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March 13/08 - No more penny for your thoughts. It's 1.7 cents. And start thinking more of the nickel, because it's worth a dime.

Those are the U.S. Treasury costs of minting the penny and nickel, thanks to metal prices shooting up by as much as 450 percent since 2003. With congressional lawmakers trying to right the lopsided ledger of making money, the pennies in your purse may soon be made of steel but treated to retain the copper color.

"Never before in our nation's history has the government spent more money to mint and issue a coin than the coin's legal tender value," Edmund Moy, director of the United States Mint, wrote in testimony submitted at Tuesday's hearing before the House Financial Services Committee's panel on monetary policy.

"With each new penny and nickel we issue, we also increase the national debt by almost as much as the coin is worth, and these losses are rapidly mounting."

Changing the metals or the percentage mix in coins could save the Treasury about $30 million a year for the penny and $70 million for the nickel under the proposed Coin Modernization and Taxpayer Savings Act of 2008, supporters said.

The bill would give the Treasury the flexibility to revamp the metal and weight makeup of all coins in response to metal prices. It would require the department to immediately stem losses over the one-cent coin by making pennies primarily of steel within 180 days of the law's passage.

Since 2003, copper and nickel prices have shot up 300 percent and zinc up to 450 percent, according to the subcommittee.

When high supply drove down prices more than a decade ago, mining slowed considerably and the dwindling supply started driving up prices, said Bart Melek, a Toronto-based global commodities strategist with BMO Capital Markets, a financial services provider. For example, he said, zinc averaged $828 per ton in 2003 and last year it averaged $3,249.

But lately, developing Asia countries have been gobbling up base metals -- copper for computers and pipes, zinc as an anti-rust agent and nickel for stainless steel.

"China has been growing in the double digits in the past four years," Melek said. "All of a sudden, it's become the consumer of base metals as they build up their infrastructure."

Some lawmakers are concerned about giving the Treasury full power to alter coins. Last year's version of the bill sank partly when the National Automatic Merchandising Association warned of multimillion-dollar costs to retool vending machines for new coins.

The Treasury has produced coins since 1792. In 1943, zinc-coated steel pennies were made because copper was a huge wartime demand. When industry demanded more silver, the Mint in 1965 started cladding the dime, quarter and half-dollar coins in cupro nickel. In 1982, copper prices prompted pennies to change to its current copper-plated zinc.

~ Michael Lambert, Assistant Director, Division of Reserve Bank Operations and Payment Systems at the Federal Reserve Board, spent the first new $5 bill on a book of President Lincoln’s speeches. President Lincoln’s portrait continues to be featured on this redesign of the $5 bill. The redesigned $5 bill’s enhanced security features help ensure we stay ahead of counterfeiters and protect your hard-earned money,” Lambert said. “It only takes a few seconds to check the new $5 bill to make sure it’s genuine. If you know how to check its security features, you can easily be confident it’s real.”

Today, Federal Reserve banks will begin distributing the redesigned $5 bills to customer banks, which will then distribute them to businesses and consumers. The new $5 bill designs will circulate first in the U.S. and gradually spread to other countries as international banks place orders for them from the Federal Reserve. You don’t have to trade in your old bills for new ones. Both the new $5 bills and the older-design $5 bills will continue to maintain their full face value.

The new $5 bill incorporates state-of-the-art security features that are easy to use by cash handlers and consumers alike. Hold the bill to the light to check for these features:

* Watermarks: There are now two watermarks on the redesigned $5 bill. A large number “5″ watermark is located in a blank space to the right of the portrait replacing the previous watermark portrait of President Lincoln found on the older-design $5 bills. A second watermark – a column of three smaller “5″s – has been added to the new $5 bill design and is positioned to the left of the portrait.
* Security Thread: The embedded security thread runs vertically and is now located to the right of the portrait on the redesigned $5 bill. The letters “USA” followed by the number “5″ in an alternating pattern are visible along the thread from both sides of the bill. The thread glows blue when held under ultraviolet light.

President Lincoln’s Cottage at the Soldiers’ Home in Washington, D.C. (www.lincolncottage.org), which has recently been restored and is now open to the public, was chosen as the location to spend the first new $5 bill because of its historic significance to President Lincoln, the subject of the bill’s portrait. President Lincoln established the United States Secret Service the same evening he was assassinated and made safeguarding the nation’s currency from counterfeiters the agency’s primary mission.

Every person or business that gets a counterfeit bill experiences a real economic loss, and in 2007, $61.4 million in counterfeit money was passed in the United States.

