Margaret Taylor First Spouse Gold, Gobrecht Dollars, Vatican Euros

Welcome back to Something About Coins!

The Wall Street Journal warned consumers to stop overpaying for gold coins. For example, a 2009 UHR $20 Double Eagle is $1,539 from the U.S. Mint, but some dealers are charging as much as $3,000 according to the article. Due to skyrocketing premiums, the article's author is recommending smaller-denomination gold coins, since their premiums aren't as high, and lower-quality UHR Double Eagles with prices that are close to the bullion prices.

A $10 denomination gold coin, the new Margaret Taylor First Spouse Coin, will launch at noon Thursday, Dec. 3rd, by the U.S. Mint. The press release said the coin is a half ounce of 24-karat gold and will come in Proof and Uncirculated versions.

There's a new reference book on Gobrecht Dollars, containing about 100 full detail images. Michael L. Carboneau, James C. Gray, John Dannreuther and Saul Teichman collaborated to write the 136 page book, released by Heritage Auction Galleries and Ivy Press.

More Vatican coins may reduce markup, a Reuters blog reported. Right now, it said sets of the Vatican euros sell for 30 euros at the Vatican souvenir shop, but the face value of the coin set is only 3.88 euro. The European Commission has been looking into the issue, and according to the article, the Vatican's coin quota could double to 2,100,000 so new coins could circulate freely instead of being hoarded by collectors.

Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) announced it will display the "all-time finest registry set of early half dollars" at their booth during the Florida United Numismatists (FUN) convention in Orlando Jan. 7-9, 2010. The set is from the Dale Friend collection, and 20 of the 101 half dollars are either the finest or tied for the finest graded by PCGS.

Way back on Nov. 19th, David Ganz provided an update on the civil procedure regarding the Langbord family's ten 1933 Double Eagles. He listed six key rulings by the court, basically saying the government's seizure of the coins was unreasonable and denied the family's due process rights. Ganz believes a trial is likely if the civil case doesn't settle before the end of the year.

Thanks, and see you tomorrow!