U.S. Mint Issues Consumer Warning About Obama Inaugural Coins
There are several different commemorative coins being sold because of Obama's upcoming inauguration. Most people hopefully realize that coins like the coin pictured above from a company called the New England Mint are not real but the U.S. Mint still issued a warning to consumers that these are not real United States Mint products.
It has come to the attention of the United States Mint that several private commercial businesses are advertising so-called "Barack Obama Presidential $1 Coins," as well as commemorative half-dollar coins, American Eagle Silver Coins and multi-coin sets bearing images of the President-Elect. These advertisements feature genuine United States coins that the private commercial businesses have altered by affixing a colorized image to the coin. Additionally, some businesses have treated the coins by gold-plating them.
MSNBC's ConsumerMan Herb Weisbaum has investigated the coins and was told by coin experts that the coins are "overpriced trinkets" and not investment coins. Weisbaum says, "If you do decide to buy, realize what you'll get: an unofficial coin that has no intrinsic or investment value. It's purely sentimental."