“Everyone who uses U.S. currency is on the front line of defense against counterfeiters,” said Michael Merritt, Deputy Assistant Director, U.S. Secret Service. “The best way to protect yourself is to learn the security features. It’s simple, it’s quick, and it can save you from accepting a fake.”

Treasurer of the United States Anna Escobedo Cabral encouraged businesses and individuals to visit www.moneyfactory.gov/newmoney to order or download educational materials about the new $5 bill and other recently redesigned currency, including the $10, $20 and $50 bills. “Each time we introduce a new bill, we provide the information businesses and individuals need to empower themselves – to learn how to use the security features and verify that a bill is genuine.”

Free educational materials are available to businesses, financial institutions, trade and professional associations, citizen groups and individuals to prepare cash handlers and consumers to recognize the new design and protect themselves against counterfeits. Since 2003, the U.S. government has distributed about 80 million pieces of public education and training materials about the new $5, $10, $20 and $50 bill redesigns. Materials are available to order or download in multiple languages at www.moneyfactory.gov/newmoney.

Manufacturers and users of cash-handling equipment are also an important audience for education about new currency designs. “Because the $5 bill is used so heavily in vending, self-service and transit farecard machines, we began working with the manufacturers of those and other cash-oriented machines in 2006 to make sure they had enough time to make the necessary adjustments that would allow for their machines to accept the new $5 bill,” said Pamela Gardiner, Deputy Director of the Treasury’s Bureau of Engraving and Printing.

As with the redesigned $10, $20 and $50 bills that preceded it, the new $5 bill features an American symbol of freedom printed in the background. The Great Seal of the United States, featuring an eagle and shield, is printed in purple on the front of the bill. Additional design elements include:

The large, easy-to-read number “5″ in the lower right corner on the back of the bill, which helps those with visual impairments distinguish the denomination, has been enlarged in the new $5 bill design and is printed in high-contrast purple ink. The oval borders around President Lincoln’s portrait on the front and the Lincoln Memorial vignette on the back have been removed. Both engravings have been enhanced.
Small yellow “05″s are printed to the left of the portrait on the front of the bill and to the right of the Lincoln Memorial vignette on the back. The new $5 bill’s most noticeable design difference is the addition of light purple in the center of the bill, which blends into gray near the edges. Because color can be duplicated, consumers and cash-handlers should use the key security features – on the new $5 bill, the watermarks and security thread – not color, to check the authenticity of paper money.

March 07/08 - Former banking and investment executive and life-long coin collector Larry Shepherd has been named the new executive director of the American Numismatic Association, President Barry Stuppler announced today.

Shepherd, whose appointment was announced during opening ceremonies of the Phoenix National Money Show at 9:45 a.m., is an ANA Life Member (#5036) and owner and president of Simco Numismatics in Cincinnati, Ohio. Prior to founding Simco in 1989, he spent 17 years in the banking and investment community, including 14 years in executive management.

February 29/08 - A penny for your thoughts? Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson thinks the answer to that question should be not much. In fact, if he had his way, he would like to get rid of the penny. Asked Friday whether he thought the penny should be eliminated, Paulson agreed that it would make sense, saying, "The penny is worth less than any other currency."

However, he quickly added that he didn't think it was "politically doable" to eliminate the one-cent coin and it wasn't something he planned to tackle in the final year of the Bush administration. "I've got enough challenges to take on," he said in an interview on the "Spike O'Dell Show" on Chicago's WGN radio. O'Dell also asked Paulson, who made a fortune as the head of investment giant Goldman Sachs before joining the Bush Cabinet, how much money he carried in his pocket. "I walk around with very little cash in my pocket," he said, depending instead on credit cards "like everyone else."

Paulson said he did carry a few dollar bills with him to sign for people who ask for autographs. The signatures of the Treasury secretary and the U.S. Treasurer are carried on not just the dollar bill but all U.S. currency. Asked about Paulson's penny comments, Treasury spokeswoman Brookly McLaughlin said that Treasury has not taken any steps to eliminate the penny but is considering changing the metal content to lower production costs. "To address the growing cost of producing the penny, we have asked Congress for the authority to adjust the metal content in our coins," she said.

~ Coin collectors can rest easy. President Bush today signed into law a bill that will continue the minting of $1 Sacagawea coins in 2008, but only for numismatic purposes. No more will be produced for general circulation until next year.

The legislation whizzed through Congress this week, as lawmakers scrambled to correct an error in a law enacted last year that calls for circulating new Sacagawea coins starting in January 2009 that will feature a regularly changing reverse celebrating different Native American themes.

