Spot prices

Westminster Mint provides free real time price quotes on gold, silver, platinum and palladium. People interested in the precious metals market can follow the prices and see trends develop 24/7 on the world market by using our free current and historic price charts and graphs. Track your holding and measure how you are performing against other commodities and stock market indexes such as the Dow Jones, S&P 500, S&P Euro currency, Crude Oil and the U.S. Dollar. You get access to exactly what you need to know-when you need to know free and in real time.

Thursday, December 19, 2019

NGC-Graded Coins Top 45 Million


NGC-Graded Coins Top 45 Million

Numismatic Guaranty Corporation® (NGC) has now graded more than 45 million coins, becoming the first third-party coin grading service to achieve this important milestone.

Three of the over 45 million coins graded by NGC

NGC has led the industry for many years. In 2010, it became the first third-party grading service to reach 20 million coins graded. By 2018, that number had doubled to 40 million coins — another milestone reached first by NGC.

Stellar growth across many categories and worldwide locations propelled NGC to 45 million coins graded. A truly global grading service, NGC certifies ancient, vintage and modern coins as well as tokens and medals. The company now has offices in Sarasota, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Munich and London; 19 Official Submission Centers; and thousands of Authorized Dealers around the world.
With full-time grading in Sarasota and Shanghai and regular on-site grading events in Hong Kong and Munich, NGC delivers faster turnaround times for submissions along with more personal and localized services.

While NGC’s services and scope have expanded significantly since its founding in 1987, the company maintains an uncompromising commitment to its founding principles of accuracy, consistency and integrity.

NGC employs a team of more than 30 full-time graders, many of whom have decades of grading experience. To ensure impartiality, NGC and its full-time graders do not buy and sell coins commercially, and strict procedures are in place to prevent consultants from influencing the grades assigned to their own submissions.

After grading, coins are encapsulated in NGC’s state-of-the-art holder, the same holder used by the Smithsonian Institution to preserve some of its most important numismatic rarities. In addition, every coin that NGC certifies is backed by the comprehensive NGC Guarantee — the strongest in the industry.
"NGC’s continued success is rooted in a steadfast commitment to our guiding principles of accuracy, consistency and integrity," says Mark Salzberg, NGC Chairman and Grading Finalizer. "We thank all of the collectors and dealers worldwide who trust us to grade their cherished coins."
Among the 45 million coins that NGC has graded are some of the world’s greatest and most famous rarities, for example:

  • NGC graded Neil Armstrong’s Apollo 11 Gold Medal (NGC MS 67), which realized more than $2 million at an auction in 2019.

  • NGC graded an 1897 Szechuan Ferracute Pattern Set with coins ranging from NGC SP 63 to NGC SP 66, which realized more than $1 million at an auction in 2019.

  • NGC graded one of the first 10 Morgan silver dollars (NGC SP 64) struck by the San Francisco Mint in 2019.

  • NGC graded the Cherrywood Collection of 26 rare vintage Chinese coins, which realized more than $1.3 million at an auction in 2019.

  • An extremely rare 1787 Brasher Doubloon was graded NGC MS 63 and sold for more than $5 million in a 2018 private sale.

  • NGC graded a 1792 Washington President Pattern Gold Eagle (NGC XF Details) from the Eric P. Newman collection that realized more than $1.7 million at auction in 2018.

  • NGC graded a quartet of massive China gold pieces in 2018, together containing over $1.5 million in gold.

  • NGC graded three of the four known Confederate Half Dollars, including the Eric P. Newman specimen (NGC PF 40), which sold for nearly $1 million in 2017.

  • NGC graded a Chinese 1992 Compass 1 Kilogram Gold 2000 Yuan (NGC PF 69 Ultra Cameo), which realized more than $1.2 million at an auction in 2011.

  • NGC has graded three of the five 1913 Liberty Head Nickels, including an NGC PF 64 specimen that realized more than $3.7 million at an auction in 2010.

  • NGC graded seven 1804 Dollars, including an NGC PF 62 example that sold for nearly $3.8 million in 2008.
Learn more about NGC and its services and benefits at NGCcoin.com (global site), NGCcoin.cn (China), NGCcoin.hk (Hong Kong), NGCcoin.de (Europe), NGCcoin.uk (United Kingdom) and NGCcoin.in (India).

 

 

 

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Octoberfest German Car Show Presenting Sponsor

Octoberfest German Car Show Presenting Sponsor

Scenes from the Octoberfest German car show with proceeds going to the Twin Cities Ronald McDonald House.






