Coin Update

Welcome to Coin Update!

We’re back to bring you the best and brightest coin collecting news from around the web. Gold pulls back. Also, some facts and opinions on the 2009 Lincoln Cent designs, reaction to the reaction on Obama coins, US Mint’s radio ads, coin picks, Walking Liberty Halves, and notable auctions. On to the links…

Gold is pulling back as the financial resuce plan news continues to develop.

Did you realize that Lincoln never actually lived in the log cabin depicted on the first 2009 Lincoln Cent reverse design? In fact, the structure was apparently built 30 years after his death.

The LA Times runs an opinion piece following the release of the new reverse designs for the 2009 Lincoln Cent.  It brings back the old debate on the penny’s usefulness.

A brief report from Austin about the US Mint’s radio advertisements promoting the Presidential Dollar coins. The ad instructs listeners to go to UseDollarCoins.gov for more information.

In a comment to yesterday’s post about the blogosphere’s harsh reactions to the Obama coins, Man of Coined for Money points out that these coins are privately minted and other coins exist for George W. Bush and perhaps John McCain.  I think these are valid points that are overlooked by people seizing on the Obama coin to use as a supposed example of arrogance or presumptuousness.

In counterpoint, I have not seen anything that confirms whether Obama explicitly or implicitly approved or even acknowledged the minting of the coins.  And secondly, it seems that this is not the first time a presidential candidate has been declared President on a coin. Here’s the John Kerry Coin, with legend “44th President of the United States.”

Here’s an article about collecting the popular Walking Liberty Half Dollar series.

What are hairlines and how are they caused?

Numismaster brings you seven coins with the potential to go up if the market shifts favorably.

And now for some notable auctions. First, a big lot of 17 GSA Carson City Morgan Dollars.

I always liked this commemorative coin set. It’s the 1998 Kennedy 2 piece set, the only way to obtain the 1998-S Matte Proof Kennedy Half.

And last, an interesting error coin. This 1990 Lincoln Cent is struck on a dime planchet.

See everyone on Friday!