Demand For America The Beautiful Coins Continues

Posted by admin on Friday, July 15th, 2011

The US Mint continues its program of America the Beautiful Silver Bullion Coin sales with the coin that honours the Chickasaw National Recreation Area in Oklahoma.

A memorandum sent out Tuesday by the US Mint states that orders for the Chickasaw Bullion Coin would be accepted on Monday 18th July. Only Authorised Purchasers (AP’s) can order them, because bullion products are not offered directly to the public. There will be an initial quantity of 126,700, and AP’s must purchase a minimum number of 500 ounces/100 coins, and then order in 100 coin increments. The Mint will charge a premium of $9.75 over the silver price.

The coin is composed of 5 ounces of .999 fine silver and has a three-inch diameter. The reverse depicts the limestone Lincoln Bridge, which was erected in the park in 1909 to celebrate the centennial of Lincoln’s birth. On the obverse is the portrait of George Washington that is found on all of the 2011 issue of America the Beautiful Coins.

The 2010 America the Beautiful Silver Bullion Coins all debuted on the same day (December 10th 2010), and each sold out of its 33,000 issue. This year’s releases have been staggered, and have been set at 126,700 to meet demand.

To date the issues have sold out, underpinning the inherent demand for coins amongst the growing numismatic fraternity.

Barber Quarters Looking Good

Following from yesterday’s informative post by Daniel J. Goevert, here we look a little more closely at a popular collector’s coin, the Barber Quarter.

Popular amongst coin enthusiasts, the Barber quarter was minted continuously from 1892 until 1916. The series consists of 74 circulation strike issues and 24 Proof issues. The series is very collectable and, with prices starting at a little over $6, it is a good investment for beginners and experienced numismatists alike.

The coins are named Barber Quarters after their designer, Charles E. Barber. The US Mint had originally wanted to contract ten artists to design the new coin, but owing to cost finally commissioned Barber. He submitted the design in October 1891, and it had a bust of Liberty, facing right, on the obverse.

13 stars depict the original states: six to the left and 7 to the right. Liberty is wearing a Phrygian cap, with the word ‘Liberty’ on her hair band, and above her head are the words ‘In God We Trust’. The designer’s initial (B) is under the truncation of the neck. On the reverse is an eagle with spread wings and arrows in one claw and an olive branch in the other. In its beak is a scroll with the motto ‘e pluribus unum’. Above the eagle are another 13 stars, and both ‘United States of America’ and the denomination ‘Quarter Eagle’ are around.

The uncirculated Barber Head Quarter, like the one pictured, is very popular and commands a value of over $150. A collector lucky enough to come across the very rare 1901S would be holding a coin valued at over $5,000.

Coins Coming Into Vogue As Silver Soars

Coin collecting continues to grow. As well as beautiful objects to have on display they are proving to be a genuinely worthwhile investment, as the values of the Barber Quarters prove.

As predicted in this column earlier this week, precious metal prices are continuing their bull run. Today gold posted new all time highs, and $1600 an ounce, which many market observers predicted would happen only in the latter part of the year, is within touching distance.

Silver, meanwhile, has risen over five dollars in value since its brief pullback a couple of days ago. With the price of silver still more than 25% below the records seen earlier this year, there is huge upside potential. This potential is being bolstered daily with financial uncertainty across the EU and now Moody’s warning that it may downgrade US credit. The flight to the investment potential of silver and gold is likely to continue.

All great news for silver investors and coin collectors.


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