Thursday, August 29, 2019

2019 Apollo 11 50th Anniversary Silver Dollars PR70 Limited Edition 970


This magnificent curved silver proof coin has been issued for the 50th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon landing. We showcase the coins in perfect proof seventy condition. Each coin is individually numbered out of 970 on their certified holders. ANACS is the only coin grading service that provides individually numbered coin holders.

The obverse (heads) design features the inscriptions “MERCURY,” “GEMINI,” and “APOLLO,” separated by phases of the Moon, and a footprint on the lunar surface, which together represent the efforts of the United States space program leading up to the first manned Moon landing.

The reverse (tails) design features a representation of a close-up of the famous ‘Buzz Aldrin on the Moon’ photograph taken July 20, 1969, that shows just the visor and part of the helmet of astronaut Buzz Aldrin. The reflection in Buzz Aldrin’s helmet includes astronaut Neil Armstrong, the United States flag, and the lunar lander.

Condition Proof 70 (PR70) 

Coins are graded on a 70-point scale with “70” being absolute perfection. In 1948, Dr. William Sheldon, a renowned numismatist, developed the Sheldon Scale, assigning number grades from "1" through "70" to coins. The basis of Sheldon’s theory was that a "70" would be worth 70 times as much as a "1."

The term proof coin refers to the method of manufacture of the coin and not the grade of the coin. Proof coins are presentation pieces and made specifically for coin collectors. They are struck using specially prepared coin dies, on a specially prepared coin blanks called a planchets. Proof coins are struck several times on presses operating at slower speeds and higher striking pressure. Because of this extra care, Proofs usually exhibit much sharper detail than regular, or business, strikes. Proof coins certified in PR70 condition should be flawless, fully struck, and lustrous with superb eye appeal. 


ANACS Certified label

A coin collector buys both the coin and the slab. In addition to buying the certification service’s reputation and a numeric grade, the coin buyer purchases the holder as a physical object. ANACS certified First Release individually numbered labels enhance and differentiate your coin from others in the same grade, serving a function beyond recording the coin’s authenticity and condition. The presentation and collectible value of these coins is enhanced by being identified as coveted limited edition of just 970 coins.

National Park Quarters 48-coin Set W/Album (48 COINS 2010 – 2019)

National Park Quarters 48-coin Set W/Album (48 COINS 2010 – 2019)

In 2010, the United States Mint began issuing 56 quarter-dollar coins featuring designs depicting national parks and other national sites as part of the United States Mint America the Beautiful Quarters Program. 2019 marks the tenth year of the program. This collection features 48 coins including the blockbuster, Yellowstone, Yosemite, Grand Canyon, Gettysburg and Everglades coins.

Each coin is guaranteed to be in Brilliant Uncirculated condition and will have a nice mixture of both coins struck at the Philadelphia and Denver mint. The collection is offered as seen with a collector album that will hold all 56 coins.


Tuesday, October 9, 2018

NGC Labels Hand-Signed by Ken Bressett Now Available from Westminster Mint

NGC Labels Hand-Signed by Ken Bressett Now Available from Westminster Mint

Posted on 10/8/2018 

The labels feature the logo of the Red Book, for which Bressett is well-known.
Morgan Dollars certified by Numismatic Guaranty Corporation® (NGC®) and encapsulated with NGC labels individually hand-signed by Kenneth Bressett are now available from Westminster Mint, Inc., a major coin retailer.

Kenneth Bressett is one of the best-known and most respected numismatists of all time. In 1962, he was appointed editor of A Guide Book of United States Coins, the world’s best-selling coin collecting guide. Popularly termed the “Red Book,” more than 24 million copies have been sold since the first edition was published in 1946.

NGC partnered with Whitman Publishing, LLC, publisher of the Red Book, to create NGC certification labels that feature the guide’s name and official logo. Select numbers of these labels have been hand-signed by Bressett to create a particularly special collectible.





Westminster Mint recently launched sales of NGC-certified Morgan Dollars encapsulated with NGC Official Red Book labels hand-signed by Kenneth Bressett. The Morgan Dollar is a favorite among collectors due to its history, beauty and, in higher grades, captivating cartwheel luster. The series ran from 1878 to 1904 and returned for an encore in 1921.

NGC is the world’s largest third-party grading service, having grading more than 41 million coins, including more than 3 million Morgan Dollars. NGC's Authentic Hand-Signed labels include signers such as former Mint Director Edmund C. Moy and "Coinage Congressman" Mike Castle, as well as Bressett. Coins with authentic hand-signed labels are listed separately in the NGC Census population report.