In drafting that law, the sponsors forgot to allow continued production of the existing coin in 2008, however. That meant that “many of the standard U.S. Mint products the coin-collecting public is expecting to order and receive this year, such as annual proof and uncirculated sets, will not include a 2008 Sacagawea dollar,” warned Rep. Gwen Moore , D-WI., in explaining the need for the new bill.

The fix, she said, was important “for coin collectors nationwide and for the popularity of the Sacagawea dollar coin.”

Rep. Rob Bishop , R-Utah, joined in urging the bill’s enactment. “It does not cost the taxpayers a dime, or in this case, it doesn’t cost them a dollar,” he said.

Instead, he said, the new law will assure that collectors will have a chance to buy five million to 10 million U.S. Mint proof sets of the old Sacagawea coin design that otherwise would not be available.

“Next year new dollar coins will start circulating alongside the presidential dollars, still bearing the image of Sacagawea on the front but once a year having a different reverse design representing the contributions of Native Americans to our heritage,” Bishop said.

February 22/08 - David Lawrence Rare Coins just completed the acquisition of PCI and is currently in the process of transferring the company’s assets from Georgia to Virginia. First, let me say that I am very excited about this venture and you can expect great things to come from this new, old grading company.

A little history…PCI is one of the oldest grading companies in numismatics. Originally founded around 1988, the company was named Hallmark, and though it was short-lived, coins in Hallmark holders have always been considered quality-graded items. There was a lot of integrity with that company.

The company then sold to new owners and was renamed PCI (short for Photo Certification Institute). The early PCI holders were also well respected and savvy collectors and dealers alike still covet the green-label PCI coins. Eventually, the company changed hands a few more times…and over the years the quality of the grading has suffered. I will be surprised if the changing of hands will improve the grading accuracy that will equal that of PCGS and NGC.

Heads is easy: The current portrait, in use since 1909, will remain. Tails is tough. The U.S. Mint has come up with dozens of ideas for the backs of four pennies to commemorate the bicentennial of Lincoln’s birth in 2009. Pursuant to an act of Congress, one of the pennies must depict Lincoln’s early life in Kentucky, where he was born. The second is supposed to show his formative years in Indiana. The third will reflect his life in Illinois, and the fourth is supposed to represent Lincoln’s presidential years.

But two advisory committees to the U.S. Treasury haven’t been able to agree on the designs. One, the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee, has rejected every proposal from the mint for Lincoln’s presidential years. In late January, they came up with their own idea: a picture of a cannon.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, which includes several architects, has favored buildings, including the Old State Capitol for Lincoln’s years in Illinois and the Capitol building in Washington for his tenure as president. Instead of the Old State Capitol, the citizens committee picked a beardless Lincoln holding a document to commemorate his years in Illinois.

With Kentucky, almost everyone agreed it was a question of deciding which picture of a log cabin looked best. “It’s classic,” said John Alexander, a history professor at the University of Cincinnati who sits on the citizens committee.

Indiana was a bit trickier, but the committees were both in the same ballpark, with the citizens panel picking a picture of Lincoln writing and the arts commission choosing a close-up of Lincoln’s hands holding a quill pen. Controversy grew as Lincoln aged.

The citizens committee, at the behest of the federal Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission, considered a motion that Stephen Douglas, Lincoln’s opponent in a series of debates during the 1858 U.S. Senate race, not be pictured. That didn’t sit well with Gary Marks, city manager of Whitefish, Mont., who sits on the citizens group. “That’s how Lincoln rose to national prominence was the Lincoln-Douglas debates,” Marks said.

Marks doesn’t favor featuring the Old State Capitol, and he’s not alone. The Old State Capitol was the arts commission’s top choice, but it didn’t finish in the top five when the citizens committee voted. It’s not the building so much as what’s practical on a penny that measures three-quarters of an inch in diameter, Marks explained. “Blown up, maybe it looks wonderful,” Marks said. “You reduce that down, imagine how big Lincoln is. A few millimeters?”

The Rev. Richard Meier of Rockford agreed that the Old State Capitol just wasn’t good enough.
“It’s not that we were totally opposed to it,” Meier said. “It’s just that there were better depictions.”

Reaching consensus on how to depict Lincoln’s presidential years has proven impossible. The arts commission first endorsed a half-completed Capitol dome to commemorate Lincoln’s decision to keep construction going while the Civil War raged. The commission later changed its mind and decided on a completed Capitol building.
The citizens committee, however, rejected every proposal from the mint last fall and asked for more ideas. Lincoln, committee members said, needed to be shown as a wartime president, perhaps visiting troops. At least one committee member suggested an image commemorating the Emancipation Proclamation.

