The Olympic games are an event rich in history, one that can be traced back almost as long as time. Dating back to 776 BC, the original Olympics did not award a gold medal as the winning prize; instead, the top competitors received crowns made from olive leaves. The olive wreaths would continue to…

  As summer temperatures increase during the month of July, so does the desire for the beloved Ruby. July birthstone is a coveted gem whose beauty rarely goes unnoticed.   The history of the ruby can be traced back as far as The Bible, making an appearance in within the scripture as many as four…

Spring flowers, chocolate bunnies and pastels all around can only mean one thing, Easter is upon us and while we have long heeded the warnings from our parents to “rest our heads or the Easter bunny will not deliver our baskets!”, there are greater significance and meaning to the holiday than a bunny delivering treats….

The U.S. Mint, founded in 1792, has been producing and regulating United States currency since its creation and through the centuries, has employed some remarkable designers and engravers. These engravers, or artists, have made a name for themselves in the numismatic world by sculpting unique, one of a kind works of art to be struck…

An academy rich in history, culture and tradition, West Point is the crème de la crème of the United States Military. This Army academy began in 1801 by order of then President Thomas Jefferson. Named for the surrounding area, West Point sits 50 miles north of New York City on the Hudson River and has…

To many, December is known as the month of giving to those near and dear to us as much as our bank accounts will allow, as we shower those in gifts that we may otherwise not consider gifting. But what happens when your friends and family are among the 1% who are fortunate enough to…

Much like gold certificates, silver certificates were created in the latter 19th century to ease the transfer of silver bullion ownership and to represent the physical amount of silver being held by a financial institution. During a time when mining was booming throughout the country, it became imperative to carry the certificates, whose appearance mimicked…

  Unlike many stones found in various regions around the world, tanzanite is found solely in Tanzania. Having only been discovered in the latter of the 1960’s, tanzanite rapidly grew in popularity with the help of Tiffany & Co. because of their introduction of the stone to the general public just before 1970. In fact,…

Weighing an impressive 12.03 carats and possessing a perfect, vivid blue hue, the Blue Moon diamond sold for a record breaking $48.4 million USD on November 11, 2015. Not only is the $48.4 million price the highest ever paid for a diamond, it is the highest amount ever paid for any stone of any type….

Unfortunately, not everything in life is perfect; the same is true for striking coins. Throughout history, there have been mishaps with the machinery, test runs that did not go anywhere near as planned and even intentional hiccups orchestrated by Mint employees. How and why have certain, imperfect pieces throughout history been deemed worthy of being…

  Silverware, estate jewelry and fine china and vases are some of the most common items to be passed down through generations. Though beautiful pieces, their seedy history is not always known at first. Some owners are quick to find out, but only when it is too late. In the spirit of Halloween and all…

Through the intensity of heat and the seasonal flash floods in the Outback of Australia, life is taken and reborn in magnificent ways. One stone that has the ability to capture the changing times of a seemingly helpless scenario in a breathtaking manner is the opal.   Housing the blues of sapphire, reds of ruby,…

  Countless are the times that we go out seeking a new piece to add to our collection of jewelry. While some may be more than comfortable navigating their way through the process of searching for and purchasing that fabulous new item, others would say that “intimidating” is an understatement. In an effort to help…

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…