Posted by Bobby131313

In 1865, the Civil War-era steamship, the SS Republic, sank in a hurricane off the coast of Georgia. Sailing from New York to New Orleans, this remarkable vessel was loaded with cargo and precious goods. In 2003, Odyssey Marine Exploration discovered the Republic 1,700 feet deep in the Atlantic Ocean. During the archaeological excavation, Odyssey recovered an estimated $75 million in gold and silver coins, as well as many other amazing historical artifacts.

Posted by longnine009

Chet Krause escalated his conflict with the American Numismatic Association board of governors by tendering the resignation of his life membership in a Nov. 11 letter.

Trying to de-escalate the conflict was ANA president William H. Horton Jr., who in a Nov. 14 letter of reply refused the resignation on behalf of the ANA board of governors and suggested a meeting with Krause in Iola, Wisconsin.

The issue in contention is the naming of the ANA museum. Krause maintains that three gifts donated by Cliff Mishler, an anonymous donor and himself in an aggregate amount of $500,000 should be enough to name the museum after Edward C. Rochette, former ANA executive director and president.

Horton and the ANA board of governors contend that such was not the agreement because there was nothing in writing and only the main gallery is named for Rochette.

Horton told Numismatic News Nov. 14, “We’re hoping he will reconsider.”

The dispute has been ongoing since a July 2 ceremony at the ANA headquarters and museum building in Colorado Springs.

Passions are high. Prior communications with the board led to the Oct. 14 expulsion of Walter Ostromecki from the board of governors for an alleged breach of confidentiality.

Posted by Metalman

How do you feel about the removal of In God We Trust from our Money ?

Michael Newdow plans to ask a federal court to order removal of the national motto "In God We Trust" from U.S. coins and currency. He said it violates the religious rights of atheists who belong to his "First Amendment Church of True Science." The church's "three suggestions" are "question, be honest and do what's right." Newdow said it wouldn't be right to take up a collection when the money says "In God We Trust." Last year, the Supreme Court dismissed Newdow's lawsuit over the words "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance because he doesn't have custody of his daughter, in whose name the lawsuit was filed. Newdow has resurrected that case by filing an identical lawsuit on behalf of two families.

Posted by tnwalker10

I remember reading an article several years ago about the U.S. mint making a mistake to produce the Susan B. Anthony dollars. This was because the dollars failed to gain acceptance with the general public. There was a picture with this article showing pallets mounded up with sacks of SBA's sitting in a large room at the U.S. mint. Apparently these are coins they couldn't keep in circulation.If these coins still exist, is there a possibility these can/will be dumped back into circulation? If this happened, what would it do to the value of SBA's in private collections? Is this similar to what happened with Morgan dollars years ago?

Posted by Daniel J. Goevert

One of my website readers sent me the following photos of a Confederate "coin", dated 1862. He said he found it in a northern Georgia cave, along with a few other artifacts. Of course, it can't be a real Confederate coin, but it is interesting. Does anyone have an idea of this object's origin?

Posted by OldDan

The King of Siam set of coins with the 1804 silver dollar has just sold for a reported $8.5 million. It had been sold back in 2001 for $4 million. Not a bad mark up in only four years.

If I had the other seven 1804 dollars, I could afford a vacation!

Posted by RKKay

Each of these $50 patterns, designed by William Barber, is unique in gold. The reverse is very similar to that which appeared on the double eagle of the time. They were struck in response to demand by bankers and merchants in San Francisco (originally expressed in 1854) for large denomination coins to make quick counting easier. These amazing pieces were once in the possession of William Woodin.

Check it out, we have photos. :-)