When the committee met again in January, the mint presented more than a dozen new images, including Lincoln signing the Emancipation Proclamation and Lincoln in his trademark stovepipe hat, according to Coin World. Again, the committee said no to each one. A picture of Lincoln standing next to a cannon was the best of a bad lot, the committee decided, and so it recommended removing Lincoln and showing just a cannon with “E Pluribus Unum” on the coin’s bottom and “The Union Preserved” on top.

“The committee doesn’t usually get into redesigning the options the mint gives us, but in this case, we did,” Marks said. “I just think there’s honest disagreements on what the design should be.” Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson will make the final call and gets to pick any design he likes. Michael White, spokesman for the U.S. Mint, said he does not know when Paulson will decide.

A design for a Lincoln dollar coin, which will be considerably larger than a penny, has been less controversial, with both committees agreeing to a picture of Lincoln’s head on the front and a passage from the Gettysburg Address on the back. In 2010, a new permanent penny will be minted to replace Lincoln Memorial with a depiction of Lincoln unifying the nation.

When it comes to tails, Marks has a hands-down favorite. “I love the wheat penny,” he said. “It’s too bad we can’t bring that back for one year.”

Who Chooses? Two advisory committees review designs for new coins. The secretary of the Treasury makes the final call. The committees:
- Established in 2003, the 11-member Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee recommends artwork for coins based on choices presented by the U.S. Mint.
- Created in 1910, the seven-member U.S. Commission of Fine Arts provides advice on monuments and historic preservation in Washington as well as on coin design.

Lincoln panel announces $700K in grants The Illinois Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission on Monday announced $700,000 in state grants to 25 projects throughout the state aimed at commemorating the 200th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s birth.

The winners range from the Tour de Lincoln, a 360-mile bicycle tour through Kentucky, Indiana and Illinois that will receive $2,000 in state help, to the Tinsley Project, which will get $60,000 to help restore Lincoln’s law office, a courtroom and a dry-goods store in downtown Springfield.

Other grants winners include:
- The Illinois State Library to help fund an essay contest for schoolchildren. The $3,153 grant will be used to promote the contest.

- Network Knowledge of Springfield, which will use a $42,593 grant to produce videos about Lincoln that will be distributed to schools and libraries.

- Springfield College-Benedictine University, which will receive $7,645 to publish a literary journal.

- Jacksonville Area Lincoln Bicentennial Commission, which is getting $49,517 to distribute a book about Lincoln to schoolchildren and promote reading, writing and the arts.

- Main Street Lincoln in Logan County will get $56,000 to create an information kiosk, brochures, signs and a painting of Lincoln delivering a speech.

- Eight Lincoln-Douglas debate traveling exhibits will be created at a cost of $25,311 and given to eight cities: Alton, Galesburg, Freeport, Quincy, Charleston, Jonesboro, Ottawa and Springfield.

In addition to the grants, the commission announced a contest to pick a person to read excerpts of Lincoln speeches and writings for public service announcements to be distributed to radio stations. To enter the Voice of Lincoln competition, contestants must record themselves reading two scripts available online at lincoln200.net.

~ The 2000-P "Extra Beard" Lincoln Cent doubled die variety shows hub doubling on Lincoln's neck, along the left side of the beard. According to variety coin expert Ken Potter, who first reported the Extra Beard variety in Numismatic News, the doubling was probably the result of a misalignment of the die during the hubbing process at the Mint. The doubling appears near the center of the coin, consistent with other doubled die varieties that have been found since the Mint began using the single-step hubbing process. What makes this coin different is that the doubling is offset, or turned to the side, which means that the Mint worker who did the hubbing may have first placed the die into the machine rotated a little bit. When the kiss of the metal occurred, an

impression of the small "extra beard" area was made before the die seated to true. Since the Mint releases very little information about its processes, a fair bit of this is educated speculation, but the explanation seems to make sense.

Extra Beard Variety Diagnostics
As shown in the photos, the extra portion of beard runs along the left edge of the normal beard, with the "beard hairs" going in a downward direction rather than forward. In addition, the specimen Potter examined shows trails on the edges of the letters of LIBERTY (see second photo.) These trails appear at the southwest corner of the letters LIB and extend a short distance southwest. These trails have been noted before on Lincoln Memorial Cents, but the cause has never been determined by experts. Some kind of hubbing mishap or misalignment is widely believed to be the method by which the marks are being made, but the mechanics of how it happens are a mystery. Perhaps the Extra Beard rotational doubling error will help experts determine a more certain explanation for the trails.

