deficit-busting "supercommittee" looking for $1.5 trillion in federal budget cuts.

A dollar bill costs 5.5 cents to make and lasts about three years; a dollar coin costs 31 cents and lasts 30 years or more. Switching from paper to metal could save $5.6 billion over 30 years, or $184 million a year, according to the Government Accountability Office.

Critics say the supercommittee is rummaging for coins in the couch cushions. We say do it. Since when is $184 million chump change?

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Source:http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/ct-edit-dollar-20111104,0,631321.story

Three Things You Should Know Before Buying Gold Coins

Recent news stories questioning what some dealers charge when selling gold coins reinforces what experts have advised for years: do your homework first. Investors should become knowledgeable before purchasing precious metal bullion coins as a financial investment or economic hedge, according to officials of the Professional Numismatists Guild (www.PNGdealers.com).

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

Price: Gold Investors should be aware that gold bullion coins trade at a small premium over the actual spot gold price because they are minted by sovereign governments that charge a fabrication fee. The spot gold price is based on 100 ounce or larger .999 fine gold bars. Gold bullion coins ranging from 1/10 oz to one ounces trade at 3% to 15% premium over spot, based on the coin, it’s size (for example, 1/10th, 1/4th, 1/2 or 1 full ounce), and the quantity being purchased. Many major gold bullion dealers typically will sell a single, one-ounce gold American Eagle gold coin at approximately four to five percent over the current spot/melt value (and purchase them from customers at about two percent less than their selling price.) American Eagles, Canadian Maple leafs and South African Krugerrands are some of the most popular gold bullion coins. Investors should contact several creditable precious metal dealers and shop for the best price.

Bullion vs. Collector Coins: Investors should distinguish between bullion coins whose values generally fluctuate according to the current price of gold, silver or platinum, and “rare coins” that can carry a significant collector premium based on historical supply and demand. Some U.S. gold and silver coins may be readily available in circulated condition for a modest premium over their bullion content, but those same coins in superb condition may have significantly higher value — perhaps thousands of dollars above their melt value.

Delivery: Under normal conditions, delivery of coins you’ve purchased should be received with 10 to 14 days. However, if at the time of purchase the seller may be aware of a mint delivery problem, it should be disclosed to you that there may be a delay. The PNG does not recommend having coins stored by dealers, instead, verified storage at an independent, accredited depositary is acceptable for many investors, especially if it involves a large quantity of gold.

Members of the Professional Numismatists Guild must adhere to a Collector’s Bill of Rights and a Code of Ethics that prohibit use of high pressure sales tactics and misrepresentation of the value of items being sold. PNG members must demonstrate knowledge, responsibility and integrity in their business dealings. They also must agree to binding arbitration to settle unresolved disagreements over numismatic property.

A complete list of PNG member-dealers can be found online at www.PNGdealers.com.

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Source: http://news.coinupdate.com/three-things-you-should-know-before-buying-gold-coins-1034/

Young Indians Buy Old Coins as Investment

At a time when investors are shying away from the highly volatile stock market, an unusual asset class is gaining traction among young investors in India. Old coins and bank notes some dating back to the early 1900s are commanding a premium among Indians looking for returns and memorabilia.

photosindia | Getty Images Close-up for an antique Indian one rupee coin

As trade is limited to small dealers and collectors, there is no organized data available on the size and value of the Indian market for old coins and evidence of growth is mostly anecdotal. But market watchers say the number of participants in coin auctions has doubled over the past five years.

For example, on eBay [EBAY 31.05 -0.78 (-2.45%) ] , Indian numismatics accounted for about 11 percent of all 2010 transactions, with a coin or note bought every four minutes, according to the website’s 2011 census.

There are also several coin shows held across the country every year. According to industry sources there are currently an estimated 10,000 coin collectors across India and they are on the rise.

"A few years ago coin collecting was just a hobby, but now it has become an investment. I have been dealing in coins since 1980 and things have been very good in recent years, and will be even better in years to come," says Rajneesh Jain, a Delhi-based dealer of coins and stamps, and the founding member of the Delhi Coin Society.

He adds that young collectors in the age group of 25-35 are driving growth. Anurag Varshney, 38, a software engineer has been collecting coins seriously for the past 10 years. "I started by picking up anything and everything, but now I focus on coins from one period. I'm trying to collect the whole set," says Varshney.

Coin dealers who spoke to CNBC say that new collectors keep entering the market pushing prices up. "Every time a new coin collector enters the market, prices immediately go up five to 10 percent, and then gradually even more, because of limited availability of the items they want," says Jain.

On average, he says, coin collectors can expect a ten fold return over three years, although in some rare cases, it can be far higher.

One of the most popular coins on the market today, says Jain, is a silver one-rupee coin from 1939, bearing the profile of King George VI. When Jain entered the business in 1980 the coin sold for just 750 rupees, now it can fetch 175,000 rupees ($3,500), if one comes up for sale as it is quite rare. "It's a supply and demand thing,” says Jain. According to him the silver coin issued in 1939 is rare to find today as most of the coins from that time were either melted, or withheld by the government.

There are other examples, says Jain, such as the 2001 limited edition commemorative 100 rupee coin that sold for 1,400 rupees at the time, and is now worth 20,000 rupees. Or the 1985 coin, also for 100 rupees, that is now worth 100,000 rupees. Or the coin collection consisting of 55 pieces dating from 1969 to 2005, that is now worth 500,000 rupees - five times the price at which it was last sold at an auction five years ago.

But before you start investing in coins, experts advise you do your homework. And the best place to start is the Internet. Learn how to recognize a counterfeit, investigate what ‘antique’ means, which can be difficult as there are no set regulations and interpretations differ. Also learn how coins are valued based on factors such as quality, age and demand. And importantly, know your market. In India, the demand is primarily for Indian coins, so experts advise against buying foreign coins.

While coin collecting can be a lucrative business, financial experts point out that it is an industry that is unregulated, lacks transparency and has poor liquidity. "I wouldn’t recommend an investor allocate more than 5 percent of their portfolio to old coins, it's just too risky," says Rohit Bhuta, Chief Executive Officer of Religare Macquarie Private Wealth. "The relative lack of transparency makes it hard to establish what and how much is out there. So I advise clients to treat them as a collector's item they get joy from, with the potential of a handsome return down the track."

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Source: http://www.cnbc.com/id/45099555