U.S. Mint 2009 Ultra High Relief Double Eagle Gold Coin (UH1) only $1,289, available for shipping 8/7

I had seen this info before, but I just spotted a Web ad on a Paul Krugman Op-Ed in The New York Times advertising the U.S. Mint 2009 Ultra High Relief Double Eagle Gold Coin (UH1) only $1,289, available for shipping 8/7/2009 (that's Friday.) It is a full ounce of 24-karat gold. It is also technically legal tender, albeit with a face value of only $20 (talk about inflation!).

If I had lots of extra cash to burn I might get one, but as it is this "coin" would have little value for me.

The U.S. Mint says:

The coin, is a digitally reproduced version of Saint-Gaudens' original ultra high relief 1907 Double Eagle gold piece, which was never released into circulation.

If you are into "hard money", this is it, albeit with a very hefty premium. I'll stick with the paper stuff. Actually, I'll stick with the electronic version of the paper stuff. Call it virtual money. Still, it would be nice to have at least a tiny amount of the "hard stuff." Somewhere I have a 1/10-ounce platinum eagle that I bought over 10 years ago. I think I paid about $45 for it. I also bought a little 1/10-ounce gold "bar" for about $35 back then. That is a complete inventory of my hard money assets.

-- Jack Krupansky