Precious Metal & Rare Coin Market News

In the 1870's in Colorado, the discovery of huge amounts of silver ore in the mountains triggered a massive silver boom. Silver mining expanded significantly in the state over the next decade, and Leadville became known as the "Silver Capital of America." Colorado mountain towns saw explosive population growth and prosperity driven by mining. However, the silver boom period slid into a bust. Changes to the global international monetary systems relating to precious metals triggered ... >> Read More        

It's no secret that global central banks have been stockpiling gold. But we just didn't know how significant the central bank gold buying has been. Demand for gold bullion is so strong that the precious metal has surpassed the euro to become the second-largest asset held by central banks around the world. For the last three years, global central banks have bought more than 1,000 tons of gold each year. Because of all that gold ... >> Read More        

The enduring story of the Lost Colony of Roanoke Island remains one of the biggest mysteries in American history. Established in the late 1500s on Roanoke Island, present-day North Carolina, the colony was England’s first attempt to establish a settlement in the New World. Yet, one day, the entire colony disappeared without a trace. The unsettling disappearance of the entire colony triggered centuries of speculation, theories, and many investigations. None of these ideas has ever ... >> Read More        

There are growing signs the U.S. economy has entered a slow patch in the first half of the year. From a negative growth reading in the first quarter to a sharp increase in Americans collecting unemployment checks, uncertainty about what lies ahead is showing up in the data. In the midst of it all, gold is the top-performing asset of the year with a 22% year-to-date gain. The case for gold ownership remains strong, and ... >> Read More        

This week, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill to begin the process of making gold and silver legal tender in that state. Why? "This is our ability to give you the financial freedom to be able to protect yourself against the declining value of the dollar," said DeSantis. The new state law will go into effect July 1, 2026. Sound Money Laws Gain Momentum in the States Florida isn't alone. There is a growing ... >> Read More        

The Barber Quarter is a perennial favorite among collectors for its historical significance and the exciting challenge that comes with trying to assembling a complete set, including coins from all mint facilities. In their era, Barber Quarters primarily went immediately into circulation and stayed there. They were heavily used and today survivors in high grades are scarce. In 1896, a mere 762 Barber proofs were minted. Today, high-quality 1896 Barber proof quarters are hard to ... >> Read More        

America's credit isn't as good as it used to be. In a surprise announcement, Moody's Ratings downgraded the U.S. government's credit in mid-May. Moody's Ratings was the last of the three major ratings agency that had given America access to the exclusive Triple-A club. No more. Moody's downgraded its credit rating of the United States to "Aa1" from "AAA." The firm pointed to rising debt and interest "that are significantly higher than similarly rated sovereigns." ... >> Read More        

The opening of the Panama Canal in 1914 represented one of the greatest engineering feats in the history of the world at that time. Throughout the 1800s, businessmen around the globe wanted to ship goods quickly and cheaply between the Atlantic and Pacific coasts—and the long-awaited opening of the Panama Canal transformed global trade. It had been a long time coming. In 1881, the French tried, and failed, to build a pathway to connect the ... >> Read More        

The Civil War impacted nearly every aspect of Americans' lives. Amid the military battles, food shortages, and economic chaos, people hoarded any precious metals they could get their hands on. That included the three-cent silver piece, the smallest silver coin produced at that time by the U.S. Mint. This created a currency shortage for daily commerce and trade. In an effort to ease the currency shortage, the U.S. Treasury issued small-denomination paper notes, ranging from ... >> Read More        

When you shop at Target, Walmart, or Costco, you probably don't think much about the journey the items you buy have taken. It turns out that things made in China can travel up to 10,000 nautical miles to arrive on U.S. soil. Cargo ships carry everything from laptops, smartphones, furniture, lamps, clothing, toys, sports equipment, shoes, and more to the U.S., eventually landing in your neighborhood stores. Since early April, when the U.S. added a ... >> Read More