Precious Metal & Rare Coin Market News

Don't Count on the Fed: Protect Your Personal Economy with Gold As expected, the Federal Reserve held its benchmark interest rate at a 23-year high at the close of today's central bank meeting. The fed funds rate stands at 5.25%-5.50% as inflation continues to hold a tight grip on the U.S. economy. From 2022 until 2023, the fed hiked interest rates 11 times in an attempt to tame runaway inflation. To date, the Fed has ... >> Read More        

Gold dipped lower following a stronger-than-expected May U.S. employment report. The U.S. economy generated 272,000 new jobs in May, well above consensus estimates for 180,000 new jobs. Average hourly earnings rose 0.4% in May, also above the 0.3% consensus forecast. Meanwhile, the overall May unemployment rate increased to 4.0% from 3.9% in April. That marked the highest level since January 2022. Traders sold gold following the report as the strength in the labor market reduces ... >> Read More        

While April showers may bring cheery May flowers, U.S. consumers took a decidedly more dour approach to their finances and the economy this spring. Consumer confidence and new home sales data revealed widening cracks in the economy amid still-high interest rates and elevated inflation. Gold continues to trade to ever-higher levels in 2024 and hit another new record high in May climbing above $2,400 an ounce. Investors are turning to gold in droves, piling into ... >> Read More        

As the presidential election starts to heat up, expect to hear more about taxes on the campaign trail this summer and fall. Why? There are potentially sweeping tax law changes on the horizon. Most Americans have paid lower income taxes since 2018, due to former President Donald Trump's Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. Yet, many of these tax breaks are set to expire next year, unless Congress acts. The 2017 tax law temporarily ... >> Read More        

Following the Revolutionary war in colonial America, a lack of national coinage for everyday commerce began to pose problems. Fraud and counterfeiting began to run rampant. The Articles of Confederation, ratified in 1781, had authorized states to create their own coinage. So, the state of Connecticut took action and stepped in to help solve the problem locally, while the nation debated opening a national mint. The Connecticut legislature authorized a private firm to mint what ... >> Read More        

You may not be aware (many aren't) that the United States Mint operated a mint in the Philippine Islands. In fact, the Manila Mint is the only U.S. branch mint that was located outside the continental United States! Today we'll explore five of the most interesting coins from the historic and under the radar Manila Mint in the Philippine Islands. A Little History After the U.S. defeated Spain in the Spanish-American War in 1898, the ... >> Read More        

If you've been around coin collecting for a while, you may have heard of the legendary "EB" counter stamp that Ephraim Brasher marked on coins that he issued back in the late 1780's. For those who aren't familiar with Brasher, he was practically a celebrity in colonial America. Brasher was a patriot of the American Revolution, a successful businessman and neighbor of George Washington. A well-respected jeweler and coiner, Brasher was known for his integrity ... >> Read More        

If you ever saw an episode of the HBO TV drama: The Gilded Age, you understand how exciting this period in U.S. history truly was. Starting in the 1870's the U.S. economy was booming. Railroads were built coast to coast. The steel and coal mining industries were growing fast. Titans of industry like John D. Rockefeller, Cornelius Vanderbilt, Henry Ford and Andrew Carnegie built great fortunes. During this historic time one of the most fascinating ... >> Read More        

Offering a unique opportunity to diversify and enrich their numismatic collections, error coins are particularly appealing for collectors. Indeed, boasting intriguing backstories, they add depth and significance to any coin collection. This piece will explore rare coin errors and the history behind them, focusing on: Iconic US coin anomalies. Famous international error coins. Where to source unique error coins. Watch this informative video to learn more about different types of coin errors: Rare US error ... >> Read More        

For Americans living in the Atlantic basin, hurricane season starts soon. Yet, stormy weather appears to be descending on the U.S. economy and the stock market too. The Federal Reserve got several doses of bad economic news in recent weeks—an uncomfortable combination of slower economic growth and rising inflation. Financial markets took notice. Stocks plunged and gold hit a new all-time record high. For investors, we offer three portfolio moves to consider now to batten ... >> Read More