The specimen in the photos was discovered by James P. McCarthy of Wisconsin, and first reported via email to Numismatic News on January 1, 2008. According to Potter, at least two other specimens showing this kind of Extra Beard doubling are known by other variety experts, but they don't know yet if they all come from the same dies.

Find Your Own Extra Beard Penny
If you would like to search for the Extra Beard variety yourself, examine Lincoln Cents struck since 1996, and check carefully along the left side of Lincoln's beard for the extra downward marks. You can also check for the southwest trails extending from LIBERTY, as these trails are known on several dates now. Although we know for sure that the Extra Beard Penny was found in cents minted at Philadelphia in 2000, there is no reason why they shouldn't turn up for other dates and mints as well. As soon as someone discovers doubling in a new area or type of coin, the floodgates seem to open and all kinds of reports start coming in. Perhaps you will be the first to discover and report the Extra Beard variety on another date of Lincoln Cent!

Offered at $32.95, the two-roll sets include one roll each of 40 coins bearing the “D” and “P” mintmarks. The coins are wrapped in distinctive packaging bearing the 50 State Quarters logo, the mint of origin, the official state abbreviation and the dollar value of the contents. The 100- and 1,000-coin bags are offered at $32.95 and $309.95, respectively. Each canvas bag has a tag with the mint of origin and the monetary value of its contents ($25 or $250).

The Oklahoma quarter bags and rolls will be available for approximately 10 weeks. Customers may submit their orders for these options at the United States Mint’s toll-free number, 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468). Hearing- and speech-impaired customers with TTY equipment may call 1-888-321-MINT (6468). Domestic orders include a $4.95 fee per order for shipping and handling. Because of their size and weight, an additional charge of $7.95 per bag will be applied to orders for 1,000-coin quarter bags.

As an added convenience, customers may enroll in the United States Mint’s Online Subscription Program to receive future bags and rolls when they are released. For more information about this ordering method, please visit www.usmint.gov.

January 23/08 - The United States Mint announced today that sales of the 2008 United States Mint 50 State Quarters Proof SetTM will open on January 24 at 12:00 noon (ET). This year’s set, still priced at $13.95, contains the five commemorative quarter-dollars honoring Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona, Alaska and Hawaii in proof condition. These are the final quarters in the popular 50 State Quarters® Program, which introduced the joy of coin collecting to millions of Americans.

The term “proof” refers to a manufacturing process in which specially-treated coin blanks are struck multiple times using specially-polished dies. Proof coins-unlike coins produced for general circulation-are extraordinarily brilliant, with sharp relief and a mirror-like background. A frosted, sculpted foreground gives these coins a special cameo effect.

Each proof coin in the 50 State Quarters Proof Set bears the “S” mint mark denoting production at the United States Mint at San Francisco. The coins are sealed in a case that is housed in a specially printed box. A United States Mint Certificate of Authenticity is included.

To submit an order for the 2008 United States Mint 50 State Quarters Proof Set, customers may call the United States Mint’s toll-free number, 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468). Hearing- and speech-impaired customers may order by calling 1-888-321-MINT (6468). A shipping and handling fee of $4.95 will be added to all domestic orders.

January 21/08 - Court summonses were served to Barry Stuppler, president of the American Numismatic Association, and Gary Adkins, president of the Professional Numismatists Guild, Jan. 10 on the floor of the Florida United Numismatists convention in Orlando.

The summonses spring from a lawsuit filed by National Numismatic Certification LLC; ASA Accugrade, Inc.; PCI Coin Grading, Inc.; Sovereign Entities Grading Service, Inc.; Treasure Gallery, Inc., and Centsles, Inc., against the two numismatic groups and against eBay claiming defamation and interfering with business.

The suit was filed in United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida. Adkins commented that he referred the court papers to the PNG attorney, Armen Vartian, for response. Stuppler said he referred the summons to ANA legal counsel Ron Sirna.

The new lawsuit became a hot topic of discussion at an ANA public forum on a number of matters that ran for nearly two hours Jan. 12. Sirna said the "group (that filed) was very angry eBay has adopted a policy that coins graded by these companies can't be listed as certified." He noted that the attorney representing the companies was the same one who had sued ANA before on behalf of Accugrade. The ANA, PNG and eBay have 20 days to file their responses.

~The first Presidential dollar of 2008 — James Monroe — is scheduled to be released on Feb. 14. ,followed by John Quincy Adams on May 15, Andrew Jackson on Aug. 14 and Martin Van Buren on Nov. 13.