"When I learned that NGC had a limited number of Official Red Book labels that were individually hand-signed by Kenneth Bressett, the book's editor for over 40 years, I immediately thought of Morgan Silver Dollars," said Ian Clay, President of Westminster Mint, which has served coin collectors since 2001. "Morgan Dollars are America's favorite collectible coins. Who could better represent them than Kenneth Bressett, an icon of American numismatics?"

"Westminster Mint does a fantastic job of bringing new collectors into the hobby by offering attractive and desirable coins with interesting stories," said Mark Salzberg, NGC chairman. "These NGC-certified Morgan Dollars with Kenneth Bressett hand-signed labels are sure to appeal to new and advanced collectors alike."

To learn more about the NGC-certified Morgan Dollars with Kenneth Bressett hand-signed labels available for sale through the Westminster Mint, visit www.coin-rare.com or call 800-301-3868.

Tuesday, March 20, 2018

Breast Cancer Awareness $5 Gold Coin

Breast Cancer Awareness $5 Gold Coin

The obverse (heads) design, by Emily Damstra and sculpted by Phebe Hemphill, features two women. The older woman has her hands on her chest and a relieved expression on her face. The younger woman, with a scarf on her head, holds one hand over her chest and the other raised in a fist as if she is ready to fight. A butterfly flies above the two women.

The gold reverse (tails) design by Emily Damstra and sculpted by Renata Gordon, depicts a Tiger Swallowtail butterfly in flight, a symbol of hope.

Specifications

Composition: 85 percent Gold; 14.8 percent Copper, Balance Zinc
Diameter: 0.850 inches
Weight: 7.931 grams
Mintage Limit: 50,000 across all gold product options



Wednesday, March 7, 2018

Berlin’s 2018 World Money Fair

City Releases Coins

Berlin’s 2018 World Money Fair, WMF  was a great success with 300 exhibitors from more than 50 countries. Thousands of collectors attended many were looking for the best new WMF Releases. There is an aplite for coins released through shows like the WMF and ANA shows in the United States. We refer to them as City Releases. The demand for coins like these were triggered in 2014 when a collector paid $100,000 for the first John F. Kennedy Gold Half Dollar.

Friday, March 2, 2018

NGC Grades 40,000,000 Coins

NGC Grades 40,000,000 Coins

Numismatic Guaranty Corporation® (NGC®) has become the first third-party coin grading service to grade more than 40,000,000 coins.

NGC has been the industry leader for a number of years. It became the first third-party grading service to reach 20,000,000 coins graded (in 2010), the first to reach 25,000,000 coins graded (in 2012), the first to reach 30,000,000 coins graded (in 2014) and the first to reach 35,000,000 coins graded (in 2016).

International growth has been a major force behind these recent milestones. NGC now has international offices in Shanghai, Hong Kong and Munich as well as 13 Official Submission Centers around the world. In April, NGC will open its fourth international office in London.

Coins are graded full time at NGC's 60,000-square-foot headquarters in Sarasota, Florida, USA, and at its 15,000-square-foot facility in Shanghai. In March, NGC will begin to offer periodic on-site grading in Munich.

Used by the Smithsonian Institution to preserve its most important rarities.

Every coin certified by NGC is encapsulated in its state-of-the-art holder, the same holder used by the Smithsonian Institution to preserve its most important rarities. The superior protection of the NGC holder, coupled with its expert and impartial grading and guarantee, has helped NGC to stand out year after year.

Friday, May 5, 2017

Today’s impressive sounding positive employment numbers were not really as positive as the first glance reflected

Today’s impressive sounding positive employment numbers were not really as positive as the first glance reflected. Labor Force participation was lowered which automatically improves the Unemployment rate. The precious metal’s market knee jerk reaction was down but quickly recovered but as yet has not recovered all the loss. Like a scratched record I repeat the precious metals remain under pressure. The news to watch is this Sunday’s French elections. All the media is promoting a Macron win making traders comfortable with their current precious metals positions. An upset would change everything.

Wednesday, April 26, 2017

President Trump’s tax plan is a key focus today as pundits babble

President Trump’s tax plan is a key focus today as pundits babble on about what is in it without actually having all the facts. Two key points I have read is a significant cut to corporate/business operating taxes and a cut on US Foreign earnings repatriation which is supposed to bring monies back on shore and drive more hiring and spending domestically by corporations. It will be interesting to see how it effects the debt ceiling event on Friday of this week. The French elections remain front and center and will be so until it passes May 7. As long as the market is buying a Macron expected win pressure will remain on the gold. The precious metals complex is no longer looking very bullish if gold were to trade down to the strong support level at 1245 or break lower that would signal a complete change of direction. Palladium remains the only bull in town but for now while silver is under attack.