Numismatic News May 21, 2024

What is today the British Royal Mint (BRM) was founded in 886. It began striking coins for a foreign entity when in 1325 it produced coins for King Edward II for use in Bordeaux. At one time the BRM had branch mint facilities in Bombay (India), Melbourne (Australia), Ottawa (Canada), Perth (Australia), Pretoria (South Africa) and in Sydney (Australia). All the branch mints are now gone. Some are operated by the country in which they are situated. Others simply closed. At its height, the BRM was producing coins and coinage blanks for 80 countries. The mint’s 2022-2023 annual report indicates that number had declined to 22 countries during that fiscal year. The list of client nations is proprietary, but is believed to include Australia, Jamaica, Iceland, New Zealand, South Africa…

Many Benefits to Using Cash in Everyday Transactions In the April 16 issue of Numismatic News, Richard Giedroyc reported in his “Coin Market” commentary that cash use versus other forms of payment has increased in the last year. I use cash for reasons other than those cited in the report. Paying cash is better at restaurants. I can leave money on the table at the end of the meal and don’t have to wait for the server to return with a copy of the invoice. One time, I forgot the card at the restaurant and had to return to get it. At the grocery store, I can pay in cash when the credit card terminals are slow or out of order. Merchants still accept cash when their card readers are…

Here are some answers sent from our e-newsletter readers. Read more responses at www.numismaticnews.com. What is your favorite coin story? It can be about the coin itself or how you obtained it. One of my earliest childhood memories was a trip to St. Augustine, Florida, where my parents took me to the “fort made out of seashells” from the early Spanish explorers. My father bought me a replica 8 reals pillar of Hercules coin. Some 60 years later, I have this coin and a genuine specimen side-by-side. The facsimile coin from all those years ago remains my favorite coin in my collection. Fred S. Back when I was in high school in 2002, I went to buy a Coke from the Coke machine. The kid in front of me put…

ANNOUNCEMINTS Collectors of military pieces will be eager to get their hands on the U.S. Mint’s Army 1-ounce silver medal, which was set to become available May 7. The obverse design depicts Continental and modern soldiers “at the ready” with the weapons of their respective eras. They represent the continuity of the U.S. Army since its beginnings and its continuing mission to defend the United States. Inscriptions are “UNITED STATES ARMY” and “SINCE 1775.” It was designed by Lucas Durham, and sculpted by Craig A. Campbell. The reverse design juxtaposes the seven core values of the Army against the U.S. Army flag, with both the flag and its streamers lifted by a breeze. The streamers from several major battles have visible text, including “APPOMATTOX 1865,” “LEXINGTON 1775,” “ABEYANCE 2014-2015,” “TET…

It’s time to dust off your passports and get excited about seeing some of the coins you usually only read about. We are headed to the United Kingdom! Numismatic News, World Coin News and Bank Note Reporter editors Maggie Pahl and Sophia Mattimiro have teamed up with a seasoned travel agency to bring you a week immersed in world coins in London and Wales. Our adventure, taking place Sept. 25 through Oct. 2, features amazing numismatic attractions such as the British Museum’s collection of money, the Coinex 2024 show, a V.I.P. tour of the British Royal Mint and more. A week of sensational coin exploration awaits. “Our team couldn’t be more excited to offer this outstanding travel opportunity to the numismatics community,” said Pahl. “Getting the chance to tour some…

When the Spanish treasure galleon Nuestra Señora de Atocha sank in 1622 off what is now Key West, Fla., she took down untold treasures in gold and silver. And now a particularly famous piece of treasure from the wreck is crossing the auction block. One of the largest gold bars ever recovered from a Spanish colonial shipwreck is up for sale on May 7 in an auction conducted by Daniel Frank Sedwick, LLC in Winter Park, Fla. The gold bar, listed in the sale as lot 96, weighs over 5 pounds (2,274 grams), measures 8-3/4 by 1-1/2 by 3/4 inches, and consists of 17-karat gold mined in the New World. The unique bar features eight circular royal tax stamps bearing the King of Spain’s name as “PHILIPPVS III” along with…