The “Trap Coin”, designed and sculpted by Roman Booteen is a uniquely designed and carefully crafted “Hobo Nickel” in 2017. The coin’s unique spring loaded finger trap contraption has caught the attention of coin collectors and art collectors and many more.
The coin sold at auction for over $10,000 and The Heads or Tails Coin Company purchased the rights to reproduce the design, complete with the fully functional trap mechanism. The reproduction trap coin is now available for purchase. The reproduction is limited to only 999 replica coins.
The coin’s bezel, jaws and trap are cast from .925 Sterling Silver. The obverse of the coin features a Morgan Dollar that has been domed to hide the mechanism of the trap.
The reverse features a Mexican Dos Peso Gold Coin and the spring-loaded trap.
Trap Coin-Features:
Authorized reproduction of Roman Booteen’s original Trap Coin produced by Heads or Tails Coins & Collectibles
Unique and fully functional trap mechanism
Bezel, Jaws & Trap cast from 20 grams of 925 silver
Limited to ONLY 999 replicas
Individually laser-etched with serial number
The coin arrives in a collector’s box with its certificate of authenticity
Bas-relief sculpture on a hobo nickel
Includes an original Morgan Dollar
Consists of the original Dos Pesos .0482 troy ounce gold coin
Design Highlights:
Unique and carefully crafted sculpting and functionality
Obverse: A domed Morgan Dollar, highlighting the iconic bald eagle
Reverse: 1945 Gold Dos Peso Coin, surrounded by a spring-loaded finger trap
The trap opens and becomes a part of the border work
Around the circumference of the coin, there is an inscription by Sir Walter Scott reads, “AURUM MULTO MAGIS ANIMAS PERDIDIT QUAM FERRUM CORPORA CECIDIT. “- Definition of the Inscription: “Gold has killed more souls than iron.”
The “Trap coin” makes an excellent gift for any coin or precious metals enthusiast, investor or collector.
The Perth Mint of Australia, renowned for producing some of the highest quality gold and silver bullion coins, has released their official mintage numbers for 2018 bullion and numismatic coins.
The Comstock Lode was discovered in 1859. At the time it was the largest silver mine in the world. Thousands of people flocked to region, quickly leading to the Nevada Silver Rush. The ease and accessibility of high purity silver ore close to the surface led to a huge amount of silver saturating the markets.
During this time, the Coinage Act of 1873, or the Crime of 1873, moved the economy off a bi-metalic standard to a pure gold standard, effectively de-monetizing silver. This dealt a significant blow to silver miners and the economies of silver-producing states like Nevada.
After a tremendous lobbying effort by miners and others in the silver industry, the Bland-Allison Act was signed into law in 1878, returning the economy to a bi-metalic standard. The Bland-Allison required the Treasury to purchase a certain amount of silver each month to be coined into silver dollars. This created an immediate demand for silver and stimulating the economy of states where mining was active.
Throughout this era the Treasury had minted millions of Morgan silver dollars and had still stockpiled an overwhelming amount of raw material. The minting of the Morgan was halted in 1904.
How Much is a Peace Silver Dollar (1921-1935) Worth?
The US Congress passed The Pittman Act after the end of the first World War which authorized reestablishing a one dollar coin. Initially, the US Mint began minting the Morgan Dollar in 1921 which had not been minted since 1904.
During this time many in Congress and the Treasury were interested in replacing the design of the Morgan Dollar with one that was more symbolic of the peace reached at the end of World War I. In 1921, then Treasury Secretary Andrew Mellon, approved the design of the Peace Dollar.
The minting of the Peace Dollar coin began in 1921 and ended in 1935. The coins were struck at all three primary US Mint facilities, Philadelphia, Denver and San Francisco. The mintage numbers from each facility were varying each year.
Peace Dollar Design
The Peace Dollar was designed by Italian-American sculpture Anthony (Antonio) de Francisci. At only 34 years old at the time of the design competition, de Francisci was the youngest of all of the sculptures competing.
The obverse of the Peace Dollar features the head and neck of the Goddess Liberty. Her profile depicts flowing hair with a radiant crown on her head. The coin’s obverse also features the phrase “In God We Trust” and the word “LIBERTY” across the top edge with the year of minting being inscribed below.
The reverse of the Peace Dollar features a sitting eagle at rest, symbolic of the strength and influence of the United States throughout the world, clutching an olive branch, a recognized symbol of peace. The bald eagle is high atop a perch with rays of sunlight radiating in the background. The word “Peace” is inscribed on the lower edge of the reverse, with the inscription “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,” “E. PLURIBUS UNUM” along the top edge, and the phrase “ONE DOLLAR” stretching on either side of the center of the coin.
Peace Dollar Mint Marks
The mint mark on the Peace Dollar is on the coin’s reverse located above tip of eagle’s wings. Coins which were produced by the Philadelphia Mint lack an identifiable mint mark. Coins produced at the Denver Mint will show a “D”. While Peace Dollars minted at the San Francisco Mint will show an “S” mint mark.
