The tornadoes in the South have affected the Mint's ability to ship product. A statement was sent to me to explain. It follows below:

Severe  Storm  Impact On United States Mint Order Fulfillment
February 8, 2009
 
The severe weather that struck five Southern states on Monday, February 5, caused severe damage to the United States Mint’s contractor-operated fulfillment center in Memphis, Tenn.    
 
Although the roof of the facility sustained damage from debris, luckily no one working in the building was injured.
 
The fulfillment center, as well as surrounding buildings, is still without power. 
 
Clean-up operations inside and outside of the facility are ongoing.
 
The United States Mint’s assets are secure and are being protected 24/7.
 
Because of the tornado damage, we expect that the United States Mint will be unable to ship products from its fulfillment facility in Memphis for the next one to two weeks.
 
We believe we are fortunate that this disaster will mean only a short period of inconvenience to our numismatic customers, and we extend our deepest sorrow and support to those whose lives or loved ones have been more seriously affected by this catastrophe.

The Call Center in Plano, Texas, was not affected by the severe weather and continues to operate.  We will continue to take orders through all channels while shipping is suspended.

Circulation finds have been a popular topic for the 45 years I have been a collector. In my early years, they formed the core of my collection.

The introduction of clad coinage in late 1965 was the beginning of the end of this pastime as the backbone of the hobby and by 1969 about all you could find in change were coins from the prior 10 years. In the case of the formerly silver coins, the variety was even less.

However, the urge to look at my change has never left me. I still do it. Actual finds are few and far between. However I note the introduction patterns of new coins. I keenly wait for my first look at a 2008-dated coin. Readers began reporting finds of 2008 cents and nickels in late January.

People worrying about the state of the economy can have one more thing to worry about. In a boom, the new dates come out practically as the nation puts away its New Year’s party hats. In slow times, the coins come out later.

This year’s release seems to be coming somewhere between the two extremes, but somewhat closer to the bust side of the continuum than the boom side.

While in Germany I noticed the pull of circulation finds. There was a long line at the booth that offered to sell for face value the 2-euro circulating commemorative for Hamburg. To get an example of the coin from each of the five mints, the public was asked to pay 10 euros, or face value.

I probably should have joined the line, but I did not.

It is nice to witness the appeal that basic circulation coinage still has on people. It is too easy to get wound up about chopmarked Buffalo gold pieces or 2007-W American Eagles. I am not saying these precious metal coins are bad issues. They are not. But to better appreciate the special coins, maintaining roots to circulation coinage is important.

Some of the 2-euros given out might have been MS-70, but I expect that there wasn’t a single person in that line who was thinking about American grading precision. It was just the collector impulse to get the coins that form a complete set at a great price. There is no more important collector impulse than that. 

The pizza is about to arrive. It is 6:05 p.m. on Monday. I am stranded in Chicago with three colleagues who had also attended the World Money Fair in Berlin. We are at a Hampton Inn in Schiller Park. Our flight out tomorrow will mean I am in motion at the usual posting time for my blog.

I am hungry and sleepy but very satisfied with the experience in Berlin. It is shocking to see prices in euros. Just about everything is expensive from an American point of view, but as one person I spoke to said: "You should see Paris." I made no reply at the time, but if that is the case, I will have to say something like, "Maybe next year." Berlin prices were enough for my delicate fiscal sensibilities. That and I don't need to see any sausages again for a while.

I hope to get a good night's sleep, get home and perhaps get a half a day put in at the office Tuesday. Fortunately, the Krause team has been posting material right along as it happened. I hope you have taken advantage of the on-the-spot reporting to find out what happened in the mint master capital of the world. We also shot video while we were there and are looking forward to expanding our online reporting capabilities.

If it comes to my personal comfort and convenience, 2008 has had a disappointing start. If it is your comfort and convenience that matters as far as being kept informed of important news events, then 2008 has started well. The Krause NumisMaster online reporting team has done it just for you.

Well, there's the pizza. Gotta go.

The decision to give the World Coin News Coin of the Year Award at the World Money Fair in Berlin Feb. 2 was a good one. All of the recipient mints and central banks were present at the top level. The speeches were gracious. The atmosphere was warm and friendly. I hope you will take the opportunity to view the images of the event on NumisMaster.com.

A surprise guest was U.S. Mint director Ed Moy. He was able to come. It was a pleasure to see him there since the United States was a big winner of three category awards. The Most Popular and Best Trade categories were won by the Nevada state quarter. The Most Historically Significant coin was the Benjamin Franklin commemorative showing him as the mature statesman.

The ceremony was punctual. That is an important consideration for this show. Staff of the world’s mints are very tightly scheduled. Albert Beck, founder of the show, said 30 meeting rooms were in continuous use throughout the show.

We began serving finger food and liquid refreshments at 3 p.m. Dr. Beck introduced me to the audience at 3:15 p.m. As I noted in my opening remarks, events are well started when Dr. Back begins them. From that point on, the program was in my hands. It clicked along, concluding at 4 p.m., to allow those on a tight schedule to leave for their next appointments. Others of us were able to stay and visit with each other.

The top winners were Canada and Hungary. Canada won the top Coin of the Year Award for a set of four $50 palladium coins showing the Big Bear and Little Bear constellations in seasonal positions in the night sky at 10 p.m. in Ottawa, as Ian Bennett, the president of the Royal Canadian Mint explained. Hungary won the People’s Choice Award for a 50 forints made of base metal that commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Hungarian Revolution of 1956.

There was a Hollywood premiere aspect to the event with the photographers present. Latvia brought a video cameraman to record the whole ceremony. Latvia took home the trophy for the Best Contemporary Event coin for its l lats coin marking its fight for freedom in 1918.

There is not enough time or space to list all of the winners here, so visit the Web site presentation at www.Numismaster.com.

Congratulations to all the winners. I am catching a morning plane today with my three colleagues. It has been good to be in Berlin, but I am looking forward to going home.

If it’s Wednesday, I must be in Germany. It was touch and go yesterday as we awaited the arrival of a weather front that brought snow and very cold temperatures.

Would the plane take off from Appleton? Would the plane take off from Chicago? Would we miss the connection in Frankfurt for Berlin?

Winter travel is less about any discomfort in movement and simply mentally wondering if there would be any movement at all.

It seems I just went through this with the FUN show and merely suffered a three-hour delay on the return home. But the wondering affected both directions.

Staying awake is also an order of business today. There is a reception tonight at the Canadian Embassy. It would not due to succumb to jet lag and miss it. It is an honor to share the night with world mint directors and others actively involved in creating the world’s coinage.

My profound thanks go to the Royal Canadian Mint.