Although the Mint is hoping the dollar coins will find their way into circulation, it appears that almost all of the interest in the new presidential dollars is coming from collectors.

“We hope the next four presidential $1 coins will not only jingle in pockets but be spent as well,” said Mint director Ed Moy. “These coins are convenient. Each presidential $1 coin weighs less than four quarters, and they’re especially useful for vending machines and mass transit.”

Of course one would expect such a comment from the Mint Directors, especially since prior attempts at introducing a dollar coin ( Susan B Anthony and the Sacagawea) were both dismal failures.

More than 800 million dollar coins were ordered by the Federal Reserve in 2007, but the number declined with each new release, from more than 340 million of the George Washington dollar down to an estimated 140 million of the Madison coin.

January 15/08 - Because of a transition in online ordering operations, the United States Mint online catalog is currently unavailable.

The decision to suspend access to the website was made on January 15 when we determined we could not ensure uninterrupted service or the reliability of the ordering system until the new provider was given appropriate time to assume and test operations. Although we understand the inconvenience this may cause, please be assured that we are working to resolve the issue and will have the site operational in the next few days.

To place an order, or to inquire about the status of an order, please call 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468). Customer Service Representatives will be available to assist you from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 midnight (ET), seven days a week. Hearing- and speech-impaired customers may place orders and inquiries through TTY at 1-888-321-MINT (6468), Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (ET).

The Bald Eagle Commemorative Coin Program will be available for sale as scheduled, starting January 15, 2008, at 12:00 noon (ET). You may place orders via our toll-free numbers and through mail order. Information about the Bald Eagle Commemorative Coin product options and household limit information can be found in our press release in our online press room.

We expect call volume to be high during this transition period. We apologize in advance for any inconvenience this may cause. Please consider calling during off-peak hours, in the early morning and evening, when call volume is lower.

The expedited shipping option will not be available during the service transition period. All products ordered during this period will be shipped within our normal processing time of one to two weeks.

One week after turning 100 years old, the Royal Canadian Mint (RCM) today released the first new collector coins and gift products of 2008. In keeping with its mandate of celebrating Canada’s values, history and culture, the RCM has chosen to devote the silver dollar, in proof, brilliant uncirculated and selectively gold plated finishes, to Samuel de Champlain, as a tribute to the 400th anniversary of the founding of Quebec City. This figurehead of the RCM’s annual collector coin program is followed by the perennial $100, $200 and $300 face value gold issues featuring themes which resonate from Canada’s East to West coasts, as well as the traditionally anticipated proof, uncirculated and specimen coin sets. The popular annual coin sets featuring a unique painted 25-cent coin are once more available in five different themes, as are annual baby and wedding gift sets.

“Over 100 years, the Royal Canadian Mint has established a global reputation as a leader in the minting industry”, said Ian E. Bennett, President and CEO of the Royal Canadian Mint. “The quality and creativity which are hallmarks of the Royal Canadian Mint shine through in the first new collector coins of 2008. The themes they portray will resonate with Canadian and international collectors alike”.

Below are several of the featured products that are being introduced this month.

2008 PROOF SILVER DOLLAR – CELEBRATING THE ANNIVERSARY OF QUEBEC CITY (1608-2008)

A pivotal figure in Canadian history, Samuel de Champlain landed on the shore of the St. Lawrence River in 1608 at a place the local Algonquin people called “Kebec” or “where the river narrows”. 400 years later, the banks of the St Lawrence are bursting with pride as millions of Canadians celebrate a milestone anniversary in the history of Quebec City, one of North America’s oldest and most enchanting cities. The Royal Canadian Mint is proud to join Quebec City, its citizens and its admirers across Canada and the world, in marking the city’s 400th anniversary on the 2008 proof silver dollar.

This sterling silver dollar features a portrait of Samuel de Champlain with the “habitation” he built at the foot of Cap-aux-Diamants, now Quebec City, in the background. This design is the work of Longueuil, QC artist Suzanne Duranceau. Limited to a mintage of 65,000, the 2008 Proof Silver Dollar retails for a suggested $42.95 CDN. The brilliant uncirculated version of this coin is also proposed at $34.95 CDN and limited to a mintage of 35,000.

The same design is reproduced on a selectively gold-plated proof dollar coin, which is exclusive to the RCM’s 2008 Proof Set. Only 60,000 sets, with a suggested retail price of $89.95 CDN, are available world-wide.

