According to the Baker Library Historical Collection at Harvard Business School, the three Lehman brothers, Henry, Emanuel, and Mayer, emigrated from Germany in the 1840s and opened up a dry goods store in Montgomery, Alabama. During this time, cotton was a vital and high valuation crop and the brothers quickly began accepting raw cotton in…
The Match and the Powder Keg: The Fall of Lehman Brothers 10 Years LaterDetailsEvery year in July, the festival of San Fermín is held in Pamplona, Spain. San Fermin is the co-patron saint of Navarre who was martyred at the age of 31 and apparently dragged through the streets by a bull. Despite the fact that it was likely Saint Saturninus who actually met his fate in this…
There’s a Reason We Run from BullsDetailsIt’s somewhat fitting that the future of global monetary policy and the path of U.S. interest rates will be discussed in a place renowned for the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar complete with saddle stools, Wyoming Whiskey, and thousands of Morgan Silver Dollars embedded into the bar top. The Jackson Hole Economic Symposium is a yearly…
An Aging Bull and a Surging Dollar: High Stakes at Jackson HoleDetailsThe only certain things in life are death, taxes, and, one could argue, another financial downturn. Recessions are inevitable. Some economists believe they’re a natural outgrowth of business cycles. Others maintain that booms and busts reflect the inherent cadence of capitalism and a market economy. Still others assert that downturns represent an outgrowth of excess…
When—Not If—is the Next Economic Crisis?DetailsWhat if I told you that Goldilocks was not a fair-haired child but rather a horrid old woman apparently up to no good? What if I told you that the three bears were not as high-minded as they’re often portrayed but rather wild, ravenous, and a bit vindictive? In the Goldilocks tale first published by…
A Goldilocks Economy and the Real Story of the Three BearsDetailsEver wonder where your gold and silver coins begin their lives? How about your pocket change? America has official, coin-producing minting facilities from east to west, north to south. These facilities are some of the most popular and trusted coin minting facilities in the world. In order of date established, the mints are located in…
What Happens at the Four U.S. Mint Facilities?DetailsGet ready for the toxic TV commercials, mounds of election mail, and—depending on where you live—door-to-door vote trolling. The midterm elections are now mere months away, and while there’s a lot on the line for both political parties, there is even more at stake for U.S. consumers, particularly those watching their nest eggs. The midterm…
Under 100 Days Out—What the Midterms Could Mean for the EconomyDetailsBurnished. Is it a coin type? Classification? Grade? To “burnish” something means to make it shiny or lustrous, especially by rubbing. In the world of numismatics—the study of coins and currency—a burnished coin is more than a polished piece of gold or silver. The basics: What is a burnished coin? The burnishing process was first…
What is a Burnished Coin?DetailsMS-60. AU-55. G-4. What’s next, 007? MI-9? Not quite! When you examine a certified gold or silver coin, you aren’t looking at a secret code or the calling card of a British spy. You’re looking at letters and numbers from the Sheldon Scale, the de facto standard for coin grading that communicates important information to…
The Sheldon Coin Grading Scale: Your Guide to Coin GradingDetailsPeople buy physical gold for many reasons: to protect against losses in other asset categories, for security in times of crisis, and because it’s a tangible, liquid, and private asset. Why might YOU buy gold? The choice is yours. Make an informed decision. Learn more as we dive deeper into each of these reasons people…
Why Do People Buy Gold?DetailsFrom the 1920’s to 1964, the jingle jangle of pocket change sounded different in America. It even felt different. When you pulled out a few quarters to pay for a soda, you were paying with real silver coins made from 90 percent silver and 10 percent copper. Thanks to an increasing demand for silver and…
The Difference Between Pure Silver Coins and Clad CoinsDetailsThe Gold American Eagle depicts Lady Liberty, fearlessly gazing into America’s future. The Canadian Gold Maple Leaf features the first portrait of Queen Elizabeth II to show her without a crown. The Gold American Buffalo features… who? The answer isn’t as straightforward as you might think. The front of the Gold American Buffalo shows a…
Who Inspired the Indian Head on the Gold American Buffalo Coin?Details
