October 16, 2009: Lincoln Coin and Chronicles Set, Low Ball Collectors, Selling Gold

Welcome back to Coin Update!

We’re back for one final round up of coin collecting news from around the internet to take you into the weekend! First, the debut of the much awaited Lincoln Coin and Chronicles Set. Also, follow up on the Julian Leidman robbery, legislation introduced to allow coins in retirement accounts, ANA conventions, low ball collectors, the 2010 Olympic Winter Games Medals, State Quarter quiz, three articles on gold, and notable auctions. On to the links…

Yesterday, the United States Mint’s Lincoln Coin and Chronicles Set went on sale at 12:00 Noon ET. Despite expectations for a prompt sell out, the sets are still on sale as of mid-day Friday. To catch some of the excitement of the opening day, check out this Mint News Blog post with over 400 comments! Also, here’s a follow up post with potential sales levels.

An update on the Julian Leidman robbery. The reward is now up to almost $150,000.

On the coin legislation front, a bill has been introduced which seeks to amend the Tax Code to allow the purchase of certified coins for retirement accounts.

The American Numismatic Association conventions were a major topic of discussion at the October 13 board meeting. Numismatic News has details of the major points and proposals from the discussion.

Rather than searching out the highest graded coins, some collectors search for the lowest grades. For all of the Low Ball Registry Set collectors and the curious, here’s an 1887-S Half Eagle graded PCGS P-01 highlighted by CoinLink as one of their unusual items.

Another article from CoinLink describing the very unique 2010 Olympic Winter Games Medals produced by the Royal Canadian Mint in collaboration with the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games and Teck Resources Limited.

Test your knowledge of the State Quarters designs.

An article about a company called Cash for Gold (not the notorious Cash4Gold) which has been focusing on the wealthiest communities for their gold buying. Residents of wealthy towns like Greenwich, CT supposedly bring in twice as much gold as anyone else.

On a related note, here’s a pretty frank story urging caution when selling gold, especially if prompted by “a late-night infomercial promising fast and easy cash for simply mailing your jewels in a pre-paid plastic envelope,”

One final gold related story. An upscale department store in London has begun selling bars of gold. They offer sizes ranging from one gram to 12.5 kilogram bars.

And now for some notable auctions. To go with today’s opening story, here’s a look at the pre-sales for the Lincoln Coin and Chronicles Set on eBay. Recently completed auctions show pre-sale prices ranging from around $125 to $200. (Remember these are still on sale at the US Mint.)

More Lincoln. Here is a set of the satin finish 95% copper 2009 Lincoln Cents graded NGC MS 69 RD. The auction is for the four Denver Mint coins.

Last, a unique US Mint product offering of yesteryear. In 1997, they produced the Impressions of Liberty Set, which included one ounce 1997 Gold, Silver, and Platinum Eagles. Less than 5,000 of the sets were sold.

Have a great weekend!