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Home of Victoria Falls, rhinos, hippos and exotic birds, the landlocked, war torn, former Rhodesia, has undergone numerous changes throughout the years. Notably in the last 3 decades we have seen their currency go through not only basic inflation, but also a full collapse with hyperinflation. Resulting in the abandonment of the official currency and…
Concealed in darkness for a fraction of the year, quite possibly the most dangerous terrain and bearer of the most vicious elements, Antarctica has long been the viewed as a land unknown. Explorers have been seeking understanding and knowledge well before Robert Falcon Scott and Roald Amundsen either died trying to stake claim or succeeding…
The sapphire has long been a beloved and sought after stone. It’s notorious for its brilliant blue hue and being a closer runner up, with regard to hardness, to the diamond. Sitting pretty at a durable 9 on the Mohs scale, this vivacious gem is easily cared for and provides the wearer peace of mind…
Vast, more frigid than most can imagine, barren and quiet possibly the most fragile ecosystem known to man, Antarctica has been dubbed the “Last Frontier”. The ski culture has hopes to some day put ski resorts on the continent and become a tourist attraction. Many countries have their hand in oil, coal mining and the…
The fashion world has a variety of varying aspects including jewelry. From the high-end sporting rare diamonds, rubies, etc. down to the cheap imitations made of plastic, women and men alike love to adorn themselves in an eye-catching trend setting piece. The most common and popular is the costume jewelry but designers in recent years have…
To say the Double Eagle has had a less than interesting history would be the understatement of the century. From creation it has been a coin rich in history and significance. When I first heard of this coin as a child, I did not understand why the originals were referred to as “double eagle” since…
Representative of love, health and fortune, Julys birthstone the ruby is one of the most striking of the precious stones that make up the lot. Though natural rubies vary in color, ranging from deep red to raspberry and pink (most commonly referred to as “pink sapphires”), the most sought after and highly valued is the…
On July 20,1969, the world changed forever. The U.S. successfully landed the first-ever manned craft on the moon. Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin took gravity-free steps where no men had ever walked before. They planted a U.S. flag, and in doing so, changed human history for all time. In four years, it will be the…
Right now, legendary golfers like Tiger Woods, Jordan Spieth, Rory McIlroy and many others are duking it out at the U.S. Open, which is being held — for the first time — at Chambers Bay Golf Course in University Place near Tacoma. Only one golfer will bring home the U.S. Open Championship Trophy, which makes…
Since gold was first discovered, people have wanted to know how to make it. Unfortunately, alchemy is not possible. But how is gold — or Au, its elemental name — created? Though geologists have had theories for years about how the Earth creates gold, it wasn’t until recently that scientists discovered how the universe creates…
One stormy night on Lake Michigan in the late 1800s, a ferry overloaded with boxcars and other freight was being tossed around like a toy. With the vessel in danger of sinking, the crew lightened the load by throwing some of the empty boxcars overboard. It saved the ship. That would have been where the…
On Saturday, May 23rd, the newest group of cadets graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point. The school is the only one in the country that is also home to a U.S. Mint. But the West Point Mint’s proximity to a prestigious military academy isn’t the only thing that makes it special…
In 1763, a British ship named Lord Clive was sailing off the coast of what’s now Uruguay. The ship was allegedly stocked with massive amounts of rum, as well as treasure chests full of gold and silver coins. During a raid, Spanish troops attacked the city of Colonia del Sacramento with cannon fire. The Lord…
Many centuries ago, a Roman citizen who was likely a farmer stashed nearly 300 coins for safekeeping. Experts theorize that the farmer placed the coins in a pot, and buried them deep in the earth to hide them from potential threats. But it appears that the farmer hid the coins a little too well, because…