Weekly World Numismatic News for August 16, 2020
Whitman canceled the November show in Baltimore because the city continues to use the convention center as a staging area for COVID-19 emergencies. Although the number of cases in the Baltimore area has decreased, city and state health officials warn of a spike that will require the use of the convention center.
Nearly every health expert, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) located in Atlanta, has issued warnings of a second wave combined with the seasonal flu will cause a significant public health risk. Rather than cancel the show, Whitman Expo manager Lori Kraft said that they are “working on an alternate show venue.”
This past week, the Virginia Numismatic Association (VNA) canceled its annual show scheduled for September. They hold their show in Fredericksburg, Virginia, about 50 miles south of Washington, D.C.
The Pennsylvania Association of Numismatists (PAN) hopes that the Monroeville Convention Center (outside of Pittsburgh) will be able to hold their Fall Show at the end of October. Currently, the venue is restricting events to those with 25 attendees or fewer.
States in the northeast continue to have restrictions similar to those in Pennsylvania. Going east to Illinois has similar issues.
If Whitman keeps the show on the east coast, the only place left for them is in Georgia, where they are located. As much as it pains this University of Georgia alumnus to admit, the fellow alum that sits in the state governor’s office has made Georgians’ health and safety a source of political tension.
The year is more than half-over, and the infection is getting worse. Virus hot spots have moved out of the northeast into states where health and safety have been politicized, including Georgia. Leaders are not listening to the medical community, and people are paying with their health and lives.
It is time to admit that 2020 is a lost year. It is time for everyone to adapt to what we have today and plan for the future. It is time for Whitman to cancel the Expo for 2020.
Plan now for a better future when it is (hopefully) safer.
Everyone please stay safe and healthy!
And now the news…
August 10, 2020
→ Read more at npr.org
August 10, 2020 → Read more at kitco.com
August 11, 2020 → Read more at english.radio.cz
August 12, 2020 → Read more at energyandcapital.com
August 12, 2020 → Read more at dw.com
August 13, 2020 → Read more at marshfieldmail.com
PNG Warns Consumers About Non-Gold “Tribute Coins”
Gold Buyers Beware: Experts Caution Coated Tribute Coins Are Not “Gold Coins”
PNG Press Release: Temecula, California—With the price of gold recently increasing, people who want to invest in the precious metal should be cautious about the potential investment value of gold-plated “tribute coins,” according to the Professional Numismatists Guild (www.PNGdealers.com), a nonprofit organization composed of many of the country’s top rare coin and currency dealers.
Frequently advertised on television, the tribute items are replicas of popular United States Mint gold bullion coins, but are privately produced and often contain only a tiny amount of gold.
“These tribute replicas may be fine souvenirs and mementos as inexpensive medallions, but should not be considered an actual precious metal investment because they have only a razor-thin coating of gold and virtually no secondary market value as gold. They’re also not a United States Mint product, so they’re not even U.S. legal tender coins even though their designs may be similar to actual U.S. coins,” cautioned Jeffrey Bernberg, PNG President.
“Some of the look-alike tribute ‘coins’ are advertised as containing 14 milligrams (mgs) of 24 karat gold. That equals a minuscule .00045 troy ounce of gold; less than one-thousandth of an ounce. So, if the price of gold is at $1,690 an ounce, then 14 milligrams would be equal to only about 76 cents worth of gold,” he explained.
The Professional Numismatists Guild was founded in 1955. PNG members must adhere to a Code of Ethics that prohibits use of high pressure sales tactics and misrepresentation of the value of items being sold. PNG members also must demonstrate knowledge, responsibility and integrity in their business dealings, and must agree to binding arbitration to settle unresolved disagreements over numismatic property. A complete list of PNG member-dealers can be found online at www.PNGdealers.com.
For a copy of the informative pamphlet, “What You Should Know Before You Buy Rare Coins,” or a printed directory of PNG member-dealers, send $1 to cover postage costs to: Robert Brueggeman, PNG Executive Director, 28441 Rancho California Rd., Suite 106, Temecula, CA 92590. Phone: (951) 587-8300. Email at info@PNGdealers.com, or visit the web site at www.PNGdealers.com.
Markets Not Responding to SA Mineworker Unrest
Unrest continues in the mining communites of South Africa as the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) ups their efforts to calm the rank and file. The NUM, an ally of the ruling African Nationa Congress (ANC), have rejected calls to exploit the termoil for the benefit of the workers.
The strike has virtually shut down the Lonmin mine that supplies 19-percent of the platinum to the world.
Gold One is reporting that the wildcat strike that caused four injuries yesterday was open on Tuesday. However, the nearby Aurora mine also owned by Gold One remains closed.
Former ANC Youth Leader Julius Malema
(Courtesy of Mail & Guardian)
Malema was expelled from the ANC for “ill discipline.”
