With all the turmoil in the financial markets you would think the rare coin market would be on its death bed. NOT! Without a doubt, even though we have been harping the coin market has been going through what we will call a “quality correction” of 10-20% (probably more like 30-40% now), nice, fresh, original, and truly rare coins have NOT decreased in value by any noticeable measure. Do note: you MUST have FULL quality and TRUE rarity to be safe. People do still need to sell and raise money, but for every person who had to sell, we seem to have found a buyer.

While we have had millions of dollars worth of surprisingly great coins sold to us in the past 30 days, we have also SOLD millions of dollars as well. The 1893S PCGS MS67 Veremule piece came to us not out of financial desperation, but because the owner had personal issues. We wired the money. The coin was sold instantly to the first collector we mentioned it to. He had no fear of spending over $1,000,000.00 and fully understood that he had the opportunity of a life time to acquire the piece. In fact he did not understand why a person that has “passion” and money why they wouldn’t be aggressive buyers today.

Mike Byers has published the newest quarterly edition of Mint Error News Magazine. Issue #25 brings the very latest in mint error and variety coin news and information.

As always, the magazine offers excellent photos that direct the reader right to the substance of coin errors. And the included error coin price guides compiled by Al Levy (alscoins.com) is a must have reference that provides a comprehensive listing of recent eBay closing prices with descriptions, grades and notes.

The cover story for Issue #25 provides high resolution photos of the the latest known proof U.S. coin struck on an elliptical planchet — only three are now known to exist. The most recent is a NGC certified John Q. Adams Presidential $1 Coin. The second discovered was a Proof Jefferson Presidential $1 coin, which Byers showcased in Issue #23, and the first was a proof Utah quarter.

The Japan Mint is proud to release a silver medallion featuring Himeji Castle (designated as National Treasure of Japan). We have started National Treasure Medallion Series last year with the Horyuji Medallion.

The Perth Mint of Australia launched a new proof set of silver coins depicting five classic motorbikes from around world. The set includes five, 1-oz legal tender coins made from 99.9% pure silver with each struck in proof quality.

The five-coin proof set celebrates America’s Indian Chief of the 20’s, Germany’s BMW R12 from 30’s and 40’s, Britain’s BSA Gold Star from the 50’s and Norton Commando from the late 60’s and early 70’s, and finally, Japan’s Honda Dream CB750 Four launched in 1969.

President Bush on Wednesday signed into law the Boy Scouts of America Centennial Commemorative Coin Act (H.R. 5872). The act authorizes 350,000 silver dollar coins in recognition of the 100th anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) in 2010.

H.R. 5872 enjoyed overwhelming support in both parties, passing in the House on April 22 and the Senate on September 27.

Congressman Pete Sessions [R-TX], who is an Eagle Scout with four generations of Boy Scouts in his family, introduced the bill and was thankful it passed.

The United States Mint today released the four new portraits that will appear on the obverse (heads side) of Presidential $1 Coins in 2009. The coins honor former Presidents William Henry Harrison, John Tyler, James K. Polk and Zachary Taylor.“We hope Americans not only appreciate the aesthetic qualities of the Presidential $1 Coins, but also remember each President’s legacy every time they use the coins in their daily transactions,” said United States Mint Director Ed Moy.

On September 24, 2008, Stack’s will present the Autumn Sale, a diverse offering of U.S. coins that features selections from the Bunting, the M.N. Davis, and the Frank Ford, Jr. collections.

For those of us who experienced the coin market’s ups and downs in the 1980’s and 1990’s, perhaps the biggest surprise has been the relatively quiet Proof gold market of the past few years. While prices for Proof gold have certainly risen since the beginning of this decade, new collectors don’t seem to regard these coins with the same degree of awe that was seen in the recent past.