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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;RickieB, post: 93166, member: 2486&quot;]It is proposed that the 2006 AGE will be .999 fine gold in order to compete with the Canadian, China, Austrian other .999 fine gold coining countries. The bid for a piece of 2.4 Billion $$ bullion market is huge. This will mark the first time in American History that we have had this pure of a coin.</p><p>I do not think the mint will be producing two different purity coins..simply put the coin will not be alloyed with other metals...the cost will be the same as current maybe a small premium as they will contain the same mass (no alloy)..my concern lies within the packaging...pure gold is easily scratched..take a look at all the Maple Leaf&#039;s that have been damaged from folks trying to take them out of their container...I hope for great packaging!!!</p><p>I plan on buying a set each year both proof and Uncirc..how about you??</p><p><br /></p><p>Here is the Article:</p><p><br /></p><p>&quot;The United States Mint intends to match and exceed world class business practices with this new 24-karat gold bullion coin,&quot; said Henrietta Holsman Fore, director of the U.S. Mint, in a statement. </p><p><br /></p><p>&quot;There is a demand, both here and abroad, for 24-karat gold coins,&quot; she said. &quot;We want to meet this demand by providing the highest quality and most beautiful coins in the world.&quot; </p><p><br /></p><p>According to the Mint, the global market for 24-karat bullion coins is $2.4 billion. </p><p><br /></p><p>It&#039;s clear that the government is responding to competitive pressure. As much as 60 percent of investor-grade gold coins sold internationally last year were 24-karat, with Canada&#039;s Maple Leaf piece one of the most popular. </p><p><br /></p><p>Until now, the highest grade U.S. coins have been the 22-karat American Eagle series, first introduced in the 1980s after Congress banned the sale of South African Krugerrands to protest apartheid. </p><p><br /></p><p>The Mint claims that the American Eagle accounts for 95 percent of all gold coin sales in the United States. But on the much larger international market, 24-karat pieces are more popular. Washington found itself without an entry in the field. </p><p><br /></p><p>Although they carry nominal face values, gold coins minted for investors and collectors sell immediately at prices based on the commodities markets, where gold currently sells for more than $425 an ounce. The coins will be literally worth their weight in gold. </p><p><br /></p><p>&quot;The program will have two phases,&quot; the Mint&#039;s statement noted, &quot;starting with an investor-grade uncirculated 24-karat gold bullion coin, followed by a 24-karat numismatic collector proof coin.&quot; </p><p><br /></p><p>No specific designs or denominations for the new coin have been announced. The Treasury Department will undergo a period of public review before releasing those details later this spring. </p><p><br /></p><p><a href="http://usgovinfo.about.com/od/consumerawareness/a/goldprog.htm" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://usgovinfo.about.com/od/consumerawareness/a/goldprog.htm" rel="nofollow">http://usgovinfo.about.com/od/consumerawareness/a/goldprog.htm</a></p><p><br /></p><p>Standing Corrected: above URL confirms GDJ post.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>RickieB :kewl:[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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