Lonmin and Gold Fields stock, already depressed prior to current events, are down even further on the United States and South African markets. Trading on Gold Fields stock in South Africa has been halted on market trading rules.
Currently, gold and platinum prices are trading based on current economic conditions with futures looking at December delivery of these metals. An analyst interviewed for this story said that if the unrest continues, the futures prices will not be affected until late January or early February deliveries are traded—which could begin later in September.
The Coin Collectors Blog will continue to monitor the international reporting and market reaction for their effect on metals prices. Stay tuned!
Unrest Spreads as Arrested SA Mineworkers are Freed
An unidentified mine worker sits on a rock at the Lonmin mine near Rustenburg.
Unrest continues as police used tear gas and rubber bullets to turn back a group of about 60 mineworkers at the Gold One mine at Modder East near Johannesburg who was blocking the roads and throwing rocks at vehicles trying to enter the mine area. Four miners were reported hospitalized by police actions.
Fear of national mining disruption continues as strikes spread to gold mines in South Africa. Local business leaders are afraid that the strikes will hurt South African mines in the long term causing a ripple effect in the economy. South Africa is the world’s third leading producer of gold behind China and the United States.
Market analysts have been reporting that since they see South Africa as an “investor-unfriendly” country that most investments are in exchange-traded funds (ETF) that helps balance the risks.
Gold futures for December delivery rose $9.60, or 0.6-percent, to $1,697.20 an ounce in electronic trading today. London Gold Fixing PM price was $1,691.50, up $5.50 from the AM fix or 0.3-percent. U.S. markets were closed on Monday for the Labor Day holiday.
AP Photo/Themba Hadebe of striker courtesy of IOL Business Report.
Gold Production graph courtesy of ZeroHedge.
South African Justice Officials Drop Murder Charges Against Miners
Mourners carry the casket of Andries Motlapula Ntsenyeho, one of the 34 striking platinum mineworkers shot dead at Lonmin’s Marikana mine, at his home town of Sasolburg in South Africa’s Free State province on Sept 1, 2012.
“The murder charge against the current 270 suspects, which was provisional anyway, will be formally withdrawn provisionally in court on their next court appearance,” acting national director of prosecutions Nomgcobo Jibo told a news conference.
The move to drop the charges occurred as funerals are being held for those killed during the strike.
Unrest continues in Marikana and other South African mining towns as police are being investigated after admitting to firing on striking mineworkers. Some of those officers are on administrative leave but no arrests have been made. This has put pressure on current president Jacob Zuma, who is seeking re-election this December.
Lonmin is the world’s third largest producer of platinum accounting for 12-percent of the world’s production. Lonmin’s primary market is the use of platinum in catalytic converters in cars.
The Marikana mine has been closed since the massacre and was set to re-open after this weekend’s funerals. There has been no report as to whether the wildcat sympathy strike at the KDC East mine owned by Gold Fields will allow that mine to open.
Weak demand has pushed down the market price of platinum leaving mining operators slimmer margins as costs have been rising. The price of platinum has risen only 8.3-percent ($117.00) since August 16, but only up 7.8-percent in 2012.
Gold closed at $1648.50 in London on Friday, down $17 from Thursday (0.7-percent). The price of gold closed at $1691.60 on the New York market, rising after Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke hinted that the Fed could introduce a “fresh, unconventional U.S. monetary policy stimulus will be implemented at some point.”
There have been no reports from market analysts as to how the South African unrest will effect metals prices.
Image courtesy of Reuters via The Sunday Times of Singapore
Summary of August 2012 Coin-Related Legislation
The following is a summary of the coin-related legislation whose status was changed in August 2012:
Public Law No. 112-169: National Infantry Museum And Soldier Center Commemorative Coin Surcharges
Allows commemorative coin surcharges to be used to retire construction debt for the National Infantry Museum
Signed by the president on 8/10/12
See text of the bill at: http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/112/s3363
H.R. 3187: March of Dimes Commemorative Coin Act of 2012
Passed in House under suspension of the rules 8/1/12
Received in the Senate 8/2/12
Track this bill at: http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/112/hr3187
H.R.4104: Pro Football Hall of Fame Commemorative Coin Act
Passed in House under suspension of the rules 8/1/12
Received in the Senate 8/2/12
Track this bill at: http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/112/hr4104
S.3517: Panama-Pacific International Exposition and Panama Canal Commemorative Coins Act
Introduced 8/2/2012
Track this bill at: http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/112/s3517
H.R. 6331: Panama-Pacific International Exposition and Panama Canal Commemorative Coins Act
Sponsor: Rep. Michael Honda (D-CA)
Introduced 8/2/2012
Track this bill at: http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/112/hr6331
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