Now that's a bargain......

With the Christmas season upon us what better time to make a purchase?

An exceedingly rare 1787 gold Brasher doubloon has been sold for $7.4 million, one of the highest prices ever paid for a gold coin.

Blanchard and Co was the New Orleans-based coin and precious metals company that brokered the deal.

Minted by Ephraim Brasher, a goldsmith and neighbor of George Washington, the coin contains 26.66 grams of gold — slightly less than an ounce. Worth about $15 when it was minted, the gold value today would be more than $1,500.

The doubloon last changed hands in 2004 for $3 million.

"We have known about it and coveted it for years," said Blanchard CEO Donald Doyle Jr.

The coin had seen light circulation. On a scale of 0 to 70 widely used in investment coin grading, the doubloon was graded a 50.

"It's a truly beautiful coin," he said.

OK, so I get that in the seven years since this COIN was last sold someone made around $4 million dollars. If you ask me, and no one has, if someone can afford to pay $3 million bucks for a piece of metal they probably don't truly need the $4 million dollar profit.

It's also noted that the gold value of the coin at today's rates would be MORE THAN $1,500. Fifteen hundred-worth...seven million-paid..what a deal. But, I shouldn't forget it's intrinsic value. That's got to be at least.....what? Six million plus?

I'm wracking my brain here trying to remember where I've heard something about coveting? Oh yes, the Ten Commandments. Maybe the CEO of the company that "brokered" the deal should think more about his wording? I wonder if he meant to say he coveted the coin, or the money it would bring?

And the bottom line here? The coin that someone spent a fortune for isn't even perfect, it was graded a 50 out of 70. The buyer got screwed!!

What do people that have lots of money have in common?......politics.

In the news today, Mikhail Prokhorov, one of Russia's richest tycoons and the owner of the New Jersey Nets basketball team, said Monday he will run against Prime Minister Vladimir Putin in the March presidential election. Forbes magazine has estimated his wealth at $18 billion.

Here in our country the run for the Republican presidential bid next year has started. Mitt (don't you love this name, Mitt....short I guess for Mitten) Romney is talking about $1.6 million dollars he says Newt (another good name) Gingrich should return to Freddie Mac. Freddie is not saying a word.

Another example of why I don't worry about politics. What could these people that represent us possibly know about OUR needs? Coins worth millions, basketball teams, disposable incomes, I was happy about a $40 a month raise I'll get next year.

And to add just a little more to your Monday morning.


An Illinois farmer made so much money this year he made loan payments on one tractor a year in advance and exchanged some older ones for newer models

An Oregon farmer poured into retirement funds a bundle of his $2 million take from a well-timed sale of much of his turf and equipment.

While much of America worries about the possibility of a double-dip recession, such stories of prosperity are cropping up as U.S. farmers enjoy their best run in decades, thanks to high prices for many crops, livestock and farmland and strong global demand for corn used in making ethanol.

Farm profits are expected to spike by 28 percent this year to $100.9 billion, and the amount of cash farms have available to pay bills also is expected to top $100 billion.

"We're just experiencing the best of times," said Bruce Johnson, an agricultural economist at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln. "It's a story to tell."

The other day I spent almost ten dollars for milk and peanut butter. That's a story to tell as well.