2004: LEWIS & CLARK BICENTENNIAL

By Tom Rodriguez
SATC Sr. Broker

May 04, 2004

COMMEMORATING AMERICAN HISTORY

For years, Swiss America has recommended high-grade (MS64-MS67) U.S. Gold Commemorative coins (minted 1903-1926) to our clients as part of a properly diversified portfolio of tangible assets.

With only 11 coins in the set (excluding the 1915-S $50 Round and $50 Octagonal), U.S. Gold Commems are extremely popular with collectors, investors, and novice beginners.

On May 14, 1804, Capt. Meriwether Lewis and Lt. William Clark, charged by President Thomas Jefferson with finding a route to the Pacific Ocean, embarked from Camp Dubois, Ill., on the east bank of the Mississippi River, upstream from St. Louis. Lewis & Clark were accompanied by a 33-member group skilled in botany, zoology and outdoor survival. The "Corps of Discovery" arrived at Oregon's pacific coast in November of 1805 and returned to St. Louis on Sept. 23, 1806. This series contains the 100-year anniversary 1904 and 1905 Lewis and Clark coins. This year America celebrates the 200th anniversary of their exploration of the northwest United States. These two issues are the rarest of the 11-coin set.

The Lewis and Clark gold commemorative coins were the only two-headed U.S. coins ever minted. They were originally sold in 1904 for two dollars at a Portland, Oregon, fair celebrating the famous expedition.

WHAT GOLD MARKET VOLATILITY?

With recent volatility in the gold bullion and lower grade generic $20 gold piece markets, the U.S. Gold Commemorative coin prices have remained steadfast and have not suffered any downward correction. Why? Well, to quote another major national coin dealer;

"They [Gold Commems] bridge the gap between gold bullion and the ultra-rare condition census coins. U.S. Gold Commemoratives are influenced by factors, which are independent of the price of gold. For example, collector motivation can be a significant source of demand for these coins, a factor completely absent in the bullion market. These factors have enabled these sectors to appreciate during bear markets for gold bullion."

The major national firm quoted above has also recently started to recommend Gold Commems to their clients as well.

U.S. Gold Commemoratives have been almost completely overlooked over the last year as demand for both lower-grade $20 gold pieces and gold bullion have consistently moved up in price.

But what if the price momentum for gold bullion stalls, or moves sideways for weeks, months or even years? No problem to the owners of high-quality U.S. gold commemorative coins!

The U.S. Gold Commemorative series is one of only a handful of rare coin collections, especially in U.S. gold coins, that you can put together a complete set without paying a king's ransom.

These golden gems represent outstanding value, both as a long-term investment and as a current undervalued asset. U.S. Gold Commemorative coin prices start for less than a common-date, gem-quality $20 gold piece! I personally know of a gentleman who put together "five sets" of U.S. Gold Commemoratives for each of his five children's trusts.

QUALITY, NOT QUANTITY

Swiss America only deals in "Sight-seen" (hand-selected) U.S. Gold Commems, in other words the BEST. The reason is that they historically command the highest premium at resale or liquidation.

The current dealer-to-dealer prices from the wholesale "Grey Sheet" support our recommendation of this coin sector as well. "Sight-seen" coins typically trade for substantial premiums over "Sight-Unseen" prices. Some dealers command premiums of 10% to as much as 50% OVER "Grey Sheet" for these premium quality specimens.

That being said, if you factor these additional premiums along with current published prices … Gold Commems should be selling for MORE!

Call your Swiss America broker today at 1-800-289-2646 to discuss specific recommendations, pricing and availability. Read more about Lewis & Clark Gold Coins online at www.swissamerica.com

If you haven't thought of, or purchased any of these gems yet … PLEASE DO IT! We may never see these prices again (especially when other MAJOR dealers are now acquiring them for their client's portfolios). Supply is very limited. Get yours before the demand starts to effect the current prices!

Read more about Lewis & Clark Gold Commemorative Coins online:

U.S. GOLD COMMEMS: BUY THE DIPS! -Craig Smith (1/04)
U.S. GOLD COMMEMORATIVES (1903-1925) Research Report (5/01)
WHY I'M BULLISH ON LEWIS & CLARK, by Craig Smith (7/02)
REDISCOVERING GOLD IN THE 21ST CENTURY by Craig Smith (7/01)
BULLION DOWN, COINS UP? by Craig Smith -"The New Gold Rush" (8/02)

** REQUEST A FREE COPY OF "REDISCOVERING GOLD IN THE 21ST CENTURY". Since published in 2001, a growing army of analysts, economists and responsible journalists have announced that gold is in a confirmed, fundamental, technical or "secular" bull market. Gold is up 50% since 2001 and quality gold coins are up as much as 100%!