Australian Fall of the Berlin Wall Silver Coin

One of my first political memories was President Reagan’s speech at the Brandenburg Gate where he asked President Gorbachev to “tear down this wall.”

Several years after President Reagan made this speech, the Berlin Wall fell.  Shortly after the Wall fell, I had the pleasure of visiting the Soviet Union as a student ambassador of the United States.  While I was not there to negotiate political treaties or nuclear arms treaties, I think that having the Soviet people meet every day Americans helped to ease tensions between our two nations.

I think that it is great that the Perth Mint has produced a Berlin Wall commemorative coin.  Prior to September 11, 2001, the fall of the Berlin Wall was the most important historic event in my lifetime.  Freedom and liberty had triumphed over totalitarianism.

This Australian silver proof coin is tribute to the Free world’s collective victory.  Western nations like Great Britain, Australia, Germany and France stood with the United States to put pressure on the Soviets to open their society.  I think that this Fall of the Berlin Wall Silver Proof Coin is a great way to commemorate this victory.

2008 American Legacy Collection

The 14 proof coins in the Legacy Collection are proof versions of the 2008 circulating coins produced by the United States Mint in 2008.  Specifically, the American Legacy Collection includes the,

• Oklahoma State Quarter
• New Mexico State Quarter
• Arizona State Quarter
• Alaska State Quarter
• Hawaii State Quarter
• Monroe Presidential $1 Coin
• Adams Presidential $1 Coin
• Jackson Presidential $1 Coin
• Van Buren  Presidential $1 Coin
• 2008 Bald Eagle Silver Dollar
• 2008 Lincoln Cent
• 2008 Jefferson Nickel
• 2008 Roosevelt Dime
• 2008 Kennedy Half Dollar
• 2008 Sacagawea Dollar

The United States Mint is no longer selling this Proof coin collection, but you can still buy it on the secondary market.  The United States Mint sold this set for $100.

I have searched through ebay’s recent completed sales for the 2008 American Legacy Collection.  It seems like they are selling between $120 and $140.  Some of the Buy It Now sales were as high as $160.

If you are looking to buy a 2008 mint proof coin set, the 2008 United States Mint American Legacy Collection is a great proof set.  I like being able to buy the 2008 Bald Eagle Silver Dollar with the other coins.

Did you buy the 2008 United States Mint American Legacy Collection?  If so, are you happy that you did?

PCGS First Strike $50 American Buffalo

Many coin collectors are confused by the grading companies’ use of labels like first strikes and early releases.  The PCGS grading service uses the label First Strike on certain of its graded coin slabs.  The NGC grading service uses the label Early Release on its graded coin slabs.

PCGS was the was the first coin grading service to designate coins are first strikes.  PCGS began using this designation on 2005 and 2006 bullion coins.  The 2005 and 2006 American Eagle Coins were the first coins to be marketed this way.  And then the 2006 24-karat proof and bullion American Buffalo Gold Coins also received the designation.

When I see these coins on sale at Ebay, often the sellers highlight the fact that the coins are First Stikes or Early Releases.  But should buyers care whether a coin is a first strike or early release?

PCGS gives this designation to coins that are submitted to PCGS for certification within thirty days that such coins first go on sale from the US Mint.  Likewise, NGC also gives this designation to coins submitted to it within the first thirty days of release by the Mint.  But, is there a reason to pay a premium for the first coins “released” from the US Mint?

I don’t think that buyers should pay a premium price for first strike coins or early release coins.  But, let’s examine the topic a little more.

The US Mint I think agrees with me.  After these designations started to show up on American Eagle Gold Coins and American Eagle Silver Coins is 2005 and 2006, the US Mint release a statement concerning these first strike coins.  The US Mint stressed that its quality contol process assures that all coins are struck with good dies.  The US Mint stated,

Our manufacturing facilities use a die set as long as the quality of resulting coins meets United States Mint standards, and then replace the dies, continually changing sets throughout the production process. For bullion American Eagle and American Buffalo Coins, the United States Mint makes an average of about 6,000 coins from one die set. For proof versions of the 2006 American Buffalo Coins, the yield is an average of about 1,500 coins per die set. For proof versions of the American Eagle Coins, the yield is an average of about 300-500 coins per die set. This means that coins may be minted from new die sets at any point and at multiple times while production of a coin is ongoing, not just the first day or at the beginning of production.

With only an average of 6,000 American Eagle uncirculated bullion coins being made from each die, I would bet that the US mint has more than 6,000 American Eagle uncirculated bullion coins ready to ship when it makes these coins available for sale.  If that is the case, assuming that there is a difference in quality between the first strike with a die and the 6,000th strike,  then a “first strike” coin could be the first coin struck with a die or the 6,000th coin struck.  This designation seems to me to be a meaningless marketing ploy.

What do you think about this issue?  Should the PCGS first strikes and NGC early releases?  Are you willing to pay a premium price for them?  If you would like to read more about this topic, there is a great thread over at the CoinTalk Coin Collecting Forum.

American Eagle Silver Coin Obverse

The American Silver Eagles Coins were authorized by Congress in 1985.  And, ever since their authorization, the U.S. Mint has been printing these beautiful coins in proof sets.  These Silver Eagles are .999 fine silver.  There have never been a higher quality silver coin produced by the U.S. Mint.

I am sure that most of the readers of Coin Blogger are familiar with these U.S. silver dollars.  But, I wanted to remind you that they make great Christmas gifts.  I like to buy U.S. proof sets for my nieces and nephews.  I think that they are great pieces of art and instill a sense of love of country.

It seems that many Americans give these American Eagle Silver coins for Christmas.  Last week713,133 American Eagles Silver Dollar Proof sets were purchased.  Merry Christmas!!