COINage October - November 2025

Silver is up over 35 percent as of July 22, 2025. Two weeks before that, a COMEX (commodity exchange) executive predicted silver could rise at least fourfold in the next few years. I am skeptical of predictions of any huge price jumps as I prefer a solid, slowly rising bull market. However, his views are worth a listen. “Silver’s recent rise reflects anticipation of an economic boom, bolstering silver’s greater use (vs. gold) in industry.” On July 12, 2025, Michael Oliver, who once worked directly with the chairman of the COMEX during the bubble-like late-1970s bull market when silver hit an all-time record of $50, told King World News of his forecast. Oliver now predicts the price of silver will hit $160 to $240 an ounce. In explaining this super-high…

In recent months, affordability has become a buzzword in America as many households struggle to keep up with the high cost of living. Collecting scarce, high-quality 19th-century coins is an expensive hobby. So, I am going to present an unusual auction analysis here with an in-depth look at many coins that are relatively inexpensive and many people can afford. Consequently, I do not draw attention to the most expensive coins in this particular auction. During June 2025, Stack’s Bowers Galleries, one of the largest, oldest and most prolific coin dealerships in the world, conducted a “Showcase Auction” that featured an assortment of coins, medals, tokens and paper money—mostly United States government issues. Although this was the official auction of the Whitman Expo in Baltimore and all lots were shown there…

Get Your 2025 Lincoln Cents While You Can Coin collectors who want what is expected to be the last Lincoln cents struck for circulation can now order the three different issues for the year directly from the United States Mint. The U.S. Mint recently released the 2025 Uncirculated Coin Set, which includes one example of each issue struck for circulation, including the highly coveted Philadelphia and Denver strikes of the 2025 Lincoln cent. Many collectors have reported challenges in landing these coins from pocket change or acquiring roll quantities from their local banks, credit unions and other financial institutions. Therefore, the release of the 2025 U.S. Mint Uncirculated Set provides collectors with direct access to purchase these and the other circulating 2025 Philadelphia and Denver business strikes directly from the…

Coin collecting has long been a popular hobby. So have sports trading cards. Now, Houston, Texas-based Celebrity Mint has merged these passions into a groundbreaking product: the first legal tender, precious metal coins reimagined as trading cards. Each is signed by the featured star. These limited-edition collectibles feature the name, image and likeness of iconic figures from sports and pop culture. Each series of Celebrity Mint’s gold and silver “trading coins” showcasing stars from professional basketball, baseball, professional wrestling and boxing has quickly sold out upon release. “Our mission at Celebrity Mint is to bridge the gap between coin collecting and sports memorabilia enthusiasts,” said Co-Founder Kenny Duncan Jr. Founded in 2023 by brothers Kenny Duncan Jr. and Matt Duncan, Celebrity Mint is a division of the Duncan Group. The…

Raeleen Endo started in collectibles in 1997, when she first joined PCGS (Professional Coin Grading Service) in its customer service division. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from UCLA with a B.A. in Anthropology and has studied in Japan. She is at the forefront transitioning the coin field from a hobby to a multibillion-dollar online collectibles and investment industry. Endo has overseen $1.5 billion in coin sales over the past 15 years at GreatCol-lections alone. How wide is demand for high-quality certified U.S. coins? I see bidders from all over the world. I always wonder when I see a bidder on a U.S. $20 gold piece placing a bid from Japan, Poland or New Zealand how they got started collecting rare U.S. coins. Some of them are expats who collected coins…

In 1933, America was reeling from the Great Depression, which had followed on the heels of the Stock Market Crash of 1929. A rash of bank failures across the country caused a major banking crisis and a loss of faith in our banking system. Dust bowl conditions exacerbated the weakened economy further and then crop prices collapsed. Unemployment climbed to 24.9% and the Hoover Administration was unable to restore the public’s faith in the economy. ROOSEVELT SIGNED EXECUTIVE ORDER #6102 Five days after his inauguration in 1933, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt signed Executive Order #6102 into law. This law forbade “the hoarding of gold coin, gold bullion and gold certificates within the continental United States.” Contrary to popular belief, the government did not knock on doors of American citizens demanding…