US Mint to sell platinum coins before end of 2009

Platinum coins produced by the US Mint will go on sale before the end of the year, it was confirmed .

The agency revealed that unprecedented demand has encouraged it to offer one-ounce American Eagle Platinum Proof Coins for purchase, provisionally from 3rd December.

In addition, the mint intends to release the one-ounce 2009 American Buffalo Gold Bullion Coin on 15th October and the one-ounce American Buffalo Proof Gold Coin on 29th October.

The half-ounce, quarter-ounce and one-tenth-ounce versions of the fractional 2009 American Eagle Gold Bullion Coin are also set to be released on the same day as the platinum-based offering.

However, the mint revealed that a number of its products - including all weights of the American Eagle Platinum Bullion Coin - will not be up for sale in the remainder of 2009.

"The US Mint is working diligently with current and potential blank suppliers to increase the supply of bullion coin blanks, so it can offer to the public the proof and uncirculated versions of American Eagle silver, gold, and platinum coins in 2010," read a statement.

Created by Congress through the Coinage Act in 1792, the US Mint was placed under the auspices of the country's treasury in 1981.
Source: platinum.matthey.com

Mint of Finland Launches Series

The Mint of Finland Ltd. has launched a series titled “Ethical Collector Coins” with the Aug. 20 issue of a silver coin depicting the theme “Peace and Security.”

At the series launch ceremony, Finland President Martti Ahtisaari carried out the new coin’s first strike. This is the first time in Finland’s history that a silver collector coin with a nominal value of 20 euros has been issued.

Themes for each coin in the series are chosen by the Collector Coin Committee set by the Finnish Ministry of Finance. The Peace and Security coin was designed by sculptor Tapio Kettunen, whose proposal won the public design competition. A record number of 72 proposals were entered.

President Ahtisaari signed the certificate of authenticity that includes a quote from the speech he gave at the Oslo Nobel Peace Prize ceremony: “Peace is a matter of will.”

The coin is 38.61 mm in diameter, weighs 33.62 grams and has a mintage maximum of 15,000.
Source: numismaster.com