Trip to San Francisco Mint Begins… Stay Tuned

This week my brother Darrin and I are visiting the U.S. Mint at San Francisco. This will be Darrin’s first visit and my second. I was there early last year and had a great time.

Like our visit to the West Point Mint five weeks ago, we hope to get a sneak peek at 50th anniversary Kennedy coinage — the gold piece and reverse proof really made an impression. The San Francisco Mint is striking enhanced uncirculated halves for the upcoming four-coin 50th Anniversary Kennedy Half-Dollar Silver Coin Collection. I’m thinking it’ll be the crown jewel of the collection. Stay tuned…

Also, in coin news articles this week, we’ll have stories on a number of new world coin issues, some catch-up pieces on U.S. coin designs and our monthly wrap-up columns. Until then, here’s a list of last week’s most read:

1. Assaying Gold at the West Point Mint – All the gold and most of the silver bullion coins are struck in West Point, under the helm of plant manager Ellen McCullom. The facility is among the more unique of the Mint’s four production plants. It not only makes coins like the others but it also stores gold and silver in vaults, and its lab assays precious metals to verify their fineness and quality…

2. FDR Presidential $1 Coins in Rolls, Bags and Boxes – On Aug. 28, the United States Mint began selling the latest Presidential $1 Coin in rolls, bags and boxes. Honoring Franklin D. Roosevelt, the 32nd President of the United States serving from 1933 to 1945, it is the last of the dollar coins for…

3. 2014 Kennedy Gold Coin Sales Fall; Price Decrease Likely – New United States Mint sales figures offer the latest total for the 1964-2014 Proof 50th Anniversary Kennedy Half-Dollar Gold Coin. Sales of the dual-dated coin, now at 63,388, have slowed following their early surge. The latest weekly change actually marks a decline of…

4. Coolidge Presidential $1 Coin & First Spouse Medal Set – On Aug. 26, the United States started selling Coolidge Presidential $1 Coin & First Spouse Medal Sets. The set honors Calvin Coolidge, the 30th President of the United States, and his wife Grace. Available for $9.95, this product has one uncirculated quality 2014-P Calvin Coolidge Presidential $1 Coin and one Grace Coolidge First Spouse Bronze Medal made in…

5. Great Sand Dunes Quarter Ceremony, Coin Exchange and Coin Forum – Great Sand Dunes National Park Quarters launched into circulation, and in U.S. Mint rolls and bags, on Aug. 25. Next week, on Thursday, Sept. 4, representatives from the National Park Service and United States Mint will introduce the quarter for Colorado in an official release ceremony…

For our U.S. readers, have a safe and enjoyable Labor Day Weekend.