Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Mint to Display Gold Space Coins
22-Karat Gold Sacagawea Dollars Flew Aboard Space Shuttle
The U.S. Mint will display the 12 gold proof Sacagawea Golden Dollars that flew aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia in July 1999. The 12 gold versions of the circulating Golden Dollars will be unveiled at the American Numismatic Association's World's Fair of Money in Milwaukee, the largest coin show in the nation. Until now, the gold "space coins" have been stored at Fort Knox. They've never been seen in public, and similar gold coins were never sold, making them extremely rare. Although the coins' value has not been established, they are very unique as historic artifacts.
The 22-karat gold coins were minted to promote the use, and create public awareness, of the Sacagawea Golden Dollars that went into general circulation in 2000. The circulating Golden Dollar has a metal content of manganese brass. Like the circulating coin, the 12 gold proof Golden Dollars feature an image of Sacagawea, the Shoshone Indian woman who assisted Lewis and Clark on their 8,000-mile expedition. These 12 gold coins commemorated the first shuttle flight to be commanded by a woman, USAF Col. (ret.) Eileen Collins.
The 22-karat gold versions of the Sacagawea Golden Dollar are made of .9167 (half-ounce) fine gold.
The U.S. Mint will display the 12 gold proof Sacagawea Golden Dollars that flew aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia in July 1999. The 12 gold versions of the circulating Golden Dollars will be unveiled at the American Numismatic Association's World's Fair of Money in Milwaukee, the largest coin show in the nation. Until now, the gold "space coins" have been stored at Fort Knox. They've never been seen in public, and similar gold coins were never sold, making them extremely rare. Although the coins' value has not been established, they are very unique as historic artifacts.
The 22-karat gold coins were minted to promote the use, and create public awareness, of the Sacagawea Golden Dollars that went into general circulation in 2000. The circulating Golden Dollar has a metal content of manganese brass. Like the circulating coin, the 12 gold proof Golden Dollars feature an image of Sacagawea, the Shoshone Indian woman who assisted Lewis and Clark on their 8,000-mile expedition. These 12 gold coins commemorated the first shuttle flight to be commanded by a woman, USAF Col. (ret.) Eileen Collins.
The 22-karat gold versions of the Sacagawea Golden Dollar are made of .9167 (half-ounce) fine gold.
Labels: Gold, Sacagawea-Dollars
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Mint Displays 1933 Double Eagles
DENVER, CO - The U.S. Mint unveiled ten recently recovered 1933 Double Eagles at the Opening Ceremony of the American Numismatic Association’s World’s Fair of Money in Denver. The Mint has secured the rare gold pieces at Fort Knox until now.
The 1933 Double Eagles are fascinating because they should not exist, These gold pieces were never issued as coinage and should never have left the Mint at Philadelphia, because the Mint was were ordered to melt them down. But these ten gold pieces were stolen.
About 445,500 Double Eagle gold pieces were minted in 1933. However, President Franklin Roosevelt took the United States off the gold standard that year in an effort to help the struggling American economy recover from the Great Depression. As a result, all but two of the 1933 Double Eagles were ordered destroyed. Those two specimens were transferred to the Smithsonian Institution. None of the Double Eagles was issued at that time.
The United States Government has now recovered a total of twenty 1933 Double Eagles that were stolen from the United States Mint at Philadelphia. Nine of the 20 Double Eagles were seized by, or relinquished to, the Secret Service in the 1940s and 1950s, and were subsequently returned to the United States Mint and destroyed.
One 1933 Double Eagle surfaced in 1996 and was recovered by the United States Secret Service. Following a legal settlement, that gold piece was returned to the Mint and was subsequently issued and auctioned in New York City to an anonymous buyer for $7.5 million on July 30, 2002. The United States Department of the Treasury has said that it does not intend to monetize, issue, auction, or destroy the 10 recently recovered 1933 Double Eagles.
The gold Eagle coin was first produced in 1795 with a $10 denomination. When they where first struck, $20 gold pieces were popularly called "Double Eagles."
The 1933 Double Eagle obverse features "Liberty," a figure reminiscent of a Greek goddess. The image was designed by famed sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens. The reverse features a majestic eagle.
The 1933 Double Eagles are fascinating because they should not exist, These gold pieces were never issued as coinage and should never have left the Mint at Philadelphia, because the Mint was were ordered to melt them down. But these ten gold pieces were stolen.
About 445,500 Double Eagle gold pieces were minted in 1933. However, President Franklin Roosevelt took the United States off the gold standard that year in an effort to help the struggling American economy recover from the Great Depression. As a result, all but two of the 1933 Double Eagles were ordered destroyed. Those two specimens were transferred to the Smithsonian Institution. None of the Double Eagles was issued at that time.
The United States Government has now recovered a total of twenty 1933 Double Eagles that were stolen from the United States Mint at Philadelphia. Nine of the 20 Double Eagles were seized by, or relinquished to, the Secret Service in the 1940s and 1950s, and were subsequently returned to the United States Mint and destroyed.
One 1933 Double Eagle surfaced in 1996 and was recovered by the United States Secret Service. Following a legal settlement, that gold piece was returned to the Mint and was subsequently issued and auctioned in New York City to an anonymous buyer for $7.5 million on July 30, 2002. The United States Department of the Treasury has said that it does not intend to monetize, issue, auction, or destroy the 10 recently recovered 1933 Double Eagles.
The gold Eagle coin was first produced in 1795 with a $10 denomination. When they where first struck, $20 gold pieces were popularly called "Double Eagles."
The 1933 Double Eagle obverse features "Liberty," a figure reminiscent of a Greek goddess. The image was designed by famed sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens. The reverse features a majestic eagle.
Labels: Gold
Tuesday, June 20, 2006
Mint Strikes First Pure Gold U.S. Coins
American Buffalo Gold Coin Goes on Sale This Week
WEST POINT, NY - The United States Mint officials struck some of the first American Buffalo Gold Coins, marking the first time ever the United States Government has minted pure (.9999) 24-karat gold coins for investors and collectors. The coins, in bullion and proof versions, go on sale Thursday, June 22, 2006.
"This American Buffalo Gold Coin will appeal to both investors who choose to hold gold and to others who simply love gold," said the Deputy Director. "These classic and beautiful American Indian and buffalo designs by James Earle Fraser, which have been American favorites since they were first used in 1913, recall a golden age of coin artistry."
WEST POINT, NY - The United States Mint officials struck some of the first American Buffalo Gold Coins, marking the first time ever the United States Government has minted pure (.9999) 24-karat gold coins for investors and collectors. The coins, in bullion and proof versions, go on sale Thursday, June 22, 2006.
"This American Buffalo Gold Coin will appeal to both investors who choose to hold gold and to others who simply love gold," said the Deputy Director. "These classic and beautiful American Indian and buffalo designs by James Earle Fraser, which have been American favorites since they were first used in 1913, recall a golden age of coin artistry."
Labels: Buffalo-Gold, Gold
