World Coins

Greek debt crisis leads to gold-buying spike: Coin World Buzz

Gold sovereign bullion coins emerge from a press at the Royal Mint.

Image courtesy of the Royal Mint.

1. Greeks buying gold

The Greek debt crisis has led to a major increase in the Royal Mint's sale of gold Sovereign bullion coins to Greek customers, according to The Wall Street Journal's MoneyBeat blog.

The Journal quoted a Royal Mint statement that declared gold demand from customers in Greece was twice the expected demand in June. 

"Gold is traditionally considered a safe-haven asset and demand tends to spike in times of heightened risk," the post reads.

2. Canadian meltdown

"One-third of all Canadian 1912, 1913, and 1914 gold coins have now officially been melted.

"More than 215,000 $5 and $10 coins were melted during a 10-day period early in June, according to sources in Canada."

Read more about the melt.

3. Market Analysis

"Franklin half dollars are popular with collectors in Proof because the spare design just looks good as a Proof, with deeply mirrored fields and — sometimes — frosty devices."

The first post of this week's Market Analysis focuses on a 1950 example.

4. D-Day coins

"In 1993, the U.S. Mint honored World War II with three commemorative coins, including a silver dollar emblematic of D-Day, when some 176,000 Allied soldiers stormed the beaches of northern France."

5. Precious metals pricing

Kitco.com listed the following prices per ounce as of 11:35 p.m. ET Tuesday:

6. Hot topics

Check out the three most-read stories of the last seven days:

  1. 2015-W American Liberty, High Relief gold coin to be 1-ounce, $100 face value issue
  2. Policy by eBay exempts some numismatic items from Confederate flag ban
  3. U.S. Mint ready to shine with American Liberty gold $100 coin: Monday Morning Brief

7. Something social

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