Notable News (March 18-24, 2025)

This week’s headlines include a new coin-collecting podcast, a possible 9/11 commemorative, the fate of the third San Francisco Mint, and new Iranian bank notes.

Numismatic News has introduced “The Coin Collecting Podcast,” a new podcast hosted by Jeff Starck, Numismaster market analyst, and Christopher Bulfinch, appraiser and sales specialist at Doyle’s—Boston. The show will explore history, market trends, and key players shaping the hobby.

Photo: Getty Images/ContentWorks

The fate of the historic third San Francisco Mint, which produces clad and silver U.S. proof coin sets and commemoratives, has been brought into question. President Donald Trump and the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) have targeted the mint for closure as part of their ongoing efforts to reduce government spending.

Photo: Getty Images/DFTidrington

Introduced in the House of Representatives on March 10, H.R. 1993 seeks a commemorative two-coin program in 2027 marking the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States.

Photo: Getty Images/Diogenes Santana da Silva

Iran’s Central Bank has announced the release of a new bank note with a face value of 2 million rials (approximately U.S. $20). The note will feature an image of the Mosque of Ruhollah Khomeini in Isfahan on the front. The back will picture a painting of a polo game by artist Mahmoud Farshchian.

Photo: Getty Images/Andrzej Rostek