Exhibit Features the Value of Worthless Money

A trillion dollar note, now a collector item, was issued in Zimbabwe though its value was zilch in an economy where only U.S. paper currency survived as a medium of exchange. An exhibit focuses on what inflation does to a nation's money.

What the Heck is Hell Money?

Fascinating. It is money donated to the dead in Chinese culture, for them to spend in the afterlife. Colorful and intriguing. The site is a portal to a host of hoodoo and other esoteric pages (scroll down for info), a fun place to take a break from routine. This comes via the E-Sylum newsletter of the Numismatic Biblomania Society, a great source for all sorts of numismatic news and information.

Another "All That Glitters" Mystery Coin

I have been reading about the artistry of Chinese fakers and would certainly advise extreme caution in purchasing any valuable U.S. coins these days, they have it down to a science. On another matter, here is a link to a discussion of a "mystery coin" that was said to be fifty percent gold ... the stories about what a coin or other "rare" object is "said to be" go on and on and on. So, a link to the discussion. 

A Serious Problem for the Most Popular Gold Coin

The gold krugerrand of South Africa is probably the most popular gold coin among collectors and investors. A problem has been revealed involving a number of recently issued krugers, that being they are underweight. On the surface a bad thing, it is further a problem because many dealers and collectors rely on weight as a key element of authenticity. Here is the story.

Nationwide Crackdown on Sale of Counterfeit Rarities

The Secret Service is on the track of counterfeit rare U.S. coins that are appearing more and more often, and there have been arrests. Story here.