As regular readers know, I no longer believe in the idiom “time flies.” Rather, I’m convinced time is now on a rocket sled traveling beyond the speed of light. Case in point, it seems just a year or so ago I was in grade-school. Nope. It’s been many decades.
We’re all pretty much on the same sled. Christmas is just a month away. Hannukah, a bit less. But, both will be here in no time.
Thoughts of my public grade school and Christmastime are melded with memories of something impossible today. In our public school we actually had Christmas shows replete with carols. When I revisited that school a year ago, there were no signs of Christmas. No drawings of decorated trees or wreaths or Santa. I was told by teachers the only images now allowed are snowflakes and winterscapes. Secularism is the law....
For me, it was from many of the carols in those shows and pageants that I realized how connected silver and gold are to the holidays. Actually, they are inseparable.
For instance, gold is key in The Twelve Days of Christmas (“…five gold rings”); We Three Kings (“…gold I bring to crown him”); and, It Came Upon A Midnight Clear (“…comes round the age of gold”). The songs Silver Bells and Silver and Gold from the “Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer” TV program speak for themselves.
Biblically, gold is said to represent kingship, purity and divinity and is traditionally the metal of a menorah in temples. Jewish children often receive “gelt” chocolate candy coins wrapped in gold foil. It is notably most recognized as one of the gifts brought by the Wise Men to Bethlehem. Modernly, for the more well-to-do, it has been a premier gift to give at Hannukah or Christmas in the form of coins or jewelry. That may not be as prevalent this year.
As of this writing, gold is hovering just under $4,100 per ounce. Silver is just over $50. Both prices are comparatively extraordinary. A mere five years ago, the precious metals were $1,400 and $13 respectively. While today’s values are great news for anyone looking to sell their grandparent’s gold jewelry or vintage silverware, they’re sure to put a crimp in plans for giving even small gold or silver coins to young people as has been the tradition in many families.
The US Mint has introduced a number of gold and silver coins in hopes of capturing some of the Christmas shopping market. Traditionally, I include options for gifts that might appeal to collectors. Currently, there are still so many choices available. Some affordable. Others, not so much.
During my grade school days, Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman were the super heroes boys and girls couldn’t get enough of. Created in the 1930s and ‘40s, they captured the imagination and aspiration of kids in the US and around the world. They have stood the test of time and still do.
While the Postal Service has capitulated to featuring a variety of comic and cartoon characters on some US stamps, the US Mint has maintained a loftier and/or stoic nature. Historic statesmen, educators or prominent women have been the proper honorees. Until now.
Recently, in addition to commemorating important authentic American individuals, the Mint has yielded to a more populist tribute designed to appeal to kids and comic book devotees. Just in time for the holidays and soaring metal prices, they have introduced gold and silver coins saluting those three notable super heroes.
The first-issued Superman coins show the muscular Man of Steel flying above a farm scene and rising sun. The reverse includes a retrospective young Clark Kent leaning on a farm fence staring at a jet plane flying overhead with his father looking on in the background.
The Batman coin shows the Caped Crusader leaping above the Gotham cityscape on the front. On the reverse he stands atop a building as the bat signal beams in the sky.
Wonder Woman is shown leaping in front of an American flag on the front and soaring with doves in the air on the reverse.
Each silver super hero coin is 99.9 percent pure and come in one-ounce and 2-1/2-ounce sizes for $135 and $275 respectively. All are also available in one-ounce .9999 pure gold for $3,270. The total quantity minted for the gold coins is 10,000. Clearly, none are inexpensive and all carry an unfortunate “super” premium above the soaring price of the metals. They’re best for Santas with deep pockets. For more information log onto www.USMint.gov.
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