Fast Women

Martha and Abigail apparently sold out in three hours at the mint. Those lucky enough to get in are selling on eBay for approximately double a few days later.

The Eagle Flies On Tuesday

Proof Silver Eagles are shipping starting today, May 8th. If you can't get me Canada's largest gold coin from my wish list then I will settle for a silver eagle.

The Good Old Days

Security was much more lax back then.

Further, the original Mint was located adjacent to a small lot owned by a private individual who maintained rights of passage through Mint property, thus disrupting daily work.

Scandal?

George Washington's Second Director of the Mint, Henry William de Saussure, served only four months. The first gold coin was minted during his short tenure. Political rivals Jefferson and Hamilton both wanted control of the mint. Mr. de Saussure wrote a letter defending his job as director of the mint. However, it is diffcult to find details of the controversy.

The University of South Carolina has a college named after de Saussure. There is no hint of scandal at the mint on that page.

Add This To My Wish List

Canada Creates 100 kilo gold coin. It's face value is $1 million and costs over $2 million. It is as large as a car tire giving new meaning to the phrase "spare change."

Arizona Chooses Quarter

I think it is actually kind of pretty.

Washington State Quarter

The Washington State Quarter First Day Cover is now available.

Oklahoma Chooses Bird

It may not be the worst design ever. Will the poor scissor-tailed flycatcher suffer the curse the United States Quarters?

Oklahoma's Quarter Voting

The voting ends Friday, April the 27th.

From The Land Of Enchantment

New Mexico has picked its winning design.

Alaska Chooses Quarter

Hopefully, the curse of the State Quarters won't hit bears and salmon after Alaska chose that as their design. Salmon, of course, are suffering from a double whammy because they are also on Washington State's quarter.

Hawaii Rejects Hula Dancer

They chose the guy throwing the islands into the water instead of the topless hula dancer. At least they didn't go with the surfing coin.

Coin Auctions on eBay

For the week ending April 22, 2007 (approximate price ranges):

• American Gold Proof Buffalo
  • 2006 $725-795
• Silver Proof Sets with State Quarters


• 1999-2006 $640-740
• 1999 $340-380
• 2000 $50-55
• 2001 $152-162
• 2002 $56-64
• 2003 $37-51
• 2004 $37-43
• 2005 $31-41
• 2006 $24-37

U.S. Mint's First Director

David Rittenhouse was the first director of the U.S. Mint. He was a world famous astronomer. He also made the compass (shown at right) for George Washington. However the first run of coins from the newly minted mint was not astronomical. Apparently, it was 11,178 pennies. One of them is considered proof quality. It sold in 2004 for nearly $400,000. The coin did not meet with critical acclaim.

Presidential Coin Firsts

The new $1 Presidential Coins has two firsts:

• First U.S. Coin with edge lettering.
• First U.S. Coin without the word "Liberty" engraved.

Alaska's State Quarter Poll

Alaska's poll is among four coins. Before you vote on one you might want to consider the curse of the state quarter before you do!

Hawaii State Quarter Poll Closes Today!

How often will you get to vote for a hula dancer?


The state's description says the coin depicts "a traditional, culturally accurate female hula dancer" Is that code for topless?

Coin Week Poll By Coinstar

When Coinstar isn't busy charging sky high rates for converting your coins into dollars they did something interesting. They commissioned a poll about who would Americans like to see on a coin besides the U.S. Presidents. Surprise, the answer isn't Kelly or Justin. Some bad news for this set - apparently 25% are going to avoid the Presidential coins altogether.

Pretty Fast For An Old Man

The George Washington covers went on sale April 4th, 2007.



50,000 sold out in less than two weeks.

You Know Your Currency Is Cooked When...

Melt a penny, go to jail. There are some exceptions.

Some of the exceptions allow for small amounts of these coins to be exported as pocket change, and for recreational and numismatic purposes. Other exceptions include the treatment of minor quantities of these coins for educational, amusement, novelty, jewelry and similar purposes.

They do mention that a penny's copper is worth more than the penny. This is especially sad because a penny is only 2.5% copper.

Arizona's Quarter Candidates

Arizona's Gov. Janet Napolitano has a poll for the Arizona State quarter. At least the Navajo Code talkers coin doesn't have them being impaled on a piece pipe.

National Coin Week?

Most people know this as pay your taxes week. They may not care that is National Coin Week. Some clubs are spending specially marked state quarters worth cash and prizes.

Poor Oklahoma

You can vote for the finalists here. (Oklahoma residents only?) The pioneer woman looks like she is being impaled by a peace pipe in two of them. One of them looks like an oil derrick sprouting wheat. The other looks like pioneer woman is going to make her child go work in the fields. (Does OK have child labor laws?) The last one is a bird.

I Got One!

I just received my 2006 Buffalo Gold Coin. It is beautiful.