2008 14-KARAT GOLD COIN - 200TH ANNIVERSARY OF DESCENDING THE FRASER RIVER (1808-2008)

Another historical milestone yields the RCM’s 2008 $100 gold coin. 200 years ago, famed Canadian explorer Simon Fraser, a member of the North West Company, defied conventional wisdom and successfully reached the Pacific Ocean by descending the river which would become his namesake. This legendary feat took Fraser and his 23 companions 36 days of steely determination and later paved the way for the region’s development.

A dauntless Simon Fraser is profiled on this 14-karat gold coin with a $100 face value. His striking figure is the work of Toronto artist John Mantha. This coin is limited to a worldwide mintage of 5,000 and is proposed at $386.95 CDN.

2008 22-KARAT GOLD COIN – HISTORICAL COMMERCE – AGRICULTURE TRADE

The agriculture trade is the subject of the fourth offering in the Historical Commerce 22- karat gold coin series. The attachment of humans to the land transcends history and the emergence of organized agrarian societies is the root of civilization itself. To Canadians, agriculture has sparked the development of our expansive territory into one of the greatest nations on earth.

This proof-quality 22-karat gold coin features an iconic image of this historic trade: a team of draft horses steadfastly plowing a field. Limited to a mintage of 4,000, it is composed of 91.67% gold and 8.33% silver and retails for a suggested $619.95 CDN.

2008 $300 GOLD COIN – PROVINCIAL COAT OF ARMS: NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR

The RCM introduces a new $300 gold coins series devoted to the Official Provincial Coats of Arms. This imposing, oversize coin celebrates the rich heritage of Newfoundland and Labrador with a faithful reproduction of a Coat of Arms, created in 1638, on the reverse of this proof finish 14-karat gold coin. Only 1,000 of these coins have been minted, each proposed at $1,541.95 CDN.

The Common Eider duck graces the limited-edition aureate dollar coin featured in the 2008 Specimen Set. This is the only RCM coin set to include this limited-edition one dollar coin gracefully designed by British Columbia artist Mark Hobson. Also included are all of Canada’s traditional circulation coins (except the Common Loon dollar) in a unique specimen finish. The limited worldwide mintage for this set is 40,000, and it is available at the suggested retail price of $45.95 CDN.

The RCM is once again issuing five 25-cent painted commemorative coins, exclusively available as individual centerpieces of popular annual uncirculated coin sets. Each unique 25-cent coin appears through a die-cut in the cover of the collection folder, presented in five different themes: baby; birthday; congratulations; wedding; and Oh Canada. Each set retails for a suggested $19.95 CDN.

The Royal Canadian Mint also introduces a 2008 uncirculated set limited to a worldwide mintage of 75,000 sets. In keeping with the popular tradition of commemorating weddings or the birth of new family members, the RCM is introducing new 2008 gift products, including: baby keepsake tins with a sterling silver dollar; a baby lullabies CD and sterling silver dollar set; a special edition 2008 sterling silver coin set; and a 2008 wedding premium coin set containing a full set of circulation coins fashioned in sterling silver.

True to its tradition of minting collector coins which speak to Canada’s rich heritage and culture, the RCM will issue a special colourized 25-cent collector coin to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Anne of Green Gables, the famous tale by author Lucy Maud Montgomery. Details of the celebrations being planned and “all things Anne”, including the RCM’s coin, becoming available in mid-April 2008, can be found at www.anne2008.com.

All of the Mint’s products are available directly from the Mint at 1-800-267-1871 in Canada, 1-800-268-6468 in the US, or on the Internet at www.mint.ca. The coins are also available at the Royal Canadian Mint’s global network of dealers and distributors. About the Royal Canadian Mint

The Royal Canadian Mint, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2008, is the Crown Corporation responsible for the minting and distribution of Canada’s circulation coins. An ISO 9001-2000 certified company, the Mint is recognized as one of the largest and most versatile mints in the world, offering a wide range of specialized, high quality coinage products and related services on an international scale. For more information on the Mint’s history, its products and services, please visit www.mint.ca. Images and product details of the RCM’s newest collection are available by visiting ftp://communications:RCM2007@ftp.mint.ca

January 7/08 - NGC has identified and confirmed that a counterfeit replica of its holder has been produced. At first appearance, the holder resembles the NGC holder and its respective brand marks. Upon inspection, variations in the holder, label and hologram make them easily discernible from authentic NGC-certified coins. This announcement includes diagnostic information to identify counterfeit holders.

The holder has been seen housing counterfeit dollar or foreign crown size coins. While the enclosed coins are also counterfeit, the label information matches the coin type enclosed. The label information is copied from actual NGC certification labels, and the certification information therefore will match the NGC database. Most frequently Trade Dollars and Bust Dollars are found, although Flowing Hair Dollars and foreign coins have also been seen. A range of grades is also represented.

