LOOSE CHANGE: JANUARY 7, 2024

Most circulating United States coins have received their share of negative press when first issued. This includes the beloved Roosevelt dime.

Upon learning of FDR's death, Mint Director Ross, a fervently loyal Roosevelt appointee, set to work immediately to assure that his portrait would adorn the roster of coins in daily circulation as soon as possible. A commemorative coin would not do, and neither a silver dollar nor gold coins were being issued. That left the half dollar and the dime.

FDR had been closely identified with the nationwide effort to combat the scourge of polio, which was intensifying throughout the country, particularly in major cities during the summers. This author well remembers the annual hysteria in New York City that included sequestering youngsters indoors despite stifling summer heat.

The forceful Ross realized that the Winged Liberty dime had passed its 25th anniversary in 1941 and could be changed without permission of Congress. She gave the go-ahead and the aging Sinnock went to work, propelled by a bill introduced on May 3 by Louisiana Congressman James Hobson Morrison authorizing a Roosevelt portrait. On May 17, Treasury Secretary Henry Morgenthau, Jr. announced that the new dimes would enter circulation close to year's end.

To read the complete article, see:
The Roosevelt Dime – Stolen Design or Communist Plot? (https://coinweek.com/roosevelt-dime-stolen-design-communist-plot/)

Cayton Law of Pittsburgh, PA left an envelope on his kitchen counter containing $4,000 in cash as payment for contractors working on his home. When he returned, he found his family's goldendoodle, Cecil, chewing on the $100 and $50 bills.

Law's wife Carrie Law added, "He has never in his life tried to get anything from a counter, even coffee table. We could leave dinner and go to the kitchen and grab wine, and he would not touch the food, and he just doesn't care. He just took this opportunity and ran with it."

"Just trying to find numbers, we'd recover something from something he left in the yard and say oh my gosh, we have a 6 for the serial number. And try to get that taped on," Carrie Law said. "We had to have the majority of the serial number on both sides and the bank said if you tape it, that would help. So, I brought everything in a plastic bag and brought gloves for them."

In the end, the couple only lost $500. And Cecil is doing just fine.

To read the complete article, see:
Dog eats $4000 in cash (video) (https://boingboing.net/2024/01/04/dog-eats-4000-in-cash-video.html)

 

Ron Williams, a retired Air Force production superintendent in Utah, usually buys gold investment coins and bars from his precious-metals dealer. But when he found 1-ounce gold bars available on Costco Wholesale's website recently, he decided to give them a shot.

They seem pretty competitive with other bullion dealers, says the 62-year-old Williams. And the shipping is free.

While he doesn't expect to routinely buy gold bars at the big-box retailer, Williams is now among a vocal number of Costco fanatics and gold buyers who have flocked to the retailer's website over the past year when it periodically puts up limited quantities of gold bars for sale.

Members of Facebook groups and Reddit message boards dedicated to Costco and gold post alerts when the gold bars are available. Those who miss out on the fast-moving items often grumble, while those who made purchases often report their success, sometimes including pictures and prices paid.

To read the complete article, see:
You Can Buy Gold Bars at Costco. But Are They Worth It? (https://www.wsj.com/finance/investing/costco-gold-bars-ff8e60d5)

The market for rare and antiquarian books is having a moment, having wrapped up another year of record sales and attractive returns. In 2022, book and paper auction sales totaled $1.06 billion, according to Rare Book Hub, down about $100 million from 2021 when a few high-priced items skewed figures upward, but up sharply from sales of $725 million in 2020.

In the world of alternative investments, rare books can be a fascinating and lucrative journey that even novice investors can get into—from the thrill of uncovering hidden gems at yard sales or winning high-end auctions to the process of assessing a book's collectible value. Beyond financial considerations, many collectors are drawn to this market because of their genuine love for books.

For some collectors, it is the thrill of the hunt and the prospect of a serendipitous discovery. Former investment banker Sam Dogen experienced that when, in 1991, the science-fiction enthusiast stumbled upon an Isaac Asimov book titled Foundation and Earth.

It was a first edition, first print, signed copy that he bought for $40 at a used-book store. Today, it's worth over $1,000 because Asimov passed away in 1992 and his lore grew, says Dogen, who worked at Goldman Sachs and Credit Suisse during his 13 years in investment banking before starting the personal-finance website Financial Samurai.

To read the complete article (subscription required), see:
Rare Books Are a Hot Collectible. Here's How to Get Started. (https://www.wsj.com/arts-culture/books/are-books-collector-guide-98ac3e4a)

	NBS (coinbooks.org) Web