Today is a Monday – only more so for me. My computer acted up first thing this morning, so I am running behind.
I checked the price of gold on the Kitco website and at $1,433 a troy ounce, it has hardly budged from the close on Friday. Silver is at $23.81.
My thoughts also run to base metals. The U.S. Mint’s monthly production numbers for April are available and they show that production was over 1.1 billion coins during the month.
That’s a good number as it continues the uptrend of recovery from the lows of 2009.
I have written from time to time that the state of the U.S. economy is reflected in the demand for circulating coins. Rising production numbers mean rising economic activity. I expect the relationship to continue this year.
As if right on cue rather than simply by coincidence, while I was getting ready for work this morning, I heard an ad on the radio for a job at the Wisconsin Veterans Home at King, which is about 15 miles from Iola.
The home had advertised a different category of jobs last week. That's probably another good sign for the economy, but on a smaller scale.
Even collectors’ high demand levels last week for the two-coin silver West Point American Eagle, which went on sale Thursday, can be construed as being a positive reflection of the state of the economy.
If times are getting better, that is good for us all.
Now I just have to hope that my Monday will get better. That might be a taller order.
Buzz blogger Dave Harper is editor of the weekly newspaper "Numismatic News."
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