Peace Dollar Popularity Amongst Collectors and Investors
The Peace Dollar is popular with both collectors and investors for a variety of reasons.
Collectors see the coin with historical significance given when it was released and the reasons and symbolism inherent with it’s design. The earliest versions of the Peace Dollar are nearly 100 years old.
Investors see both the intrinsic value of the composition of the Peace Dollar, which is compromised of 90% Silver. Investors also see the historical significance to the collectors which helps to keep the secondary market premiums for Peace Dollars higher than just their melt value.
It’s common to buy circulated silver coins that were minted prior to 1965 for a small premium over their melt value. However, Peace Dollars and other 90% silver dollar coins are often sold at a higher premium, even for coins that are in cull condition.
A lot of first time investors that are getting their feet wet in precious metals are often curious about where is the best place to buy silver online?
There isn’t a simple answer on where to Buy Silver online because there are many trusted and reputable bullion dealers.
When looking to Buy Silver online it’s always best to buy as close to spot price as possible. The amount you pay above spot price is commonly referred to as the dealer’s premium. This is the profit the dealer makes from selling silver.
The lower the dealer premium that you pay when you Buy Silver online will maximize the return on your precious metals investment down the road.
Some online bullion dealers are known for keeping their premiums low. Just because you might be able to buy silver from one dealer cheaper than another doesn’t mean that there will be problems or issues down the road. Especially if you stick with trusted and reputable online bullion dealers.
FindBullionPrices.com tracks the prices of over 300 distinct silver and gold bullion products across over 25 trusted and reputable online bullion dealers. When shopping for precious metals online we help you find the cheapest place to buy silver and gold bullion.
According to sales data released by the U.S. Mint this week, sales of both American Silver Eagle (ASE) and American Gold Eagle (AGE) coins were down in 2018.
According to sales data, the U.S. Mint sold 245,500 ounces of Gold Eagle bullion coins during 2018. This was down from 302,500 ounces in 2017 and 985,000 in 2016.
Silver Eagle bullion coin sales dropped in 2018 as well. In 2018, the U.S. Mint sold 15,700,000 one-ounce Silver Eagle bullion coins. This was down from 18,065,500 in 2017 and 37,701,500 in 2016.
Silver Eagle bullion coins are sold to dealers in 500 coin Monster Boxes. Many precious metals dealers that are still holding onto 2018 dates coins have lowered the premiums to as low as $2.20 per coin, which is only 20 cents more than the premium charged by the U.S. Mint.
The US Mint has announced the availability of the 2019 American Silver Eagle coins. Dealers are already accepting pre-orders of 2019 Silver Eagles at reduced premiums in anticipation of the January 7 release date.
Additionally, several trusted and reputable national online bullion dealers have reduced the dealer premiums on 2018 American Silver Eagle coins to clear out their inventory to make room for the 2019 Silver Eagle coins.
The US Mint charges “Authorized Purchasers”, essentially the 9 US-based wholesale bullion distributors that are allowed to purchase directly from the Mint a $2.00 per coin premium over the LBMA Silver Spot Price at the time of purchase.
The premium that is charged by the US Mint is passed along to the retail dealers who in turn pass it along to consumers, investors and end-buyers. Retail bullion dealers charge a premium over that which covers their overhead and profit.
In recent weeks dealer premiums on 2018 American Silver Eagle coins have been as low as $2.21 over silver spot price when you buy a Monster Box of 500 coins.
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The Promotion starts at 5:00AM PT on December 5, 2018 and ends at 11:59PM PT on December 6, 2018 (the “Promotion Period”). The Promotion applies to any qualifying items purchased during the Promotion Period that meet the minimum purchase requirement. You must activate the offer to qualify.
Gold:
Napolean III 20 Francs for below melt
Random 1/2 oz Canada Gold Proof Coins below melt
Random 1/2 oz First Wives Gold coins below melt
$20 Liberty Double Eagle (cleaned) below melt
Random US Mint Commemorative 1 oz gold coins below melt
Mexican 50 peso gold coins below melt
Silver:
MCM has 2018 Silver Eagle Tubes of 20 that net for around $16.25 per coin
Bullion Exchanges has lot of 5 RMC silver rounds
2018 5 oz Proof Libertad
5 oz Englehard Australia Cast Bars
Bullion Exchanges 10 oz Silver Bars (Various listings)
A few lots of 10 1 oz silver rounds
Here’s a list of more eBay Bucks eligible bullion items:
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eBay launched an eBay Bucks promotion this morning that allows buyers to earn 8% cash back eBay Bucks rewards on eligible purchases through November 15, 2018 at midnight Pacific time.
As usual, items listed in the bullion categories on eBay are ineligible to earn Bucks. However, there are many deals on gold, silver and junk bullion that trusted and reputable dealers have listed outside of the bullion categories that are eligible for earning eBay Bucks, including the 8% bonus.
To find out if you’re eligible for the eBay Bucks promotion, click this link to the eBay Bucks promotion page and click the “Activate” link.
If you’re eligible to participate you will be brought to a confirmation page. If you are not eligible you will see a message stating that the offer cannot be activated and it may give you a reason.