What To Do If You Have Purchased A Coin In A Counterfeit Holder. While the NGC guarantee does not cover coins residing in tampered or counterfeit holders, NGC will aggressively assist victims of holder fraud. Counterfeiting the NGC registered trademarks is illegal, and both the original counterfeiter and any subsequent sellers of these holders are liable. In addition, it is a federal offense to counterfeit and/or knowingly sell counterfeit US and foreign coinage.

If you have a counterfeit holder, we recommend that you first contact the seller, provide the information shown above and request a refund. Gather your purchase receipt and proof of payment, and send it to NGC along with a high resolution image of the coin in holder.

NGC will use its best efforts to assist sellers in following the chain of custody to the original counterfeit in seeking refunds for affected sellers.

Written correspondence concerning counterfeit holders should be directed to NGC, Attn: Consumer Awareness Department, P.O. Box 4776, Sarasota, FL 34230, or by email to consumerawareness@ngccoin.com. NGC Customer Service may also be contacted at 1-800-NGC-COIN.

The United States is honoring our Nation’s first spouses by issuing one-half ounce $10 gold coins featuring their images, in the order that they served as first spouse. The 2008 First Spouse Gold Coins feature Elizabeth Monroe, Louisa Adams, Andrew Jackson’s Liberty, and Martin Van Buren’s Liberty.

The First Spouse Gold Coin obverse features portraits of the Nation’s first spouses, however when a president served without a first spouse, as did Andrew Jackson and Martin Van Buren, an obverse image emblematic of Liberty is depicted from a circulating coin of that era. This year, there are two “Liberty” obverses.

Below is a brief biography of Elizabeth Monroe and Louisa Adams along with descriptions of the two Liberty obverses selected for Andrew Jackson and Martin Van Buren ”spouses”

Elizabeth Monroe - First Lady, 1817–1825

Elizabeth Kortright was born in New York City in 1768 and married James Monroe at age 17. The family made their home in Virginia, but spent several years overseas while James Madison served as U.S. Foreign Minister to Great Britain, France, and Spain. She became a popular figure in France, where she was affectionately called la belle Americane because of her beauty and style.

Her time spent in European diplomatic circles influenced her sense of proper protocol for the White House, to which she brought a European stateliness and formality. Their youngest daughter, Maria, was the first presidential child to be married in the White House, in a small, private ceremony. When Elizabeth and James Monroe left the White House, they returned to Oak Hill, the family estate in Virginia, where she lived for the remainder of her life.

Louisa Adams - First Lady, 1825–1829

The only first lady to be born outside the U.S., Louisa Catherine Johnson was born in 1775 in London to an American father and British mother. The family moved to France when she was three, where she completed her education. She met John Quincy Adams while he was serving in a diplomatic post in London and they married in 1797. Her first time on American soil came in 1801 when John Quincy was called back from diplomatic service by President Jefferson. She finally met her in-laws, former president John Adams and the formidable Abigail Adams, at that time.

Louisa Adams was an accomplished musician whose talents included singing, playing the harp and piano, and composing. A prolific author, she penned both poetry and drama. She authored a play titled Suspicion, or Persecuted Innocence while she served as first lady, in which she stressed the strengths of women. She was the first first lady to write her memoirs, entitled Adventures of a Nobody.

Andrew Jackson’s Liberty First Spouse, 1829–1837

The Presidential $1 Coin Act of 2005 contains a provision to provide continuity of the First Spouse Gold Coin Program during those times in which a president served without a first spouse. This provision applies to Andrew Jackson, whose wife Rachel died in December 1828, just a few months before his presidential inauguration.

For Andrew Jackson’s “spouse”, the selected image appeared on the Capped Bust, Lettered Edge Half-Dollar coin from 1807–1836, and was originally executed by United States Mint Engraver John Reich.

Martin Van Buren’s Liberty First Spouse, 1837–1841

Martin Van Buren’s wife Hannah died in 1819. Having been married in 1807, Van Buren was a widower for 18 years when he became president in 1837.

For Martin Van Buren’s “spouse”, the selected image appeared on the Liberty Seated Dime coin from 1837–1891, and was originally executed by United States Mint Engraver Christian Gobrecht

More information on the First Spouse Program and other news issues for 2008 can be found on the US Mint Web site at www.usmint.gov

February 20/08 - The Royal Canadian Mint today officially released the first Olympic 25-cent circulation coin of 2008. The sport of snowboarding is depicted on the coin, which is the sixth of 17 circulation coins to celebrate the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.