Eligible items include rolls of American Silver Eagles, rolls of Canadian Silver Maple Leafs, fractional gold bars, 10 oz silver bars, 20 Franc Gold Coins, Gold Sovereign Coins, lots of 5 and 10 1 oz silver rounds and bars as well as 90% silver coinage in rolls and bags.
A precision digital scale for silver & gold is one of the most basic tools available that can be used by both investors and precious metals coin collectors to help verify the authenticity of a particular item by comparing to the expected weight. Measuring the weight is one of the easiest and quickest tests to help verify the authenticity of your gold and silver coins. The measured weight is easy to compare with one of the many reference charts online, in an app or even coin reference books that are available online and at local coin stores. A simple scale for measuring gold and silver is a practical tool for all investors.
Digital scales have become ubiquitous in recent years and are sold at nearly every gas stations and corner store. The quality and accuracy of these scales can range from fickle and variable to surprisingly accurate. If in doubt, consult with a reputable coin dealer or expert that owns a Sigma Precious Metals Verifier.
It is even more important when purchasing via social media, online marketplaces, eBay or individuals and other untrusted sources.
Modern gold coin should be very close to its stated weight (e.g., 1 oz, 1/2 oz, etc.), though minor deviations can occur due to wear or manufacturing tolerances. Also keep in mind, that when measuring circulated gold coins such as old 20 francs, sovereigns and Pre-1933 US gold coins, wear and tear from circulation can slightly reduce the weight.
The weights and dimensions of older gold bullion coins such as British Gold Sovereigns, French Gold Francs, or Mexican Gold Pesos are well known and easy to verify with an accurate scale and simple calipers.
The same is true for 90% silver coins such as Morgan and Peace dollars, silver pesos or junk silver coins.
The scale should be able to accommodate the weight of the items you’ll be measuring. For most precious metals, a scale with a weight capacity of up to 500 grams or a half kilo is generally sufficient. Choose a scale that is easy to calibrate and offers consistent accuracy over time. Some scales come with calibration weights, which are helpful for ensuring accuracy.
When dealing with precious metals, the most important feature is that the scale is able to switch between various measurement systems, including grams, imperial and troy ounces. Some scales may only have grams and imperial and may not include troy ounces. A tare function allows you to subtract the weight of a container or tray from the total weight, essentially zeroing out the scale to allow for accurate measurements.
Some scales for Silver & Gold will come with a set of calibration weights that can be used to verify that the scale is working correctly. By comparing the reading to those of known samples, the scale can often be adjusted back to accuracy. Be sure to place the scale on a level, stable surface and ensure the area is free from magnetic or electronic interference.
Another, often overlooked feature, particularly when dealing with fractional gold coins and bars, is precision to at least two decimal places. When checking the weight of circulated and fractional gold coins and bars, having a scale that can accurately measure to the hundredth of a gram is very important.
Consider that a genuine 1/10 oz gold coin is the equivalent of 3.11 grams. A counterfeit or plated coin will have a weight that is different due to the density of the metal. If only measured to the tenth of a gram, the variance may be slight enough that the scale is unable to determine an accurate weight due to rounding function. This becomes even more critical when dealing with smaller fractional gold coins and bars, such as gram sizes and those weighing 1/20 oz.
It’s common to find scales at the gas station that measure to only tenths of a gram. For a more definitive measurement, be sure that the scale can measure to at least the hundredth decimal place. High-end laboratory scales and those used by professional miners can be accurate to thousandth of a gram!
While it’s important to invest in a reliable scale, you don’t necessarily need to go for the most expensive option. There are accurate scales available across various price points.
The scales for silver & gold below all have the basic capabilities of providing accurate measurements in both troy ounces and grams and are also reasonably inexpensive and readily available.
The Weigh Gram scale from Amazon is a basic device capable of measuring in grams (g), troy ounces (ozt), avoirdupois ounces (oz) and pennyweights weights (dwt). It has a maximum measurement capacity of 600 grams and will measure fractions of a gram down to the hundredths.
This scale is small enough to fit in your pocket and is a good choice for measuring the weights of smaller bullion items. For the price, this is the best scale for weighing gold and silver.
The KitchenTour EG5001 from Amazon has a higher capacity, capable of measuring up to 500 grams, or a half of a kilogram. This scale is a good choice for measuring larger silver bullion items such as 10 oz silver bars. The scale has precision to hundredths of a gram and has six different measurement types, including grams, troy ounces, avoidupois ounces, dime weights and others.
The RESHY High Precision Lab Scale from Amazon is a precision analytical balance scale. It has a capacity of up to 5000 grams or 5 kilograms with a precision resolution down to the hundredths of a gram. This is a great scale for measuring larger silver bullion items, including silver kilos and 100 ounce silver bars.
The RESHY High Precision Lab Scale from Amazon is a precision analytical balance scale. It has a capacity of up to 5000 grams or 5 kilograms with a precision resolution down to the hundredths of a gram. This is a great scale for measuring larger silver bullion items, including silver kilos and 100 ounce silver bars.